"Solar Generator" initial impressions.

[mvweebles]

When portable solar generators first appeared a couple years ago, I thought it was a crock of dung. No way a small battery could match the energy density of dead dinosaurs, right?

But I've slowly evolved as I considered use case and how each would be used. The Venn diagram intersects mildly but far from completely. Internal combustion engine (ICE) generators are great for sustained hi-load requirements such as running AC or running power tools for a jobsite. Where they don't work as well is for either (1) sustained low load applications (charging electronics and power tools); or (2) short duration moderate loads such as a coffee maker or microwave.

What is a portable solar generator? It's a compact device with a LFP battery, an inverter, a battery charger (roughly equal to 90-amps at 12v so it really charges quickly), an MPPT for solar, and of course AC outlets. The Ecoflow I purchased from Costco has 1kwh of battery storage (roughly equal to one 100ah 12v battery), an 1800 watt inverter (2700 watt surge), a 1200-watt battery charger (roughly 90-amps at 12v!!! Really charges fast): an MPPT capable of up to 500-watts solar, plus the monitoring and circuit protection all in a 27-lb package. The Costco bundle included a pair of portable solar panels totaling 220 watts. All for $750 after a $50 sale discount. Pretty good deal when you consider what it would take to replicate the components.

What will I use it for? First an unusual application. Our house is being drywalled as I write so much of the electricity is off. But our outdoor landscaping needs watering so I'll plug the controller into the Solar Generator. I'll bet it runs a month or more without solar panels, indefinitely with the panels. Second, when we were out of power altogether, would have used it to run a small fridge which would have run indefinitely with the 220w solar and sunny conditions. Finally, I kept a lot of DeWalt 20clc tools charged.

To my eyes, these are very common use cases, none of them are efficiently served by an ICE generator, even a small Honda that would need gas ever 8-hours or so (BTW - gas was difficult to find right after Helene and Milton).

So I'm a convert to solar generators. What are others doing with them besides running Christmas lights on their RV?

Here's the link to the Costco one I purchased, but there were other brands. Temu has no-name ones with twice the battery, but who knows how they spec out.

https://www.costco.com/EcoFlow-DELTA-2-Portable-Power-Station-with-2-piece-110W-Solar-Panel.product.1836563.html?sh=true&nf=true

Peter

 

[Bmarler]

Will it jump start the car too?
Actually, that’s pretty cool. I have a little place at the coast here that loses power regularly in the winter. I don’t really want to install a backup generator, so this might be a solution. It would need to be a bit bigger though, to run the well pump.

 

[CharlieO.]

I've actually considered building my own.

Our boat is put up for the winter, so I took my Lifepo4 battery home and put it near my pellet stove. I have a small inverter and plan to use it to power my pellet stove if the power goes out.

 

[mvweebles]

I went the diy route too. I had a spare 100ah LFP battery that didn't fit in Weebles, and a 1000w PSW inverter. So I purchased a 100w panel and a Victron MPPT. I also had a spare circuit breaker. And cables. So for about $1200 in parts, I have about what I paid $750 for from Costco. Two big differences. The ecoflow is in a compact form and can be easily transported. And it includes a beefy battery charger so can be plugged into a 120vac outlet (1200 watt charger) or a cigarette lighter (180 watt charger). And I didn't have to pull out the hydraulic crimper.

Peter

 

[CharlieO.]

I went the diy route too. I had a spare 100ah LFP battery that didn't fit in Weebles, and a 1000w PSW inverter. So I purchased a 100w panel and a Victron MPPT. I also had a spare circuit breaker. And cables. So for about $1200 in parts, I have about what I paid $750 for from Costco. Two big differences. The ecoflow is in a compact form and can be easily transported. And it includes a beefy battery charger so can be plugged into a 120vac outlet (1200 watt charger) or a cigarette lighter (180 watt charger). And I didn't have to pull out the hydraulic crimper.

Peter

Good to know. Thanks.

 

[mvweebles]

My DIY system compared to the new ecoflow. Specs aren't identical but fairly close. I forgot to mention the smartshunt I bought for DIY which is needed to give similar monitoring capabilities as solar generator. Biggest plus for DIY is it's very expandable which explains it's higher cost. Biggest plus for the solar generator is it's very portable (picture included with it in carry bag) and includes a robust battery charger.

 

[BoondocksHawks]

Dang, that EcoFlow is a solid buy. Good post.

 

[ksanders]

Here is the solar generator I installed at my house in Mexico. it sits out in the sun so does it count as "solar"???

When the grid goes down I don't even know it happened unless i walk outside and hear the engine running.

 

[twistedtree]

Peter, you took all the words right out of my mouth. I just bought a Bluetti version of similar specs for $500. My use case for a small generator is very occasional, short duration, typically powering some sort of power tool out in the woods or otherwise away from power. I love it.

Previously I had a Honda 3000 inverter generator, thought to be the greatest generator ever to grace the earth. For me, it was a total, utter, unmitigated POS. Never in the 10 years that I owned it, not once, ever, did it start when I went to use it. Sorry, I'm exagerating. It did start the day I bought, but never again. Every time I needed to use it I ended up spending a hour or two removing and cleaning the carb. Now you might blame it on the gas, and surely it played a role in the fiasco, but I use the same gas in my chain saws and they start every time, no exceptions, even after sitting for years. I have one big saw that I only rarely use, and it starts every time. I just used it the other day for teh first time in probably 4 years and it popped right off. So the Honda was a complete failure, was too heavy for me to lift into the back of my UTV, and never worked anyway. So I sold it and bought the Bluetti. I have used it three times now to sharpen the blades on a mulcher with a 7" grinder, and it's still at 45% capacity.

 

[Barking Sands]

Very nice. In the begining they were a bit gimmicky. But the one you describe sounds fantastic.