Really excellent product reviews. I was one of the original Buddipole Power-Mini field testers and I fell in love with it the first time I used it. I also use a PowerFilm (60w) folding solar panel and two of the Buddipole 4S2P battery packs for all my light portable use. They are as good as you have described here. 73 everyone and get out there and call CQ. Sunspot cycle 25 is warming up nicely.
Thanks for this comprehensive explanation - I believe - on how the Buddipole power mini integrates into our power question as operators. I’m totally sold. When I finally get my portable hf system going, it will be with one of these. Thank you!
Hello from Long Island NY. I’m using the Bioenno 15 ah and solar charging for my FT-891. I’m new to hf and so far it’s all working great. Nice video. I like how you break it all down and explain your objectives and choices. Fred W2FTR
Sounds like a good setup. I also have an ft891, but use a 10ah LiFePO4, very similar to your bioenno pack. It is a solid setup which should give you years of enjoyment. How do you like the 891?
OH8STN Ham Radio I like to very much. I’m using a DX Commander Classic antenna with it and it all works very well for portable operating. I’m still learning how to fly this rig. My version of learning to fly is repeatedly falling out of the nest. ;)
Your videos are light years ahead of most, which may be overwhelming to new or soon to be Tech/Foundation Licensee's. I remain personally inspired by your videos, but don't forget to explain why we do this. EMCOM is a term for a very good reason. On occassion, maybe show new subscribers what all the tech magic is about. Making contacts is still exciting !
Just built my first self contained Hammo Can using the 38120 LiFePo4 batteries. Thanks for the informational videos. They helped me understand how to use a BMS. 73 K6EGP
Best comment of the day :) I should do more battery build videos. There are so many radio/battery combination possibilities, we would never run out of material. thanks for watching and the feedback. Very much appreciated.
Hi Julian, After watching your previous solar power videos, I decided a PowerMini would be more versatile than the Genasun charge controller so bought that plus a 28W rollable Powerfilm, to power a 10AH LiPO4 Bionnic battery, for my G90. Simple, compact and adequate for my 4-6hr outings. Great to have the USB charging port too! Went with the rollable Powerfilm after seeing your video where you describe being able to use them in the rain (its fairly wet here in coastal British Columbia) compared to the foldable. I'm very pleased with my decision, which was made possible thanks to your detailed and extensive videos. Thank you! 73, Kevin VE7OVY
Outstanding! The rollables are absolutely amazing in wet (or Arctic) conditions. Understanding the difference was a tough lesson, but a good one. Anyway, I'm glad to read this comment. Often viewers ask for more "QSO" type videos, but the supporting practical knowledge, is far more interesting for me :) Thanks for the comment and kindness. It's very much appreciated. 73 Julian oh8stn
You were one of the first channels I subscribed to when I came on youtube years ago. But here something that I have always wanted to see but no one seems to have done. When you are out in the woods you have all sorts of things that can be recharged but no outlet. Not just ham radio equipment but things like : Headlamps. Flash lights Cell phones. Laptops. e.t.c I am sure there are things I am forgetting. But my point is how can I determine that amount of current these things draw and how much power they will need from a combination of a solar panel, charge controller, and rechargeble battery. Ideally what i would like to do is ride my motercycle into a wooded area. Set up camp. have EVERYTHING fully charged as home. Connect up the Solar panel to the charge controller, connect the charge controller to the battery , connect then battery to a Anderson Power Pole distribution block and whatever connectors each piece of equipment needs. Then during the day run things from the distribution block so they are still fully charged when night falls. I hope I am describing that correctly. But even to figure out what size panel you need or what amp-hour battery you need you have to know each piece or equipment's current draw. How do you find that out and what kind of math is needed ? Thanks in advance.
Excellect question. Others say guesstimate. I actually like to measure every piece of equipment with an inline multimeter, but it goes even further than that. When I'm purchasing gear that I use out in the field, I look for gear which is efficient and easy to charge. I also look for gear which can be run off of 12 volts DC, and omit anything that needs to be charged with AC. Anything which is too current hungry too be practical in the field is left at home then replaced with something more efficient. Anyway the bottom line is simply measuring with an inline multimeter the amount of current in particular device uses while idling, and while it's in use. For example a laptop will take much more power when it's internal battery is flat and charging than when it's internal battery is full. For headlamps I try to look for ones which can be charged over USB. It makes it easy to using USB to 12 volt DC adapter in the field to charge them back up. All you need to know is how long the battery lasts, and how much energy that take to charge when they're flat. For that one we use inline USB meters. It's all about the measurement my friend.
Thanks. this video should have come sooner. it needed time out in teh field for validation. Now i'm happy, and the time was well spent. Thanks for the feedback and kindness. it is very much appreciated.
I bought a Buddipole mini last year and have nothing but good things to say about it. I have one caveat to that last statement. The mini has an upper voltage input threshold of 16 volts. The folding solar panel (blanket) I have produces 18 volts. This required that I put a step down buck converter inline to produce the correct voltage for the mini. On checking around I found that other folding and rigid type solar panels intended for use with RV's or camping situations also produce 18 volts. So I would carefully check the voltage of your solar panels to be sure they are within the input limit of the mini. If your panels output more than 16 volts you will need to step down the voltage. Aside from that the mini is the perfect solution to my off grid field operations. I totally love the powerpole connectors and the ease of setup via the onboard menus. In my opinion this is the perfect charge controller for off-grid portable operating.
This is incorrect. The maximum solar input voltage of the PowerMini USB is 24 volts. Perhaps there was a previous version with the limitation you mentioned? I often use the solar panels on my tower to power the PowerMini. Open voltage on those panels is 22.8 volts. Works like a charm. PowerMini documentation also says 24 volts maxim solar input.
The old saying is "Keep moving forward". As radio operators, we need to keep improving our capabilities. It is the only way we can make deployment faster, easier, safer, ... Just wish I/we could do more. thanks for the amazing comment. 73 Julian oh8stn
Just giving back Michael. Some operators have shared their time with me, explaining things over the years. We should all try to keep that spirit going, by also sharing what we know. Comments like yours make it easier :) 73 Julian oh8stn
I own and use the Power Mini and it has worked quite well in a portable setting. Admittedly, my kind of portable amounts to driving to a nearby park, placing a flat solar panel (which I store in my van) on to the roof of my van in order to use it to power my batt pack and radio, and by using a screwdriver antenna mounted on to the corner the van. This arrangement works fine for me since I do not operate portable for more than a couple of hours at a time. I originally began my portable ops by hauling around a hefty LIFEPO4 pack which was perfect for base off grid use but which was serious overkill for merely an afternoon outing. I think Julian would agree that one has to choose the right tools for the job.
Excellent video sir. I've seen you mention the BUDDIPOLE Power Mini before but I didn't get it. NOW I DO 👍🏻 I think it'll form the core of my power system for the IC-705 when I manage to get one 👍🏻🙂
That is a cool controller - I have been using my little morningstar for quite some time and carry a pocket multimeter (handy to have) for measurements. Thanks for sharing !
thanks. I started out with morningstar controllers. They are solid and tend to not break. I just wish they were less noisy for radio comms on HF. Thanks for the comment and watching. it is very much appreciated.
Julian, nice modular solution. I've just had issues with the Buddipole company and their CEO - product failure and failure to follow up on commitments. So will pass on them.
Sorry to read this. Always trying to present the best solutions to the community, but it's certainly tough when companies don't live up to the expectations. Please let us know how it works out. 73 Julian oh8stn
@@OH8STN Yes that would be awsome.. im waiting for my radio to arrive and my licence is on its way.. I saw you via my RTL-SDR.. that little thing got me into this. so im waiting for my mcHF radio to arrive.. C ya in the air waves in future.. ..73..
This is an awesome message. Thank you for this. Yeah, you're going to have a good time with the mchf. It's a great radio. And I think we will almost almost always have conditions between us. Except for the extreme South of Sweden, it's all less than one hop away. Thanks again for watching, and for commenting. It's very much appreciated
I'd love it if Buddipole would make a panel mount version of this or a bracket where you could panel mount this. I'm in the middle of building my own battery power supply that I want to be self contained. This would be a lot more elegant than the components I'm using.
I looked up the price. 145 US bucks plus shipping. I checked the specs and saw that it is a PWM solar charge controller. For that money Buddipole could have made it an MPPT controller, assuming that MPPT controllers will in most cases be more efficient and effective than a PWM controller. On a positive note, it will charge all kinds of batteries and has some nice bells and whistles. 73! SV0SGS.
Excellent video. I think you're the "Go To Channel" for portable power. Could you provide a link where you source the Headway 38120 batteries? I'm in the UK and have only seemed to find them at extortionate prices. Thank you :-)
Hi Julian, I ordered a PowerMini a few days ago. I’m also using the Xiegu X5105. In your experience, what wattage of solar panel is enough to keep that system up full-time assuming digital mode QRP?
Hi Bob. It is kind of a trick question with multiple right/wrong answers. In my experience the 20w powerfilm panel was usually enough to keep my ft-817nd powered up constantly. Of course I used a small external battery, but the goal wa salways to generate doubl the current thatn the radio takes on rx. For the x5105 at 0.3-0.6amps running ft8/js8call, a 30watt powerfilm could keep it powered up, as long as you have sunlight and reasonable duty cycle.
@@OH8STN Cliff over at the QRPSchool channel has an excellent lecture on estimating power needs for portable operations. The math is really simple (weighted average) but he gives an example or two that will make it clear. My goal is to have 3x the power required for a day of operations. That way I have significant reserve should I not have sunlight for a day or two, or if my shift should go longer than expected, or if I need to transmit more than my base assumption.
Good afternoon Julian I wish Power film Panels we affordable in the UK! They are not. £1500 for a 60 watt panel far too expensive for a casual portable user (like me). I can purchase a 'useable' 30 watt panel for £150 (Called a 63W panel form BigBlu) There is nowhere to purchase the Buddipole charger controller in the UK (or Europe for that matter) and by the time you've imported it from the USA it costs about £300 -- about twice the price of the Genesun 10L so nice as it seems, Genesun will remain my go-to charge controller. By the way, I'm using your 20A Solar Generator design for my portable activities. Works very well :-) 73 Bruce G4ABX
Wow that is some set up. I just sub to your channel and hope to see more stuff like this. I don't do SOTA or POTA, but great ideas in case I need power, when the power goes out. Thanks. 73 Clark KG7LOI
It's been quite a long time since I've used that power Mini. I certainly would have mentioned it in my videos If I Had. I've sold it now and focus exclusively on Genasun controllers. Sorry I can't be more helpful. 73 Julian oh8stn
Love your videos. Is the power mini MPPT ? Or PWM? If it’s not MPPT ,(I’m in UK ) the I’ll probably go for genasun and a rigrunner 4004u for distribution. Stick everything to the battery using that wide hardcore Velcro. I built a really small portable solar system in 1999 for my messenger bag whilst cycling. Had 5 watt flexi panel tied to the outside of the bag. Tiny little charge controller taped to a skinny 12v sealed lead acid battery. Think it was only 4ah. Cigarette socket on the output. Charged my Nokia and mini disk (or whatever it was). Did me well for years. 😊
Powerpoles, battery selection, small form factor, and in the same price range as other controllers. Looks like the Holy Grail of portable power management. Would you agree?
I rather says it solves problems many of us have powering our gear in the field. This is a big step forward, getting us 90% of the way to where we want to be.
But... how well does the Mini work? Meaning does it create RF hash? I went to your link & noticed that it is listed as a PWM type; rather than MPPT. PWM types are notorious for creating noise in the RF spectrum. Would like to see an operational comparison on a weak signal RX station; both with the Mini in & out of circuit. Thanks for the intro.
I just got a 10.5A Genasun lifepo4 based on multiple reviews.I am a bit sad that it produce serious noise on 160m, 80m and some light noise on 40m and 12m either ic 7300 or ft 857d.How the mini does with noise ?
Interesting. Are you sure it's the charge controller? I had one giving out a little bit of noise. I messaged Genasun support who said it wasn't supposed to be doing that. I sent it back and they sent a replacement.
I should be getting one during August or September. I'm totally stoked about that radio and the options we currently have in the community right now. When the 705 arrives, there will be an expedition to truly show off its capabilities. 73 Julian oh8stn
Hi Julian, Sorry for posting to an old thread. Thanks to your excellent videos, I had the confidence to buy two R-60 powerfilm panels, a 30ah bioenno lifepo4, and a buddipole powermini usb+. I noticed that you created a y-cable to enable powerto be sent from your powerplus to the genasun controller when solar was insufficient or unavailable. Do you suppose the same y-connector approach would be possible with the powermini usb+ instead of the genasun charge controller? I'm thinking of picking up the powerplus, if so. Much appreciated.
I guess I should say that the y-cable that connects to the powerplus, genasun controller, and battery is not sending power to the genasun controller, but to the battery. In any case, I'm curious if the same approach would work with the powermini and powerplus. I don't see why not, but I could be lacking in some details.
Buddipole responded to my support query and said that the genasun controller could be substituted with the powermini in your configuration. Buddipole gave permission to share their response here: "Definitely something that would work, but bear in mind that the chargers are not coordinated (same with the Geasun/Powerplus situation also). That means that there is the potential for the DC and the Solar chargers both trying to charge the battery at the same time. In that case one of them will probably dominate the other. So - no problem if it is one or the other, DC or Solar, but DC and Solar charging at the same time is not a defined case that I would recommend. Having said that, you can make that arrangement work if you deliberately set the POWERmini maximum charge voltage lower than normal. For example by setting it to 14.0V, the POWERplus will take control of charging for the final stages and POWERmini would automatically back off. The downside of that is slightly less charge when you are operating in the purely solar mode. " Buddipole also shared this: "One word of caution that I left out is to be sure that the batteries are ALWAYS connected. If you disconnect the batteries but leave the POWERplus connected to the POWERmini then the POWERplus battery charger could try to charge the POWERmini. That shouldn't be a big problem but it is definitely a wacky thing to do."
Julian, as always great video. I have a very similar setup, except I purchased a K2 battery pack, but want to build my own soon. I was wondering if you've ever experienced issues with the battery pack BMS and the POWERmini, once the pack is fully charged. Mine continually power cycles until I disconnect the solar panels and drain the battery some. 73 Michael WL7BA
Unfortunately yes. I don't know if this cycling is harmful to the PowerMini, the battery, or just a bug in firmware when battery is full. I mentioned this to Buddipole in my review report, but have not received any feedback about it yet. I suggest sending a message to Buddipole to let them know someone else has this same issue with LiFePO4 batteries and the PowerMini. Good catch and glad you mentioned it here. 73 Julian oh8stn
Definitely the Genasun GV-10L. it's lightweight, has great performance, and doesn't generate any noise. The Buddipole was a great idea, but the pwm controller lacks performance in cloudy or low light situations. It also struggles with Lithium based batteries. Victrons are too RF noisy.
I haven't tested the powermini 2, but wasn't impressed with the PowerMini after a couple of seasons. Original PowerMini was PWM. it had filters, powerpoles, ... but as a charge controller wasn't even on the same planet as Genasun controllers.
Hi Julian.... awesome job as usual! I have some questions. I am putting together a SOTA, POTA kit that has a G90, and a Surface Go as the main components for operation. What is an efficient method of providing the Surface Go operating power? I have to confess that I have not done any looking around for an answer yet, but, your posting jogged my thoughts. I am also interested in what would be an expected rate of charge in direct sunlight for the folded solar panel that you show? I have a Bioenno Power LiFePO4 Battery BLF-1220A to support higher duty cycles at 20 watts. :) 73, KF6IF
Hi Phil. This is a trick question with lots of variables. First,, the solar panels I use usually provide exactly the watts they are rated at. If a PowerFilm panel says 6A in full sunlight, in my experience, it usually comes very close. Keep in mind I am at a higher latitude. So I don't get the best performance as someone in Georgia or Arizona for example. Still in full sunlight the numbers are legit. The surface go uses a USB-C port for charging. This is a very good thing! There are a number of 12v to USC-C adapters you could use get power out of your bioenno battery, to your surface go. This is the same method I use to get power to my Lenovo Yoga tab-top in the field. If you're lucky, your surface go has a thunderbolt 3 port which will either slow charge via normal USB, or fast charge when there is a USB-C port available. 73 Julian oh8stn
Julian, I am looking at putting together a portable kit based off an 857d and was wondering how this compares to the genasun? I want to build a man portable system similar to what you use for emergencies and camping.
The Genasun GVB-8 is my favourite strictly speaking of performance. Naturally with a buddy pull you don't have to add your own power pole ports. One piece of consideration is winter deployment. If you are at a high latitude with lots of clouds and dark days, I would not buy the buddipole. It's not very good with low light conditions. The Genasun is, but you need to do your own cables.
@@OH8STN i am pretty much at sea level here in Iowa USA. Just trying to figure out which charge controller to use, then hiw big of a battery to build etc... You are currently my favorite channel for emergancy comms.
Thanks for that. The battery really depends on how much run time you need, and how you plan on recharging it in the field. For me being so far north I have big solar panels which adds significantly to the cost of the system's. I can also augment that by building a bigger battery pack, but that adds weight to the system. Ultimately would have done is build several different battery packs for different scenarios. That's why there's so many battery Builds on the channel. I have one incoming you might be interested in. It's a lightweight battery offering a few hours of runtime with a radio like the 857, but it's small and easy to pack. The cells are also much easier to find. Perhaps I'll put that video together in the coming weeks
@@OH8STN we generally get enough sun here i was planning on looking into solar options myself. Appreciate the feed back and love the battery builds so I will be watching. 73
It is a PWM charge controller BUT, has filtering on all amateur bands to keep things quiet. I have mentioned the desire for an MPPT version, but no word yet.
@@OH8STN mm ok, thanks for the info. This might become part of my eventual solar setup for long outings. I plan to use a bioenno 20ah battery with a 100w foldable panel. A Powerfilm panel would be amazing, but for me they are prohibitively expensive, maybe someday.
Hi Julian, have you ever user the PowerMini with the LightSaver Max? In my case the LightSaver Max gives out 12.4V and that is not enough to trigger the threshold voltages in the PowerMini so it can charge the batteries connected to it. What is your experience?
I don't believe the PowerMini was designed to use a LightSaver Max as battery storage. The Lightsaver Max has the charge controller built in, plus a DC and USB outputs. So there is no need for a external charge controller. Also the lightsaver Max has a DC input for charging, and a DC output for discharge. So I don't think threshold is the problem, I think the internal battery on the lightsaver Max, is isolated from the powermini charge controller.
I'm basically trying to duplicate (one of) your systems - FT-891, GPS, Raspberry Pi 4B+, MP1C antenna. The only thing left is a solar power source and batteries. My major sticking point is your use of LiFePO4 batteries in the cold. I've been warned that it is instant death for the batteries if you try to charge them below 0C/32F. Is this BS or truth? Ed - KD2EIP.
Awesome question. The context is often missing in these discussions. Let me try to give you some context. I never charge my batteries when they are below freezing. If you notice, most of the big solar batteries/generators I have, all have a temperature sensor inside. I always know the temperature of the batteries. Second, usually if it's below zero, I'm in a heated shelter or hot tent. Even though it looks cold, I promise you it's at or above freezing in the shelter. Third, you can discharge lithium iron phosphate batteries down to pretty insane temperatures without damaging them. One trick I use when I must charge up my batteries in the field below freezing, is simply putting them in my jacket before I charge them up. Naturally this is a trick for small packs. For my larger systems, there's always an insulation Inside the Box or enclosure. This protects the battery from the cold, and helps keep the heat generated while discharging, Inside the Box. If the temperature goes above a certain point, I can always simply open the box, but I've never had to. Operating in extreme temperatures is really easy. You simply have to remember your batteries can operate in any temperature which you can. I think I should do a video on this topic. Winter's coming so it's probably a good idea. What do you think?
I'd like to see your techniques for charging in the winter. Maybe sacrifice a very old laptop cell to show what happens with sub-zero (C) charging and steps to mitigate the problem? You're not going to want to sit there warming the batteries all day while they charge. Maybe an insulated box and one of those reusable heat packs for hunters? For my own use I was thinking of switching the solar panels to a heater instead of the MPPT controller whenever the battery temperature got below 5C. Or maybe just turn on a heater at 5C and off at 10C - in parallel with the battery? I'd still want a safety cutout to stop everything at 3C. Batteries are expensive!
Love my original PowerMini. Your channel is the best. thank you.
Really excellent product reviews. I was one of the original Buddipole Power-Mini field testers and I fell in love with it the first time I used it. I also use a PowerFilm (60w) folding solar panel and two of the Buddipole 4S2P battery packs for all my light portable use. They are as good as you have described here. 73 everyone and get out there and call CQ. Sunspot cycle 25 is warming up nicely.
These field test videos always make me want to get out into the great outdoors.
Thanks for this comprehensive explanation - I believe - on how the Buddipole power mini integrates into our power question as operators. I’m totally sold. When I finally get my portable hf system going, it will be with one of these. Thank you!
Hello from Long Island NY. I’m using the Bioenno 15 ah and solar charging for my FT-891. I’m new to hf and so far it’s all working great. Nice video. I like how you break it all down and explain your objectives and choices.
Fred W2FTR
Sounds like a good setup. I also have an ft891, but use a 10ah LiFePO4, very similar to your bioenno pack. It is a solid setup which should give you years of enjoyment. How do you like the 891?
OH8STN Ham Radio I like to very much. I’m using a DX Commander Classic antenna with it and it all works very well for portable operating. I’m still learning how to fly this rig. My version of learning to fly is repeatedly falling out of the nest. ;)
Your videos are light years ahead of most, which may be overwhelming to new or soon to be Tech/Foundation Licensee's.
I remain personally inspired by your videos, but don't forget to explain why we do this. EMCOM is a term for a very good reason. On occassion, maybe show new subscribers what all the tech magic is about.
Making contacts is still exciting !
I understand and will keep this in mind.
73
Julian oh8stn
Just built my first self contained Hammo Can using the 38120 LiFePo4 batteries. Thanks for the informational videos. They helped me understand how to use a BMS. 73 K6EGP
Best comment of the day :)
I should do more battery build videos. There are so many radio/battery combination possibilities, we would never run out of material.
thanks for watching and the feedback. Very much appreciated.
Hi Julian, After watching your previous solar power videos, I decided a PowerMini would be more versatile than the Genasun charge controller so bought that plus a 28W rollable Powerfilm, to power a 10AH LiPO4 Bionnic battery, for my G90. Simple, compact and adequate for my 4-6hr outings. Great to have the USB charging port too! Went with the rollable Powerfilm after seeing your video where you describe being able to use them in the rain (its fairly wet here in coastal British Columbia) compared to the foldable. I'm very pleased with my decision, which was made possible thanks to your detailed and extensive videos. Thank you! 73, Kevin VE7OVY
Outstanding!
The rollables are absolutely amazing in wet (or Arctic) conditions. Understanding the difference was a tough lesson, but a good one. Anyway, I'm glad to read this comment. Often viewers ask for more "QSO" type videos, but the supporting practical knowledge, is far more interesting for me :)
Thanks for the comment and kindness. It's very much appreciated.
73
Julian oh8stn
Kevin where did you find in Canada the 28W rollable to purchase? VE7CYA ward
GREAT look at the buddipole mini
You were one of the first channels I subscribed to when I came on youtube years ago. But here something that I have always wanted to see but no one seems to have done.
When you are out in the woods you have all sorts of things that can be recharged but no outlet. Not just ham radio equipment but things like :
Headlamps.
Flash lights
Cell phones.
Laptops.
e.t.c
I am sure there are things I am forgetting.
But my point is how can I determine that amount of current these things draw and how much power they will need from a combination of a solar panel, charge controller, and rechargeble battery.
Ideally what i would like to do is ride my motercycle into a wooded area. Set up camp. have EVERYTHING fully charged as home. Connect up the Solar panel to the charge controller, connect the charge controller to the battery , connect then battery to a Anderson Power Pole distribution block and whatever connectors each piece of equipment needs. Then during the day run things from the distribution block so they are still fully charged when night falls.
I hope I am describing that correctly. But even to figure out what size panel you need or what amp-hour battery you need you have to know each piece or equipment's current draw. How do you find that out and what kind of math is needed ?
Thanks in advance.
Excellect question. Others say guesstimate. I actually like to measure every piece of equipment with an inline multimeter, but it goes even further than that. When I'm purchasing gear that I use out in the field, I look for gear which is efficient and easy to charge. I also look for gear which can be run off of 12 volts DC, and omit anything that needs to be charged with AC. Anything which is too current hungry too be practical in the field is left at home then replaced with something more efficient. Anyway the bottom line is simply measuring with an inline multimeter the amount of current in particular device uses while idling, and while it's in use. For example a laptop will take much more power when it's internal battery is flat and charging than when it's internal battery is full. For headlamps I try to look for ones which can be charged over USB. It makes it easy to using USB to 12 volt DC adapter in the field to charge them back up. All you need to know is how long the battery lasts, and how much energy that take to charge when they're flat. For that one we use inline USB meters. It's all about the measurement my friend.
thank you, as always another valuable lesson on minimal but effective portable comms.
Thanks. this video should have come sooner. it needed time out in teh field for validation. Now i'm happy, and the time was well spent.
Thanks for the feedback and kindness. it is very much appreciated.
I bought a Buddipole mini last year and have nothing but good things to say about it. I have one caveat to that last statement. The mini has an upper voltage input threshold of 16 volts. The folding solar panel (blanket) I have produces 18 volts. This required that I put a step down buck converter inline to produce the correct voltage for the mini. On checking around I found that other folding and rigid type solar panels intended for use with RV's or camping situations also produce 18 volts. So I would carefully check the voltage of your solar panels to be sure they are within the input limit of the mini. If your panels output more than 16 volts you will need to step down the voltage. Aside from that the mini is the perfect solution to my off grid field operations. I totally love the powerpole connectors and the ease of setup via the onboard menus. In my opinion this is the perfect charge controller for off-grid portable operating.
This is incorrect. The maximum solar input voltage of the PowerMini USB is 24 volts. Perhaps there was a previous version with the limitation you mentioned? I often use the solar panels on my tower to power the PowerMini. Open voltage on those panels is 22.8 volts. Works like a charm. PowerMini documentation also says 24 volts maxim solar input.
Your pioneering experimentation continues to inspire me. Cheers G1XST
The old saying is "Keep moving forward". As radio operators, we need to keep improving our capabilities. It is the only way we can make deployment faster, easier, safer, ... Just wish I/we could do more.
thanks for the amazing comment.
73
Julian oh8stn
I really like your approach to power in the field.
Great stuff thank you!
Just giving back Michael. Some operators have shared their time with me, explaining things over the years. We should all try to keep that spirit going, by also sharing what we know.
Comments like yours make it easier :)
73
Julian oh8stn
I own and use the Power Mini and it has worked quite well in a portable setting. Admittedly, my kind of portable amounts to driving to a nearby park, placing a flat solar panel (which I store in my van) on to the roof of my van in order to use it to power my batt pack and radio, and by using a screwdriver antenna mounted on to the corner the van. This arrangement works fine for me since I do not operate portable for more than a couple of hours at a time. I originally began my portable ops by hauling around a hefty LIFEPO4 pack which was perfect for base off grid use but which was serious overkill for merely an afternoon outing. I think Julian would agree that one has to choose the right tools for the job.
Totally off topic but your dog is beautiful.
Thank you for that. She has been a wonderful addition to our family
Excellent video sir. I've seen you mention the BUDDIPOLE Power Mini before but I didn't get it. NOW I DO 👍🏻 I think it'll form the core of my power system for the IC-705 when I manage to get one 👍🏻🙂
That is a cool controller - I have been using my little morningstar for quite some time and carry a pocket multimeter (handy to have) for measurements. Thanks for sharing !
thanks. I started out with morningstar controllers. They are solid and tend to not break. I just wish they were less noisy for radio comms on HF.
Thanks for the comment and watching. it is very much appreciated.
I also didn't realize it was you. I'm just about to watch your latest video :-)
Thank you for the video.
Julian, nice modular solution. I've just had issues with the Buddipole company and their CEO - product failure and failure to follow up on commitments. So will pass on them.
Sorry to read this. Always trying to present the best solutions to the community, but it's certainly tough when companies don't live up to the expectations.
Please let us know how it works out.
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Julian oh8stn
Another great video. Love the "Hi speed, low drag" comment. Gunny Highway is my hero. Take care. John N6NRO
The Gunny is the man!
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Julian oh8stn
Great channel.. just got my FS8CALL working.. Saw your heartbeat or something i think... Cheers from West Coast of Sweden
I just shut down my station about the time you sent this message. It'll be up and running again today. Will be awesome to have a qso with you
@@OH8STN Yes that would be awsome.. im waiting for my radio to arrive and my licence is on its way.. I saw you via my RTL-SDR.. that little thing got me into this. so im waiting for my mcHF radio to arrive.. C ya in the air waves in future.. ..73..
This is an awesome message. Thank you for this. Yeah, you're going to have a good time with the mchf. It's a great radio. And I think we will almost almost always have conditions between us. Except for the extreme South of Sweden, it's all less than one hop away. Thanks again for watching, and for commenting. It's very much appreciated
I'd love it if Buddipole would make a panel mount version of this or a bracket where you could panel mount this. I'm in the middle of building my own battery power supply that I want to be self contained. This would be a lot more elegant than the components I'm using.
Agreed! Sometimes it would be nice to have an all in one or kind of integrated solution, to make things simpler.
Great comment
I looked up the price. 145 US bucks plus shipping. I checked the specs and saw that it is a PWM solar charge controller. For that money Buddipole could have made it an MPPT controller, assuming that MPPT controllers will in most cases be more efficient and effective than a PWM controller. On a positive note, it will charge all kinds of batteries and has some nice bells and whistles. 73! SV0SGS.
I also gave them feedback about making an mppt version.
@@OH8STN Just saw your comment about MPPT right after I pushed the button. Oops! BTW I always enjoy your videos. 73! SV0SGS
Great stuff Julian. I just received my powermini today. It does what I want it to do. Thanks de ZL1REY
Thanks again for a quality and informative video!
You're very welcome.
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Julian oh8stn
Thanks very informative as usual.
Excellent video. I think you're the "Go To Channel" for portable power. Could you provide a link where you source the Headway 38120 batteries? I'm in the UK and have only seemed to find them at extortionate prices. Thank you :-)
Hi Julian, I ordered a PowerMini a few days ago. I’m also using the Xiegu X5105. In your experience, what wattage of solar panel is enough to keep that system up full-time assuming digital mode QRP?
Hi Bob. It is kind of a trick question with multiple right/wrong answers. In my experience the 20w powerfilm panel was usually enough to keep my ft-817nd powered up constantly. Of course I used a small external battery, but the goal wa salways to generate doubl the current thatn the radio takes on rx. For the x5105 at 0.3-0.6amps running ft8/js8call, a 30watt powerfilm could keep it powered up, as long as you have sunlight and reasonable duty cycle.
OH8STN Ham Radio Much appreciated. Thanks.
@@OH8STN Cliff over at the QRPSchool channel has an excellent lecture on estimating power needs for portable operations. The math is really simple (weighted average) but he gives an example or two that will make it clear.
My goal is to have 3x the power required for a day of operations. That way I have significant reserve should I not have sunlight for a day or two, or if my shift should go longer than expected, or if I need to transmit more than my base assumption.
End of this one going off grid for a week long hinting and fishing trip. I'll bring along my field radio station for campsite entertainment
Good afternoon Julian
I wish Power film Panels we affordable in the UK! They are not. £1500 for a 60 watt panel far too expensive for a casual portable user (like me). I can purchase a 'useable' 30 watt panel for £150 (Called a 63W panel form BigBlu)
There is nowhere to purchase the Buddipole charger controller in the UK (or Europe for that matter) and by the time you've imported it from the USA it costs about £300 -- about twice the price of the Genesun 10L so nice as it seems, Genesun will remain my go-to charge controller.
By the way, I'm using your 20A Solar Generator design for my portable activities. Works very well :-)
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Bruce G4ABX
Wow that is some set up. I just sub to your channel and hope to see more stuff like this. I don't do SOTA or POTA, but great ideas in case I need power, when the power goes out. Thanks. 73 Clark KG7LOI
Thanks for the video, have you noticed and noise, RF when running in conjunction with the radio?
It's been quite a long time since I've used that power Mini. I certainly would have mentioned it in my videos If I Had. I've sold it now and focus exclusively on Genasun controllers. Sorry I can't be more helpful.
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Julian oh8stn
Hi j 150 bucks an usb too :-) sold ...73
Unfortunately this is a PWM type charge controller. How bad is the RFI?
Love your videos. Is the power mini MPPT ? Or PWM?
If it’s not MPPT ,(I’m in UK ) the I’ll probably go for genasun and a rigrunner 4004u for distribution. Stick everything to the battery using that wide hardcore Velcro. I built a really small portable solar system in 1999 for my messenger bag whilst cycling. Had 5 watt flexi panel tied to the outside of the bag. Tiny little charge controller taped to a skinny 12v sealed lead acid battery. Think it was only 4ah. Cigarette socket on the output. Charged my Nokia and mini disk (or whatever it was). Did me well for years. 😊
Powerpoles, battery selection, small form factor, and in the same price range as other controllers. Looks like the Holy Grail of portable power management. Would you agree?
I rather says it solves problems many of us have powering our gear in the field. This is a big step forward, getting us 90% of the way to where we want to be.
@@OH8STN 90% is more than what we had before. Thanks for the video, and for your opinions. Extremely valuable
wow schön info video top gefällt mir
73 de DE2TRF
Danke! It is my pleasure.
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Julian oh8stn
Go Julian!!!
But... how well does the Mini work? Meaning does it create RF hash? I went to your link & noticed that it is listed as a PWM type; rather than MPPT. PWM types are notorious for creating noise in the RF spectrum.
Would like to see an operational comparison on a weak signal RX station; both with the Mini in & out of circuit.
Thanks for the intro.
it is
@@OH8STN thank you for letting us know that.
Sorry to read that it's not MPPT. PWM is much less efficient and this is crucial in portable ops.
Reducing the amount of gear we carry, is also critical to Portable Ops.
Victron MPPT controllers seem to have all of the features of this Powerpole unit plus app configuration and monitoring.
I just got a 10.5A Genasun lifepo4 based on multiple reviews.I am a bit sad that it produce serious noise on 160m, 80m and some light noise on 40m and 12m either ic 7300 or ft 857d.How the mini does with noise ?
Interesting. Are you sure it's the charge controller? I had one giving out a little bit of noise. I messaged Genasun support who said it wasn't supposed to be doing that. I sent it back and they sent a replacement.
Another great video!!!! Will you be doing a review on the ICOM IC-705 anytime soon????
It's finally approved for sale in the U.S.A. Cheers, Mate.
I should be getting one during August or September. I'm totally stoked about that radio and the options we currently have in the community right now. When the 705 arrives, there will be an expedition to truly show off its capabilities.
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Julian oh8stn
@@OH8STN Julian, I look forward to the review with great interest! 73 and Cheers, Mate.
Hi Julian,
Sorry for posting to an old thread.
Thanks to your excellent videos, I had the confidence to buy two R-60 powerfilm panels, a 30ah bioenno lifepo4, and a buddipole powermini usb+. I noticed that you created a y-cable to enable powerto be sent from your powerplus to the genasun controller when solar was insufficient or unavailable. Do you suppose the same y-connector approach would be possible with the powermini usb+ instead of the genasun charge controller? I'm thinking of picking up the powerplus, if so.
Much appreciated.
I guess I should say that the y-cable that connects to the powerplus, genasun controller, and battery is not sending power to the genasun controller, but to the battery. In any case, I'm curious if the same approach would work with the powermini and powerplus. I don't see why not, but I could be lacking in some details.
I haven't tried but can't see why not. I would shoot off a message to buddipole support and see what they say, just to be sure.
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Julian oh8stn
Buddipole responded to my support query and said that the genasun controller could be substituted with the powermini in your configuration. Buddipole gave permission to share their response here:
"Definitely something that would work, but bear in mind that the chargers are not coordinated (same with the Geasun/Powerplus situation also). That means that there is the potential for the DC and the Solar chargers both trying to charge the battery at the same time. In that case one of them will probably dominate the other.
So - no problem if it is one or the other, DC or Solar, but DC and Solar charging at the same time is not a defined case that I would recommend.
Having said that, you can make that arrangement work if you deliberately set the POWERmini maximum charge voltage lower than normal. For example by setting it to 14.0V, the POWERplus will take control of charging for the final stages and POWERmini would automatically back off. The downside of that is slightly less charge when you are operating in the purely solar mode. "
Buddipole also shared this:
"One word of caution that I left out is to be sure that the batteries are ALWAYS connected. If you disconnect the batteries but leave the POWERplus connected to the POWERmini then the POWERplus battery charger could try to charge the POWERmini. That shouldn't be a big problem but it is definitely a wacky thing to do."
This is excellent news. Thank you for sharing this and please send regards to buddipole👍👍👍
Great vid btw could you tell the intro music name? (slow string instrument one)
Thanks for watching and for the comment. I'm trying to find that song. Please give me a little while
Julian, as always great video. I have a very similar setup, except I purchased a K2 battery pack, but want to build my own soon. I was wondering if you've ever experienced issues with the battery pack BMS and the POWERmini, once the pack is fully charged. Mine continually power cycles until I disconnect the solar panels and drain the battery some. 73 Michael WL7BA
Unfortunately yes. I don't know if this cycling is harmful to the PowerMini, the battery, or just a bug in firmware when battery is full. I mentioned this to Buddipole in my review report, but have not received any feedback about it yet. I suggest sending a message to Buddipole to let them know someone else has this same issue with LiFePO4 batteries and the PowerMini.
Good catch and glad you mentioned it here.
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Julian oh8stn
Are the buddipole controllers as rf quiet as the genasun controllers? Thank you in advance.
The PowerMini has built in filters which should suppress PWM noise. So far so good. Not sure about outside Hsm bands.
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Julian oh8stn
@@OH8STN As always friend, thank you.
Have you continued to use the power mini and, if so, what are your long term thoughts?
2 years later what’s your favorite charge controller Buddipole, Genasun something else?
Definitely the Genasun GV-10L. it's lightweight, has great performance, and doesn't generate any noise. The Buddipole was a great idea, but the pwm controller lacks performance in cloudy or low light situations. It also struggles with Lithium based batteries. Victrons are too RF noisy.
@@OH8STNthe buddipole powermini 2 is mppt i believe. Is it known to cause RF interference with radios?
I haven't tested the powermini 2, but wasn't impressed with the PowerMini after a couple of seasons. Original PowerMini was PWM. it had filters, powerpoles, ... but as a charge controller wasn't even on the same planet as Genasun controllers.
Hi Julian.... awesome job as usual! I have some questions. I am putting together a SOTA, POTA kit that has a G90, and a Surface Go as the main components for operation. What is an efficient method of providing the Surface Go operating power? I have to confess that I have not done any looking around for an answer yet, but, your posting jogged my thoughts. I am also interested in what would be an expected rate of charge in direct sunlight for the folded solar panel that you show? I have a Bioenno Power LiFePO4 Battery BLF-1220A to support higher duty cycles at 20 watts. :) 73, KF6IF
Hi Phil. This is a trick question with lots of variables. First,, the solar panels I use usually provide exactly the watts they are rated at. If a PowerFilm panel says 6A in full sunlight, in my experience, it usually comes very close. Keep in mind I am at a higher latitude. So I don't get the best performance as someone in Georgia or Arizona for example. Still in full sunlight the numbers are legit.
The surface go uses a USB-C port for charging. This is a very good thing! There are a number of 12v to USC-C adapters you could use get power out of your bioenno battery, to your surface go. This is the same method I use to get power to my Lenovo Yoga tab-top in the field. If you're lucky, your surface go has a thunderbolt 3 port which will either slow charge via normal USB, or fast charge when there is a USB-C port available.
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Julian oh8stn
@@OH8STN Thanks Julian! You have given me some good items to chase down Sir! :)
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phil KF6IF
Julian, I am looking at putting together a portable kit based off an 857d and was wondering how this compares to the genasun? I want to build a man portable system similar to what you use for emergencies and camping.
The Genasun GVB-8 is my favourite strictly speaking of performance. Naturally with a buddy pull you don't have to add your own power pole ports. One piece of consideration is winter deployment. If you are at a high latitude with lots of clouds and dark days, I would not buy the buddipole. It's not very good with low light conditions. The Genasun is, but you need to do your own cables.
@@OH8STN i am pretty much at sea level here in Iowa USA. Just trying to figure out which charge controller to use, then hiw big of a battery to build etc... You are currently my favorite channel for emergancy comms.
Thanks for that. The battery really depends on how much run time you need, and how you plan on recharging it in the field. For me being so far north I have big solar panels which adds significantly to the cost of the system's. I can also augment that by building a bigger battery pack, but that adds weight to the system. Ultimately would have done is build several different battery packs for different scenarios. That's why there's so many battery Builds on the channel. I have one incoming you might be interested in. It's a lightweight battery offering a few hours of runtime with a radio like the 857, but it's small and easy to pack. The cells are also much easier to find. Perhaps I'll put that video together in the coming weeks
@@OH8STN we generally get enough sun here i was planning on looking into solar options myself. Appreciate the feed back and love the battery builds so I will be watching. 73
I so badly want to order one but they've been out of stock for months. :(
Don't worry. There are two new and interesting portable power systems about to come out.
That charge controller is quite impressive, is it PWM or MPPT? 73 de W8IJC
It is a PWM charge controller BUT, has filtering on all amateur bands to keep things quiet. I have mentioned the desire for an MPPT version, but no word yet.
@@OH8STN mm ok, thanks for the info. This might become part of my eventual solar setup for long outings. I plan to use a bioenno 20ah battery with a 100w foldable panel. A Powerfilm panel would be amazing, but for me they are prohibitively expensive, maybe someday.
I'm curious about where you get your huge shrink tubing. I can't seem to find shrink tubing in those sizes.
ebay from china. 320mm and larger. its een a while since ordering though.
@@OH8STN Thanks
I really like the idea of the powermini, but to be honest, being on a budget I cant see myself with one any time soon.
Is Powerfilm the most efficient solar panels on the market?
No, but ithas the highest power to weight ration of any panel on the market. It is the apex of portable power and mobility.
Is the charge controller MPPT? Is the USB port type C capable of high power?
It's a pwm charge controller and the USB port is standard USB
@@OH8STN 14 year old technology! Why do they enen bother.
Hi Julian, have you ever user the PowerMini with the LightSaver Max? In my case the LightSaver Max gives out 12.4V and that is not enough to trigger the threshold voltages in the PowerMini so it can charge the batteries connected to it. What is your experience?
I don't believe the PowerMini was designed to use a LightSaver Max as battery storage. The Lightsaver Max has the charge controller built in, plus a DC and USB outputs. So there is no need for a external charge controller. Also the lightsaver Max has a DC input for charging, and a DC output for discharge. So I don't think threshold is the problem, I think the internal battery on the lightsaver Max, is isolated from the powermini charge controller.
I'm basically trying to duplicate (one of) your systems - FT-891, GPS, Raspberry Pi 4B+, MP1C antenna. The only thing left is a solar power source and batteries. My major sticking point is your use of LiFePO4 batteries in the cold. I've been warned that it is instant death for the batteries if you try to charge them below 0C/32F. Is this BS or truth? Ed - KD2EIP.
Awesome question. The context is often missing in these discussions. Let me try to give you some context. I never charge my batteries when they are below freezing. If you notice, most of the big solar batteries/generators I have, all have a temperature sensor inside. I always know the temperature of the batteries. Second, usually if it's below zero, I'm in a heated shelter or hot tent. Even though it looks cold, I promise you it's at or above freezing in the shelter. Third, you can discharge lithium iron phosphate batteries down to pretty insane temperatures without damaging them.
One trick I use when I must charge up my batteries in the field below freezing, is simply putting them in my jacket before I charge them up. Naturally this is a trick for small packs. For my larger systems, there's always an insulation Inside the Box or enclosure. This protects the battery from the cold, and helps keep the heat generated while discharging, Inside the Box. If the temperature goes above a certain point, I can always simply open the box, but I've never had to. Operating in extreme temperatures is really easy. You simply have to remember your batteries can operate in any temperature which you can. I think I should do a video on this topic. Winter's coming so it's probably a good idea. What do you think?
I'd like to see your techniques for charging in the winter. Maybe sacrifice a very old laptop cell to show what happens with sub-zero (C) charging and steps to mitigate the problem? You're not going to want to sit there warming the batteries all day while they charge. Maybe an insulated box and one of those reusable heat packs for hunters?
For my own use I was thinking of switching the solar panels to a heater instead of the MPPT controller whenever the battery temperature got below 5C. Or maybe just turn on a heater at 5C and off at 10C - in parallel with the battery? I'd still want a safety cutout to stop everything at 3C. Batteries are expensive!
Bra pwr
goal zero or powerfilm panels?
PowerFilm unquestionably. All but one of my goal zeros have failed.
Where can I find that buddy pole control at?
Read the description 👍
Thanks
Oh goodness. Could I pay you to put together a basic comm system?