Reply by Don Y May 27, 20212021-05-27
On 5/27/2021 4:46 PM, Don Y wrote:
> [I have another device that is little more than a battery-in-a-bag > that also finds use -- even as an add-on power reserve for the > little inverter]
I also rescued one of these "portable battery boxes" from a scooter that I scrapped (note the "handle" on the black box located under the seat) <https://www.jazzy-electric-wheelchairs.com/cache/1509733338387/resources/product/2390/picture.jpg> Mine is the "extended duty" version -- taller to support larger batteries. It holds a pair of 12V batteries wired in series (for the scooter). I've had to add a connector to access power from the top side of the case (the existing case has a connector on its underside to mate with the scooter).
Reply by Don Y May 27, 20212021-05-27
On 5/27/2021 4:03 PM, Lasse Langwadt Christensen wrote:
> fredag den 28. maj 2021 kl. 00.32.55 UTC+2 skrev Don Y: >> On 5/27/2021 2:51 PM, Ralph Mowery wrote: >>> In article <7a82705c-022e-4250...@googlegroups.com>, >>> lang...@fonz.dk says... >>>> >>>> tirsdag den 25. maj 2021 kl. 19.51.11 UTC+2 skrev Joerg: >>>>> On 5/24/21 4:59 PM, Lasse Langwadt Christensen wrote: >>>>>> or something like this, https://www.amazon.com/Rockpals-250-Watt-Generator-Rechargeable-Emergency/dp/B075SSMR6K/6 >>>>>> >>>>> That would require also buying a big 12V battery and soon you are out >>>>> north of $400 just for getting rid of extension cords. Nah. >>>> >>>> it's a single box with battery, charger and inverter all in one, with 120V, 12V and USB outputs >>>> though 250W might be a bit low >>> >>> It is almost misleading withthe word Generator. I think it does have >>> solar cells for charging, but they would take a long time and not at all >>> in the night. >>> >>> I would think that genertor would mean a useful generaor that would be >>> gas or propane powered. >> If it is like the unit that I have, it can be charged from a wall-wart. >> Think of it as a "generator" with a very limited "fuel supply". >> I use mine to power a 60W-equivalent light fixture during outages; >> I can carry it to any light fixture in the house. >> >> Of course, it's also good to stuff in a bug-out-bag, knapsack, etc. > > we have one of these at work https://eu.ecoflow.com/products/river-portable-power-station?variant=37254607863972 > it is basically a portable UPS it can charge directly from 230V , 12V or ~12V solarcells > > output 230V, 12V and USB
That's considerably "beefier" than what I have. Mine is really small... weighs maybe 3-4 pounds? I think it is limited to ~100W at 120VAC (so, when powering a ~6-13W LED lamp, is good for several hours). It has a USB output as well as a 12VDC outlet/inlet (in the form of a "(cigarette) lighter" socket). For me, it has utility as another 12VDC power source for the portable bits of kit (radio, comms, etc.) that I keep in my bug-out-bag. [I have another device that is little more than a battery-in-a-bag that also finds use -- even as an add-on power reserve for the little inverter] I also keep a 1KW inverter in the car that will run off it's battery, in a jam. But, have nothing that needs that sort of power (at least, nothing that I'd want to lug with me in case of an emergency)
Reply by Lasse Langwadt Christensen May 27, 20212021-05-27
fredag den 28. maj 2021 kl. 00.32.55 UTC+2 skrev Don Y:
> On 5/27/2021 2:51 PM, Ralph Mowery wrote: > > In article <7a82705c-022e-4250...@googlegroups.com>, > > lang...@fonz.dk says... > >> > >> tirsdag den 25. maj 2021 kl. 19.51.11 UTC+2 skrev Joerg: > >>> On 5/24/21 4:59 PM, Lasse Langwadt Christensen wrote: > >>>> or something like this, https://www.amazon.com/Rockpals-250-Watt-Generator-Rechargeable-Emergency/dp/B075SSMR6K/6 > >>>> > >>> That would require also buying a big 12V battery and soon you are out > >>> north of $400 just for getting rid of extension cords. Nah. > >> > >> it's a single box with battery, charger and inverter all in one, with 120V, 12V and USB outputs > >> though 250W might be a bit low > > > > It is almost misleading withthe word Generator. I think it does have > > solar cells for charging, but they would take a long time and not at all > > in the night. > > > > I would think that genertor would mean a useful generaor that would be > > gas or propane powered. > If it is like the unit that I have, it can be charged from a wall-wart. > Think of it as a "generator" with a very limited "fuel supply". > I use mine to power a 60W-equivalent light fixture during outages; > I can carry it to any light fixture in the house. > > Of course, it's also good to stuff in a bug-out-bag, knapsack, etc.
we have one of these at work https://eu.ecoflow.com/products/river-portable-power-station?variant=37254607863972 it is basically a portable UPS it can charge directly from 230V , 12V or ~12V solarcells output 230V, 12V and USB
Reply by Don Y May 27, 20212021-05-27
On 5/27/2021 2:51 PM, Ralph Mowery wrote:
> In article <7a82705c-022e-4250-ad69-14bf507a2404n@googlegroups.com>, > langwadt@fonz.dk says... >> >> tirsdag den 25. maj 2021 kl. 19.51.11 UTC+2 skrev Joerg: >>> On 5/24/21 4:59 PM, Lasse Langwadt Christensen wrote: >>>> or something like this, https://www.amazon.com/Rockpals-250-Watt-Generator-Rechargeable-Emergency/dp/B075SSMR6K/6 >>>> >>> That would require also buying a big 12V battery and soon you are out >>> north of $400 just for getting rid of extension cords. Nah. >> >> it's a single box with battery, charger and inverter all in one, with 120V, 12V and USB outputs >> though 250W might be a bit low > > It is almost misleading withthe word Generator. I think it does have > solar cells for charging, but they would take a long time and not at all > in the night. > > I would think that genertor would mean a useful generaor that would be > gas or propane powered.
If it is like the unit that I have, it can be charged from a wall-wart. Think of it as a "generator" with a very limited "fuel supply". I use mine to power a 60W-equivalent light fixture during outages; I can carry it to any light fixture in the house. Of course, it's also good to stuff in a bug-out-bag, knapsack, etc.
Reply by Ralph Mowery May 27, 20212021-05-27
In article <7a82705c-022e-4250-ad69-14bf507a2404n@googlegroups.com>, 
langwadt@fonz.dk says...
> > tirsdag den 25. maj 2021 kl. 19.51.11 UTC+2 skrev Joerg: > > On 5/24/21 4:59 PM, Lasse Langwadt Christensen wrote: > > > or something like this, https://www.amazon.com/Rockpals-250-Watt-Generator-Rechargeable-Emergency/dp/B075SSMR6K/6 > > > > > That would require also buying a big 12V battery and soon you are out > > north of $400 just for getting rid of extension cords. Nah. > > it's a single box with battery, charger and inverter all in one, with 120V, 12V and USB outputs > though 250W might be a bit low > > >
It is almost misleading withthe word Generator. I think it does have solar cells for charging, but they would take a long time and not at all in the night. I would think that genertor would mean a useful generaor that would be gas or propane powered.
Reply by Joerg May 27, 20212021-05-27
On 5/27/21 1:58 PM, Lasse Langwadt Christensen wrote:
> tirsdag den 25. maj 2021 kl. 19.51.11 UTC+2 skrev Joerg: >> On 5/24/21 4:59 PM, Lasse Langwadt Christensen wrote: >>> or something like this, https://www.amazon.com/Rockpals-250-Watt-Generator-Rechargeable-Emergency/dp/B075SSMR6K/6 >>> >> That would require also buying a big 12V battery and soon you are out >> north of $400 just for getting rid of extension cords. Nah. > > it's a single box with battery, charger and inverter all in one, with 120V, 12V and USB outputs > though 250W might be a bit low >
This one has 300W but IME such small inverters trip off all the time because most power tools have a much larger start-up power draw. That is one of the advantages of direct DC, no trip-off. Even regular draw at 120VAC is higher than that. My hedge trimmer and the weed whacker are the most used tools here and they each pulls 4 amps at 120VAC, almost 500W. On 50V DC that drops to about half yet the power is still reasonably ok. Not for a professional gardener but for me. -- Regards, Joerg http://www.analogconsultants.com/
Reply by Lasse Langwadt Christensen May 27, 20212021-05-27
tirsdag den 25. maj 2021 kl. 19.51.11 UTC+2 skrev Joerg:
> On 5/24/21 4:59 PM, Lasse Langwadt Christensen wrote: > > or something like this, https://www.amazon.com/Rockpals-250-Watt-Generator-Rechargeable-Emergency/dp/B075SSMR6K/6 > > > That would require also buying a big 12V battery and soon you are out > north of $400 just for getting rid of extension cords. Nah.
it's a single box with battery, charger and inverter all in one, with 120V, 12V and USB outputs though 250W might be a bit low
Reply by Ed Lee May 27, 20212021-05-27
On Wednesday, May 26, 2021 at 3:40:06 PM UTC-7, Joerg wrote:
> On 5/26/21 1:53 PM, Lasse Langwadt Christensen wrote: > > onsdag den 26. maj 2021 kl. 22.10.27 UTC+2 skrev Joerg: > >> On 5/26/21 7:19 AM, Ralph Mowery wrote: > >>> In article <s8k313$ofq$1...@dont-email.me>, blocked...@foo.invalid > >>> says... > >>>> > >>>>> Bought a propane/gasolien fuel generator > >>>>> about 2 years ago and only use propane in it. > >>>> > >>>> We thought of buying a small one (2KW portable) that we could > >>>> transport without having to worry about liquid fuel leaking > >>>> inside the car. > >>>> > >>>> We figured we could leverage the propane for the grill > >>>> as an on-hand supply. > >> Real men do not use gas to grill :-) > >> > >> No kidding, I generally use real wood. Mostly Almond and Manzanita. > >> > >> > >>>> ... And, if "small", it shouldn't > >>>> burn through that supply as quickly as it would if having > >>>> to support bigger loads. > >>>> > >>>> [The LAST thing we want to do is have to run out to buy > >>>> fuel during an outage] > >>>> > >> That's one reason why we have a gas generator, not propane. You can buy > >> a squeeze pump from Harborfreight for under $10 and that plus a small > >> extra section of clear fuel hose allows to siphon off gas from your car. > >> Provided one fills up before a potential emergency a car gas tank stores > >> much more energy than a barbecue cylinder. > >> > >> Come to think of it, I wonder if a Tesla can be used to generate a kW or > >> so of 120VAC to run a frigde plus some little things.
Not sure about Tesla. Might void warranty. But i have a 2kW inverter on my Leaf (without warranty anyway). I also have a few hundred 18650 buffers as well. I can run my circular saw and drill without problem. The new USB-C 2.1 (48V 5A) will also be able to charge my Leaf, or at least the buffer batteries.
Reply by Joerg May 26, 20212021-05-26
On 5/26/21 2:00 PM, Don Y wrote:
> On 5/26/2021 1:10 PM, Joerg wrote: >> On 5/26/21 7:19 AM, Ralph Mowery wrote:
[...]
>> No kidding, I generally use real wood. Mostly Almond and Manzanita. > > And likely store wood on your property -- a nice place for termites, > packrats, snakes and other critters to set up shop.&nbsp; In addition > to the grossly inefficient use of space that it represents! > > (do you keep a team of horses to pull your wagon through town? > REAL men do!) >
Nah, this is my manly wagon, gets through just about everything: http://www.analogconsultants.com/ng/bike/Muddy5.JPG
>>>> &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; ... And, if "small", it shouldn't >>>> burn through that supply as quickly as it would if having >>>> to support bigger loads. >>>> >>>> [The LAST thing we want to do is have to run out to buy >>>> fuel during an outage] >> >> That's one reason why we have a gas generator, not propane. You can >> buy a squeeze pump from Harborfreight for under $10 and that plus a >> small extra section of clear fuel hose allows to siphon off gas from >> your car. Provided one fills up before a potential emergency a car gas >> tank stores much more energy than a barbecue cylinder. > > Only if you have an older vehicle.&nbsp; The newer ones are considerably > harder to > get a hose into the tank (from above).&nbsp; There's an added "valve" that > gets in > the way. >
Since I prefer not to add such "added value" to my stuff I won't buy such vehicles. Ours are both standard fare and you can get in there. The upside is that they also contain close to the "legal minimum" in electronics or other fluff and, therefore, we had no breakdowns in the more than two decades we own them. -- Regards, Joerg http://www.analogconsultants.com/
Reply by Joerg May 26, 20212021-05-26
On 5/26/21 1:53 PM, Lasse Langwadt Christensen wrote:
> onsdag den 26. maj 2021 kl. 22.10.27 UTC+2 skrev Joerg: >> On 5/26/21 7:19 AM, Ralph Mowery wrote: >>> In article <s8k313$ofq$1...@dont-email.me>, blocked...@foo.invalid >>> says... >>>> >>>>> Bought a propane/gasolien fuel generator >>>>> about 2 years ago and only use propane in it. >>>> >>>> We thought of buying a small one (2KW portable) that we could >>>> transport without having to worry about liquid fuel leaking >>>> inside the car. >>>> >>>> We figured we could leverage the propane for the grill >>>> as an on-hand supply. >> Real men do not use gas to grill :-) >> >> No kidding, I generally use real wood. Mostly Almond and Manzanita. >> >> >>>> ... And, if "small", it shouldn't >>>> burn through that supply as quickly as it would if having >>>> to support bigger loads. >>>> >>>> [The LAST thing we want to do is have to run out to buy >>>> fuel during an outage] >>>> >> That's one reason why we have a gas generator, not propane. You can buy >> a squeeze pump from Harborfreight for under $10 and that plus a small >> extra section of clear fuel hose allows to siphon off gas from your car. >> Provided one fills up before a potential emergency a car gas tank stores >> much more energy than a barbecue cylinder. >> >> Come to think of it, I wonder if a Tesla can be used to generate a kW or >> so of 120VAC to run a frigde plus some little things. > > https://insideevs.com/news/490113/hyundai-ioniq-5-tows-charges-stuff/ >
Cool! I will still cook over wood fire though. -- Regards, Joerg http://www.analogconsultants.com/