[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Build your own portable power station: An ARFcom tutorial (very pic heavy) (Page 5 of 5)
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Here is mine I got a used bluetop optima deep cycle battery.
I used: 1x Marine box from Sportsman Guide. 1x $20 400w Inverter again from Sportsman Guide. 1x 12v Double accessory sockets from Pepboys. 3x 2 pole trailer brake cables from Pepboys 1x Battery Tender cable from Amazon. 2x 20Amp fuses 1x Battery tester from Amazon So after reading this post, and talking with guys at work. I came up with my solution. It is wired so the battery can be disconnected via a 2 pole pig tail. The lid of the case is where all the business is. I have wired in parallel a 400w 110v Inverter, a double outlet 12v accessory outlets with switch, and finally a 12v battery tester. I created a fused 20amp cable coming from the battery, which hooks up to the Lid of the marine box where everything is mounted, and I have another 20amp fuse for secondary protection of just the lid. I'm using the terminal screws on inverter as a wiring block for the tester and the 12v accessory outlet. Well enough descriptions here it is: The underside of the top, I hadn't added the battery tester yet: 
The Top with the inverter and 12v sockets: 
The side with the battery tester: 
I have another 2 batteries to create similar ones with, but I'm real happy with the way this one came out....and the batteries where free!!! |
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CJan,
I admit I did not read every single post in this thread... 
My question is: has anyone put together a portable solar panel along with your battery setup? I was thinking that maybe a small freezer would run on a setup like yours with a solar panel to recharge the battery. What do you think? Thanks, rr |
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Quoted:
CJan, I admit I did not read every single post in this thread...
My question is: has anyone put together a portable solar panel along with your battery setup? I was thinking that maybe a small freezer would run on a setup like yours with a solar panel to recharge the battery. What do you think? Thanks, rr Well, RR, here's the arguably easiest way to solve the frig issue with solar... http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=10&f=17&t=638662 |
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Quoted:
Quoted:
CJan, I admit I did not read every single post in this thread...
My question is: has anyone put together a portable solar panel along with your battery setup? I was thinking that maybe a small freezer would run on a setup like yours with a solar panel to recharge the battery. What do you think? Thanks, rr Well, RR, here's the arguably easiest way to solve the frig issue with solar... http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=10&f=17&t=638662 Thanks Epxy but I was looking at something for the truck that could be used if living in the woods for an extended period of time. Small cooler size freezer. I should have been more clear on what I was looking to accomplish... 
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Quoted:
CJan, I admit I did not read every single post in this thread...
My question is: has anyone put together a portable solar panel along with your battery setup? I was thinking that maybe a small freezer would run on a setup like yours with a solar panel to recharge the battery. What do you think? Thanks, rr Well, RR, here's the arguably easiest way to solve the frig issue with solar... http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=10&f=17&t=638662 Thanks Epxy but I was looking at something for the truck that could be used if living in the woods for an extended period of time. Small cooler size freezer. I should have been more clear on what I was looking to accomplish... I understand Rusty. There are some ways to do that and I'll try to start a thread on a sort of 'different' way to solve your frig in the woods issue. |
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Does anyone know who sells a battery cable that is terminated with ring connectors every 8ish inches or so to daisy chain batteries? Alternatively are there ring terminals with TWO crimp connections (180o apart) so I can make my own? Thanks, Matt sounds like something you would have to fabricate, not too hard with a cable crimper, terminals and 10 gauge wire. |
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Does anyone know who sells a battery cable that is terminated with ring connectors every 8ish inches or so to daisy chain batteries? Alternatively are there ring terminals with TWO crimp connections (180o apart) so I can make my own? Thanks, Matt Matt, you might want to stick with one cable with two terminals for maintainance and modification reasons. I wouldn't worry abt aditional losses and could make up cables either way and choose to do it the basic way. Unless there is a special reason to do otherwise. Have you looked on ebay for a good crimper. H-F has a hydraulic one for abt $50 IIRC. Picked up a Huskie hydraulic crimper set with all the dies last year for about $60. A $1300+ tool. Or you can make a cheap crimper by taking a small bolt cutter and chucking an abrasive die grinder bit into a drill and slowly closing the jaws on it. You can get about two sizes per cutter jaw. |
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Would it be possible to use this type of a setup in conjunction with a gas powered generator to run larger appliances that have a high startup load but quickly taper off to a small running load?
For example: A gas furnace may require 1500 W at startup and 700W to run continuous. If you have a 900W max gas generator and a 2000W inverter on one of these power stations could you hook it up in a way that the battery would supply the 1500 W at startup of the furnace, then the gas generator provides the 700W continuous power? Kind of like having them hooked up in parallel to the furnace load? |
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Would it be possible to use this type of a setup in conjunction with a gas powered generator to run larger appliances that have a high startup load but quickly taper off to a small running load? For example: A gas furnace may require 1500 W at startup and 700W to run continuous. If you have a 900W max gas generator and a 2000W inverter on one of these power stations could you hook it up in a way that the battery would supply the 1500 W at startup of the furnace, then the gas generator provides the 700W continuous power? Kind of like having them hooked up in parallel to the furnace load? It's possible. But not in parallel -at the same time- with equipment that would be considered 'standard'. You could start the load with an inverter if your battery bank was large enough, and use a fast changeover relay or solid state switch while syncing the genny and inverter with a lamp between the two sources in the 'old fashioned' way. That said, for most folks who don't even know how to use a DVM [and aren't motivated to learn because it isn't 'fun' like gunz and stuff], I'd say the possibility for most was nil. |
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Would it be possible to use this type of a setup in conjunction with a gas powered generator to run larger appliances that have a high startup load but quickly taper off to a small running load? For example: A gas furnace may require 1500 W at startup and 700W to run continuous. If you have a 900W max gas generator and a 2000W inverter on one of these power stations could you hook it up in a way that the battery would supply the 1500 W at startup of the furnace, then the gas generator provides the 700W continuous power? Kind of like having them hooked up in parallel to the furnace load? Yes but you will need an Inverter/charger such as something like a ProSine 2.0 which is what I have on my 12v bank. You would program it to charge at a max of 900 watts ac while powering it with the genny. If the batteries are full then it will only float the batteries. As you add loads it will pass the ac through the inverter to power them. Once the ac load exceeds 900 watts it will then pull the extra needed power from the bank. As the load falls below the 900 watts it will then use the extra power to charge the batteries back up. |
I've started building my own box. I'm thinking about installing one of these on the side. Only $9
Anyone see any negatives to doing it this way rather than having a wire with a power pole sticking through a hole? I installed a 12v. cigarette plug in the lid of my box. I used the metal bracket as a guide, and used a drill bit like a router. Worked great! |
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Here is mine. Sunforce Solar Battery Charger from Tractor Supply
$25 Stanley rolling toolbox Inverter, deep cycle battery, and 12 plug from Wal Mart Box (wire is running out to the solar panel) Pay no attention to the large diameter PVC caps sitting on the chair 
The inverter and plug 
Battery and Charge Controller 
It's not sexy, but it works. |
Here's the one I just completed:
 
The cigarette lighter plug, power pole connection, and the inverter is each individually fused. I used 10 gauge for the inverter (500 watts), and 12 gauge for the other items. I also put a power pole connection on my battery tender/charger. The inverter can power/charge usb devices as well. |
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Quoted:
CJan, I admit I did not read every single post in this thread...
My question is: has anyone put together a portable solar panel along with your battery setup? I was thinking that maybe a small freezer would run on a setup like yours with a solar panel to recharge the battery. What do you think? Thanks, rr i rigged mine up w/ a 15w solar panel i picked up from a local auto parts store. it can charge through the panel or via traditional charging. |
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Quoted: Quoted: CJan, I admit I did not read every single post in this thread... My question is: has anyone put together a portable solar panel along with your battery setup? I was thinking that maybe a small freezer would run on a setup like yours with a solar panel to recharge the battery. What do you think? Thanks, rr i rigged mine up w/ a 15w solar panel i picked up from a local auto parts store. it can charge through the panel or via traditional charging. Could you please post pics of the setup? |
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Quoted:
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Quoted:
CJan, I admit I did not read every single post in this thread...
My question is: has anyone put together a portable solar panel along with your battery setup? I was thinking that maybe a small freezer would run on a setup like yours with a solar panel to recharge the battery. What do you think? Thanks, rr i rigged mine up w/ a 15w solar panel i picked up from a local auto parts store. it can charge through the panel or via traditional charging. Could you please post pics of the setup? of course. the hand-truck helps w/ portability - yard sale $5 optima 55ah battery - around $180 i think, but it does have a 3-year warranty
B&D 750w inverter - $45 at wally world. 2 110v plugs and a USB plug (great for smartphones) 15w sunforce solar panel - around $60 from advance auto i'm electrically retarded so it took me forever to figure all this crap out. several members here were greatly helpful and patient. i've run a CFL bulb, cell phone charger and radio on it for several hours with no problems. it will also run a hot plate (on any setting but high) so you could cook on it in a pinch, although i'm sure this would drain the battery very quickly. 
then i cheated and got one of these.... 
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how long does it take to charge the batt with that panel? honestly i dont know. another member here did the math and it came out to several days if the battery was fully discharged. in all reality it's probably only feasible to charge small electronics with it (kindle, phone, ipod, laptop, etc) or run a CFL or two to make sure it doesn't discharge all the way. |
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I hope you don't mind if I steal your idea. Great post, thanks for taking the time to post that :) if i had to do it over, i would look into golf cart batteries. from what i now understand they're a little cheaper with much greater amp-hour ratings IIRC |
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Quoted: Quoted: I hope you don't mind if I steal your idea. Great post, thanks for taking the time to post that :) if i had to do it over, i would look into golf cart batteries. from what i now understand they're a little cheaper with much greater amp-hour ratings IIRC A friend built my system (pics after the bar) off of a marine deep cycle battery. I'll probably mod off of the existing battery but should I make another setup, I'll look into the golf cart batteries. Thanks for the suggestion.  |
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I hope you don't mind if I steal your idea. Great post, thanks for taking the time to post that :) if i had to do it over, i would look into golf cart batteries. from what i now understand they're a little cheaper with much greater amp-hour ratings IIRC Absolutely. Typing now inside a trailer running on 2 G-F cart bats from Sams that have been in service a couple years. Best way to go. [Resting on a trip and hot as hell outside. Have a EU 3000 going and the rooftop AC running and it's cozy in here. I could run on the genny while it's running but don't need to bother.] Actually, it's late in the day and the net charge/discharge solar vs electrical load is just about a net 0 [according to the ammeter/shunt, see my topic on the subject] but will start draining the batteries in a little while as the sun moves lower. |
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I hope you don't mind if I steal your idea. Great post, thanks for taking the time to post that :) if i had to do it over, i would look into golf cart batteries. from what i now understand they're a little cheaper with much greater amp-hour ratings IIRC Golf cart batteries have about twice the Ah rating of standard AGM and probably cheaper at the same time. However, they are 6V so you need 2, which is a lot of weight and bulk if you're interested in a portable setup. Also, they are flooded cell so you don't want to charge them in your living room or near any source of spark since you could have an explosion. This is one of the great advantages of AGM's. |
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My quad battery started my real education in caring for a battery properly. While I like sealed or semi sealed batteries, what I call maintenance free batteries, the golf cart batteries are going to be my education on a decent set of batteries that do need a bit of thought and care to keep their lifespan decent. As far as the weigh goes, I have 2 push mowers I am junking. The motors will go to the scrap yard and the mower decks will become 4 wheel dollies with a push bar. I do need to buy another charger probably, I only have one smart charger I trust and I want another one since it is busy most of the time with other odds and ends. |
[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Build your own portable power station: An ARFcom tutorial (very pic heavy) (Page 5 of 5)
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