How To Build A DIY Portable Solar Generator
In a latest podcast I did with Ken from the Prepper Podcast we talked about grid down eventualities and what we will do about them. Right after that podcast I decided to build my own DIY portable photo voltaic generator. My plans are to build a photo voltaic generator that will run my nicely pump in a grid down event, and while this generator doesn't have the ability to continually run it, I've set it up to be able to scale up fairly simply. Keep in mind as you learn this I am no knowledgeable, as a matter of truth I had little or no knowledge aside from solar panels collect power, send it to the battery and you can activate a gentle. Now that I've finished this I have a better thought about watts, amps, volts and what makes it all work collectively. There are quite a few article about how electricity works, and generally it’s too much data for my brain to absorb (repercussions of a misspent youth I assume), so I'm going to maintain this article a easy as potential and hopefully it all is sensible to you at the tip.
Don’t neglect to obtain the power wants cheat sheet at the tip, it can assist you figure out how a lot saved vitality you need and use each day. In order for you more info on this you can hearken to the Podcast Ken and i did, or you may check out a number of of the podcasts ken has executed prior to now about battery banks. A fast side word earlier than we get into this: Ken will even be on the next SPTV episode speaking about alternative energy. Enroll right here to get updates concerning the present. Here is the video explaining my DIY Solar Charger. How Much Power Will My Solar Panel Produce? Minn Kota Trolling Motor Power Center: The reason I bought this field is as a result of it had a couple 12 volt ports already wired in and able to go. I’ve seen a number of movies where folks add accessories, however this seemed simpler… 30Amp/400Watt Solar Panel Regulator Charge Controller: A cost controller retains the battery from over charging and small electric heater there are lots of styles and small electric heater sizes.
Like I state within the video you don’t need your solar panels to push extra power than the charge controller can take. My 13 watt solar panel solely puts out about .5 Amps/13 Watts, that means I can (and will) add a few one hundred watt photo voltaic panels. That would convey me to 4.5 Amps and 13 Watts, properly under the rating of the photo voltaic charger. Thunderbolt Magnum Solar thirteen Watt Briefcase Solar: Like Ken mentioned within the Podcast begin small electric heater, be taught the process after which build bigger, so that’s what I did. Everything I purchased for this photo voltaic generator was purchased with worth in mind, I wished to get this executed for round $300. I additionally wished the power to scale up when the time came, so every thing else I bought was a bit of larger. These solar panels run about $eighty on harbor freight, however I got these on eBay for $45.
At .5 amps per hour in full solar these would take about 20 days to charge my 100 Ah battery.