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ScottG
Bothell Wa.
Senior Member
Joined: 02/25/2005
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These types of devices definitely have a place.
We rec'd a 200 watt Yeti as a xmas present several years ago. If dry camping, it's very handy as a power supply for our TV and other small loads. If we drive around during the day, I can recharge it via the on-board inverter in my truck. I don't need AC for anything else other than coffee, and I use the gen for a few minutes for that. Using these devices extends our coach batteries and allows us to go a weekend without recharging.
So we find it to be a valuable addition to our energy reserves.
Take note that if you have an battery powered lawn mower like a Ryobi, Greenworks, EGo, etc, you can get reasonably priced PSW inverters for those batteries as well. The one for my Ryobi (Which I have 2/5A batteries for) kept our internet going during a recent 3 day power outage and can run a television for hours. Yes, I know these devices aren't exactly the same thing as a solar gen but it's close enough for us.
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pianotuna
Regina, SK, Canada
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Joined: 12/18/2004
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Hi,
Be my guest. Spend double the money for 1/2 the capacity.
Regards, Don
My ride is a 28 foot Class C, 256 watts solar, 556 amp-hours of Telcom jars, 3000 watt Magnum hybrid inverter, Sola Basic Autoformer, Microair Easy Start.
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Lantley
Ellicott City, Maryland
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Joined: 08/23/2005
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pianotuna wrote:Hi,
Be my guest. Spend double the money for 1/2 the capacity.
For those who don't have the expertise or knowledge to manage , adapt or build there own systems, these devices are a simple solution to meet and expand their power usage. Its not always about the money.
As the popularity of these devices increases the prices will fall.
Eventually these devices could become real game changers as they improve
Once upon a time those of us with the talent built our own computers.
We assembled the components and made our own a computer much cheaper than we could buy one.
THis is where the solar generators stands today. If you haver the knowledge you can assemble you own.
If you lack the knowledge you buy a box.
Ultimately the concept continues to grow, becomes cheaper in price, and replaces the traditional gensets in many applications.
19'Duramax w/hips,12'Open Range,Titan Disc Brake
BD3,RV safepower,22" Blackstone
Ox Bedsaver,RV760 w/BC20,Glow Steps, Enduraplas25,Pedego
BakFlip,RVLock,5500 Onan LP,Prog.50A surge,Hughes autoformer
Porta Bote 8.0 Nissan,Sailun S637
Correct Trax,Splendide
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pianotuna
Regina, SK, Canada
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Joined: 12/18/2004
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build your own.
1 Sio2 100 amp-hour battery
2 battery charger
3 inverter
4 solar panels
5 charge controller
6 hire a handy man
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jaycocreek
Idaho
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Joined: 12/28/2013
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pianotuna wrote:build your own.
1 Sio2 100 amp-hour battery
2 battery charger
3 inverter
4 solar panels
5 charge controller
6 hire a handy man
Give us a price list of a build your own with the same features and a visual of what it looks like...
![[emoticon]](http://www.rv.net/sharedcontent/cfb/images/biggrin.gif "biggrin")
Lance 9.6
400 watts solar mounted/200 watts portable
500ah Lifep04
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pianotuna
Regina, SK, Canada
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Joined: 12/18/2004
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jay,
Cost depends on capacity. For example a 200 watt inverter vs a 3000 watt inverter, so what you are asking for is not going to happen.
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valhalla360
No paticular place.
Senior Member
Joined: 08/19/2009
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stevekk wrote:Costco has the Goal Zero Yeti 3000 watt $500 off just a few days. At 3000 watts, how many 12 volt 100 amp RV batteries would that be equal to? 3000/1200= 2.5 batteries??? Curious minds want to know.
A single 12v truck starting battery with 750CCA rating can put out 9000 watts (more if it's warm outside).
The question is how many watt-hours can it put out and that's where the manufacturers tend to put out confusing advertisements to take advantage of people who don't understand.
Tammy & Mike
Ford F250 V10
2021 Gray Wolf
Gemini Catamaran 34'
Full Time spliting time between boat and RV
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valhalla360
No paticular place.
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Joined: 08/19/2009
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dieseltruckdriver wrote:Bobbo wrote:
When I bought my Airstream, there were no 12v outlets. Anywhere. SNIP
When we were shopping for our current 5th wheel, that was one of the things I looked for. It wasn't just Air Stream that didn't have them, almost no manufacturer had any 12 volt outlets. A few had one. We decided on our current 5er, which had 12 volts available at both the living area and bedroom tvs and each side of the bed.
The only other manufacturer we looked at that had that many were Ice Castles, and if you haven't heard of them it doesn't get cold enough for them where you live. They are made for ice fishing and sleeping on the lake.
How long ago were you looking? Even bargain basement rigs have USB charging ports.
If you want an old style cigarette lighter, they are dead easy and cheap to install.
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pnichols
The Other California
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Joined: 04/26/2005
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pianotuna wrote:Hi,
Be my guest. Spend double the money for 1/2 the capacity.
Don ... I spent $400 for my 537 watt-hour Bluetti EB55 using an ultra-safe LiFePO4 lithium battery bank that can be discharged to near zero and can tolerate 2500 or more charge cycles. 537 watt-hours about equals a 45 AH LA or AGM battery. Built into the EB55 is a 700 watt inverter with 1400 watt surge capability, an MPPT solar panel controller, DC down-converters for two kinds of USB ports and a 12v port, plus a 3-mode wide area night light (2 brightness levels and an SOS flasher). All of this is covered by a 2-year warranty and mounted in a convenient little carrying case.
How much cheaper could I have DIY'd the same ... with each part in it warranted for 2 years?
I used to be an electrical engineer, so I probably could have put one together - but should I have?
2005 E450 Itasca 24V Class C
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pianotuna
Regina, SK, Canada
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Joined: 12/18/2004
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Great for a tent, pnichols. It would do bacon and eggs for breakfast, with a NuWave induction cooker limited to 700 watts. It is attractively priced.
The location my condo is in has infrastructure that is 70 years old. There are a lot of power outages. Every time I look at these units I find I could roll my own more cheaply, for the capacity I want. Add that to a 1000 watt psw inverter that I carry as a back up which would serve me well at the Condo.
So far, I've managed on my laptop battery and a couple of batteries intended for cell phone charging. I do have a boost pack for starting the car that I could use with the 1000 watt inverter. So my costs to have back up would be nearly zero.
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