Ran a 5000 BTU Frigidaire AC for 11 days on 300AH batteries and a 240W solar panel

[@panoscharos983]

Regards from Athens Greece..

[@mr.makeit4037]

We think alike. It's all about redundancy. I noticed that you have the ryobi 40v cordless platform. Great. I have 20 of those that I have been utilizing in small solar generators around my house. These power lights, tvs, ceiling fans etc. They are charged in my shop like yours off solar. Like you said better to use these everyday, over and over. Great video.

[@larrycuneo8852]

I agree with your comment that the all-in-one units have a weakness. If anything goes wrong, the whole unit is dead. I spent over $2600 on my all-in-one power station (included two smaller solar panels). When I needed it, I noticed it was not working. One of its circuit boards failed, it showed an error code, and sat there useless. I contacted the vendor, but their service department was so backed up that it took months to resolve the issue. If I had used my funds to build my own system and a part failed I could simply replace or repair one part and I would be up and running again. The average consumer can not repair the all-in-one units ... if there is a problem, it is out of your control. There are hundreds of review videos that describe the all-in-ones as a panacea. They influenced me to purchase one ... and then I had buyer's remorse.

[@colinauld]

Wow Larry, that’s unfortunate and the unit you bought was high end at $2,600. Glad they finally resolved it for you.

[@kimmer6]

I finished my 9th ''solar generator build'' since first using LiFeP04 batteries in 2017. I build them using off the shelf components knowing that I can replace anything that fails or improve the system to suit my needs. The term ''solar generator'' sticks in my throat. I prefer to call my latest one a ''Sunshine Compressor''. 3600 amp hours, 46,000 watt hours. It runs 24/7 and I use a Pet Cam to monitor the battery meter from anywhere I get cell phone reception. The Victron Smart Shunt won't even transmit into my house.

[@timmathewson9111]

Very Nice setup. Thanks for sharing

[@colinauld]

You bet, thanks for watching.

[@randylenart9674]

Yes your batteries will last longer at the lower state of charge 🇺🇸😎👍

[@retrozmachine1189]

Don't be worried about the SOC of the batteries not being 100%. Lifepo4 is quite happy to be cycled at lower states. In fact, by not holding the batteries at 100% all the time you actually extend their lifetime cycle count. It's pretty common for people to bring 12V lifepo4 batteries to 14.2V and sit them there for an hour or so to let the BMS do any balancing it may need to, then let the charger go into float (legacy terms) at 13.5V. Victron has a lifepo4 preset which defaults to 2 hours at 14.2V, that's fine too.

[@colinauld]

Thanks for the info, I was pretty lucky with very sunny days after Ian but if a few more cloudy days had appeared I think I would have been struggling with the recharge aspect. I definitely don’t need any more panels for my day to day use but I want to add another 200w and a 2nd controller just for the redundancy it will provide. Thanks again

[@RollinHomies]

Nice beginner’s setup. Not sure why this video showed up on my feed, but I’ll say that with the potential surge of that inverter, your wiring and fuses from batteries to bus bar are undersized. At 2200w / 12v you’re pushing 200amps. That’ll pop the anL or in-line breaker regularly.

[@colinauld]

Hey thanks for the comment. Yes the inverter can handle the 2200 but I don’t have loads even close to that. All the components running at the same time (AC, Micro wave and fridge) is just at 1000 watts. My concern is not the inverter because I know what I run on it. For me the batteries are more of a potential which is why they are fused right at the positive terminal and the 150 breaker is only 2’ above that. Neither the breaker at 150 nor the fuse at 175 have never tripped. If I ever saw that what I was running was getting close to the 1920 watts 150 amps allows at 12v .. I would increase the inverter size. 200 amps at 12v is right around 2560 watts … too much for this inverter setup. Thanks again.

[@irepairofpc31familykartrac51]

I can run my 5,000 Btu ac in my flat black work trailer here in the florida heat for 8 hours a day on 300 ah battery and 600 watt solar. My ac runs wide open all the time though. The surface temp on the outside of the trailer skin was 167* yesterday but it was 78 in the trailer.😊

[@colinauld]

Awesome … How long have you had that setup running?

[@frp1276]

Dang, what are the dimensions of your trailer and is it insulated?

[@traviscarter9182]

Great video and congratulations on the win. Can you do a gauge wire that you use just a quick 1 min just touch and size I'll figure out the rest. I am running 2 trojan T105 agm 6v w 200w renogy. Will this setup hold through night. I am so new to ac and inverters. Only ac will be on is a 12x6 camper. Side note being in Florida heat have you looked into aluminum foil your rafters to keep heat out as well as over roof floor insulation put over as well as side roof walls will keep your house way cooler but keep a big air gap. Thx again Sir!!!

[@beesknees6970]

This is the exact AC unit I have and need to run. I'm trying to figure out a small system like this and I'm new to solar. Can you charge your batteries with a generator if there is not enough sun? Also, I'm confused about Panels. Why wouldn't you use one 400 watt panel vs two 200 watt panels? for the space, wouldn't two 400 watt panels charge faster? I have some trees in my neighbors yard and need the fastest charging system I can get... I only will have 4-6 hours of direct sunlight on a good day. Great video BTW.

[@colinauld]

Hello and welcome to solar, great to hear that you want to get in with a smaller system … that’s the way to go. On your first question - yes you can charge from a generator (while you’re using it) if you have a little charger. This is the one I use amzn.to/4dIDDce and I’m very happy with it. You need to get your batteries in sync before putting them in parallel and this is little charger is how I do it. With regard to the bigger panel, I lived in Florida and so when a hurricane was approaching I would go and bring in the panels for safe keeping then put them back out when the storm passed. So it’s best to keep the panels small and manageable but still able to produce. Thank goodness I did that when Ian hit me or I would have been in big trouble. I’m in Japan right now looking for property here and am going to setup a new solar power system here. I have a typhoon coming right at me now ( I’m in Kyoto) lolol. Thank you very much for the comment and please keep me updated on how yours progresses. It’s great seeing how everyone applies the technology. Thanks again for the comment.

[@donaldindividual-1]

Rule of thumb, 200 ah battery requires 600. Watts solar.

[@caravanstuff2827]

Well done... there's way to much "BIG BUSINESS AND GOVERNMENT"control in the solar area... it's great you've installed a separate 12v LED light system it's better to have a simple system that doesn't need city approval for and you can fix your self...Im going to buy a couple of "solar generators"" to run my fridge and tv / satellite internet and am thinking of getting a 12v compressor fridge that runs for ever on batteries!!.🤔💕🇺🇸🇺🇦

[@colinauld]

Thanks, I agree 100% about too much control and the need for us to be independent. 12 volt is the answer to controlling costs and allowing inexpensive growth (1 battery at a time). I’m afraid we’re all going to need something for power soon and I just want to show people that solar can be practical and simple. Your approach sounds great, hope it all comes together for you soon. Thanks for the comment 👍🏻

[@MyChannel-vm6dw]

Can you do a video on wiring your batteries, fuses, breakerss into the victron at all fuse poinrs place

[@colinauld]

Sure, give me a little time on that. Here is a little video on making the cables: kzbin.info/www/bejne/boObcnSjl8Zkbsk

[@chuck4abuck1]

Could you have not rented longer than 11 days?

[@colinauld]

No …. People couldn’t find gasoline for their cars or generators. There is nothing to rent in a disaster.

[@chuck4abuck1]

@@colinauld sorry my bad it should have said could you have not ran it longer than 11 days. Now I realize you were using it as backup power for a storm. That's awesome that's exactly what I'm building 3 -100 amp hour with 400 array. Just so happens we have a hurricane coming to South Carolina as well be blessed my friend

[@colinauld]

@@chuck4abuck1 No worries, yes I could have kept going longer. The only issue was the batteries would not go back up to 14.2 but they did the 13.5 mark (the manufacturer full charge mark). I gave them a full charge when loads were removed and they were fine. Good luck in that storm, I hope all goes well for you. Thanks for the comment.

[@germanguy2559]

Using LiFePo batteries and Victron equipment it can´t be inexpensive....

[@colinauld]

It doesn't have to be expensive .. if was just starting out this is the way I would go bestfavoritesbestof.blogspot.com/p/starter-system.html