DIY emergency solar power backup in an ammo can

Full post: theprepared.com/blog/power-st...

[@test-193]

The 200 Watt inverter will draw approximately 15 amps if it is actually asked to supply the full 200 Watts. The solar charge controller’s “load” output can’t handle that much current. Better to connect the inverter directly to battery (fused of course).

[@videorascals]

Thank you. Off all the videos on YT I have seen so far your video was clear and helpful. I was looking to built a similar portable solar PowerStation using 30 ah Lifepo4 batteries. Your explanation of the circuit connection helped me in the project.

[@JnJTrueOutdoorAdventures]

Very nice and neat solar power backup. I have done the same thing and just posted my video on KZbin. I haven't received my solar charge controller yet, supposed to be here tomorrow or Saturday. But I am all setup up, already have installed the connection to plug in my solar panels and have the wires run to plug into the controller. One issue I saw with yours, and I have heard that the proper way to hook up the solar controller to the batteries is to hook the positive to one battery, and the negative to the farthest battery away. This way all three batteries are being charged at the same time with equal voltage. Also, the same is true for drawing the batteries down. The way you have yours hooked up with the positive and negative going to the switch, it is pulling from the larger battery first then the other two. Just an opinion and again, I have watched dozens upon dozens of these builds before I started mine. Again, great video, and a project for sure!! Juddie - J & J TOA

[@af1023]

Thank you for posting and sharing, this is a very good build. I made a similar one and gradually added a MPTT solar controller, a 30AH LiFePo4 battery and a 12v 10A regulated output for the 12v output to support a CPAP or a portable air compressor to fill the air mattresses.

[@3DLasers]

Ingenious. I like your idea for the spare fuse holder... 👽💡

[@benterwellen]

Nice build

[@eileennovak1656]

🐶Dog hairs prove it's well-designed & useful. Always works for me~

[@angelop123]

This is great, thanks for the inspiration. Question, how do you connect 2 wires to the battery terminal post? I also need to connect 3 batteries in parallel but not sure how to double up the wires. Did you manage to crimp 2 wires into a single spade connection? I have seen 'piggy back female spade connectors' on Amazon but don't know if that would work. Any advice would be helpful. My 3 batteries are like your smaller 9amp ones.

[@72hourbob61]

nicely done, i like it.

[@kylewilliams3306]

What plastic size plastic ammo box would fit 2 6.5 150w marine speaker on the front for Bluetooth build ?

[@troyyarbrough]

I like the build and want to make one myself. But I looked at your web page and linked to the items needed and I have a problem with the dimensions. If the inside diameter of the ammo box is 11 Wide X 5.8 Long X 7.2 High, how are you fitting a 5.94 long battery inside that box? Are the dimensions listed on Amazon a bit off?

[@troyyarbrough]

@@ThePrepared Thank you for the reply. The ammo box you are using shows to have the same dimensions as the Zombie ammo box from the same brand name. I'm hoping those specs are true because that's the box I want to use. Once I get the box and measure it I will order a couple of those 15 AH batteries and the other components needed.

[@llooe8532]

Lifepo4 works great

[@stevosUSN]

Thanks for the video , haw many watt/hrs did you get with those batteries ?, thx

[@stevosUSN]

@@ThePrepared Thanks

[@balls7973]

Can I buy one

[@Zamn-NW]

Say um one more fucking time... Also nice build!

[@Roy-gn1dp]

Great project. I noticed that you have the 2 two 18 volt batteries in parallel with a 15 volt battery. There is a slight incompatibility here. That means that the 18 volt batteries will only charge to 15 volts or to the level that the 15 volt battery will charge to because of their parallel connections. .. I don't think that's much of a problem however, if you did want to utilize the full charging of the 18 volt batteries then a very different arrangement would need to be made. However again I'm not sure that the gain would justify the effort. Talk to somebody who understands electricity well and kick it around.

[@martinvasquez4607]

Two 9 amp one 15 Amp all three are 12 volt but yes they should not be together

[@CantonBn]

@@martinvasquez4607 all are same voltage so they are fine to put in parallel for output. The issue is with charging. Different amperage or even same amperage but different BMS due to different brand is an issue. So for charging I would take the 15amp one out of the circuit temperarily, eg with a switch and you can charge the two 9 amp together, and then the 15 separately. Keep the lid up when charging to avoid cooking the bats.

[@donnawilkins421]

🤩 Promo-SM.