User Panel
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Posted: 2/22/2017 9:44:20 AM EDT
$$$, but compared to a Goal Zero, the price is not so obnoxious.
If I put a 130 Ah battery in it, 1 will be at 1/3 the price of a Yeti 1250  ArkPak at the 2013 Lucas Oil Off-Road Expo |
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Posted: 2/22/2017 9:54:43 AM EDT
[#1]
The one in the vid is an older version.
The one I ordered has a 300 watt inverter, and the panel will show 'net' wattage. So if my solar panel is putting in 80 watts, but I am using 100 watts, it will show -20 watts. Similar to the Yetis showing input and output wattage separately. |
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Posted: 2/22/2017 10:02:56 AM EDT
[#2]
Is there here an advantage to using a 12 volt lead acid battery for this purpose over a dedicated Nickel Metal or Lithium system?
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Posted: 2/22/2017 10:04:55 AM EDT
[#3]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Is there here an advantage to using a 12 volt lead acid battery for this purpose over a dedicated Nickel Metal or Lithium system? lead acid batteries are cheaper. But this battery box charger will handle lead acid, calcium and lithium batteries. May spring for a nice lithium battery for this thing. |
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Posted: 2/22/2017 10:07:37 AM EDT
[#4]
If you skip to 3:00 it shows the net wattage display and how it works.
 ArkPak Family Comparison |
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Posted: 2/22/2017 10:08:09 AM EDT
[#5]
$450 for a plastic box and 150 watt inverter
You got raped! |
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Posted: 2/22/2017 10:11:40 AM EDT
[#6]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
$450 for a plastic box and 150 watt inverter
You got raped! $399, 300 watt inverter and it has a smart charger that can handle multiple battery types. Compared to a Goal Zero, pretty good deal actually. |
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Posted: 2/22/2017 10:22:06 AM EDT
[#7]
One day I will have an extra Xantrex or similar pure sign wave inverter and two 130Ah Data safe batteries. I have dozens of good AGM batteries from Data Safe 505 series. Running Samlex chargers in 24VDC strings and inverters.
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Posted: 2/22/2017 10:22:19 AM EDT
[#8]
From Amazon
300 watt inverter $25 'Smart' charger is $55 battery monitor $19 battery box $18 Total $117 so you paid almost $300 for packaging |
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Posted: 2/22/2017 10:24:58 AM EDT
[#9]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
From Amazon 300 watt inverter $25 'Smart' charger is $55 battery monitor $19 battery box $18 Total $117 so you paid almost $300 for packaging Yes, I have multiple systems around here I have built that way. |
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Posted: 2/22/2017 10:27:44 AM EDT
[#10]
How about a link to their site or something, princess?
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Posted: 2/22/2017 10:31:04 AM EDT
[#11]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
How about a link to their site or something, princess? I bought it off eBay, cheaper than their website. Seller here in FL has them for $399, just search eBay for 'ArkPak'. I just noticed buried on the eBay listing they sell the older version for $329 Ark's website is arkportablepower.com They are an Aussie company, so the US operations are not spun up like their Australian one is. |
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Posted: 2/22/2017 10:31:48 AM EDT
[#12]
The idea is nice,
Just not the markup. If you didn't care about needing a built in charger or inverter. this is $65 (edit added pic ) mount inverter on top  Attached File |
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Posted: 2/22/2017 10:34:30 AM EDT
[#13]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
The idea is nice, Just not the markup. If you didn't care about needing a built in charger or inverter. this is $65 I have one of those with a deep cycle battery I got at Walmart sitting by the front door to take out to charge via solar if the sun ever comes out, cloudy here today. I mounted the $11, 200 watt inverter I got at NorthernTool on the side of mine. 
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Posted: 2/22/2017 11:50:20 AM EDT
[#14]
130 Ah battery x 12 volts = 1560 watts
So if I go 130Ah battery I will have even more watts than a Yeti 1250 at a much lower price. I love GZ stuff, own a lot of it, but the Yeti 1250 is way outside the bounds of money I would spend on it. This ArkPak thingy accomplishes much of the same cheaper. |
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Posted: 2/22/2017 12:03:54 PM EDT
[#15]
What is the use case for one of these?
Are you powering instrumentation or computer equipment somewhere that gens aren't available short term? |
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Posted: 2/22/2017 12:06:13 PM EDT
[#16]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
What is the use case for one of these? Are you powering instrumentation or computer equipment somewhere that gens aren't available short term? Camping, power outages, etc. We lost power for a week after Hurricane Matthew, solar and batteries kept us in minimal power. Good luck finding gas for a generator after a hurricane around here. |
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Posted: 2/22/2017 12:11:22 PM EDT
[#17]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Camping, power outages, etc. We lost power for a week after Hurricane Matthew, solar and batteries kept us in minimal power. Good luck finding gas for a generator after a hurricane around here. Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
What is the use case for one of these? Are you powering instrumentation or computer equipment somewhere that gens aren't available short term? Camping, power outages, etc. We lost power for a week after Hurricane Matthew, solar and batteries kept us in minimal power. Good luck finding gas for a generator after a hurricane around here. The trick is to take care of that stuff before a hurricane. Those things are pretty neat, but just that case is the equivalent price of stock piling 200 gallons of gasoline which would be much more useful. |
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Posted: 2/22/2017 12:14:32 PM EDT
[#18]
Of course, I am the master of being prepared.
But a week long power outage is probably longer than most people plan for. Imagine if it was Katrina and months of no power. How much gas do you plan on keeping around? And a Home Depot generator is not going to run non stop for 3 weeks without breaking down. |
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Posted: 2/22/2017 12:46:02 PM EDT
[#19]
Why not? We were Zero power for 12 days , the intermittent for another week after that. Fridge window unit 1 tv and a couple lamps powered by home depot genset.
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Posted: 2/22/2017 12:48:17 PM EDT
[#20]
We have a lot of folks around here with whole house generators, but they are propane or LNG or something, not gasoline.
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Posted: 2/24/2017 9:44:50 AM EDT
[#21]
Got it yesterday, bought a 109 Ah battery at Walmart this morning.
80 watt panel, still early morning and hazy, that is why only 1 watt going into the battery right now. My budget Yeti 1250. Should have shopped around more, there is a seller on eBay selling the same one $100 cheaper, doh!  Ark Pak 730 |
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Posted: 2/24/2017 9:52:01 AM EDT
[#22]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Of course, I am the master of being prepared. But a week long power outage is probably longer than most people plan for. Imagine if it was Katrina and months of no power. How much gas do you plan on keeping around? And a Home Depot generator is not going to run non stop for 3 weeks without breaking down. My HF generator went 7 days in a row non-stop. Does that mean I only have 2 more weeks before it dies? Not knocking solar, I love it in fact. But I wonder if you aren't trying to justify some purchases a little bit. Also, what about NG conversion in a generator? Shit would have to get pretty bad before NG stopped flowing. |
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Posted: 2/24/2017 9:58:58 AM EDT
[#23]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Got it yesterday, bought a 109 Ah battery at Walmart this morning. 80 watt panel, still early morning and hazy, that is why only 1 watt going into the battery right now. My budget Yeti 1250. Should have shopped around more, there is a seller on eBay selling the same one $100 cheaper, doh!  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DS4GFSFBbCIWhere do you buy your solar panels? I know nothing about them. How do I figure out how big I need to get for simple battery charging? |
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Posted: 2/24/2017 9:59:39 AM EDT
[#24]
Suns a little higher, 9 watts going in now.
I love being able to monitor that via the onboard panel. |
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Posted: 2/24/2017 10:02:15 AM EDT
[#25]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Where do you buy your solar panels? I know nothing about them. How do I figure out how big I need to get for simple battery charging? Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
Got it yesterday, bought a 109 Ah battery at Walmart this morning. 80 watt panel, still early morning and hazy, that is why only 1 watt going into the battery right now. My budget Yeti 1250. Should have shopped around more, there is a seller on eBay selling the same one $100 cheaper, doh! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DS4GFSFBbCIWhere do you buy your solar panels? I know nothing about them. How do I figure out how big I need to get for simple battery charging? I have a lot panels bought all over the place. Amazon, ebay, have a 90 watt panel I bought on Walmart.com for $115. You would need a panel plus a charge controller to make sure you don't overcharge the battery. Just search youtube 'simple solar generator' for info. |
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Posted: 2/24/2017 10:21:56 AM EDT
[#26]
Haze is clearing, 41 watts going in now.
It will never get to the 80 watts the panel is rated for, but it should get above 60 watts later today. 
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Posted: 2/24/2017 10:22:32 AM EDT
[#27]
Someone brought a relative to one of the outdoor campouts. Relative was expecting all this primitive tech stuff and what not. It was more like bringing the living room to the campfire.
These things are handy as heck if you have stuff you need to do or if some of the utility folks like working on your utilities without telling you about it. Last year the local electric company was working on stuff, the place I rent used to get power from one line only so if anything on that line went out I was out of power. Woke up many a morning to no power but still had to get ready for work and what not. Now I have power from 2 directions, so if only one line gets killed I still have power. And with today's cell phones and stuff having a way to charge em is handy as heck, easy to have local power outage where I am at and still be able to get phone service if the phone is charged. I like seeing what is out there, but I admit to making my own junk cause I am cheap and usually have junk around. If you make something with 2 or more batteries buy a 2 wheel moving handtruck or one of the garden carts or something so it becomes mobile. I pick up cheap hand trucks for cheap if they are decently sturdy to handle 100lbs or more of batteries. |
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Posted: 2/24/2017 10:25:59 AM EDT
[#28]
One thing the Yeti 1250 has that this doesn't is a pure sign wave inverter, but I can live without that.
I wouldn't be running any sensitive electronics off the inverter anyways. |
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Posted: 2/24/2017 10:27:45 AM EDT
[#29]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Of course, I am the master of being prepared. But a week long power outage is probably longer than most people plan for. Imagine if it was Katrina and months of no power. How much gas do you plan on keeping around? And a Home Depot generator is not going to run non stop for 3 weeks without breaking down. I keep about 30 gallons normally for emergencies. upped the stock to 80 right before Sandy hit. We were fine for two weeks. Could have easily gone longer. |
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Posted: 2/24/2017 10:30:19 AM EDT
[#30]
For some reason, Australia has all these cool battery box companies that aren't available here.
A company called Thumper has their line there, a company called KickAss has another, they love their portable power down there. Here it seems to be the same generic battery boxes. |
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Posted: 2/24/2017 10:58:45 AM EDT
[#31]
Example of the cool stuff Australia has we never see here.
[youtube]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xjYlkT7mWp4&t=444s[/youtube]  Failed To Load Title |
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Posted: 2/24/2017 11:41:11 AM EDT
[#32]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
I have a lot panels bought all over the place. Amazon, ebay, have a 90 watt panel I bought on Walmart.com for $115. You would need a panel plus a charge controller to make sure you don't overcharge the battery. Just search youtube 'simple solar generator' for info. Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
Got it yesterday, bought a 109 Ah battery at Walmart this morning. 80 watt panel, still early morning and hazy, that is why only 1 watt going into the battery right now. My budget Yeti 1250. Should have shopped around more, there is a seller on eBay selling the same one $100 cheaper, doh! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DS4GFSFBbCIWhere do you buy your solar panels? I know nothing about them. How do I figure out how big I need to get for simple battery charging? I have a lot panels bought all over the place. Amazon, ebay, have a 90 watt panel I bought on Walmart.com for $115. You would need a panel plus a charge controller to make sure you don't overcharge the battery. Just search youtube 'simple solar generator' for info. Thanks for the info 
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Posted: 2/24/2017 12:37:27 PM EDT
[#33]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
My HF generator went 7 days in a row non-stop. Does that mean I only have 2 more weeks before it dies? Not knocking solar, I love it in fact. But I wonder if you aren't trying to justify some purchases a little bit. Also, what about NG conversion in a generator? Shit would have to get pretty bad before NG stopped flowing. Quote HistoryQuoted:
Quoted:
Of course, I am the master of being prepared. But a week long power outage is probably longer than most people plan for. Imagine if it was Katrina and months of no power. How much gas do you plan on keeping around? And a Home Depot generator is not going to run non stop for 3 weeks without breaking down. My HF generator went 7 days in a row non-stop. Does that mean I only have 2 more weeks before it dies? Not knocking solar, I love it in fact. But I wonder if you aren't trying to justify some purchases a little bit. Also, what about NG conversion in a generator? Shit would have to get pretty bad before NG stopped flowing. NG was shutoff to most of the coastal towns after Sandy. The storm surge caused too much erosion, and broke enough supply pipes that they shut the mains down. Although a disruption is rare, I would rather rely on something I own on site, than continuing feed from a public utility. Although I initially doubted the utility of these battery boxes, I personally don't think I would ever use one, but in a long term failure they could be a tremendous asset. |
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Posted: 2/24/2017 12:48:04 PM EDT
[#34]
Why exactly would you want to get away from it all and then take it all with you?
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Posted: 2/24/2017 12:52:25 PM EDT
[#35]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Why exactly would you want to get away from it all and then take it all with you? This is hurricane preps for me, but could be used for camping remotely as well. |
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Posted: 2/24/2017 12:53:46 PM EDT
[#36]
The ArkPak's are good for what they are. I have the older version with the 150W inverter and to be hones have never used it LOL. All my stuff runs on 12V and I like it that way. Unfortunately I have outgrown the little Pak and I'm now in the process of going to 6V Golf Cart batteries in a generic box, not portable any more but more then twice the Ah :)
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Posted: 2/24/2017 3:25:42 PM EDT
[#37]
Golf cart batteries are great for solar power, I used to have 4 of them.
Heavy mofos though. |
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Posted: 2/25/2017 10:33:20 AM EDT
[#38]
Putting some load on it to test it out.
I have a 60 watt panel with a Goal Zero charge controller charging the Ark Pak. The inverter on the Ark Pak is being used to charge a Duracell jump starter pack. The Duracell jump starter is using it's inverter to run a fan and the 12 V DC out to charge a Goal Zero Yeti 150. Humming right along, no hicups yet. 
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Posted: 2/26/2017 1:28:29 AM EDT
[#39]
So the ArkPak doesn't have a solar charge controller? Just a 12V input for charging I take it?
I have a 100W panel on my back deck that I fed the lines in through a hole in the wall which formerly had phone lines in it. I have a small 18Ah 12V battery connected to the charge controller, and a 12V cigarette lighter socket wired up to it. I have a 150W inverter that I can plug into that. Recently got a 20100mAh Omnicharge unit (neat little portable battery that has a 100W AC inverter built in, two USB ports, and the DC Input can accept up to 80V, IICR. The DC input can also be used as an output. I have an adapter cable that will connect to my MS Surface Book to power it) It's an awesome device, but a bit pricey if you didn't get in on the KickStarter for it. I may look into one of the smaller ArkPak boxes to replace my setup. If it doesn't have a solar charge controller on it, I'll just bolt the one I have to it and wire it up. I only charge that system off of solar anyway. |
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Posted: 2/26/2017 11:42:33 AM EDT
[#40]
It has a smart charger built in, but if charging via solar via the 12 VDC outlet or the battery clamps, that bypasses the charger, so yes, you need a solar charge controller if charging that way.
I found a seller out of Chicago on eBay that is selling brand new Ark Pak I bought for $100 cheaper than I paid, if you can't find it I will IM you. I will probably buy it in a week or so if no one else does before then. |
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Posted: 2/26/2017 2:04:18 PM EDT
[#41]
I am thinking on why Australia has more cool battery power stations than we do here in USA.
Maybe they don't allow the flood of cheap Chinese shit in like we do, so leaves room for more home-grown Aussie companies to compete? |
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Posted: 3/15/2017 10:14:30 AM EDT
[#42]
Some seller out of Chicago keeps throwing these up one at a time for $299 or best offer.
Really tempted to order a second one. As arfcom says, 2 is 1, 1 is none |
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Posted: 3/18/2017 11:15:16 AM EDT
[#43]
Someone bought it out from under me.
I IM'd the seller to ask if he had more, he does and will list another one soon (his words) He must have bought out a closing down store or they fell off the back of a truck (it is Chicago) or something to sell them at that price, they are $449 or some on Amazon. He does have a lot of feedback and 100% on eBay though, so I assume legit. |
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Posted: 3/18/2017 11:20:38 AM EDT
[#44]
Do you have discussions with yourself often?
Maybe this power pack thing can be your friend. |
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Posted: 3/18/2017 11:28:27 AM EDT
[#45]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
Do you have discussions with yourself often? Maybe this power pack thing can be your friend. Next post might be about turtles. |
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Posted: 3/18/2017 11:36:42 AM EDT
[#46]
I like it OP. Tag.
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Posted: 3/18/2017 11:42:10 AM EDT
[#47]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
I like it OP. Tag. If folks want the cheap ones we normally have here, go be poor somewhere else 
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Posted: 3/18/2017 11:52:44 AM EDT
[#48]
How long will one of these run a Hitachi magic wand and/or fleshlight?
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Posted: 3/18/2017 11:55:20 AM EDT
[#49]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
How long will one of these run a Hitachi magic wand and/or fleshlight? |
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Posted: 3/18/2017 12:10:03 PM EDT
[#50]
Quote HistoryQuoted:
I keep about 30 gallons normally for emergencies. upped the stock to 80 right before Sandy hit. We were fine for two weeks. Could have easily gone longer. Certainly, not everlasting, but will run it quite a while. |
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