GeraldTheBonzai wrote: ↑Fri Jun 06, 2025 6:29 pm
I have an emergency "shed". 175w (soon to be 350w) panel, Renogy CC, with a 2Kw inverter, fed from 2x12v 100ah (agm) in parallel. Plus an Ecoflow and similar chinese knockoff. Then a 2.2Kw champion generator.
I can do stuff in the shed, like run drill, sander etc and when it's sunny the batteries are just acting as reservoir whilst I run kit.
In the event of a power cut (which we've just had, just 30 mins ago..) I can use it to keep the freezer going, recharge stuff and provide a bit of light / power. So not offgrid, in the sense that we are autonomous for power, but more of a stop gap.
Check out city plumbing for panels as long as the voc matches your controllers capabilities..
pseudonym wrote: ↑Sun Jun 08, 2025 11:54 pm
Very Important.
Ask how I know
I have 4 expensive black out blinds
LMAO.
Did you buy panels with high open source voltage. Or too low?
Before you dump them, maybe experiment with a buck converter such as https://www.aliexpress.com/item/1005006292026228.html
set it to output whatever voltage is useful and see how your charge controller copes with that. You'd only be wasting a few quid. I don't know how a charge controller would cope with a fixed voltage solar input, but they seem to be happy to take quite a range.
Graceful Degradation! Prepping's objective summed up in two words. Turning Disaster into Mild Inconvenience by the power of fore-thought
Many thanks for all the replies/posts, plenty of things to look at but the main one being I think (after reading the feedback) I was probably looking at things from the wrong angle as my understanding of how these power stations work was limited.
Rather than looking at the top end power stations that can pump out x kw of power I would be better of finding the model that covers our main power requirements then adding extra batteries to cover the continued operating timescales we need (if that makes sense?).
The main charge has to come from solar so the panels are an important factor but quality panels are pretty hard to find here and you pay a premium for them. I am looking at companies in Germany as we know someone who can collect and deliver them to us.
............The main charge has to come from solar so the panels are an important factor but quality panels are pretty hard to find here and you pay a premium for them. I am looking at companies in Germany as we know someone who can collect and deliver them to us.
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Hi Adjee, We have a small system, 2 x 120w panels, leads and charge controller, from eco-worthy through Amazon and
2 leisure batteries, this is just for LED lights and battery charging, vehicle, AA/AAA and power tools (SHTF maintenance)
the system suits our needs.
I think Yorkshire Andy has used eco-worthy too. There are some good deals available at the moment.
They have a whole range of options it depends on what you want and how much you want to pay. If you start with
a small system and intend to expand it later make sure you start with a suitable charge controller which will take
the power increase
............The main charge has to come from solar so the panels are an important factor but
Hi Adjee, We have a small system, 2 x 120w panels, leads and charge controller, from eco-worthy through Amazon and
...If you start with a small system and intend to expand it later make sure you start with a suitable charge controller which will take
the power increase
Good luck.
If you opt to build a system without a power station, invest in a decent MPPT controller rather than a stupidly cheap PWM unit.
Also beware of 'too good to be true' Power Station deals on FB marketplace. There are many scams there.
Graceful Degradation! Prepping's objective summed up in two words. Turning Disaster into Mild Inconvenience by the power of fore-thought
