DIY Solar Generator

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DIY Solar Generator

Postby bdosborn » Sun Aug 18, 2019 10:22 am

After building a 180 amp-hr LiFePO4 battery for the camper, I decided to build solar generator for the Waeco refrigerator I carry in the back of the pickup for drinks. I usually power it using the pickup batteries but I've never been comfortable doing it, it's too easy to drain the start battery and then you've got a problem. So I built a solar generator using 20 amp-hr LiFePO4 cells I got on Aliexpress. I was looking for Headway cells and found these instead. I rolled the dice and got some of these to try.

I wanted it as small as possible, I might have picked a case that's a little too small but we'll see after I use it camping.
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The blue meter has two USB outlets under the cover, the Waeco is plugged into the cigarette lighter port. I think I'll remove the switch and add an SAE port since the main circuit breaker can be used as a switch.
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This meter is pretty nifty, only the basics: volts, amps, amp-hrs and percent capacity but much cheaper than a Victron. I wish I hadn't scratched up the case so much cutting the meter hole. :cry:
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Finally found a use for the circuit breaker I've had for awhile.
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There are 8 cells, a BMS, a 4S balancer and the meter shunt all crammed inside there. I wanted as small a package as possible so there's not much wiggle room.The battery charger says it added 52 amp-hrs on the last full charge but I'm waiting to see what the battery monitor says before I believe it. I still have some wire management to do but this is roughly what it will look like. The solar charge controller is mounted in the pickup so I can charge the truck battery as well as the LiFePO4 cells. It also keeps some heat away from the cells.
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I can post links to parts if anyone is interested.
Bruce
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Re: DIY Solar Generator

Postby tony.latham » Sun Aug 18, 2019 12:46 pm

If I ran across that thing, I'd run and call the bomb squad.

:shock:

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Re: DIY Solar Generator

Postby John61CT » Sun Aug 18, 2019 1:44 pm

Please do not go along with the marketeer scammers this niche is full of by using "generator" for a battery + gadgets in a box.

With solar panels included, maybe a "solar generator". maybe.

Otherwise this is a portable powerpak

and I applaud your work, very well done, DIY is always going to deliver **much** better value, because it's designed to meet **your** specific needs.

Plus when the battery reaches EoL, easy to just replace it with the best the market offers at that time.
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Re: DIY Solar Generator

Postby bdosborn » Sun Aug 18, 2019 2:13 pm

Like it or not, that's what they are called now. Go to Amazon and search for powerpack and see what comes up. Then search solar generator. See? I don't like the name either but what are you going to do?

Bruce
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Re: DIY Solar Generator

Postby bdosborn » Sun Aug 18, 2019 2:14 pm

tony.latham wrote:If I ran across that thing, I'd run and call the bomb squad.


Ha, I thought the same thing. I guess I better not try and take it through airport security! :shock:

Bruce
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Re: DIY Solar Generator

Postby Shadow Catcher » Sun Aug 18, 2019 3:24 pm

Our Waeco rides in the back of the Subaru and is plugged into a dedicated line, the "power point", in the back is powered only when engine is on. There is also a 10A line going to the back of the TV to feed the refrigerator. The 30A line that recharges the battery in Compass Rose is wired directly to the battery (with fuse) and that means the solar panel feed the TV battery and Waeco when it is riding in the car. This was also useful when the battery died in the car and I could jump it from CR.
Having said all that what was you cost in doing the pack.
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Re: DIY Solar Generator

Postby RJ Howell » Sun Aug 18, 2019 3:44 pm

I did love Aliexpress until this last purchase, claim placed, and they sided with the sellers advertisement VS. my proof.

I showed them how I tested, 3 times and they sided with the seller. Shame on them, shame on me. We're now equal.
There are many quaulity sellers there, just be careful and buy from only them.

The 100ah lithum unit I bought only tests out as a 30ah unit. Lesson learned.

Folks, please pass along sellers you are pleased with! Heck, we should start a thread just on that!
If there is one, please link me to it..
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Re: DIY Solar Generator

Postby bdosborn » Sun Aug 18, 2019 5:39 pm

Shadow Catcher wrote:Having said all that what was you cost in doing the pack.
\

About $300 for everything.

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Re: DIY Solar Generator

Postby tony.latham » Sun Aug 18, 2019 5:48 pm

Like it or not, that's what they are called now.


We don't go camping anymore either. It's called overlanding.

Good grief. :frightened:

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Re: DIY Solar Generator

Postby bdosborn » Sun Aug 18, 2019 5:55 pm

I haven't been camping since I got a trailer. Now I go Fat Boy Camping... :lol:
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Re: DIY Solar Generator

Postby John61CT » Sun Aug 18, 2019 6:10 pm

bdosborn wrote:Like it or not, that's what they are called now. Go to Amazon and search for powerpack and see what comes up. Then search solar generator. See? I don't like the name either but what are you going to do?

Bruce
Use it in read-only mode, never in public discussions except when showing how it's a red flag for scamming marketeers.
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Re: DIY Solar Generator

Postby bdosborn » Sun Aug 18, 2019 6:23 pm

RJ Howell wrote:I did love Aliexpress until this last purchase, claim placed, and they sided with the sellers advertisement VS. my proof


This was my first purchase and I was sweating bullets until I tested them to see if I won the dice roll. I probably won't buy much there unless I can't find it anywhere else, it's just too janky. I used Paypal even though there is an additional fee as Paypal usually sides with the buyer in disputes.

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Re: DIY Solar Generator

Postby retep » Mon Aug 19, 2019 11:43 am

This is a great project! I need to investigate how to build one. Thanks for the seed to a great idea.

Cheers Peter


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Re: DIY Solar Generator

Postby bdosborn » Mon Aug 19, 2019 12:06 pm

I ran the Waeco of the unit while in the garage for 40 hours and used 38 amp-hrs. End voltage was 12.5v. l was hoping to get 80% of 40 amp-hrs (32 amp-hrs) so this is a great results. The 40 amp-hr rating from the vender is conservative, they're probably realisticly rated at 45 amp-hrs or so. The garage gets hot this time if year (90F) so I saw 1.0 amp-hr consumption on average, where I used 0.5 amp-hrs @ 78F or so the last time I tested the Waeco.

Bruce
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Re: DIY Solar Generator

Postby retep » Mon Aug 19, 2019 12:25 pm

bdosborn wrote:I ran the Waeco of the unit while in the garage for 40 hours and used 38 amp-hrs. End voltage was 12.5v. l was hoping to get 80% of 40 amp-hrs (32 amp-hrs) so this is a great results. The 40 amp-hr rating from the vender is conservative, they're probably realisticly rated at 45 amp-hrs or so. The garage gets hot this time if year (90F) so I saw 1.0 amp-hr consumption on average, where I used 0.5 amp-hrs @ 78F or so the last time I tested the Waeco.

Bruce


Impressive results!


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