mvweebles
Guru
- Joined
- Mar 21, 2019
- Messages
- 7,735
- Location
- United States
- Vessel Name
- Weebles
- Vessel Make
- 1970 Willard 36 Trawler
When portable solar generators first appeared a couple years ago, I thought it was a crock of dung. No way a small battery could match the energy density of dead dinosaurs, right?
But I've slowly evolved as I considered use case and how each would be used. The Venn diagram intersects mildly but far from completely. Internal combustion engine (ICE) generators are great for sustained hi-load requirements such as running AC or running power tools for a jobsite. Where they don't work as well is for either (1) sustained low load applications (charging electronics and power tools); or (2) short duration moderate loads such as a coffee maker or microwave.
What is a portable solar generator? It's a compact device with a LFP battery, an inverter, a battery charger (roughly equal to 90-amps at 12v so it really charges quickly), an MPPT for solar, and of course AC outlets. The Ecoflow I purchased from Costco has 1kwh of battery storage (roughly equal to one 100ah 12v battery), an 1800 watt inverter (2700 watt surge), a 1200-watt battery charger (roughly 90-amps at 12v!!! Really charges fast): an MPPT capable of up to 500-watts solar, plus the monitoring and circuit protection all in a 27-lb package. The Costco bundle included a pair of portable solar panels totaling 220 watts. All for $750 after a $50 sale discount. Pretty good deal when you consider what it would take to replicate the components.
What will I use it for? First an unusual application. Our house is being drywalled as I write so much of the electricity is off. But our outdoor landscaping needs watering so I'll plug the controller into the Solar Generator. I'll bet it runs a month or more without solar panels, indefinitely with the panels. Second, when we were out of power altogether, would have used it to run a small fridge which would have run indefinitely with the 220w solar and sunny conditions. Finally, I kept a lot of DeWalt 20clc tools charged.
To my eyes, these are very common use cases, none of them are efficiently served by an ICE generator, even a small Honda that would need gas ever 8-hours or so (BTW - gas was difficult to find right after Helene and Milton).
So I'm a convert to solar generators. What are others doing with them besides running Christmas lights on their RV?
Here's the link to the Costco one I purchased, but there were other brands. Temu has no-name ones with twice the battery, but who knows how they spec out.
Peter
But I've slowly evolved as I considered use case and how each would be used. The Venn diagram intersects mildly but far from completely. Internal combustion engine (ICE) generators are great for sustained hi-load requirements such as running AC or running power tools for a jobsite. Where they don't work as well is for either (1) sustained low load applications (charging electronics and power tools); or (2) short duration moderate loads such as a coffee maker or microwave.
What is a portable solar generator? It's a compact device with a LFP battery, an inverter, a battery charger (roughly equal to 90-amps at 12v so it really charges quickly), an MPPT for solar, and of course AC outlets. The Ecoflow I purchased from Costco has 1kwh of battery storage (roughly equal to one 100ah 12v battery), an 1800 watt inverter (2700 watt surge), a 1200-watt battery charger (roughly 90-amps at 12v!!! Really charges fast): an MPPT capable of up to 500-watts solar, plus the monitoring and circuit protection all in a 27-lb package. The Costco bundle included a pair of portable solar panels totaling 220 watts. All for $750 after a $50 sale discount. Pretty good deal when you consider what it would take to replicate the components.
What will I use it for? First an unusual application. Our house is being drywalled as I write so much of the electricity is off. But our outdoor landscaping needs watering so I'll plug the controller into the Solar Generator. I'll bet it runs a month or more without solar panels, indefinitely with the panels. Second, when we were out of power altogether, would have used it to run a small fridge which would have run indefinitely with the 220w solar and sunny conditions. Finally, I kept a lot of DeWalt 20clc tools charged.
To my eyes, these are very common use cases, none of them are efficiently served by an ICE generator, even a small Honda that would need gas ever 8-hours or so (BTW - gas was difficult to find right after Helene and Milton).
So I'm a convert to solar generators. What are others doing with them besides running Christmas lights on their RV?
Here's the link to the Costco one I purchased, but there were other brands. Temu has no-name ones with twice the battery, but who knows how they spec out.
Peter
