Emergency Backup Power Pack - Part 1

[@barntt]

Wing nuts will work loose without lock washers. Not recommended! Put the Andersons cord on the Battery then take that battery charger and CUT that funky connector for the adapters off and add Andersons to attach it back on later then toss the adapters back in the bag (you just never know) and put a set of Andersons and a fuse holder on the charger makes it a lot more useful.

[@jeanP309]

with a 400 watt inverter can I charge a laptop?

[@muserwood]

This vid was so well-done, and so convincing, that even though I just TODAY ordered a Jackery 500 and adjoining 100 W solar panel, I am STILL tempted to set this up. Go job! I'll have to find your vid on connecting solar to one of these. Thanks!

[@muserwood]

Question: If I don't need a charge controller when using the solar panel that charges my Jackery 500, couldn't I charge your battery box by simply plugging it into the Jackery AC, that is running on solar? Would this work? And it would be solar!

[@Designedbyinstinct]

It would work, there would be some losses though. Some of those smaller battery packs don't have good MPPT controllers for large solar panels.

[@mrbr549]

Having just experienced a two day power outage due to a severe storm, this video grabbed my attention. I could have used a setup like this and thanks to your video, I'll soon be building one.

[@Designedbyinstinct]

Good for you. The battery is costly ($180 as of May 2018) but the setup is totally worth it. A Group 31 deep cycle like that will recharge flashlights and phones for days. It can also power a low output CB or HAM radio base station setup for a good many hours.

[@davemontano3790]

What if you charge it off the alternator while driving and just get a 3 year replacement lead acid battery. Would that be wise? If the battery dies you can just replace it for 3 years.

[@aviwys9847]

How long can one keep this marine battery backup system going with being charged ongoing and then switch to solar panel if power goes out? Can this go for a few years on auto charge with a deep cycle marine battery? Or will the battery typically lose retention power in a year? I would want to just plug this in with the charge regulator and forget about it till the / if the power goes out. Is that going to work? Or should one just spend the $400+ on the Goal Zero or Jackery solar set up for 12V ? Also - where is the vid on adding a solar panel to this scenario? THANK YOU SOOOOOOOO MUCH !!!!! So helpful and money saving too!!!!

[@kimmer6]

You can make a deep cycle battery last for years by having it floated and maintained by a smart charger such as a Guest Marine Charger. Set it then forget it. You need a decent charge controller to use solar panels. I switched to LiFeP04 lithium batteries for my projects 3 years ago. They are expensive but they are much lighter and pack much more power than lead acid chemistry. The commercial ''solar generators'' are getting better and more reasonably priced. Compare everything by Watt Hours as it is the power common denominator.

[@PWheel]

Yeah...your back! Nice shack...really like your videos. You kinda started my interest in solar. Thanks!

[@Designedbyinstinct]

Wow! I'm glad to see these videos helping people out. We finally got quality mass market AGM batteries in 2018, so It was time to make the video. I hope to do a couple more parts soon.

[@eliveiak1089]

@@Designedbyinstinct hello, I was wondering if you could make a video on how to put BMX handle bars on a dk xenia mtb stem using shims, it would really help me out. Thx

[@toddbaker7554]

I think it's interesting we still call it a cigarette lighter. There is probably at least one generation that has never seen a cig lighter in a car. If they encountered one, would they know how to operate it? But I'm old enough to remember cars without seat belts and the bright lights switch was on the floor.

[@limitone9564]

What abt powering a home fridge ? Will it take 24 to 48 hrs?

[@kenshi612]

Thanks for the video. Looks like I have a nice summer project to work on. Looking forward to your follow up video on this.

[@djevlhelvete]

Did you ever make the second video for the portable $25 power pack? I just watched the first video (again) but can't seem to find part 2. Please let us know! Good job and thanks for your time showing us things!

[@douglaswindsor120]

They will vent if your charger isn't automatic or or if it fails and doesn't stop charging when fully charged

[@douglaswindsor120]

Watch which solar charge controller you get I have a Colman 30 amp that even when set to deep cycle won't charge them up fully it actually has better voltage when set to automobile battery it'll charge to 13.8 which although not high enough for deep cycle sealed lead acid batteries is still better than the under 13 volts it charges in deep cycle setting

[@johnshannon]

Thanks for the video.

[@goatsgarage2252]

What would be good solar setup for a 4x8 camper? Running a small 5k BTU ac unit a small tv ? Consider everything solar I had burned in house fire?

[@itubeutubealltube]

Thanks for the video. Any idea on when Part 2 will be available?

[@AlFixit]

What about charging this from my car cigarette lighter while I am driving? Thanks for the good info.

[@pnsolarcrete]

thanks for the great video. is it possible to make this box into a dual battery charging system in rv with a lithium battery....

[@6mm064]

I forgot to mention in my question below, what size AGM battery would I need for just basic DC overhead lights, cell phone charging and possible laptop use? I don't stay at my little hobo shack very often, but need enough battery to carry me through two or three nights if I decide to stay that long. I have a 30 watt solar panel that I could use to charge a battery, but need to keep the battery topped of and ready for use when I decide to stay. I don't want to spend a ton of money if it isn't necessary, no overkill in other words, but do want to have enough for short stays at the cabin. Will a 35 amp battery be sufficient? Or smaller or larger and will my 30 watt panel be enough?

[@Designedbyinstinct]

I'd go no smaller than a 100 amp hour. At very least a 100w solar panel as well (may need more in cloudy areas!). I've ruined an 18 ah pack before just running computer fans for many hours. Any AGM/lead acid should not be taken down past 50%. It's tough to do single panel, single batt setups. The new LiFePO4 batts are supposedly great in small setups, still expensive though. www.amazon.com/Renogy-Lithium-Iron-Phosphate-Battery/dp/B07KQSRNQ7/

[@lyndseythatcher5104]

Hi! Looking for DIY ideas on how to power an outdoor forced air heater to use at my sons travel baseball tournaments and fans during the summer but I'm assuming of it can power the heater, it will power a fan also.

[@Designedbyinstinct]

Fans yes, you need a lot more power for a heater.

[@skyluna_music]

Hi, how long would that battery charger take to recharge the battery from dead to full charge? Great video and great work!

[@castlerock7423]

Steven Harris says to not use anything less than a 6 amp charger: Schumacher XC6 SpeedCharge 6 Amp Battery Charger $29.77 "This is even lower in price, its a 6 amp charger and will charge up a marine battery all the way for you. Its very budget oriented. Under NO circumstances would I go lower than a 6 amp battery charger. DO NOT buy 1 or 2 amp 'trickle chargers' EVER. They are not intelligent and they usually end up destroying a battery PLUS they NEVER have the ability to bring a discharged battery back up. This is also available at Walmart, at Sears under the Diehard brand, but at a higher price."

[@6mm064]

Are AGM batteries safe to leave inside a room while being charged, either by AC or by solar? I have a small mini-cabin used for hunting and have no electricity at all, so overhead lights need to be DC. I wish to set up a battery system to power lights and maybe charge my phone etc. and wish to leave the battery in place all the time, inside the small 8x12 building and have a solar panel keeping the battery topped off. Appreciate advice

[@Designedbyinstinct]

Yes, they are safe in my experience.

[@lamh5265]

You keep saying more video. Will you build a cave workshop for me. I will do the video recording.

[@jspies6769]

Can this be used to power a box fan or small desk fan

[@smokinplaybox3843]

can you use solar battery on this one?

[@Michael-hb4wc]

20:50

[@deansonneborn7134]

Welcome back. Will that small battery re-charger act like a power bank after the batteries are charged?

[@Designedbyinstinct]

Sadly no. All good battery chargers and solar charge controllers are one way only.

[@bilosi4999]

This is just superb, I've been looking for "emergency lighting battery units" for a while now, and I think this has helped. Ever heard of - Eenseh Unthinkable Expediency - (just google it )? It is a smashing one off product for discovering how to get emergency light without relying on batteries without the hard work. Ive heard some unbelievable things about it and my friend got excellent results with it.