Cold weather power
Cold Nights and Heated Blankets
A heated blanket is one of the most misunderstood loads in overlanding. The label may say 50W, but duration is what drains the battery.
Energy calculation
A 50W blanket used for 8 hours consumes:
50W x 8 hours = 400WhBattery impact
A 100Ah LiFePO4 battery stores about 1,280Wh before usable-capacity planning. A 400Wh blanket load is about 31% of that battery by itself.
400Wh / 1,280Wh = 31%Better alternatives
Often the most efficient cold-weather upgrades are not electrical. Better insulation, proper sleeping bags, insulated pads, and diesel heaters can reduce the need to burn battery capacity all night.
Real winter planning
Cold weather can increase fridge load, reduce battery efficiency, and create longer nights with more light use. Plan for 30-50% more capacity than your mild-weather estimate.
Recommendation
If heated blankets are part of your setup, a 100Ah battery can work for short trips, but 200Ah is more comfortable for multi-night winter camping.