Solar Powered Battery packs?

[Eldritch]

I haven't purchased a solar phone charger in over 10 years and the last one I got hardly did shit. Given advances in Battery and Solar tech over the last 15 years, I figure there are probably some decent affordable options out there.

Recent talk of PG&E shutting down power for a week or more has me thinking about a solar back up for light duty. Charging cell phones and laptops and the like.

Any one have a good device they like? Ideally something that can accommodate USB and a standard 110v plug.

Seems like battery kits and solar panels are usually sold separately?

https://www.amazon.com/AIMTOM-Porta...7&pf_rd_r=D6ZA4926R3GJ5VMS7290&qid=1570602461

Anybody know this stuff?

 

[RightCoastBias]

I've got a couple of these Anker solar chargers.

Generally use them when on moto/4x4 camping trips to charge up my Anker batteries. Then, at night, charge my devices from the batteries.

I've got 5/6 different Anker batteries and keep them in vehicles/work bag/tank bag.

https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B00X5RV14Y/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_apa_i_7cKNDbYGQ0HW6

 

[Eldritch]

I've got a couple of these Anker solar chargers.

Generally use them when on moto/4x4 camping trips to charge up my Anker batteries. Then, at night, charge my devices from the batteries.

I've got 5/6 different Anker batteries and keep them in vehicles/work bag/tank bag.

https://smile.amazon.com/dp/B00X5RV14Y/ref=cm_sw_r_sms_apa_i_7cKNDbYGQ0HW6

Like this one or what are you using for Solar Cells? The battery part seems pretty easy, it is the solar cells that I am trying to figure out.

https://www.amazon.com/Anker-Charge...rport+21w+solar+charger&qid=1570655332&sr=8-3

 

[RightCoastBias]

Like this one or what are you using for Solar Cells? The battery part seems pretty easy, it is the solar cells that I am trying to figure out.

https://www.amazon.com/Anker-Charge...rport+21w+solar+charger&qid=1570655332&sr=8-3

Shit, thought I included that link.

Yeah, that's the one I use. I'm not looking for one that's super high efficiency.

 

[bruceflinch]

It’s all corporate and political conspiracy, I tell ya! :afm199
Sorry I said political :facepalm
But Still!

 

[byke]

I have two UB12180 batteries with an inverter and battery tender in a plastic Cabelas ammo can and keep it charged for this kind of thing. It'll easily run a light overnight and charge devices all day. Been wanting to get a little solar panel for charging it, but the power has never been out long enough to need it.

 

[Eldritch]

I have two UB12180 batteries with an inverter and battery tender in a plastic Cabelas ammo can and keep it charged for this kind of thing. It'll easily run a light overnight and charge devices all day. Been wanting to get a little solar panel for charging it, but the power has never been out long enough to need it.

Yeah, I have a 14kmaH one I got from TackLife for jumping cars and I love it, it is the solar panel thing I am in the dark on.

 

[byke]

You gotta do some mafermatiks to sort that out. I think generally you don't want to run your battery past 50%, so you probably want to be able to charge 7ah at presumably 12v in a day and I think we're in a ~6hr/day zone, so that's a 12v panel at 1.17 amps for 6 hours, or a 12v panel at 7 amps for 1 hour, or whatever inbetween. That puts the panel range between 12 watts and 84 watts, so I think you start with figuring out how fast you want to be able to charge, then figure out how portable you want it to be, and of course a budget. If we assume you don't care about a nice foldable deal, want to spend less than $50 and is 20w minimum, then maybe something like this?

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07WY3ZMBH/

 

[Eldritch]

You gotta do some mafermatiks to sort that out. I think generally you don't want to run your battery past 50%, so you probably want to be able to charge 7ah at presumably 12v in a day and I think we're in a ~6hr/day zone, so that's a 12v panel at 1.17 amps for 6 hours, or a 12v panel at 7 amps for 1 hour, or whatever inbetween. That puts the panel range between 12 watts and 84 watts, so I think you start with figuring out how fast you want to be able to charge, then figure out how portable you want it to be, and of course a budget. If we assume you don't care about a nice foldable deal, want to spend less than $50 and is 20w minimum, then maybe something like this?

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07WY3ZMBH/

I was thinking something bigger for around the house. Easy to transport in the car is ideal, but I'm looking into a battery big enough to run the garage freezer for a couple of hours a night to keep things together if possible in case of a PG&E nonsense.

This 100W guy seems like he could do some work:

https://www.amazon.com/DOKIO-Foldab...Panel+Kit&qid=1571192093&s=lawn-garden&sr=1-2

 

[byke]

Ohhhhh, I gotcha. Was thinking you were talking about that battery. Once you start talking about actual household appliances is where people quickly get disappointed in solar for scale and cost. You gotta start sizing your kit with the specs on the freezer and how many hours you want to be able to run it in a day. When our power was out here, we ran the generator for 3hrs in the morning and 3hrs in the evening and that was plenty to keep the fridge cool, but it was only ~68 degrees here.

I'm just starting to plan a kit that can do about the same, but for my fridge and run it for about 6hrs in a day and you're talking about panels, charge controller, battery and an inverter, plus all the wiring and mounting stuffs. I haven't looked up my specific fridge, but google says 780 watts is normal and that's 6.5 amps at 120 volts and since I want to run the fridge for about the same amount of time as there is good light in a day, that makes the math fairly easy in that I'd need a minimum of a 780 watt kit, but I'd aim for more like 1000 watts. Check eBay item 264277573147 for a good price on 190w+ panels. Buy five of those, any cheapo charge controller and a minimum 1000 watt inverter(preferably 1500+) and probably a 100ah(preferably 200ah) and you'd be all set. I was planning on putting it all on a HF trailer in a weather guard truck bed toolbox and was roughly guessing it'd cost somewhere around $1200 by the time all was said and done.

 

[ctwo]

You want to consider the off months, so look at monthly insolation levels in your area, and what are you going to do when it's rainy or hails?

lol 14 million microamp hours...

 

[byke]

All power sources have their downsides, like what happens when PGE turns off power, or what happens when your generator runs out of gas or breaks, or...stuff like that. If you're in an area of outages, I think it's great to have as many sources as you can. I love my little ammo can battery pack because it easily runs a light overnight and charges phones. The generator gets annoying after a few hours, so maybe switch to solar for a few hours, then run the little battery pack at night.

He just means 14,000mah, or 14ah.

 

[Eldritch]

Ohhhhh, I gotcha. Was thinking you were talking about that battery. Once you start talking about actual household appliances is where people quickly get disappointed in solar for scale and cost. You gotta start sizing your kit with the specs on the freezer and how many hours you want to be able to run it in a day. When our power was out here, we ran the generator for 3hrs in the morning and 3hrs in the evening and that was plenty to keep the fridge cool, but it was only ~68 degrees here.

I'm just starting to plan a kit that can do about the same, but for my fridge and run it for about 6hrs in a day and you're talking about panels, charge controller, battery and an inverter, plus all the wiring and mounting stuffs. I haven't looked up my specific fridge, but google says 780 watts is normal and that's 6.5 amps at 120 volts and since I want to run the fridge for about the same amount of time as there is good light in a day, that makes the math fairly easy in that I'd need a minimum of a 780 watt kit, but I'd aim for more like 1000 watts. Check eBay item 264277573147 for a good price on 190w+ panels. Buy five of those, any cheapo charge controller and a minimum 1000 watt inverter(preferably 1500+) and probably a 100ah(preferably 200ah) and you'd be all set. I was planning on putting it all on a HF trailer in a weather guard truck bed toolbox and was roughly guessing it'd cost somewhere around $1200 by the time all was said and done.

Huh, I may give up on Appliances then. That honestly sounds like more hassle than I want to commit to. I will just get the 200w panel to charge the battery for my laptop, Kindle, Cellphone, etc, and call it good enough.

 

[ctwo]

Options. I have lots of battery options that get cycled for various use and the "portable" solar panels on the roof.

Would like a small-medium generator as another backup to save the fridge contents and for taking camping, etc. I haven't looked into how efficient they are, such as how many kWh/gallon.

 

[byke]

I have this one and it would be overkill for the house, but it dips a little bit when the well pump kicks on. Couldn't use the A/C with it of course, but it'll run the entire house, though the oven and dryer are gas. You could probably get away with something pretty small if you were only running some lights, fridge and tv. Maybe try that super quiet HF 3500 watt unit.

 

[oobus]

Huh, I may give up on Appliances then. That honestly sounds like more hassle than I want to commit to. I will just get the 200w panel to charge the battery for my laptop, Kindle, Cellphone, etc, and call it good enough.

Yea, but it won't be good for you if that body in the freezer defrosts and starts to smell, just saying.....


I like this idea for simple things like laptops etc.

Next question: how can I grab off my existing solar for my house to do the same thing?

 

[byke]

You want to use your panels to charge some portable batteries during the day when power is out so you can use some small devices at night?

 

[oobus]

You want to use your panels to charge some portable batteries during the day when power is out so you can use some small devices at night?

Exactly. I'll need to go out and open up the panel on the house and see if there is a breaker I can get to. But, is what is coming in from the solar 110 or 220 or something else of funky voltage/rms?

 

[byke]

Just speculating on everything here, because I don't know how proper solar installs work, but it sounds like there's no power at all when PGE is down, even though you have solar? If so, then you'll definitely need to tap into something and whatever you do would certainly be frowned on by the company that installed it, and I assume still owns it..? I'm guessing your inverter senses when power is down and kills everything. Ideally, the inverter would have some ability to bypass that feature, but if someone else owns this system, then it's probably idiot proof enough that you'd end up having to tap into the main output of the panels and run that into your own charge controller. Honestly I'd rather setup a different little system and leave the house alone.

 

[oobus]

Just speculating on everything here, because I don't know how proper solar installs work, but it sounds like there's no power at all when PGE is down, even though you have solar? If so, then you'll definitely need to tap into something and whatever you do would certainly be frowned on by the company that installed it, and I assume still owns it..? I'm guessing your inverter senses when power is down and kills everything. Ideally, the inverter would have some ability to bypass that feature, but if someone else owns this system, then it's probably idiot proof enough that you'd end up having to tap into the main output of the panels and run that into your own charge controller. Honestly I'd rather setup a different little system and leave the house alone.

I'll ask my installer. It was an outright purchase and I know the guys pretty well. Whatever comes of this I'll share with the rest as this may be of help to others!