"Solar Generator" initial impressions.

[mvweebles]

Hello.
Any thoughts on using a solar generator as a main power source daily? I'm interested in jumping into solar, but relatively new to it and want to start small, and figured a solar generator (looking at the Bluetti AC200L or Ecoflow Delta 2 Max) would be an easy way to get started. I was thinking I could get a few used panels and just power a home office to start. I've thought about doing something like Will's hand truck video, as it's a better value per watt-hour, but I also camp so figured I could use the generator for that as well.

Any reason not to do this? Seems like it would be fine with the LFP batteries, and both of those generators offer expansion if I wanted to ever do that.

I have a friend who is doing exactly what you're pondering - using a mid-size power station (solar generator) to run his work-from-home office. He's using an Ecoflow - I think it's a Delta 2 MAX (2kw battery) plus another 2kw battery and a pair of 400W panels on the ground to avoid permitting issues. He's a bit of a power-user for PCs - he's the global head of procurement for an international company so spends a lot of time on video calls and has three 25" monitors going 15-hours a day. I just talked with him and his setup is keeping pace even though it's the shortest day of the year - he's in Houston TX. Keep an eye on Costco as they seem to sell a lot of Ecoflow.

This week I came across this YouTube article on using regular LFP battery to charge a power station (any brand). Never occured to me you could use a regular LFP battery (LiTime for example) to charge. For you, no charge needed as you would likely use the grid, but it's an interesting use-case, especially if you're considering for back-up for power outage. Gives the economy of non-proprietary battery but the very nice features of a leading solar generator. This YouTube points out the disadvantages compared to a proprietary battery, most notably is the aux battery must be charged separately.

Peter

 

[dhays]

Hello.
Any thoughts on using a solar generator as a main power source daily? I'm interested in jumping into solar, but relatively new to it and want to start small, and figured a solar generator (looking at the Bluetti AC200L or Ecoflow Delta 2 Max) would be an easy way to get started. I was thinking I could get a few used panels and just power a home office to start. I've thought about doing something like Will's hand truck video, as it's a better value per watt-hour, but I also camp so figured I could use the generator for that as well.

Any reason not to do this? Seems like it would be fine with the LFP batteries, and both of those generators offer expansion if I wanted to ever do that.

Well, I don't pretend to understand solar, batteries, or anything else electric. However, you may want to start by doing just a little electrical math. Look at the watts of power you would need to run that home office. My laptop charger charges at about 65W. To get 65W from your solar generator, assuming an efficiency of 85% of the inverter in the the "solar generator" would need to draw about 76W from the batteries. If we assume the solar controller connecting your solar panels to the "solar generator" are 95% efficient, your panels would need to put out 80W of power to charge that laptop. It takes maybe 3 hours to fully charge the laptop so that would be 240WH from the solar panels. You could do this in an hour with 3 100W solar panels in an hour if you had full sun shining directly on those panels.

Around where I live, the dark and dreary PNW, I won't see those conditions until sometime next spring. Now think about anything else you want in your home office. Maybe you are also charging your phone, listening to the radio, running a fan, or maybe you are running a more power hungry desktop computer. Scale of up the solar required to charge that solar generator and then think of how long you can run your office.

 

[tomah]

Well, I don't pretend to understand solar, batteries, or anything else electric. However, you may want to start by doing just a little electrical math. Look at the watts of power you would need to run that home office. My laptop charger charges at about 65W. To get 65W from your solar generator, assuming an efficiency of 85% of the inverter in the the "solar generator" would need to draw about 76W from the batteries. If we assume the solar controller connecting your solar panels to the "solar generator" are 95% efficient, your panels would need to put out 80W of power to charge that laptop. It takes maybe 3 hours to fully charge the laptop so that would be 240WH from the solar panels. You could do this in an hour with 3 100W solar panels in an hour if you had full sun shining directly on those panels.

Around where I live, the dark and dreary PNW, I won't see those conditions until sometime next spring. Now think about anything else you want in your home office. Maybe you are also charging your phone, listening to the radio, running a fan, or maybe you are running a more power hungry desktop computer. Scale of up the solar required to charge that solar generator and then think of how long you can run your office.

thank you so much for your suggestion