Solar panel/generator advice please

"smobgirl" (smobgirl) 07/27/2020 at 21:27 • Filed to: None

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I’m considering getting a solar generator and eventually a solar panel to recharge it for the Camryvan. Anyone have any experience or advice to pass on? It looks like Goal Zero and Jackery seem to be the most trusted generators, but I’m struggling to narrow down a size. At the moment I mostly want to recharge my pile of work electronics and power a small fan overnight. But on the other hand, I’m awfully tempted by the idea of a small 12v cooler someday. Or not. I mean humans have used ice to preserve food for forever. Right?

Advise me, Oppo!

The Snowman > smobgirl 07/27/2020 at 21:41

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Haven’t used one of these but I can say goal zero is a good local company(Utah) that donates to good charities helping bring electricity and computers to places that don’t have them. So if it’s a true toss up go goal zero.

onlytwowheels > smobgirl 07/27/2020 at 21:53

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Check this out:

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/ecoflow/ecoflow-r600

https://ecoflow.com

smobgirl > The Snowman 07/27/2020 at 22:02

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I don’t really know. I like their generator a bit better but they’re currently sold out of a couple   models. T heir solar panels aren’t the best  but you need to do some finagling to use their generator with other panels. But I’m looking for someone with firsthand knowledge to steer me towards the right model combination. Maybe I only need to get a smaller version that’s still available.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > smobgirl 07/27/2020 at 22:08

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Have you tried joining one of those van-l ife forums out there somewhere? If nobody has a good idea here, I bet one of them would be a good place to find some folks kind enough to help you with info? You’re not obviously going all ‘ super van life 4eva’ with the Camryvan, but I’m sure they would be more than happy to help you with your sola r dilemma?

zipfuel > smobgirl 07/27/2020 at 23:01

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Similar to rallydarkstrike’s suggestion check out the boating forums. Those folks probably have some go-to setups.

I've been looking at hella cheap AliExpress panels and inverters but even if they work the shipping isn't really working atm

VincentMalamute-Kim > smobgirl 07/27/2020 at 23:06

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No personal experience but I frequent the Transit forum. Here’s one thread:

https://www.fordtransitusaforum.com/threads/goal-zero-yeti-for-house-electrical.77600/#post-1022756

Basically for your question of what size to get, the forum experts will say to write down all the devices you plan to power. The watts each draws and how many hours a day you plan to run them. Then add up the watt-hours and you can match a Goal-Zero size to your power draws.

As suggested, vanlife, Sprinter-Source, ProMaster forums as well as boating forums have a lot of advice on batteries/solar including Goal-Zero.  I haven’t seen too many people go with Jackery.

smobgirl > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 07/27/2020 at 23:26

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I am down all the rabbit holes of people fiercely dedicated to their specific system, complicated by product availability in the timeframe I have in mind. Siiiiiigghhhhh

smobgirl > zipfuel 07/27/2020 at 23:27

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Yeah, it’s all a mess now isn’t it? Plus I feel like this is another product that’s harder to acquire now because everyone has decided to road trip their vacations now.

smobgirl > VincentMalamute-Kim 07/27/2020 at 23:35

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Yeah, those guys are talking about systems that cost more than my van, haha 

I don’t need to power all that much stuff and I don’t have a ton of room. Just not sure if I want to get a smaller unit and upgrade later if I ever get a cooler, or just go overboard to start. I don’t even need it as backup power for the house -  I’ve never lost electricity for more than 6 hours here.

VincentMalamute-Kim > smobgirl 07/28/2020 at 00:24

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Y eah, you’re paying them for the convenience of them packaging an all in one system for you. B uying the parts (LiIon battery, solar charge converter, inverter, dc-dc charger ) and connecting them yourself would save money .

Really though, y ou’re the only one who can answer if you should get the smaller model since only you can answer how likely you are to get a fridge.

barnie > smobgirl 07/28/2020 at 00:41

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Mobile or station charging? FWIW, I live in a 12v world aboard Sparrow. Most of charging is knowing what you need for wattage and then building a system for it. Most laptops can be charged at nominal 12v even though they say 19v or so. 12v is usually 13.8 or better for charged systems. Soft panels are easier to store but a bit less efficient. 12v Peltier coolers are $50 at WalMart but the better coolers are either Engel or Dome tic with compressors. Try defender.com before West Marine . Just a few thoughts....

smobgirl > VincentMalamute-Kim 07/28/2020 at 00:45

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I’m looking for advice from people who already have them to find out whether they bought a system and realize they never use half of what it’s capable of, or whether they immediately came up with more need for energy than they expected. I think that’s a reasonable question to ask someone who has already invested. 

VincentMalamute-Kim > smobgirl 07/28/2020 at 00:54

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I get your point. It’s a lot easier to copy someone else. You don’t have to put work into learning this stuff. I’m not trying to be argumentative or denigrate your skills or knowledge if what I’m saying is coming off less than positi vely.  I’m trying to be helpful.

If you want an exact answer to how much battery to buy for your specific use case scenario, then the thing to do is add up the watt-hours of all your devices. That actually gives you a more accurate answer than comparing yourself to someone else’s use case which will be invariably different than yours.

smobgirl > barnie 07/28/2020 at 01:12

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Awesome! I mean, current situation is me just looking for a slightly faster/less stressful way to recharge a couple tablets/phones/wifi hotspot than juggling small battery packs and one cigarette lighter charger. In an ideal world, it would be nice to reliably cool the van at night (small fan). Looking at that, I could easily do most work trips with a 500Wh generator unit and not even worry about a recharge on the road.

Do you find that the panels charge as efficiently as they claim? I’m usually in relatively sunny/desert areas so probably pretty ideal. Then again, I spend a lot of daylight hours on the road if I’m traveling for work so I worry that my reality is going to kill the idea of solar even being an option.  

Maybe down the road a small cooler/fridge would be nice, mostly because I couldn’t find ice for 3 days in Chicago (thanks, holiday weekend) and my $10 of deli cheese and meat got nasty in the standard cooler. So for something like the smallest coolers I’m seeing on, say, the Dometic page (CDF 11) I’d be fine plugging them into the car while driving and switching to a generator while parked? Provided, of course, that I’m parked long enough to recharge a generator?

smobgirl > VincentMalamute-Kim 07/28/2020 at 01:32

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I know you’re trying to be helpful, but looking at watt hours of my devices means I’m 100% fine charging everything off the two small battery packs I have and buying new D batteries every few days for the fan. I did 6 inspections in a row without a low power warning on anything but it was a pain in the ass juggling them based on use rate and charging efficiency. I’ve spent weeks reading specs and reviews and modifications to mix brands and everything else . I’m trying to decide if this is a life-alteringly useful investment or if I’d be better off spending my money on the fifty other broken things I’m working around right now. 

SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media > smobgirl 07/28/2020 at 02:46

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We run a 60 litre Engel fridge off a 100 amp hour deep cycle battery and 120 watt folding solar panels....for days. Basically, built my own Goal Zero or whatever it is called in order to make people want to own something that isn’t magic while thinking it is...

To do what you want, all you need a small 40 amp hour gel (sealed) battery, a DC-DC char ger (running off both vehicle and solar) and 40 watts of foldable/rollable panels. The charger and the panels can be quite cheap but get the best dry cell or gel battery you can afford as it will give you less grief. Personally, I like the Sonneschein brand but you may find something similar and cheaper...

GntlStone > smobgirl 07/28/2020 at 05:07

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You might take a look at the Bluetti units. Check out the reviews by Will Prowse on YouTube, his site is diysolar.com. He does great reviews of panels also. There’s another guy who also does pretty good reviews, HoboTech @ YouTube.

Also, take a look at the forums on CheapRVLiving.com as well as their YouTube. Lots of people doing/using exactly what you’re asking about.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > smobgirl 07/28/2020 at 07:30

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New, simpler plan...replace the solar with a treadmill hooked up to your stuff, start walking, profit? :P

barnie > smobgirl 07/28/2020 at 08:36

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Ok. Calc specific charging needs. Volts * amps for each device added is day load. Watts * hours is load. Divide by local charge time available (useful hrs of sun). That’s what you need. Add 20%! So a couple more Deep Cycle batteries, a matching solar panel, an MPPT charge controller, a 6" 12v clip fan and a 150 or so watt inverter would do for you. Decent batteries from WalMart. Don’t get the Marine ones, you don’t need ‘em .

Initial cost of a panel is a bit more than a generator but it is quiet, doesn’t break like motors and needs only sun for fuel. In the dessert you’ll get plenty fuel even while driving if you duct tape a flexible panel to the roof. or mount a stiff panel by drilling holes... Yea, most of the non-China panels are close to described. Keep it clean with a wipe now and again.

Only use an MPPT controller. These convert all the sunlight to power even when below nominal. Most panels put out ~20v in full sun. This is converted to ~14 for the batteries. If shady and only 10v coming in, the MPPT will convert that to 14v but at low amperage instead of just stopping the charge. They also charge the batteries more precisely. Go Power : https://www.defender.com/product.jsp?id=4229284

I use a WalMart 150watt inverter for my stick blender and battery chargers since my inverter died. No microwave aboard Sparrow.

  https://www.defender.com/product.jsp?id=46808 fan draws 6 watts and moves a lot of air. Go ahead and stick yer finger into the blades; it doesn’t hurt and you’ll get over the fear. My cats don’t even blink when they put their tails into ours.

For the meat and cheese get cured meats like salamis and brick cheeses. Stronger flavors but no need for refrigeration for a few days. unsliced Rywe and Pumpernickels. Duke’s mayo in the squeeze bottle does not need refer, ever! Even WM eggs will last a couple weeks if you roll them 180 every other day. When the yolks go flat, they’re dead.  

Just some thoughts with morning coffee. AMA

Thomas Donohue > smobgirl 07/28/2020 at 09:30

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I’ve never used it, but a friend has the Jackery 240 (16ah) that he uses mostly for camping. He didn’t want to deal with making his own battery/inverter system and wanted something easy his kids could use for all the gadgets (as well as his own). He did have a very small (6-can?) 12v fridge he used with it, but outside of a 3 hour tailgate not sure how much it draws. He charged the Jackery and ran the fridge off the truck’ s 12v while driving, then used the battery when the truck was off.

He likes it, but h is biggest complaint is that it doesn’t have USB-C/PD for his laptop , so he has to use the AC adapter which takes up the port and means more wires.

He did borrow my flexible 100W solar panel for a camping trip, but never heard if/how well it worked. He usually just charges while driving or from home AC.

ScreamingM3 > Thomas Donohue 07/28/2020 at 10:38

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I have the jackery 240 and I like it. I also wish it had usb-c. I also have a jackery folding solar panel, and while it works, I’m frequently disappointed by how poorly it charges when a small portion of the panel is in shade. That being said it will recharge in a day of full sun no problem. I’ve used it for laptop , phone, fan use with no issue. If you’re planning on a cooler, it will probably be insufficient. Coolers typically draw quite a bit of power.

Taking a step back, if you’re trying to save $, buy whatever is on sale and don’t worry about quality. There’s a reasonable chance that whatever you choose won’t be useful in 2-years no matter what, so save now and make an Informed decision down the road when you decide on cooler/whatever needs later.

Hope that helps.

VincentMalamute-Kim > smobgirl 07/28/2020 at 11:35

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I may be overly sensitive to perceiving irritation in other people. For me, if convenience was priority and since money is less of an issue I’d just buy the Goal Zero. I actually have something similar to what @barnie describes but without solar in my Transit. I haven’t used it much though .

100Ah Walmart AGM battery sitting in a battery box behind the driver seat and a Samlex DC-DC charger and inverter in my Transit. That’s enough for an electric blanket, Maxxair fan, toothbrush, electronics overnight ( small fridge if I want ed ) . I r echarge by driving during the day.

Below is what @barnie says but adding example products at lowest cost and scaled down to what I think you need . This gives you the equivalent of the Goal Zero 400 with solar ($750 ) for about $284.

- $100 Mighty Max 50Ah AGM deep cycle battery:

- $164 Dokio 100W Portable Solar Panel with PWM Charge Controller (cheaper but losing 20% efficiency vs an MPPT controller)

-$20 150W Inverter

That might be cheap enough for you to just try and see if it meets your needs. If you need to upgrade, you can just add another $100 AGM battery which gets you the equivalent of the GZ 600 Lithium with Solar ($1000 )

Phyrxes once again has a wagon! > smobgirl 07/28/2020 at 12:20

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We picked up one of the cheaper Goal Zero nomad kits at school to run a LED scoreboard outside. The field doesn’t have any power run to it so it was go batteries and solar or run a generator.

I think we got this one:

https://www.goalzero.com/shop/kits/goal-zero-yeti-150-power-station-nomad-14-plus-kit/

Basically it lives in the equipment shed on the dolly that the scoreboard is on. The athletics guys just lay the panels out on the ground on sunny days to keep it charged. If it gets low due to a lack of sunlight they just put the power station in the gator and plug it into the wall in the activities office.

J. Harazin > smobgirl 07/28/2020 at 14:30

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If you’re doing a 12v compressor fridge, make sure you get a power station with regulated 12v output. This includes most Jackery devices, some from Bluetti, and a few others.

It sounds like you could get away with something in the 200 watt-hours range for your current needs, but that won't power a fridge for more than a day (if that). Throwing that fridge into the mix I'd recommend at least 500wh, and a minimum 100w panel. 

Check out some of the Solar generator reviews from HoboTech on YouTube. Very informative.

smobgirl > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 07/28/2020 at 15:34

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I regularly go on 8-10 mile walks from my house out of boredom. If only I could harness that energy!

smobgirl > ScreamingM3 07/28/2020 at 15:37

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Immensely, actually. I’d been debating between name brand or amazon crap, so that’s a good consideration. Just get the low power option, non-branded for now and wait until I decide if I want a cooler to upgrade.

I feel like half the products I’ve read reviews for aren’t even on the market anymore. Definitely a rapidly changing industry.

smobgirl > J. Harazin 07/28/2020 at 15:42

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Cool, thanks for the YouTube suggestion. Biggest issue on the fridges is I want something smaller than most of the options on the market, so it’s probably better to just wait and pay to upgrade later (or keep an eye on Craigslist).  When I really break the costs down it would be cheaper to just buy everything cold fresh from a restaurant than pay for that system!

smobgirl > VincentMalamute-Kim 07/28/2020 at 15:49

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The fact that you haven’t really used your system is probably the biggest vote against even bothering to get one yet! I’ll save  your scaled down version and see how the next few trips go and reconsider then. Meanwhile I think I’ll try to design a charging station where everything is already wired up and ready to go so I don’t need to juggle all the cords and battery packs next time. 

VincentMalamute-Kim > smobgirl 07/28/2020 at 17:10

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I haven’t used it mainly because I haven’t gone away much and when I have, I’ve had shore power.  Good luck with how it goes.

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > smobgirl 07/28/2020 at 20:53

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New new plan...purchase treadmill as suggested, get high energy dog, place high energy dog on treadmill...profit?

smobgirl > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars 07/28/2020 at 23:49

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They do make giant hamster wheels for cats...

barnie > barnie 07/29/2020 at 22:39

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I know this thread is dead but I ran across this that I wrote maybe 5-years ago. Maybe you can get something from it:

Haven’t used Sparrows refer (Frigobot 35) in years and I sail out of south GA, USA; 90s are normal. I have a standing offer in the yard to cook whatever folks bring over. We have a lot of dinners together. Folks know my lack of refer and no one has ever gotten sick. We eat too much but it is all delicious and in good company. Some tips I’ve found from living the simple life here:

- Kelly Gold butter lasts at least a month in a well-sealed tupperware though it may clarify a bit. I use the salted version. It’s also 1/2 pound per packet.

- Eggs last a month or more if ya roll the container 180 every other day. I use the chilled generic ones from WM. The yolks get flatter over time. When they are near the end, crack eggs into a bowl first. If the yolk breaks or is flat, toss ‘em.

- Meats last a couple days without curing. Even when there is a little smell or sheen, use spices (Original Mrs Dash instead of pepper) and cook well done. Rarely, if ever, use hamburger - sausage lasts longer. Slow simmer all the bits and pieces with plenty onions and a can of Mushroom soup to put over pasta or boiled taters.

- Cured meats like Salami and Peperoni never need refer. https://laquerciashop.com/ has many more choices.

- Get canned ham in 4oz tins from Dollar General, Chicken/turkey tins from Dollar Tree. Less slosh when you shake the tin means more meat in there.

- Saucepan a Bag of Uncle Ben’s prepared rice, a can of WM Black Beans (No sugar added!) and a chopped onion good for any potluck. Use all the bean water and maybe some Mrs Dash.

- Classico Pesto sauce lasts forever, even after opening. Toss with rotini and chopped Roma for a quick dinner.

- WM pizza Sauce instead of pasta sauces. No sugar added and smaller jars for one or 2 people. Opened jar lasts a few days.

- DO NOT put taters and onions near each other or against metal. Taters will rot quickly. In the depths of Sparrow’s pantry, they both last months. Boiled taters last a few days and are convenient to grate and fry quickly for breakfast, etc.

- WM’s Everything Italian unsliced $1 bread lasts longer than any other of their inhouse bread. 3 or 4 days. Cheap to replace often and quite tasty.

- I keep packs of Dollar Tree flour Tortilas onhand. They last months even after opening if sealed in original bag. Toast well with Kelly Gold in a hot pan with a bit of cheese on top.

- Parmalot DHT/VHT 4% milk lasts forever unopend and days opened. Rich taste even warm. Best hot chocolate I’ve ever had with Nestles cocoa (Hershey sux) and a bit of sugar stirred in. Crush a packet of Original Life cereal, pour a cupful and add milk. Heavy emergency food fix!

- Never cut Cabbages. Always peal off leaves. The cabbage will last until used. Wilted leaves are indestinguihable from good ones after steaming or boiling.

- I kick $1 boxes of Brownie mix with a couple healthy tablespoons of Nestle Coco in a 8 * 8 pan. Takes some of the sweet out and adds richens the flavor. Sometimes I add a swath of raspberry jam, peanut butter or even a chopped up packet of Nestles Turtle cookie dough.

- I only buy Roma tomaters anymore. They last so much longer than any others even if I buy them already ripe.

- Mayo - Duke’s only on this boat! I buy 1 squeeze bottle and refill it from quart bottles. Never refer either. I’ve had the jar go off once from too many months left alone.

- shower only with Dr Bronners Castille soap and a Buff Puff type sponge. Pepermint in warm weather, Almond or Eucalyptus in colder. Keeps the RON kit small...

- Buy a Wahl $25 cutting kit every couple years. Keep the cutter and a #2 fitting. Toss the rest. Cut beard and hair as needed every 3 or 4 months. No combs, razors or brushes. Easy to clean in the shower w/ Dr Bronners.

- Baby Wipes! WM Fragerance Free by the case. Cuts dirt and grease on fittings, wipe the buttocks and clean the monitors. Store upside down so when used in the main stash the liquid flows to the bottom, keeping all towlletes wet.

- Medium/firm generic toothbrush with water w/ a pinhead sized bit of toothpaste. Don’t floss either; use the end of small zipties instead. https://www.bobbarker.com/toothpaste-85oz-naturemint.html

- Sailing the Farm is a good read. https://we.riseup.net/assets/268677/sailfarm.pdf