Solar generators

[Big Orange]

Firstly Solar generator is a ridiculous name for something that can’t generate anything without using additional equipment, but that’s how these things are known so that’s what I’ll call them. Moan out of the way and on to the point of my post, I’m going to build my own. When it comes to electricity I think the best prep is to learn to live without it, especially in the quantities that modern living consumes it. I do think a Solar generator is well worth having though and I like making stuff so that’s as a good a reason as any.
I have a camper van that I built a few years ago which is effectively an “off grid tiny house”, with 2760w/hr of battery and 720w of solar panels on the roof, and a diesel heater that will run for six days straight on its 20ltr fuel tank. It’s the perfect place to sit out a power cut. What I want to do is replicate that in a smaller, more mobile package. I have 3 Stanley Fat Max pro-stack toolboxes (they’re identical to Dewalt tstak) and plan to put two 100ah LiFePO4 batteries plus battery monitor and various dc sockets in one box. This will be able to function as a stand alone power bank. The second box will house a 2000w inverter, 30a MPPT Solar charge controller, mains charger, various dc sockets as per the first box, plus 240v sockets. I may also put a dc to dc charger in to enable charging from a vehicle if space allows. The third box will contain a 2kw diesel heater with 5ltr tank. The boxes will stack on top of each other and clip together and be connected by appropriate cables and anderson connectors. It’s going to be quite a lump but it should be easily movable on a sack trolley or simply split down and carried as individual components. I have four 100watt solar panels that could be placed out in the garden and connected up, this could easily be expanded or I could plug it into to the vans array if I wanted. This will give me a usable 2300w/hr bank without killing the batteries and enable me to power and heat 1 room in an emergency. Hopefully the build will begin next weekend.

[pseudonym]

Good luck on the build, I have no mechanical or electrical skill so wouldn't know where to start so a plug and play system works best for me.

[Yorkshire Andy]

Good luck to think all the years ago I built this 12 ish years ago

https://www.uk-preppers.co.uk/forum/vie ... php?t=8297

[Big Orange]

Good luck on the build, I have no mechanical or electrical skill so wouldn't know where to start so a plug and play system works best for me.

Connecting it all up is pretty straight forward tbh and if you do go wrong the smoke will let you know

[Big Orange]

Good luck to think all the years ago I built this 12 ish years ago

https://www.uk-preppers.co.uk/forum/vie ... php?t=8297

I’ve just had a good read through that thread, is it still going strong in its reconfigured layout? How did you find the mechanical breaker? I used them when I built my van but found them unreliable and changed them out for traditional fuses.

[jennyjj01]

... plan to put two 100ah LiFePO4 batteries plus battery monitor and various dc sockets in one box. This will be able to function as a stand alone power bank. The second box will house a 2000w inverter, 30a MPPT Solar charge controller, mains charger, various dc sockets as per the first box, plus 240v sockets.

Sounds like a worthy project, well thought out. Kudo for going straight for LiFePO and MPPT. My compromise set up used Lead cid and originally PWM controller, though I soon fitted MPPT.

Only suggestion that i can add is to sort out some useful load that can be applied soon as, so as to use the energy that your system wants to generate. In my case, its a spare fridge freezer. Maybe also rig some 12V lights so that you are less dependent on wasteful inversion. Oh..... and position your panels for maximum efficiency. Efficiency there can reduce the need for some panels.

[Yorkshire Andy]

I've you are after panels city plumbing website £60 ish for 400w panels

[Big Orange]

jennyjj01 I was originally going to go lead acid due to price, my van is lead acid and has been faultless. I bought a pair of batteries and although I knew they would be heavy it quickly became obvious two would unmanageable. I repurposed them to be a battery backup for my dads CPAP machine so they weren’t wasted, he can get 4 weeks between charges so he’ll be fine in a blackout.
I’m not planning to leave the solar panels set up full time so won’t be generating, I’ll test the system then store the panels until needed. I’ll run as much as I can 12v and run the inverter only when really necessary.

[Big Orange]

I've you are after panels city plumbing website £60 ish for 400w panels

That sounds like a bargain, if I owned the property I’d cover the garage roof with them.

[Yorkshire Andy]

Good luck to think all the years ago I built this 12 ish years ago

https://www.uk-preppers.co.uk/forum/vie ... php?t=8297

I’ve just had a good read through that thread, is it still going strong in its reconfigured layout? How did you find the mechanical breaker? I used them when I built my van but found them unreliable and changed them out for traditional fuses.

It's still working the batteries probably aren't as good as they were still use it to run stuff in the shed