Portable Solar Generators

[JtTribe]

Anyone have any exsperience with solar Generators? I'm currently putting the EBL 1000watt voyager and 100watt apollo solar panel through its paces. So far so good! I spend most of my time overlanding in my Jeep. I have been able to do alot more boondocking! I will report back soon!

Have a blessed day! Stay Outdoors!

[pianotuna]

JtTribe,

Thanks for the report. How much does the unit cost?

[JtTribe]

 

Alright ladies and gentlemen, I’m back to report on how my testing was with the EBL Voyager 1000 I tested. To start things off, I’m an outdoors off-road enthusiast who loves spending his time outdoors regardless of the activity. Some of my main hobbies are boating, fishing, camping, and off-roading on my quad or dirt bike. I also spend an average of 50 nights per year in my roof top tent. Mind you I still manage to work full time as a System Administrator in the IT field. I’m fortunate enough to have the opportunity to telework. So long as I have power for my laptop, phone and have decent signal I can work anywhere. That is where this 1000-watt-hour unit and 100-watt Solarapollo panel come into play.

I can be mobile with this unit. It is small enough, light enough, and super easy to carry with its built-in handle. The total unit weight is 18lbs. Daily at any given time, I can simultaneously charge my laptop, phone, and power or charge another device so long as I don’t exceed the recommended limit. Even then this unit has a safety feature to automatically shut off if your power draw exceeded the limit.

I did some charge testing on this unit and was able to charge the following items x number of times with 1 test per item starting at a full Voyager battery. - HP laptop 20 full charges - Samsung Note Tested with over 25 full charges - Roof Top Tent lighting tested over 90 straight runtime hours - Electric heated blanket 5 hours straight runtime for 4 nights in a row - Portable 12v fan 62-hour straight runtime - Drone batteries 23 full charges - Cannon camera batteries tested over 20 full charges with plenty of room for more (Solarapollo 100Watt Panel)

Would I recommend this unit to? This unit is a midsize unit there are smaller size units however its all dependent on the power you need for your rigs. I would recommend to anyone who likes to spend some time outdoors and has the need to power some electronics or creature comforts. It can support devices for a family of 4 easily with moderate use. If you also plan on using a solar Solarapollo panel for charging you could essentially have continuous power indefinitely so long as your cautious on your usage and have adequate amount of sun. Specs: This unit has 3 USB- A, 1 USB- C, 12v, and 2 AC outputs, and wireless charging. It also has a DC input for charging via cigarette lighter. You can also pair with the unit a Solarapollo panel and essentially run continuous power while keeping this unit’s battery topped off. Recharge Times: AC Adapter: 8-12 hours via 12V Car adapter, Solara

[JtTribe]

I agree with jaycocreek they have their place in regards to mobility and packaging. I've personally have 2 lithium batteries in my rv with a 2000w inverter however, that's more of a setup and forget situation. In my jeep when overlanding and offroading the convience of mobility of like an EBL or other brand packs are my go to. Enough power to stay self efficient with a 12v fridge and electronics/ heating blanket. I have some findings from my last 30 day trip using one ill post it on here soon.

[jaycocreek]

But to use to "expand" your RVs battery system, it isn't a good choice due to them being much more expensive than just buying additional batteries per Ahr and as I pointed out.

I agree 100%..

There idle draw is out of this world and for lower wattage use also..I see the people read the reviews and complaints and they still buy them..Unbelievable..

[Gdetrailer]

jaycocreek wrote:
Your right and I have..I also use the power station to run one or both of my compressor fridge freezers when we travel in the car or van plus in the house on occasion..Last power outage it ran my 50 inch tv and the internet router all day....

Like was said earlier,there not for everyone but some find them usefull like myself....If you shop and watch,they can be found really cheap...Saw a 1500wh Bluetti with a 1000 watt inverter for $368 for a very short time but I bought a 100ah lifepo4 instead..lol

I think they have some "merit" for low power/low demand portable use for short time uses.

Sort of like the tiny 500W 2cycle gens that Harbor Freight sold back in the 1970s for under $100..

But to use to "expand" your RVs battery system, it isn't a good choice due to them being much more expensive than just buying additional batteries per Ahr and as I pointed out.

In the case of EBL the only way you get 12V is through the cig lighter plug which is limited to 8A or 8Ahr if you like or you have to use the inverter output to power your converter to add to your battery capacity which is double conversion. With double conversion you easily are losing 20% of your capacity for each conversion so 83Ahr now becomes about 50Ahr..

Makes sense if you are going to be several hundred feet away from your RV and need some power without running an long extension cord.. But to sit beside your RV to power a TV or fridge, not so much..

[jaycocreek]

Your right and I have..I also use the power station to run one or both of my compressor fridge freezers when we travel in the car or van plus in the house on occasion..Last power outage it ran my 50 inch tv and the internet router all day....

Like was said earlier,there not for everyone but some find them usefull like myself....If you shop and watch,they can be found really cheap...Saw a 1500wh Bluetti with a 1000 watt inverter for $368 for a very short time but I bought a 100ah lifepo4 instead..lol

[Skibane]

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.

[Gdetrailer]

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]

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]

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?

[jaycocreek]

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

[fj12ryder]

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.

[time2roll]

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

x2

[pianotuna]

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

[naturist]

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.