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Post by Stealth on Apr 20, 2022 23:11:10 GMT 10
I have a friend who is the same, she was confused about what to buy as well, but that is the wrong end to start. I first got her to identify the devices she absolutely needed to keep running, we checked the name plates and did the calculations and went from there, you have to know what you want to run before you buy the device to do it. Since she wasn't very good with this stuff we went with the pre-built units like the Ecoflow or Bluetti, should just be plug and play for her after that, however that does come at a premium price when compared to home built units. That's a really good point. Thinking on it, I'd like to be able to burst run our chest freezer for an hour or two to bring it's temp down if the power goes out. Maybe run a pedestal fan for 8 hours. I know that anything involving heat generation is generally going to drain power really fast but being able to boil a kettle if really necessary now and again without flattening it. I'd like to be able to plug in my half-sized electric blanket in an emergency (as in, someone in shock that needs a good heat source quickly etc, not to actually use to stay warm for long periods). Hm... What else... Charge a small laptop or mobile phones although that's fairly given with most charging stations nowadays. Perhaps give our regular sized family fridge some juice for a couple of hours in an outage. Some plug in LED lights. Charge our Mavic drone for surveillance purposes. Obviously not all of those things at once, particularly the heating items. So really it's mostly incidentals that we want to have power for if needed. I checked out the Ecoflows and saw that $7k rig that you mentioned... Honestly if we were already in a house that we owned I'd consider it! |
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Post by Stealth on Apr 20, 2022 23:13:37 GMT 10
Barometers are useful, but my instrumentation can sense or detect the buildup to a storm, sometimes days before its even visable on a weather radar. Same here. Extremely highly tuned. My arthritic knees. 🤣 |
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tomatoes
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Post by tomatoes on Apr 22, 2022 8:43:53 GMT 10
I have a friend who is the same, she was confused about what to buy as well, but that is the wrong end to start. I first got her to identify the devices she absolutely needed to keep running, we checked the name plates and did the calculations and went from there, you have to know what you want to run before you buy the device to do it. Since she wasn't very good with this stuff we went with the pre-built units like the Ecoflow or Bluetti, should just be plug and play for her after that, however that does come at a premium price when compared to home built units. That's a really good point. Thinking on it, I'd like to be able to burst run our chest freezer for an hour or two to bring it's temp down if the power goes out. Maybe run a pedestal fan for 8 hours. I know that anything involving heat generation is generally going to drain power really fast but being able to boil a kettle if really necessary now and again without flattening it. I'd like to be able to plug in my half-sized electric blanket in an emergency (as in, someone in shock that needs a good heat source quickly etc, not to actually use to stay warm for long periods). Hm... What else... Charge a small laptop or mobile phones although that's fairly given with most charging stations nowadays. Perhaps give our regular sized family fridge some juice for a couple of hours in an outage. Some plug in LED lights. Charge our Mavic drone for surveillance purposes. Obviously not all of those things at once, particularly the heating items. So really it's mostly incidentals that we want to have power for if needed. I checked out the Ecoflows and saw that $7k rig that you mentioned... Honestly if we were already in a house that we owned I'd consider it! On the Rainbow Power Company’s website they have a page where you can put in the items you want to run and it will tell you what size system you need. It’s obviously just a rough guide but it would give you a starting indication. |
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Post by Stealth on Apr 22, 2022 20:20:51 GMT 10
On the Rainbow Power Company’s website they have a page where you can put in the items you want to run and it will tell you what size system you need. It’s obviously just a rough guide but it would give you a starting indication. Now THAT's handy, lots of info there. Thanks! I'll have a proper read through and get the other half (who's far less technologically backwards than I am lol) to check my sanity. Cheers  |
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bug
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Post by bug on Apr 24, 2022 9:03:06 GMT 10
Would love a portable home battery that my rooftop solar will still work with. Right now it disconnects. Was disappointed to see that it can't co-operate with a petrol generator.
All the permanent installed ones have the frequency control to do it, but is anyone aware of a portable one?
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malewithatail
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Post by malewithatail on Apr 24, 2022 10:01:42 GMT 10
The current regulations in relation to grid interactive/connect systems prevent such a scheme, but, go totally off grid and it all becomes possible. Many, many years ago I did install a solar system on a bus, with a grid interactive inverter and battery's that would feed power back into the grid when the battery's were charged, either from the main diesel, or the 2 Kw solar array on the roof. It was interesting to see the electricity meters turning backwards when exporting power.
You know you own an old tractor when.....You lube it by giving each grease cap a 1/4 turn.
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bug
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Post by bug on Apr 24, 2022 11:00:42 GMT 10
Off grid is actually what I'm after. Eg:
1) Charge, then disconnect battery.
2) Grid blackout occurs.
3) Open the main circuit breaker, disconnecting my house from the grid.
4) Reconnect battery.
Normally now at step 4 I will start my petrol generator, whilst my rooftop solar needs to be disconnected and sits idle. What I'd like is a battery that works with rooftop solar. My rooftop solar works well and I've seen it reduce output during grid over-frequency. I know you can do it with a full blown grid battery, but they are bloody expensive and not portable.
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Post by ausprep130 on Apr 26, 2022 10:29:36 GMT 10
Off grid is actually what I'm after. Eg: 1) Charge, then disconnect battery. 2) Grid blackout occurs. 3) Open the main circuit breaker, disconnecting my house from the grid. 4) Reconnect battery. Normally now at step 4 I will start my petrol generator, whilst my rooftop solar needs to be disconnected and sits idle. What I'd like is a battery that works with rooftop solar. My rooftop solar works well and I've seen it reduce output during grid over-frequency. I know you can do it with a full blown grid battery, but they are bloody expensive and not portable. Sounds like you're after more of a hybrid system where you are connected to the grid or disconnected and "off grid". malewithatail describes this as interactive/connect system. From my point of view a pure off grid system has no connection to the grid at all - ever. I don't know for sure but I strongly suspect there are regulations preventing you from doing what you want to do - as malewithatail stated previously. |
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spatial
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Post by spatial on Apr 26, 2022 10:53:41 GMT 10
Off grid is actually what I'm after. Eg: 1) Charge, then disconnect battery. 2) Grid blackout occurs. 3) Open the main circuit breaker, disconnecting my house from the grid. 4) Reconnect battery. Normally now at step 4 I will start my petrol generator, whilst my rooftop solar needs to be disconnected and sits idle. What I'd like is a battery that works with rooftop solar. My rooftop solar works well and I've seen it reduce output during grid over-frequency. I know you can do it with a full blown grid battery, but they are bloody expensive and not portable. There is a device that can do it without batteries. E5 converter... Quick search indicates just under 3K... Some places have no stock.. www.solarquotes.com.au/blog/solar-blackout-inverter-mb1494/ |
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bug
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Post by bug on Apr 26, 2022 11:06:55 GMT 10
Thanks. Will look into it.
That website is actually who I went through to get my rooftop solar installed in the first place. Their recommended contractor was quite good.
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bug
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Post by bug on Apr 26, 2022 11:32:34 GMT 10
It's not quite what I'm after, as I've already got a solar inverter. But if it ever fails, that would be perfect to replace it with.
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rosebud
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Post by rosebud on Sept 27, 2022 22:02:14 GMT 10
I've got solar panels on the roof and a battery. If the power goes out, the battery will power lights, ceiling fans, fridges and freezer and several power points so i can use microwave, radio etc. I can also run a powercord out to the rainwater pump to get rainwater into the house. I've also got gas BBQ's, camp stove and charcoal weber, which I can burn wood in if the situation runs for too long. I've got bricks I can put together to make a basic stove outside.
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malewithatail
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Post by malewithatail on Sept 28, 2022 8:57:11 GMT 10
Well done rosebud, your are ahead of 95% of the population.
Each dwelling here on the farm has its own full size solar system, usually around 3.6 kw solar, 3 kw inverter, we have been using lead acid battery's, but the new system are now lithium large format cells. The main system is 20 kw solar, 2,600 amp hour 48 volt submarine battery and 5 kw inverter/charge with a 12 kva diesel and 8.5 kva Honda running on petrol and lp gas.
Next thing to look at is grid down comms. A UHF CB radio tuned to your local road channel, or local repeater is a good start. Then a decent short wave communications receiver, then get your ham license and some gear to enable communications with the rest of the world, without needing to use other carriers, like the mobile network.
Got to put some more outside lights in on my daughters accommodations donga, so better go.
To love rightly is to love what is orderly and beautiful in an educated and disciplined way.
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Tim Horton
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Post by Tim Horton on Oct 3, 2022 21:18:01 GMT 10
Barometers are useful, but my instrumentation can sense or detect the buildup to a storm, sometimes days before its even visable on a weather radar.
Same here. Extremely highly tuned. My arthritic knees. 🤣
---
Several factors here.... Since we heat with wood, humidity is a bit hard to maintain in the house at times.. Sweetie got me an indoor/outdoor table top temp and weather monitor station.. With it, the wind flags I installed around the yard, and a web site called Windy.com I have fun trying to predict weather before Environment Canada has a clue at times.. These tools plus a friend in Alaska make it easier to routinely be a step ahead.. We are usually 24-48 hours behind weather changes for my Alaska friends..
Bad knees and hips... Yes... When they send me to the Tylenol bottle, something weather wise has changed and it is time to do a detailed look at predictions..
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frostbite
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Post by frostbite on Oct 4, 2022 7:40:17 GMT 10
I have a very accurate weather station. It's my arm. I put my arm out the window, if it gets wet that means it's raining, if it gets hot that means it's sunny. If it gets very cold and white it means it's snowing, if it hurts like hell it means it's hailing.
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malewithatail
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Post by malewithatail on Oct 4, 2022 9:32:19 GMT 10
For a temporary grab and go solution, I have a Jaycar portable power station. It has a 400 watt 240 v inverter, a 12 amp battery, a air compressor, jump starter, light and 2 off 12 v sockets to charge mobile phones etc from. Its the older model, so doesn't have the inbuilt usb support. It doesn't have a dedicated solar input, but a socket to connect the supplied mains charger that could also become a solar input. And the inverter is no slouch and can run a 4 inch angle grinder, providing you give the wheel a spin as u start it up. All the farm vehicles have small, 5 watt, solar panels connected permanently to the battery's, so they will start immediately when needed. Just looked up what Jaycar has and they don't list the model I have. But this is available www.jaycar.com.au/portable-505wh-power-station-with-500w-inverter/p/MB3768?pos=1&queryId=6c0316c1c66978ff41540214758ec519&sort=relevanceAt $800, its a bit pricey, but does have a lithium battery, whereas mine is a sealed lead acid type. Trace in USA brought out a series of inverters that could be mains connected, charge the battery's from the mains, and feed back into the mains when it failed. Add some solar panels and a regulator and its a complete home power station. rosebud, we too are building an outdoor kitchen, with a wood fire pizza oven and cooking stove, plenty of seats and tables as well as a fire pit. The happiness of your life depends upon the quality of your thoughts: therefore, guard accordingly, and take care that you entertain no notions unsuitable to virtue. |
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Post by corgiking on Oct 7, 2022 7:53:09 GMT 10
I have a second battery in my vehicle that will run my camp fridge for five days before needing a charge. It takes solar input as well and i have a few panels for it if needed. I have 6 high amp usb outputs in the vehicle.
First plan would be all meat in the car fridge.
Also have various usb charging lights and aa rechargable batteries for torches, all of which can charge off the car.
Have solar on the house which will easily cover use but i need to get a battery added for blackouts.
Have gas bbq with two bottles and a store of firewood.
Besides that we regularly camp and cook on the fire. Take the approach of using minimal gear needed to be comfortable.
I am looking for a decent portable 12v power system (battery, solar and controller)that will fit in a backpack but cant find much. Ill probably end up making my own.
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