Heck, if I can build it... anyone can.
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- čas přidán 27. 08. 2024
- I was actually surprised at how easy and inexpensive it was to build my own solar generator. if you're interested in the products and the video, you don't have to have a tick tock account. Simply check out the link below.
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I have about 15kwh of power between 3 solar generators I built. It was more of just a hobby project than anything else but together they will run a small window ac unit, refrigerator, lights and a small tv. So when it all hits the fan, (as it will, don’t kid yourself) I will have some means of retaining a semblance of normalcy.
@@jimshorts3263 This is something I hadn't considered before - the need for air conditioning. I have central air, but I know that my gas generator won't be strong enough to run it. I really dislike the hot summer weather, especially the heat and humidity. I think I'll need to get a small window unit and build a solar generator to power it. That way, I can at least have a cool room to sleep in at night or to escape from the heat. I find that I learn more from the comments here than I ever do from Google. Thank you for the helpful information.
Jim can you please explain how you built a 15kwh of solar power? Would like to use that invention for my window AC
@@bpric13 it is 3 separate generators. One is just a single 12v 100 ah, the second one is four 12v 100 ah, and the third is two 24v 200 ah (the 24v batteries actually make 5120 watt hrs each as opposed to the more intuitive 4800). The one with 4 batteries makes 4800 watt hours and the single battery makes 1200 watt hours. Together the math actually makes 16kwh but things never reach the ideal. I use the 24v unit for the ac as the ac is the largest draw. They are 2 24v 200ah batteries on a garden cart using a Growatt all in one mppt inverter. If you are a member of will prowse’s DIY solar forum you can see photos of my build I posted under the member name electrobob.
Great build on a budget - thanks for this! 👍🏿
get an MPPT charge controller and a bigger panel. At least 200 watts. That 25 watt panel is doing exactly nothing.
@@user-tv9ds9sg6p yeah I've got two of the panels but since could not find what the wattage was and the little one I was trying it out. But yes definitely taking yours and other devices about getting a mppt charge controller instead of what I'm using now. As always thanks for the advice.
@@theaccidentalprepper The sun shines directly for 5 hours in the south. So for a 1,200 wh battery, you need at least 200 wats to do anything. Literally anything less than that is worthless. Also a 1,200wh battery has a 100 amp BMS, so there is no reason to use an inverter larger than 1,000 watts. The battery won't be able to support it anyway.
@user-tv9ds9sg6p in a previous video I posted yesterday, I did upgrade to a 800 watt pure sine wave inverter. This has definitely been a learning curve, but man, have you guys really reached out and gave me a good education on this stuff. I'm also looking for a 200 watt+ solar panel.
@@theaccidentalprepper The best place for solar panels is on craigslist. Look for used house panels.
Brilliantly done 😊
Thank you. Although I found out in the comments, I have a few modifications to update on it.
Yep, nicely done, and besides the 'modular' setup, luv the dolly mounted 'portability'!
My priority when the power goes out is the refrigerator. Hunt around...You may be able to find a much bigger solar panel for next to nothing, if not even free. If you can find a Lithium Iron Phosphate battery, that would be a huge upgrade as well.
He has a LifePO4 battery.
When peoples power goes out they panic!!!!
when my power goes out I plan it !!!!.
Nice! Only drawback I see is that maybe that's not a pure sine wave inverter.
No it's not. I've never even heard of a sine wave inverter until the other day in another comment. Seems like I've got a lot of education to do in building these
That's the beauty of this system. If he needs a true sinewave inverter, that's the ONLY thing he needs to replace. He can keep all the other existing equipment and battery. He doesn't even need to replace any wiring!
No it isn't but after all the advice on here I've got one on order.
@@vincentrobinette1507 after all the comments I had to educate myself on a shine inverter. Never heard of one but have one on order now greatly appreciate everyone on here who's educated me.
Motors and compressors, fans, and the like are not that picky over the sine wave.
But most electronics are.
People worry too much over their phones....
Nice setup,i would use at least a 100w panel though for faster charging. Thanks for sharing too.
Thank you. Yes, I found out the current panel won't even but a dent in the charge. Thanks for the adive.
I love that you put it on a luggage cart with good air circulation instead of a stupid box that keeps the heat in. That is a cheap pwm lead acid charge controller. With the size of the battery you've got, you could use a lot more solar power. PWM charge controller is fine for small 12 volt systems, but if you go more than two 12 volt/100 watt panels, and you want to raise voltage by putting things in series or you want to use panels with 38-40 volts you will need a MPPT controller. They are slightly more efficient and are more economical on bigger systems.
@@OWK000 you're the second person to tell me this and I definitely plan on taking that advice. I'll probably purchase one this week and switch it out. How can you use the controller I have now on a much smaller solar generator I'm planning on building. Thank you.
@@theaccidentalprepper DIY Solar Power With Will Prowse has some good videos on sizing panels to any specific mppt controller situation. Most recent: "Solar String Voltage Made Easy! How many solar panels can you safely connect?" Also slightly older but good: "How to Design an Off-grid Solar Power Array Wire Configuration"
@OWK000 Noted! Greatly appreciate the information.
@@theaccidentalprepper Also, I use one of those cheap pwm on my car battery and because I move it around the wires will fatigue and break off. I have found just glopping a bunch of hot glue gun glue where the wires come out prevents that from happening.
glad i had your vids come up about this, ive been debating my friend about the commercial versions of these and telling him we could build a system for cheaper and then build it how he needs it. i have been so busy with so much work stuff and house renovations i just havent had time to do research on these devices about what all i needed to do and buy for it.
very helpful info as it makes it seem more do-able for me as I wanted to add solar to it also.
my friend wanted a unit to take camping to help run his cpap machine so he could camp in non-electric sites or in rustic camp areas.
@@d.aardent9382 glad you liked the videos but do yourself a favor and also check out these comments as well. I've gained so much knowledge and made a few changes on the solar generator just through these comments and the knowledge of the people here helping
sort of. An ecoflow delta for under $600 is really hard to beat. You CAN build it cheaper, but not by much
Great job. And greater education for others
The comments here alone h have been a great education for me.
I built the same configuration but ordered 2 large solar panels. Not completely portable, but can be moved from place to place. Cost - $1000.
Yeah, I actually want to build something much larger, but that's in the near future. Once I get this one all figured out, I actually plan on building a much smaller one for when I go bicycle camping.
I just built one for my son in law, 200 ah battery, HF 2000 watt pure sine wave inverter and a Victron 100/20 solar charge controller and a 20 amp plug in charger from a ebay auction on a hand truck. Now I'm going to make one for myself....
wasted your money on a HF unit. Buy a Giandel. Hope your battery has a 200 amp BMS or you wasted your money
Add a 4-6 way 12v cigarette socket switch panel. You can then use/charge usb appliances in complete silence, and it's 10% more efficient.
Just went online and checked them out. Looks like I could bypass the inverter and connect directly to the solar controller. I especially like the more efficiency part. Thank you for the advice.
@@theaccidentalprepper no, connect it directly to the battery via a car fuse box with positive and negative terminals (some fuse boxes use the car as a negative so don't make that mistake). I did all this myself several times both large and small builds. Good luck
@@Theoverthinker81 Will do. Thanks.
@@theaccidentalprepper The power out of the charge controller isn't regulated. Go straight to the battery
@user-tv9ds9sg6p just to make sure I get this right, you're saying go directly from the solar panel to the battery?
Pick up a 12/24v 20A smart battery charger for $60. Maybe a Lithium battery charge indicator for $10.
I just ordered both. Thanks for the advice.
there is no such thing as a lithium battery indicator for $10. SLA/AGM batteries drop in voltage when they discharge. LiPo4 do not. They hold voltage steady until the last 10% and then drop off like a cliff. So battery voltage means jack crap on a Lipo4
Nice little setup and thank you for sharing. I'm a little surprised your inverter will run an air compressor with those alligator clamps. It would be happier with solid connections and also the capacitors wouldn't have big inrushes all the time when you hook it up.
You can precharge the inverter with a resistor or any light bulb with a filament (12v car bulb or regular 110v lightbulb). It will help your inverter if you're going to keep connecting and disconnecting it.
I've learned a lot just from the comments on here. Did a lot of upgrades, including, as you said, a permanent connection getting rid of the alligator clips. I'm going to try to do an updated video this week. Thanks for the advice.
For 1200 watt system charged with a 25 watt solar panel, it'll take you approximately 48 hours to charge the battery from Empty to full. You need a much larger panel(s) big enough to charge it within the day. And also, you said you use it as an emergency power for your well pump. Those motors are inductive loads and they do not like modified sine wave inverters. They will run hot.... You need a pure sine wave inverter.
Yeah, I stuck it out in the sun all day long, and this little solar panel did not do much at all. I've got a jackery 64 watt that I'm thinking of hooking to it. I appreciate the information on the well pump inverter because I had no idea. You probably saved me from burning some stuff out. This is all new to me, and I greatly appreciate the advice. I've never even heard of the sine wave inverter. But I will definitely educate myself on it immediately. Thank you
@@theaccidentalprepper Actually, a 25 watts solar panel is only 1.5 amps per hour under a clear sky. That's around 80 hours just to charge a 100-amp battery. 200 watts of panels could almost fully charge a battery in a day.
He is correct. You can purchase a solar generator from vtoman (flash 1500) for $650 delivered. That will get you 1584 watt hours 1500w with 3000w surge a pure sine wave inverter. Built in BMS and mppt controller 3 AC 4 USB and 3 DC outputs and FULLY charges in 60 min from AC and can also be charged by DC or 30v - 60v solar, all in the size of a bread box that can easily be carried and stored. I appreciate your efforts tho well done. This particular Vtoman does need higher input from solar to charge, I purchased $130 total 2 compact 100v mono panels 27"x 31" hinged them together in series and using acrylic mirrors mounted on 2 thin panels also hinged I have a small portable overclocked panel capable of 300w output at 44v DC . I'm going to add thin L channel aluminum to the back of the panels for heat dissipation and better efficiency. The panels do fine with the heat, sure they may last 10 years not 25 but seriously? I can also charge up 2 e bikes very quickly using a variable (dial it in) voltage mppt charge controller very very quickly. So for about $800 I've got a great solar generator. I also have another portable 150w suitcase and panels on the roof of my RV joined into 1 variable, tiltable panel that utilizes 2 quick release pins to adjust the whole system. I'm no prepper I don't waste my energy preparing for doom and gloom I use it for traveling anywhere in this vast great country we live in.
@capodad2u from all the comments, I've got a lot to take in and learn. I'm looking to get a camper as well in the next year or two, and this is one of the reasons I've been trying to understand solar generators is because I want it completely self-sufficient. I hate to tell you that you may not be a prepper, but you have the mindset of one. It's not all about Doom and Gloom but being self-sufficient and having to depend on no one but yourself.
great overview
GREAT BUILD KEEP IT COMING
@anthonymarino4260 thank you. I need to do an updated version because all the comments on here had such great advice. I made a lot of changes in learned lot as well
Man builds Droid, while the galactic empire ruins the world 👏👏👏
As I recall, the droid builders won against the galactic empire…
Man that's great but kinda tough to go off roading with, a bit bulky
It's meant to be used around home, not off-roading.
@@theaccidentalprepper In that case it fits the bill -thanks great video
And work it does! Been making hand-truck solar gens ever since the current regime took office in DC in anticipation of a failure of the grid. Folks need to pay attention to things like this. Cheers and thanks..
That was my whole reason to build one. We can pretty much live without most electricity but wanted to have something that would run our well pump.
From this angle it looks like you have the charge controller really comfy head phones
Enjoy your retirement!
Thank you!
Thank u
Don't thank me until you've read the comments. There is a lot of helpful advice here and some updates to my solar generator I need to take care of.
is the inverter cooling fans blocked by the battery?
the controller battery should be hooked up to the battery before it gets solar power to know how much voltage to send out.
I made sure not to block the fans but didn't know there was a sequence to hooking it up. I'll keep that in mind, thanks.
That's not a real inverter. Its a cheap high frequency, transformerless toy inverter that can severely damage you appliances during a catastrophic failure of its H-Bridge circuit. No thanks.
Thank you for the feedback. It's too bad you couldn't offer your insights like other users have, but I get it. Some people criticize, while others teach.
dead link - shows nothing.
Seems to be working fine for me. Although it does inform you that you're leaving this app and going into another one.
Dead for me also, blank page.
Why do people call these generators, they are not generators.
A solar generator is a generator. As the term generate implies. It uses solar panels to generate sunlight into electricity. It's similar to a traditional generator, but instead of using gas, diesel, or wind, solar generators use sustainable solar energy.
why do we park in a driveway and drive in a parkway?
Yeah not going to happen as all this shit is way too expensive for my budget at least being on a fixed income so I made my own using some batteries that were sealed lead acid and they work out just fine especially since I only use it on a 300 watt inverter to charge it I use a two-way radio power supply made by Astron it's an rs20a works just fine and it keeps everything going on standby power so I leave everything all plugged in and it works out just fine and if I need to charge it during a grid down situation I can use a solar panels
In 4 months, I'm going to be on a fixed income as well.