Backup Power Learning Journey | Bomb Cyclone '24

[@wa7jnjradio]

Thanks for watching! Links and further info in video description. 11/29 update that I did buy the Watt Cycle 100Ah LifePO4 battery, and will look to get a power station in the future. As cheaper near-term option, looking to get a battery charger and 1500 or 2000 watt Pure Sine Inverter from Giandel next...

[@SofiaisSunshine]

I opted for the Pecron power stations. I picked up a 588wh for $220 with coupons And also a e3600 w/ep3000 battery for $2300 The small unit will run our internet and wifi The large unit will run both refrigerators for over two days before having to pull out our little 2000w gas generator to recharge for 5-6 hours

[@wa7jnjradio]

That is awesome and sounds like great setup! I know "ReeWay Outdoors" did a recent "Best Deal" and "Best Overall" 2024 power stations and Pecron's were a few of his pics. That has to feel great to have this setup, and then be able to charge with generator in a few hours! Hope you had a great Thanksgiving, and thanks for watching and sharing about your setup!

[@SofiaisSunshine]

I love all my olight flashlights. Great products and great customer service. Another option would be the Anker Solix 300. Its $139 right now but its 288wh and has a lantern built in.

[@wa7jnjradio]

Glad to hear you love Olight flashlights as well, and I also love and have quite a few of them...and have given quite a few as gifts. (-: The Anker Solix 300 DC with light built in for $139 is an awesome deal, and one I recommended someone in our ham club to buy. He just purchased...and it's my next small ~300 power station purchase. (-:

[@mattb7406]

I just got my jackery 1000 plus. Not happy w it. Am sending back and gettimg pecron 1500. More powerful cheaper. Addon batteries are like half price. Fyi i got 4 redodo 100ah and put the litime24v charger inverter at the head of them. Very cool. I have seperate redodo 2x50ah homemade powerstation for ham. 73s. KD9IRA

[@wa7jnjradio]

Good to know about Jackery feedback and Pecron 1500 as option. Awesome on getting 4 Redodo 100ah with litime 24v charger inverter...and also separate 2x50ah powerstations for ham...Very cool, and thanks for comments! 73, James

[@mattb7406]

Fyi, get your battery to 24v going into the jackery and will double charge rate. Put two batteries in series or get buckup comverter

[@wa7jnjradio]

Agree on getting to 24v to double charging rate...definitely makes sense for faster charge.

[@mattb7406]

my new jackery 1000 plus was too flakey. did not thermo regulate well. kept dropping from 1300w ac input charge to 350w and wouldnt go back up. bluetooth app would lag many minutes. stuff like that.

[@Sylvan_dB]

Did you consider modifying your streamlight to use rechargeable lithium? Obviously the AA cells with an internal lithium cell and buck converter (btw, buck is voltage down, boost is up) to 1.5v would be quick and easy. I'd prefer soldering in a good cell and charging circuit. Your streamlight that uses 3xAA batteries could likely be reworked to use any single-cell lithium ion (NCM, ICR or similar) with a nominal voltage of 3.7v. The 3xAA is starts at 4.5v (3x1.5v) when new under load and is dead at 2.7v (3x0.9v). Use a protected cell or add a single-cell BMS. It will be dead at about the same voltage as dead alkaline and with lower internal resistance should perform comparably. There are little single-cell USB charging boards that could be added to provide USB charging. Some people try to fit in an 18650 cell holder so they can easily swap 18650 cells. The 3xAA holder could maybe have internal plastic and connections removed and a lipo sourced that would fit in the cavity. Other people try to use 14500 cells which are physically the same size as AA but with the higher 3v-4.2v operating voltage. One of those and a jumper wire would fit in your 3xAA holder, but would likely not provide sufficient runtime. Using 3 of them and rewiring the holder to put them in parallel would triple the runtime, but the cost of those cells is pretty high compared to an 18650 or lipo. If there is internal space then removing most of the AA holder and fitting a cell or parallel cells inside the light would likely provide the most cost effective runtime.

[@wa7jnjradio]

Firstly, thank you for sharing the information and something I had not fully thought through. I have been looking at rechargeable lithium AA batteries, but haven't purchased yet...and still mostly use NiMH rechargeables for lanterns or flashlight, or non-rechargeable lithium in certain instances. I do have various a few old 18650 that I've put together for "fun" to power a 12v ham radio...and obviously early in learning about buck vs. boost converters. Based on your sharing, I updated my video description regarding buck vs. boost. Thanks for all the info and something to think about... I know my wife, mom, and I love the Streamlight lanterns and have a few of them. (-: Thanks again for thoughtful comment!

[@mattb7406]

20amp not enough. I got the 40amp

[@wa7jnjradio]

Agree with you... put the 20amp on my Xmas list and probably good for 1 50ah battery, but would be nice to have 40 for sure!

[@darnell714]

You only need to run you refrigerator for about an hour a day to keep your food safe

[@wt9653]

No, that's not true. The freezer can go without power for 36 hours if it's crammed full. 1/2 day it's partially empty. The refrigerator can only go for 6 hours Max before the food spoil. The refrigerator needs to be powered at least for an hour every 4 hours. If it's hot day. Run 24/7

[@SofiaisSunshine]

@@wt9653absolute solid facts here. I dont why I see this “1 hour a day” comment so much… its simply not true