Portable Solar Generators

If you could mount a solar panel on your Jeep’s roof you could charge as you overland drive.

I don't have any experience with the Jackery/Bluetti/EcoFlow/etc. units. I have, however, built my own. Two, in fact. Both work exactly as designed.

The first one I built used AGM batteries, and thus was too heavy to take boon docking but it has proven great for those all-too-frequent power outages at the sticks-n-bricks. The second one uses a LiFePO4 battery, thus is much lighter, and will go camping with us in future. The lithium one with it's 500 watts of solar panels and the folding hand truck weighs just about 100 lbs, and provides 300 Ah and 2200 watts continuous AC power. With that much capacity, I don't even care if it rains for a couple days in a row.

As long as you sized your unit correctly, you should expect to be well served.

Roll your own is far far far less expensive. I'd use sio2 batteries as weight is not a consideration for a class c.

pianotuna wrote:
Roll your own is far far far less expensive.

x2

pianotuna wrote:
Roll your own is far far far less expensive. I'd use sio2 batteries as weight is not a consideration for a class c.

Absolutely the way to go IMO. I've not considered doing it as it doesn't serve my needs versus the cost. But installing Lithium batteries, solar panels, and an inverter is a lot more cost effective. IMO anyway.

Sometimes they have crazy great specials on them and other times they have giveaways and free contest..That's how I ended up with a couple!

They have there place..My opinion is there failure rate is fairly high IMO..There's alot tucked into a tiny space and there mass producing in droves anymore ..Poor warranty and customer service also for some of them.When they work,there great and very handy IMHO..

Having said that and used them a bunch,color me into the full size battery and inverter club..LOL

The average RVer already has a sizeable battery bank in his RV, along with several different ways of recharging it.

Why would he/she not want to use it?

Skibane wrote:
The average RVer already has a sizeable battery bank in his RV, along with several different ways of recharging it.

Why would he/she not want to use it?

An example would be...My TC came with one group 24 wet battery/one 12v plugin and no usb ports..Not much usable power there..These little power stations provide 12v ports/5v usb ports/wireless charging on top for cell phones and a camplight plus a PSW inverter..Quite handy to move around as needed to the bunk or wherever..I since have added lots of batteries and solar but I still use the little power station just because it is handy to move around as needed..

Evreyone has different needs and all RV's are not the same equipped.I also bring it in the house when the power goes out for Cpaps etc..

Skibane wrote:
The average RVer already has a sizeable battery bank in his RV, along with several different ways of recharging it.

Why would he/she not want to use it?

Because it is an expensive rip off to the consumer?

EBL does a lot of double speak..

HERE

They make it sound big with "3.7V/270000mAh" rating, but notice that is 3.7V which happens to be the cell voltage of a Lithium battery..

Rated capacity they claim is "999Wh "

999Whr actually comes out as 83 Ahr of battery capacity (see HERE for conversion info)..

So, the reality is you are getting 83Ahr of battery plus an 1,000W inverter for the princely sum of $948 :E

You can buy two 100Ahr Lithium batteries For $500 and have plenty of money leftover for a 1,000W inverter..

By the way, you would have to use the inverter to get full access to the battery amperage as the Lighter port is limited to 8A :h

To call it anything other than a battery pack with inverter is marketing double speak.

jaycocreek wrote:

Skibane wrote:
The average RVer already has a sizeable battery bank in his RV, along with several different ways of recharging it.

Why would he/she not want to use it?

An example would be...My TC came with one group 24 wet battery/one 12v plugin and no usb ports..Not much usable power there..

Adding extra USB ports or DC power outlets to the average RV isn't difficult, expensive or time-consuming.

As soon as your Group 24 battery ages out, it can be upgraded to something larger - or to a LiFeSO4 replacement.