$620 Milk Crate Solar Power System: 640Wh LiFePO4, 500W Inverter, 260W Solar/AC Input, 8x USB
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- čas přidán 30. 07. 2024
- Sponsored Parts list (video materials not sponsored):
Inverter $60 amzn.to/3t9SMfQ
Battery $359 amzn.to/2YqeTjW
Ac charger $35 amzn.to/3ck76Mx
Charge controller $89 richsolar.com/products/20-amp...
Usb $25 amzn.to/2McJmzn
Crate $7.99 Bought this at target
Fuse block $9 amzn.to/2KYwmNf
Double sided tape $17 amzn.to/3cn3OrT
Cable ties $2.20 walmart
Connectors $3.97 walmart
Tools $4.97 walmart
10 gauge wire $10 walmart
Extension cord $2 walmart
200W rich solar panel: richsolar.com/products/200-wa...
Part 2 update: • Milk Crate System Part 3
Safety Update: the solar panel leads are in parallel with power supply output. This works great (panel acts as a diode and psu is current limited) unless the panel VOC exceeds max power supply output. Components on filtering output circuit of PSU (such as capacitors) can blow if you exceed this limit. Most sub 260W panels will not exceed 48V... but if you do, you should connect power supply direct to battery and set it to 14.4V.
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If DIY is not for you, but you love solar and need an offgrid system, check out EnergyPal! They will price out a system and get your house offgrid: energypal.com/diysolar/
My Solar Equipment Recommendations (Constantly updated! Check here first):
12V/48V Lithium Batteries: www.mobile-solarpower.com/sol...
Solar System Component Directory: www.mobile-solarpower.com/sol...
Complete 48V System Blueprint: www.mobile-solarpower.com/48v...
Plug-N-Play Systems: www.mobile-solarpower.com/ful...
Complete 48V System Kits: www.mobile-solarpower.com/com...
DIY Friendly Air Conditioner/ Heat Pumps: www.mobile-solarpower.com/sol...
My Favorite Online Stores for DIY Solar Products:
Signature Solar
Offgrid One-Stop-Shop. Best Value 48V LiFePO4, Victron and Offgrid Specific Heat Pumps:
www.signaturesolar.com/?ref=h...
Current Connected
SOK, Victron, Mr.Cool Heatpumps and High Quality Components:
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Ecoflow Delta
My favorite plug-n-play solar generator:
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AmpereTime
Cheapest 12V batteries around:
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Renogy
A classic 12V solar store that has been around for ages!
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Rich Solar
Renogy's biggest competitor! Similar products, but at a better price:
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Battery Hookup
Cheap cell deals
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5% off code: diysolar
Contact Information:
I am NOT available for personal solar system consult! If you wish to contact me, this is my direct email: williamprowsediysolar@gmail.com
Join the forum at diysolarforum.com/ if you wish to hang out with myself and others and talk about solar
FTC Disclosure Statement and Disclaimers:
Every video includes some form of paid promotion or sponsorship. Some links on this youtube channel may be affiliate links. We may get paid if you buy something or take an action after clicking one of these. My videos are for educational purposes only. Information is subject to change/update at any time. Electricity is DANGEROUS and can kill. Be smart and use common sense :)
DIY Solar Power with Will Prowse is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program,
An affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com
Update: attach the ac chargers output directly to the battery and set the voltage to 14.4V. updated schematic is here: www.mobile-solarpower.com/640wh-milk-crate-system.html
In the original wiring configuration, the solar panel leads are in parallel with power supply output. This works great (panel acts as a diode and psu is current limited) unless the panel VOC exceeds max power supply output. Components on filtering output circuit of PSU (such as capacitors) can blow if you exceed this limit. Most sub 260W panels will not exceed 48V... but if you do, you should connect power supply direct to battery and set it to 14.4V.
PV array acts as a diode.. but there is a limit. This is why 3+ parallel PV strings need OCPD. And high voltage strings in parallel always need OCPD. For this array, we would need 22+ Amps created by PSU. But it creates only 10A, so it is fine. PSU output limits current, so it will not damage the solar charge controller.
Quick update video covering this change: czcams.com/video/kq-RDDJIcL8/video.html
Next version will be cheaper, but I think most people will prefer the setup in this video. Here are the benefits compared to jackery and bluetti:
-2-3X solar input capacity
-2X the ac input capacity
-2-10X times longer cycle life (compared to NMC variant pack cycle life estimates)
-Nearly double the inverter size of the AC50S (but same size as jackery 500W. Next model will have larger inverter)
-And you can build it in less than an hour.
The next milk crate system will be $190ish dollars cheaper, but it will require more work.
57% of this build cost was the battery. The ampere delivered 670Wh. Good battery, and will do a tear down, but we can easily lower the price of this build significantly by building our own from raw cells.
Updates: inverter link was for MSW. Updated now for PSW
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Does off-grid solar confuse you? Check out my DIY friendly website for solar system packages and product recommendations, and so much more! www.mobile-solarpower.com
Join our DIY solar community! #1 largest solar forum on the internet for beginners and professionals alike: www.diysolarforum.com
Check out my best-selling, beginner-friendly 12V off-grid solar book (affiliate link):
amzn.to/2Aj4dX4
If DIY is not for you, but you love solar and need an offgrid system, check out Tesla Solar. Low prices and great warranty, and they can take your entire house offgrid with their new Powerwalls: ts.la/william57509
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My solar equipment recommendations (Constantly updated! Check here first):
12V/48V Lithium Batteries: www.mobile-solarpower.com/solar-batteries.html
Solar System Component Directory: www.mobile-solarpower.com/solarcomponents.html
Plug-N-Play Systems: www.mobile-solarpower.com/full-size-systems.html
Complete 48V System Kits: www.mobile-solarpower.com/complete-48v-solar-kits.html
DIY Friendly Air Conditioner/ Heat Pumps: www.mobile-solarpower.com/solar-friendly-air-conditioners.html
Complete 48V System Blueprint: www.mobile-solarpower.com/48v-complete-system-blueprint.html
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
My Favorite Online Stores for DIY Solar and Coupon Codes:
-Current Connected: SOK, Victron and High Quality Components. Best prices and warranty around: currentconnected.com/?ref=wp
-Signature Solar: Cheap Server Rack Batteries and Large Solar Panels:
www.signaturesolar.com/?ref=h-cvbzfahsek
-Ecoflow Delta Official Site: My favorite plug-n-play solar generator:
us.ecoflow.com/?aff=7
-AmpereTime: Cheapest 12V batteries around:
amperetime.com/products/ampere-time-12v-100ah-lithium-lifepo4-battery?ref=h-cvbzfahsek
-Rich Solar: Mega site and cheaper prices than renogy! Check them out:
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-Shop Solar Kits: Huge site with every solar kit you can imagine! Check it out:
shopsolarkits.com/?ref=will-p
-Battery Hookup: Cheap cell deals
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10% off code: diysolar
-Watts 24/7: Best deals on all-in-one solar power systems, with customer support and distribution here in the USA:
watts247.com/?wpam_id=3
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Contact Information:
I am NOT available for personal solar system consult! If you wish to contact me, this is my direct email: williamprowsediysolar@gmail.com
Join the forum at diysolarforum.com/ if you wish to hang out with myself and others and talk about solar
FTC Disclosure Statement and Disclaimers:
Every video includes some form of paid promotion or sponsorship. Some links on this youtube channel may be affiliate links. We may get paid if you buy something or take an action after clicking one of these. My videos are for educational purposes only. Information is subject to change/update at any time. Electricity is DANGEROUS and can kill. Be smart and use common sense :)
DIY Solar Power with Will Prowse is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program,
An affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com
The dairy industry will not be very happy with you!
People can get the square milk crates at Home Depot. I've bought two myself.
How could you add a car charging option to this build? Can you wire up a cigarette lighter plug to a dc-to-dc charger?
This is awesome Will, thank you!
This is similar to my set up
Car battery
inverter
charge controller
solar panels
which is standard
But you added the AC Charger and USB adapter, which is awesome.
Will your next build be as good as the Bluetti EB240 or Bluetti 200P?
I wanted to buy the 200P
But I can buy a really good computer with $1900.
if we build it ourselves can we beat the Bluetti price, and at the same time make something reliable that will last 10 years like the Bluetti?
@@pguindon Cig-lighter plug would go off the fuse box, like the USB charger, pretty sure.
One of the few people I can watch and learn at 2x speed and still understand what you are saying! Can't wait for the advance user one
Same I love it
He speaks so clearly and annunciates so well
Lucky for you people. Even on normal speed I have to stop sometimes and go back on the video to read all the texts and rehear him just to better understand what he says. Sometimes some technical terms take time to be understood. Cons of being a non-native speaker. And/or slow learner, take your fancy.
@@Teknopottu I completely agree! We are all here to have fun and learn!
I have a weird mind and learn audibly mostly and hands on. Others like my wife learns hands on and visually. I also have a technical mind that confuses even some people in a specific field. But then I'm dumb as... In some fields (emotional/social). But as long as I'm learning i may be able to help someone else to learn later as well.
@@Teknopottu That's cool.
Absolutely love your channel. No nonsense or fluff. Just smart, direct answers. I'd like to see a 1,000 wh version of this
Agree with everything you said, and also want a 1000 watt version of this
@@o4thesox just add another battery in parallel
@@ChuckCassadyYT Is that all? No changes to the other items?
@@ChuckCassadyYT How do you install an additional battery in parallel?
@@onekerri1 correct
OMG, Will, you have answered my prayers!!! I have been thinking of a DIY system for my campervan, but as a pensioner I just could not afford a fancy setup. I have many of the components already, I just need a low cost battery and the smaller items.
Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and expertise. We all truly appreciate the time and effort you use for your excellent channel.
Great video! I do think that color coding the wires is important, even when trying to save money. One technique is to put color markers on the ends of the wires. I have personally used short pieces of colored heat shrink, colored electrical tape, colored zip ties, colored Sharpies (on white wire) and colored paper that I have laminated over the wire with clear tape in a pinch.
Again,
You need to make a 2000wh DIY super simple gen.
One that can run a blow dryer for 20 min and not die.
As always,
Looking forward to your next video.🤙
Yes, please Will, make a diy generator for appliances like a hair dryer
@@cagonzo5577 And a blender to have a drink while drying
A hair dryer might be 1500 watt to 1800 watt, so you need a 2000 watt inverter. That means you need to supply 200 amps from your 12 volt battery. Most batteries will not be happy trying to supply 200 amps. For example, battleborn batteries are only 100amps, so you need two in parallel and you need thick wires.
Or else you need to go to 24v, and everything gets more expensive.
@@Sylvan_dB And that's why we need that video👍.
For people like me who don't have the knowledge. Or, I should say the time. But yeah, what Sylvan said👍
I love this community❤
Much Love you all❤
Better to be a warrior in a garden, then a gardener in a war🔱
I want to run an electric hot water kettle 🎈
Will, thank you for making videos. Your demeanor is that one should adopt as when teaching a child, gentle, slow, engaged, and kind. You don't talk down to us, and it makes all the difference. Thank you for making this technology accessible for us. 💗
Having good airflow minumizes the need for cooling fans. This has the potential to make this unit even more efficient than a compact unit requiring cooling because they lack airflow.
Good point. And quieter.
I've purchased a number of the high quality tools you've recommended in past videos and also enjoy the "beefed up" builds more than the "super budget" ones but I appreciated and enjoyed the effort you went through on this build. I agree with your thought that there are people who might want to get into tinkering/building their own but the barrier to entry seems too high to get started. This video proves that wrong by going through with it all the way and showing what can be done on a complete budget. "The right tool for the job" is ideal but it's not always realistic for everyone and showing people what is possible, even if not ideal, is great. I can't count the number of times I've started with a Harbor Fright tool I thought I'd rarely use only to find out it is handy and that I should invest in a higher quality version when able.
I fully enjoyed this video and would support you following up with a new build that goes all out on how you'd prefer to do it given the right resources. That gives people something to strive for while still having an option they can manage if they are just starting.
This is gold. Thank you, Will, for all of your research and work!
Absolutely love this kind of video showing what you can do with a "parts" build. Can't wait to try and build this.
What a great presentation for someone just starting to get into this field! I would love for you to show any way to build something like this that can be expanded over time with more capacity so people could start here but not need to ditch everything as they move up.
I have to say I really love this idea. Never even thought about a milk crate. Only thing I would add is maybe some feet on the bottom to allow max airflow for that inverter. I just might build this. Thanks for doing this.
I was just wondering to myself, "Where is the DIY video that Will promised us for this week?" Less than 5 minutes later, a notification... 🙂
I admit, I am still working on raising the learning curve on the construction of solar systems and the functions, inputs, outputs, etc... but you have done so much to help all of this make sense in a real world application. Thank you!
I could easily build a system like this! omg, that is amazing to my mind!! You cut through all of the crap and present it in such a straightforward manner.
Thank you so much for what you do here, Will!!
PS-I am only a "kinda handy" girl, but even I have a better cheap wire stripper than that one you purchased to demo this build. ☺😁
Have you been to his forum?
@SuperVstech, no I have not checked out the forum. I get a little overwhelmed still by all of the technical details posts and replies as I am still getting comfortable with "the basics." I am only a couple of months into this adventure, but I am learning!
Magic!!
@@joannejohnson6393 Hi! Personally I would watch your vids if you had a channel. Many women are intimidated with solar/generator builds. But to see a women such as yourself who starts from scratch with the basics and builds a milk crate generator would be awesome. I’ll definitely continue to watch Will though... he’s phenomenal!!!!
I am also woman with no experience with this stuff. Moving on to road in June. Looking to run small cooler and my cpap at night? I will watch again to see if this will work.
I heard Jackery cut their prices. They probably heard this video was coming out. 😀
He took my comment down. Added that inverter to my Audew and with cables have 500 watt output through jumper outlet. $217 +61 +18 in cables.
@@tim1299 I didnt take down your comment. What are you talking about
@@WillProwse I don't see it? I complemented you and your build has great upside. But i posted that by adding that inverter to my Audew, I now have pass through charging , 500 watt output at battery charger and solar panel charging at 15 volt8.5 amps with dokio 160 Total cost with cables$ 460.
@@tim1299: maybe you had included an external link in your comment? I also already had comments automatically removed by CZcams. It looks like it is posted, but after a page refresh it is gone... ;)
@@DonnieX6 I think you are right. I validated my 500 watt output at the car jumping outlet by mentioning h0b0 testing and quick charging solar panel ability.
Lesson learned. Just want to state , Wills' build is excellent and expandable . What I did meets my needs now and into the future. I need a generator for a air cond. and microwave. No amount of batteries (cost) beats $500 2200watt gen.
Will, I really love this video. I especially liked the fact that you didn't use fancy expensive tools to build it. So many CZcams DIY videos are actually not DIY'able because they use fancy tools normal people don't have.
Love this video. The milk crate as a container was genius. Strong and portable but allows needed airflow. Pass through charging supported and affordable. Cool idea!
I made a similar system with a lead acid battery minus solar charging a decade ago. Perfect for lights and powering tankless hot water. I’d like to see something similar outputting 1500 watts. That would power the air handler & control for my furnace along with a few LED’s.
Will, you should get a camera that points down so you have a top view so your not having to tilt your items to show us
Thank you so much for this! I’ve been following you for quite some time and love all of the content that you provide! So informative and helpful. You sir are a credit to the CZcams community!
Genius! PV Tech shedding a tear... i Like OLE!
the irony is i use milk crates for a lot of things that i didn't think of it, plus building so-called professional systems i've forgotten about the simple easy affordable DIY's that out perform name brands. Thank You Will for your Solar 101 classes to the masses.
This guy is great to watch. Unlike politicians, he speaks his mind.
Why do you have to draw politics to this?
@@nelsondisalvatore9812 to be fair, he did have a video discussing his political views about BLM which was unpopular and quickly pulled from the channel.
We did have politician who spoke his mind....problem He needed to have a mind to begin with... Now to more interesting stuff.
@@olegk11 So, you're an anti-America pos, huh?
@@mman454 What were his BLM views? Did he agree or disagree with BLM?
Can't wait for the diy build. I want to be fully off-grid when I build my house later this year.
Check out Will's older videos, where he builds RV solar systems. Those will be more similar to what you'll need for an off-grid house than this little portable system.
Awesome build, Will. I like how you can lay it on three different sides if needed. When i use the same color wire for positive and negative, i wrap pieces of black electrical tape on the ends and one or two somewhere in the middle of the wire so I can identify the wire more easily. Worth a try as most of us DIYers have a roll or two laying around.
Its actually good to see more DIY builds. Just keep in mind that what ever is built should be easy to add more capacity when more components are purchased. Lots of us start small and build up as money is available.
This is right up my alley. Maybe you could show viewers how this could be expanded to include multiple batteries, to increase capacity; and how to add wind power, to continue filling the larger battery overnight.
I was thinking why do people think of wind.....Then you told me lol. I hadn't even though of that. That is potentially a game changer. Janice
Will, thanks a lot, your ideas are really great. I would like to point out something in relation to your DIY build here vs the big companies' products. In my opinion it all depends on where the manufacturer wants to lay the emphasis. Some focus on power output and downsize power input; others don't consider including a regulated DC out put; others would prefer the system be very compact, thus sacrificing other aspects. If you check your build, you discover that your emphasis is on power and efficiency/long lasting but then, notice how big the system is. Yes, personally I would prefer to maximize efficiency and longevity even if it means having a bigger and heavier system. However not everyone may go for that. Once again, thanks and keep up this wonderful adventure.
Great step by step instructions. No complicated technical jargon or technical skills required. Great job. Fun to watch!
I've watched nearly all your videos and spend most of my time looking at 280 and 302/4Ah cells but this is one of the coolest projects you've ever done. $600 and quite a bit amount of power. That MPPT has room for scaling up a bit and that inverter is really good quality. This package is great for someone with a small RV
Thanks for the inspiration! I already have most of these components and can round out a system for a little over $100
Awesome!! Gonna start collecting the parts to do this build! Thinking Might use the 100 Ah battery though!
"The bluetti is lighter and using different chemistry..."
Love it! Love that you're doing another or two! I recently began living in a rural house, not a city apartment as I always have. When I buy a house, I think I'll install an automotive electric system like RVs use. This would provide all the amenities, plus solar and backup power.
I'm dumb, so I really appreciate this almost fool proof demonstration! Its funny that this type of build was something I've been thinking of for years, but too embarrassed to ask for.
Living in a hurricane magnet that is South Florida, I have the vivid memory of living thru several. To me, the worst part of the storm comes after the storm leaves. I once had an RV, and looked and felt like a king after the Hurricanes because I had access to electricity and and cool beverages in my fridge...but I sold it last year. We initially had up to 3 weeks without power. But now, that time is lowering to about 7 days without power. As I mentioned...I am dumb. But I measure necessity in basics such as refrigeration, cell and laptop computer recharging, fan and lighting power and "wish listing" of Air Conditioning.
Will, if you can...could you break down if this system can be used as a UPS? Also, my limited brain power doesn't allow me to understand Amps, Watts, and Volts easily, so could you consider making your builds relatable to us South Floridians and Caribbean survivalist? Basically, how long can a mini fridge, TV or CPAP run when using Solar panels with this system. Can they all run together, non stop if using solar? How long could this system (or any) expect to work without being recharged? Thanks...and I truly appreciate you sharing your knowledge! People these days are on a smaller budget because of Covid. So, you are helping change a lot of lives because Hurricanes don't care much about COVID-19!😊😉
I thought I was a fairly smart guy when I woke up this morning. Then I watched this video. Great job, Will - !!!
Straight to the point,beat this if you can. Simple and powerful system that can save time money and live up to the task flawlessly. No complex and confusing design, no unnecessary and unneeded parts in the design. God bless you.
Being able to swap out a component within a few minutes is awesome 👏💯
Dude, your a GOD. I've spent hours researching for my soon to be van home and you come up with the exact thing I need. I would have used the larger size beer crate and Hook and Loop Tape though and I'm checking prices to build my Crate Solar Power System. Thanks
Where can you get a beer crate?
Fantastic! Loving how it all works together and there's no either/or involved with input or output combinations. Would love to see similar projects maybe every month or two alongside your usual content.
Brilliant build Will, your clear explanation of what you are doing and why, make it so easy to follow and understand.
The milk crate isn’t only cheap with great ventilation; it’s easier to carry with all the handles & squared size lets it fit well on top of or under other milk crates (just makes sure your internals don’t stick up above the top of the milk crate)❗️⚡️🔌🔋
And a battery expansion can be built into another milk crate, and they stack!
Where there’s a WILL, there’s a way.
Where there's a WILL there's a relative.
Thanks Will! I did just buy an Ecoflow River Pro for camping, but I've been accumulating components for a DIY power station for a few years now, and that's why I'm gonna build one. I really like the milk-crate idea... so much better than trying to find the right plastic box with a handle to squeeze all that stuff into. The crate will be handy when I need to lend it out during power outages, or field work far from outlets.
Got my Milk Crate Solar Power System built last night once all the parts came in.. appears to be working great! I did build it with a mix of these videos and your Milk Crate 2.0 video. I also added a small piece of plexiglass on hinges to prevent anything falling into it. Just want to say I really appreciate your excellent videos and my thanks to you educating us mass plebs in the ways of Solar!
Awesome!!!
Use a little red electrical tape near connectors to identify when using same color wire. Thanks Will, all my batteries burned n house fire, but gonna build lifepo this round
That is great! I'd love to see a video on alternator charging without over heating the alternator. Thanks!
I think CMI and Balmar make them, but $699 is the low end of the price range. You also need a controller for another $700. I'd love to see a 48v alternator hack and Will might be the guy to do it.
Great solar inverter / battery project Will. Being able to choose all the individual components and swap them out is handy. And can be a life saver...
Great project!! I was thinking about building mine in a tool box - but now I see the advantage of the milk crate! Thank you!
Seeing how simple it is, I am now inspired. Thank you, Will!
Thanks for the build and perspective . With the cost of batteries dropping, alot, waiting and diy seems like a good option. Maybe you would consider a build that costs about $1600 and out performs the bluetti Ac200p. Cheers
It is not a silly idea. It's a great example that can be anything else, as long as the maker can wrap their head around it. Great idea. Man.
Will you're a genius. I'm excited to see the next build. 30 years as an electrician so I'm ready to build something complicated. Thanks for showing what a DIY project is capable of.
I would have loved to see a basic battery monitor with that for the volts, in/out wattage and amps.
agreed
Agreed
A simple MakerFocus Mini Digital Voltmeter (5pcs) is $12 at AZ. An Amp Meter Gauge with Hall Effect Sensor is around $20.
Nice job, Will!
FYI, it looks like the inverter has USB ports, so you can probably skip the other USB sockets.
I may build this (or your extra cheap one :) ) for my parents. I'll probably put in a lighter socket or two, and I always put in an anderson powerpole connector.
Wouldn’t the inverter draw more power than the USB hub? Or am I missing something?
@@roberthernandez7564 According to the description of the inverter, the USB ports are powered whenever the inverter is connected to the battery, no matter if the inverter is on or off.
That's a pretty good beginners setup. Only thing I would say that is needed is a battery switch/isolator. Currently the solar charge controller is always powered on, which will draw somewhere in the range of 15-30mA. This parasitic load will drain the 50Ah battery from full to zero in 70-140 days when the system is in storage, not ideal if you want to keep it ready to use or if you want to keep the battery near half charge for long term storage.
To bring it to the next level, it needs some sort of battery shunt. As it is now the only way to monitor the state of the battery is to look at the voltage on the solar charge controller's crappy display, which is not going to be useful with lifepo4 chemistry's flat discharge curve. Adding a shunt will also allow you to see the loading on the inverter, which is important to have when the AC output is limited to less than a usual outlet can handle. Additionally, I'd recommend adding a cover to the terminals of the AC charger, as it is now those terminals have exposed mains voltage which can be pretty dangerous if there's small kids around.
Hi Will, you have to get into manufactoring these idea's.. Great for camping out for the weekend and having a secondary back up.
Will, Great build. I think you should have used the right color wires for positive and negative. You said the battery terminals are only allow three wires according to ABYC however if you are going to quote a code then everything else should be to that code. I hope you do not take this remark the wrong way. Your expertise is a lot greater than mine. I am a retired low voltage electrician. Keep up your great videos. Thanks, David J. Janis
@@glenlevenhagen8967 Great idea 💡
@@glenlevenhagen8967 - or for less stickiness in a few years - PVC Cable sleeve (or spiral wrap) - yes it is more expensive. (If using a single color wire, it is better not to use a color which may be misinterpreted as either DC- or DC+. - cable tags can avoid confusion)
Your right about the wire color. I built a generator using the very cheap Harbor Freight solar panels and had to be careful about polarity especially when adding their solar extension plugs. I don't know how many fuses I have gone thru by accident.
@@kadmow Or red wire and a black sharpie ;-)
@@hereusethis ha ha. It should work
16:15. I think your wall systems are LEGIT. I think they just get away with selling or promoting boxes for the batteries for portability, especially for camping, RV, homelessness, etc.
Homeless? I am sure that rig would work fine living on a Park bench!
Loved, the way you figure out how to increase airflow and reduced heat...Well done!
Thanks dude dont even understand how much you're videos are helping me understand this
Can't wait for version 10.3.2!!
Totally love this! Even if someone is never going build one, this is a great video that demystifies the building process!
I personally can’t wait to use everything I have learned from your videos to create my dream system. Thanks again! Be well
This is the perfect type of video. It shows us the parts involved and if one part were to fail you can swap it out instead of having to buy a whole new system.
I have to agree with the comments I've seen so far . . . this is an excellent build with many applications not just RV use. If it can be matched up to run a small refrigerator or freezer, it'll pay for itself in less than a year. Good job. I'm looking forward to seeing version 2.0.
14:17! "...for the next decade or longer". Very GOOD.
Stoked for this video, thanks breaking down step by step. Can’t wait to try it a go.
Amazing. Can’t wait for the budget build.
Great job Will love the design. If needed smaller Id just make a box and drill some holes in it to vent and run a couple 12v computer fans. 1 in back top and one on top. But if space isnt an issue your idea for milk crate is genius 👍
Being “down under” a lot of stuff is tricky to get, including that we are 240 volts and not 110. I’ve managed to get all the bits and pieces swapping in some slightly different parts. As someone else said a little monitor showing battery state and usage etc would be good as the off the shelf ones like jacket you do have this. The solar charger I added in has Bluetooth so I’ll get some info from that.
Could you share your 240 Volt component list please??
@@donlister7425 Got most of it from Amazon Aust: Renogy Rover 20amp mppt charge controller, Renogy Lithum Ion 12 volt 50Ah battery, Renogy 1000W inverter (couldn’t find a good quality 500W one that I would trust and Renogy don’t make a 500W one), Adjustable DC Power Voltage Converter AC 110V-220V to DC 0-48V, 6 way blade circuit fuse block (ebay), Car Charger, AI AIKENUO 96W Quick Charge.
@@reviewsandprojects thanks for info ! I am from Oz, but living in Dubai. I will look on Amazon here for similar products!!
My DIY, shed / 4x4, power supply / UPS : (Australia, 240V)
- Renogy 1000W PureSinewave inverter with "UPS" AC passthrough
- Redarc BCDC 1224D (allows solar pass through or in-Vehicle charging.)
Current battery (not upgraded to Lithium) - 125Ah VMAX Charge tank.
150W Folding solar panel for offgrid use.
-Renogy Shunt Monitor is in the works (still in its box)
For Standby AC Battery Charging (using as UPS on a 3D Printer etc) - Charging the battery from AC:
- CTEC MSX25
(The separate charger could be replaced with a regulated 240VAC-15VDC PSU to be input into the BCDC utilising the Redarc MPPT "Lithium compatible" permanently - but I have this gear already)
Loads Fused with MIDI fuses. (Multi-fuse holders are available, and are bolt-down "bulletproof")
This is great Will. Something we can all do even with no real experience. Big question - do any of these units actually start to get hot? Something I wonder about, but have no clue, would be if parts of the unit get really warm would they create off gassing of VOC from the milk crate?
Great tutorial. Even for those of us have done some projects, you have added good ideas to think about. One of your best!
I learned a lot from this channel , all the electrical systems in my van was built following his video.
You mentioned this generator can run for decade when charging and powering at the same time; than Can I use it as UPS for my computer, WiFi modem, router for my wireless security system ? Thank you.
I'm really glad you made this video, I'm literally in the process of making a 640 watt hour 500 watt pure sine wave inverter solar generator, with solar and AC input charging. It's just so funny that you came out with this literally while I'm in the middle of making mine. I'm glad you made this video though because it simplified the whole process for me. I'm using cylindrical lithium iron phosphate cells, and would like any recommendations on whether or not to use a common port BMS or separate Port BMS. That is my only issue at the moment
Common port all the way. The separate port seems better at first, but the charge rate is typically limited. Common port seems to have less issues too.
That is so crazy that youre building practically the same system haha so cool
That helps me so much, thank you. I was planning on using the 60 amp dally BMS, because of price and your reviews. I knew you were talking about making a solar generator that would knock all of the competition out of the water but I didn't think it was going to be literally the exact same thing I'm building, the only difference is I want to make a battery pack that resembles a battle born just only half the size. I'm using the exact same inverter a very similar fuse block, I went to buy the AC input charger and it was sold out, most likely due to your video 😂 I also just got your book in the mail the other day and I highly recommend it. Thank you for doing what you do, I'm almost in a similar position to what you were years ago and you are videos have really helped me out.
I don't build "solar power generators" but I build DIY batteries in plastic MTM 50 caliber ammo cans. In early days I had bad luck with new 32700 cells from Aliexpress. I match cell capacity for the parallel sets but they don't seem to stay balanced. I charged them, rested them a month, and chucked out the ones that had excessive self discharge before assembling the battery. Based on the cells I matched I should have a 62 Ah 4s LiFePO4 battery. I top balanced battery with balance charger however in my discharge test I could only pull just over 50 Ah at low 0.1C rate because BMS stopped one of the sets from over discharging.
I have had better luck with 26650s. I have used K2 Energy LFP26650E and LFP26650EV (3.2 Ah) cells for later packs. Much less defective cells and problems with parallel set balance. I have recently built a pack with Trojan 26650 cells (3.7 Ah); these show promise I have to do my discharge test on that pack. An important thing to note is that the Trojan cells I received wouldn't fit in the 26650 cell spacers. I had never run into that problem with the K2 Energy cells. Even the crappy Aliexpress 32700 cells fit in the cell spacers just fine.
@positronium Thank you for the feedback and I've noticed that the 26 650 is are a lot more popular than the 32700 Lithium iron phosphate cells. I'm glad that you also brought that up about your cells having issues in parallel sets While trying to balance. How would I go About testing the capacity On each cell so that I can Can match my four Parallel groups By capacity. I don't have a balance charger at the moment , I have a power supply . I'm also not using AliExpress sells I bought battery hookups 5000 milliamp hour lithium iron phosphate cells , I currently don't have an individual cell capacity tester Oh, but I do have shunts and hall effect sensors For running capacity test on bigger batteries , instead of running capacity test On each Individual Cell , would I Just be able to top balance A parallel group of eight cells and Do a Capacity test like that With multiple cells in parallel to be able to push more Amps . My hall effect sensor is Inaccurate under 600 milliamps . I currently don't have the cash to buy a capacity tester . And was wondering if I could do it this way
Will, I don't know much about electronics other than what I have learned from you! However, due to your commitment to show people how "to do things safe, simple & cheap," I am going to copy this project (My First) just as you have done it. Thanks for the inspiration and please continue your wonderful videos!
Looks like a fun and functional build! Thanks for sharing it. I’m sure a lot of people will want to try this one.
Great video. I would really like to hear your thoughts on an extremely durable system to put in the back of a truck and be to be bounced around.
Add Medium density Foam Rubber under anything and the bouncing isn't so harsh (if you are really rough make it 2 inches thick lol) ....
Love this! Thank you Will! What would be your dream, commercially available portable energy storage system specifications? I was thinking 1KWH modular, parallel stacking LiFePO4 packs, 2kw pure sine output inverter, fast MPPT AC or DC charging and parallel capable for higher KW output. What do you think? Thank you for all the info!!
That's what I want to build something that can run a refrigerator
@@FreedomHomesteader and a small addition unit (an absolute necessity here in Australia!)
I like your unit, but I'm pretty proud of my own DIY Solar genny. I have a video of it up. Not as powerful or long-lasting as yours, but it's easy to carry, works when I need it, and holds the accessories I may need as well. Cooling is taken care of, and I did the tidiest wiring I could do in a small space. Good video, Will!
This will be my Xmas present to myself. I've got 2 weeks off then so I hope to get it going for camping. Thanks so much.
How about building one in a PC case like the Coolermaster HAF XB EVO, add RGB for the lols
Is there any concern with having the AC charger's output having different voltage than the solar panels? I didn't realize that charge controllers could potentially deal with different voltages coming in like that. Or did you match the voltage of the solar panel?
Sweet build though!
Yeah that will be fine. panels act as a diode and psu too small to over power them. multiple pv strings could be problematic. I added a rewired version if you wish to exceed 48VOC. Then it could issues.
Thank you WILL...
I'm trying to get system built.. been waiting on update..
You're a very good teacher..love how you explain everything.. what to watch out for..I know you have our backs..everything is as you say..your knowledge is incredible I just love how simple you make it look..thank you so much for all you do it really helps us out here..GOD BLESS
Super Excellent, your milk crate setup makes sense and eliminates, to a great deal, of over heating issues. I will incorporate the use of this container in my future builds, thanks
I'm relatively new to actually building a solar system. I'm turning an Expedition EL into my camper. I want to do roof solar panels and plan on being off-grid often.
Everyone I've seen only uses 100W panels which I could never get 400W on the roof.
I noticed that you used a 200W panel Will...
Is there any reason that I can't use 2 200W panels or 1 400W panel?
Are all the rest of these RVers just nuts or am I just wanting to break the rules? (normal for me)
Use the panels that fit and you can afford... I have ordered 4 panels myself of 320w and 40V and they are 1,6m x 1m wich fit perfectly on the top of my Ford Transit box van with just enugh spare room for a roof fan and the 100w panel I already have (the 100w panel will after I get the new panels only charge the starter battery). The panels did cost about 650 US $ total including 25% sales tax here in Norway. I will be using 2 charge controllers with 2 panels each mounted in series so the voltage will be 80V wich is peerfect as the max voltage for the controller is 100V (was less expensive with 2 controllers instead of one big in my case).
I think this is just what I needed to see! Can't wait for the next one. How many Solar Panel Watts can you add to this? 100W-500W? Thanks Will! LOVE THIS VIDEO!
260W max. And thanks 😊
The crate makes it easy to pickup and move, and also ty-down.
More compact than how I set up my bus! Going to redo my system now! Many thnx for all your vids, so helpful.
All worked for me until you plugged in the solar panel. The PV circuit (input) was used by the AC charger. Where did you connect the solar panels? I thought the LOAD circuit was output? Tx
I think he doubled the wires on the solar panel input (connector) and most likely dialed the ac charger voltage to be close to what the solar panel voltage is.
Good question! So I parallel the pv and dc output of the power supply. The solar panel acts as a large diode to prevent backfeeding and the switching supply is current regulated, so there should be no issue paralleling them.
Yes exactly Tobea
lol "its pretty cloudy" as he cant open his eyes . :) . In all seriousness ty for everything you teach us .
i really liked this Video Will, this is exactly what i have been thinking of putting together, for my first power system, been tossing up between buying one and building one, this made up my mind, not going to waste time or money , thanks so much for sharing this , cant wait to see the next one
I thought this was a joke when I first saw it. I was new to solar. Now 100's of Will P. videos later (and his book) I'm seeing this video with new admiration. Good job sir. I can use this for my trip: Kentcuky/Oregon this year.
Where is the link for this "nearly permanent" double-sided tape! That sounds like really useful tape.
amzn.to/3cn3OrT
It is made for attaching auto trim. It does work well, but there are some things it will not stick to. like really cheap plastic.
@@BillHartCooks. Wipe the surface with isopropyl alcohol first, then it will stick well. 3M also sells double-stick in many different grades for many specific purposes with a few being darn-near permanent. Each one has a spec-sheet so you can make sure it's going to do what you need instead of just hoping it does.
Does the mppt controller have two seperate inputs? I couldn't see how you hooked up the solar panel. Also, charging from 12v socket would be a nice addition for use in vehicles.
Great video, thanks for posting!
Dude! Excellent video. Thanks for including all the links for the materials and tools used. Awesome!
Thank you buddy! Watching you has sent me down a brand new rabbit hole. Got an electrodacus coming, I dont know what I'm gonna do with it but its gonna be sick!!!!🤡 seriously though thank you for your love of tinkering with electricity. Your enthusiasm rocks
I really wanted to see how you wired the PV input into the charge controller. You seem to have skipped that part!
He just connected an XT-60 to the same ports he connected the ac charger to on the charge controller.
@@SuperVstech Umm.. how? Twist both input wires together? Do they both fit in the port at the same time? Soldered together?
@@kevincorvus3298 soldering isn’t necessary. Just put both under each screw.
Solar and ac charger positive, in positive input to the charge controller, and solar and ac charger negative in the negative charge controller input.
Looks great! Since you are attacking the AC charger to the MPPT PV spots, where do you connect your solar panels?
Same inputs.
The xp-60 connector he used is for solar, no?
He skipped explaining the XP-60 cable, but it is there.
Oh right, sorry about that. The pv input handles the solar panels and power supply output. It is safe to do
@@WillProwse Thank you.
Ghetto solar generator is function over form, which is exactly how I prefer them. Great video Will, well done and thanks. I think even more importantly than the price, being able to swap out any of those elements if something released the magic smoke makes it fantastic value. Not to mention actually understanding what is happening in the generator. Your success is well deserved.
THANK YOU!!!this is NOT a stupid nor ugly idea. If weight is a problem add a planter plate on wheels to move easier..AND I AM GONNA try to build it. 1 suggestion: put colored tape on each end of wire to keep from screwing up..