Rockpals 300w Test with alpicool C20 should you buy? (no)

[@PlayingwithSticks]

We agree with everything said here. But, Galvain don't send it back yet! We are probably too late. With everything you said I think the best setup for you is to own one small Rockpals and one small Jackery. For the price of these you can get two smaller units that can do everything you need in comparison to one larger that can't do everything. Why I say this is that most of the smaller generators like Jackery just take too long to recharge by the sun in the field (at least for us anyway), BUT they are amazing in that they are built well and they have regulated power like you mentioned. Now you have one small Jackery unit that can use 100% of its power on a fridge , unlike the Rockpals that turns itself off at about 40% due to being unregulated and you will have the Rockpals that can recharge itself quickly in literally one long afternoon. With this setup you basically could go on and on. And the Rockpals will buy you enough time to get that Jackery recharged out there as well, it just takes quite a bit longer. Sorry for the long response. Last tidbit if this didn't make sense. If you only own one small regulated solar portable generator, once it depletes on day 2 (which it may because CPAPs also have very large power draws, you will not have enough sun in the day to recharge it for day 3 and 4. Hope this all makes sense. Again, great video and we 100% agree with everything said.

[@ChasinSimplicity]

You are so right! That mppt that the rockpals has is intense. I lucked out and a local vandweller is upgrading their system from two bluetti eb40’s so I bought one of those and I’ll get the other one they have if it’s still around when I get back! I sure hope I get to meet you guys someday you seem to be great people.

[@TheJoepeanut]

Have alpicool 55 and we alternate 2 of the smallest jackery and a 60 watt solar panel so while one is powering the alpicool the other is on the solar panel then switch the next day

[@ChasinSimplicity]

Great idea. How do you like the 55?

[@TheJoepeanut]

Chasin' Simplicity We like it it's our first experience with these types of refrigerators. Where we camp it's often 100degress plus in California and 3 bags of ice a day for 12 dollars is way too much. Used it twice for 4 days and it great we tent camp and helps if you keep it in the shade

[@ChasinSimplicity]

Sounds like a good experience. Glad to see you making it work!

[@leodanryan966]

I'm running an Ausranvik 54 qt. Using a Rockpals 300w solar generator and a 100w solar panel (folding type). It has been running since yesterday morning. The refrigerator turned itself off because the battery protection level was set to high, but it is running again and it has charged the battery up from 62% at around 8:00 am. It is 9:46 am now. By the way, I don't have significant sunlight and because of my layout here at home the solar panel is situated to the east.

[@ChasinSimplicity]

Sounds about right. The charge controller is amazing on it. Glad it is working for you!

[@leodanryan966]

@@ChasinSimplicity I have the same unit as yours but it is not a Rockpals. It's a "Ninjabatt ", but I'm using the newer version of the Rockpals 300w. My test was inconclusive because of the random shutdown, and I had to run the freezer on Max setting to bring it back down to zero degrees, but I think running it as a refrigerator at 40 degrees Fahrenheit is easily possible indefinitely. As a freezer not so much.

[@ChasinSimplicity]

Certainly is. Would work perfectly for that. The issue would be running a Cpap or anything else for me. Not enough reserve capacity during the dark hours. Especially during the months that there is only 11 hours of sunlight.

[@leodanryan966]

@@ChasinSimplicity Yeah, I tried to run my 55" television, and Dish Network Hopper, and sound bar on the 110v. It ran it but only for about two hours possibly less. They are limited, but all in all I'm really glad to have them in my arsenal. I'm trying to get a system up and running that will help during power outages. I live in San Antonio, TX and we lost power for 5 days during this year's snowstorm. It was "turned off", and I don't want to trust the lives of my family to the decisions of others ever again.

[@ChasinSimplicity]

Good for you! Self sufficiency is good insurance.

[@tinabeane]

A video from you!!!!!! Thanks so much Galvain, very helpful review and information. Appreciate you taking the time to put together and share for others looking at this unit. ROFL Steve!!!!! Bravo, well done :)

[@ChasinSimplicity]

Thanks!

[@CigRacing]

This was really helpful, I've got the Change Moore dual zone tw45, it's an alipcool unit, and it'll get to 9.1v before shutoff! I'm happy about that with my FlashFish g300 222wh solar generator. My unit works ridiculously well ! I can drain the FlashFish down to less than 10% before shut off. Happy about that !

[@ChasinSimplicity]

That is great news. Glad it could help. It’s amazing that these little fridges work so well

[@free2binnh]

I have the RockPals 300w generator that you are testing. Will Prowse did a review of this generator and others 2 years ago, so this is a vintage generator that came out when few had regulated ports. This unit got a good report due to the fact of its quick charging capabilities. The unregulated port was noted in that report. RockPals would have killed the competition if it had a regulated port. Today most generators have regulated ports. I have used my RockPals to run an Ausranvik 54 L refrigerator/freezer, the trick is to keep generator fully charged. I have an AC200P 2000W 2000WH generator and am thinking about getting the EB70 700w 700wh generator plus Bluette 120w/200w Solar panels to keep everything charged and ready to go. The RockPals 300w generator will be used for charging USB devices.

[@ChasinSimplicity]

Thanks for watching. Sounds like a great setup. I’m incredibly impressed with the charge controller.

[@cabbking]

Glad to see you’re making vids again

[@ChasinSimplicity]

Thank you. It’s good to be feeling up to it. I’m super excited. Lots of good stuff coming up.

[@lazyassian]

Good review video. I have the jackery 240Wh with 60 watt solar panel. I’ll keep checking your vids out.

[@ChasinSimplicity]

Thank you! How do you like it?

[@lazyassian]

Chasin' Simplicity - just got it a few weeks ago and haven’t had a chance quite yet to use the solar panels with it, however so far so good.

[@ChasinSimplicity]

Glad to hear it!

[@kimmiranda5619]

Nice to see you back on the tube Galvain! Nice timing! I'm currently window shopping generators and power packs! Appreciate the honest review!

[@ChasinSimplicity]

Thank you! Good to be doing this again

[@CadeScott]

Great video! Thank you for the info, these portable power banks are still pretty new to us so we enjoy seeing what options are available. Glad to see Steve is keepin it cool in the summertime😆

[@ChasinSimplicity]

Lol thanks. I’ve done a lot of research on them not sure where I will come down. Are you guys looking into them?

[@betilife]

If you like Alpicool refrigerators and want to buy them, you can click here to enter: www.alpicool.cc/

[@davidmason1043]

Maybe look into a LifePO4 (lithium iron phosphate) chemistry power station instead. Because they operate at a slightly higher voltage, many don't have (and don't really need) a 12V regulated output. Having no regulated output is actually even more efficient than a regulated 12v. Plus, the chemistry can last 2000+ charge cycles before degrading to 80% capacity. If you need fridge + cpap + more, you are almost certain to need at least 500wh+ capacity, way more if you want days of reserve power. They can be fairly pricey for large Wh units, but if you plan on keeping/using it for years to come, it will save you money over replacing li-ion stations every couple years when their overall capacity degrades.

[@ChasinSimplicity]

Good points all. I picked up a little gem with the phosphate that I should do a video on Thanks for the thoughtful comment

[@HobbsVentures]

Welcome back my good friend very informative

[@ChasinSimplicity]

Thank you Hobbs. How’s Ohio?!

[@musicofnote1]

the PowerOak/MaxOak AC50s/PS6S are 500 wh solar generators with regulated 12v ports and work much better with coolers. I have a Suaoki G500 with a regulated 12v port that also works fine, but they aren't being made any more. And I have a PowerOak/MaxOak AC100/PS7 (1000 Wh) with a regulated 12v that is fantastic. Jackery's also have 12v regulated 12v ports - IOW, you et what you pay for.

[@ChasinSimplicity]

I should do a video about what I ended up with! Glad you found one too.

[@patbraden4342]

What would you recommend

[@h.bsfaithfulservant4136]

Thanks Galvain...this looks like a useful package, and so compact. I’d definitely consider this unit if I ever get a vehicle again! Nice to see Steve chillin 😎... but maybe pack some beers for him on your next road trip? 😁

[@ChasinSimplicity]

Lol. It is not bad at all. I will pack some beers for sure once I get done with all my treatments. Don’t want to beat my liver up more than it has to lol. Enjoying the summer HB?

[@h.bsfaithfulservant4136]

Chasin' Simplicity ...lol, Steve’s a sweetheart for sharing his beers with you Galvain!! Hot here at present (by our standards, which involves general hysteria when we reach 35 degrees centigrade! 😂😓) but it’s easier to tolerate in sticks and bricks than in a van. Hope you don’t have to wait too much longer before you can have some beers: chemo is a trial without adding no booze to the mix! 😩

[@ChasinSimplicity]

Just like another year and a half to go! I’ll get there. Considering going full time on the road again... I feel like I am rotting at home lol

[@h.bsfaithfulservant4136]

Chasin' Simplicity ...crikey, that’s about 3 years of treatment 😕 I hope the intensity decreases as time goes on 🙏 Full timing would be great to aim for, and by the time you take the plunge you will have trialled plenty of vehicle options! Personally I would still go small, but with better ventilation and rear windows next time. I still have a hankering for a Prius 😁!

[@ChasinSimplicity]

Well my next adventure vehicle just had its first outing! Working good. More information to come.

[@wrxs1781]

Both the Rockpals and the cooler look like very useable product, but for solar charging where I live in Canada is not a good idea, can go a month or more in the winter without sunshine.

[@ChasinSimplicity]

Ouch. That would be tough!

[@AdventureswithJane]

Good review! Nice to hear from you. 🙂 -Mark

[@ChasinSimplicity]

Thanks nice to see all your shop workings and blueprints!

[@jakeliujakeliu]

Great content , please make more! So you means get Jackery instead?

[@ChasinSimplicity]

Jackery seems to make a good product for sure. Right now they are one of my favorites. Thanks a lot for the kind words!

[@BlaneysChannel]

It is all a math problem. I have 300 watts of solar panels on my RV with 420 amp hours of batteries. On a good sunny day I can go fishing and run my refrigerator and keep my hot water hot. When the sun starts to go down I'm in trouble. That 300w Rockpal would be good for a fan at night or maybe someones CPAP machine. It's probably a good product depending on your needs.

[@ChasinSimplicity]

Wow that is a ton of solar!!! The charge controller on the rockpals is truly impressive. I kind of wish I kept it now haha

[@patbraden4342]

What did you end up getting

[@karitunes1]

When you say regulated port, do you mean pass through charging? Cuz my Rockpals 350w power station has pass through charging on my DC port only, so anything like a 12v fridge will keep running while solor panel or car port is charging it

[@ChasinSimplicity]

Hi Kari. Thanks for watching and the comment. What you are describing is pass through charging like you said. When I said “regulated port” that means that the dc output has a constant voltage no matter the state of charge of the battery. This prevents a low voltage cutoff and shutdown of whatever dc appliance is connected to it. For example: my alpicool c20 would run just fine on this device until the battery was about 50% and then the fridge would shut off. If the voltage on that port was regulated, my fridge would work all the way until the rockpals was completely discharged.

[@karitunes1]

Thx for clarifying that. I'm trying to find out from Rockpals if my 350w unit has regulated port. The pass through is a plus for me but I'd like both. Nice video

[@ChasinSimplicity]

Thank you. In my research, none of the current rockpals have a regulated port. You can tell by reading the specs. On the dc outlet they will give a voltage range as the spec instead of a static number. For instance, if it is regulated it will say 14.3v or 13.9v. Not 10.9v-12.9v. I hope this helps. Jackery 300 is having a great Black Friday sale right now

[@sarahcobb4166]

Hi, just curious if you think the Rockpals 500 watt would work? I bought that one to run my Maxair fan in my van because I didn't want the complications of solar, but after one trip using a cooler was thinking of a fridge.

[@ChasinSimplicity]

I’m with you on the cooler. They are so awful. Just when you are enjoying your camp spot you have to go get ice. I would love to review the 500. I know one drawback is the fact that it doesn’t support pass through charging on the ac inverter. Only on the dc side. Which isn’t a big deal for the max air since it will use dc Same with fridge.

[@LeftyMcgee808]

Any updates on the cooler? About how many watts does the cooler use in a day? I have a jackery 500 an wondering how long the jackery would last?

[@ChasinSimplicity]

Great question. In my testing I have calculated approximately 10-11wh usage if environment around it is near room temp. So if you are in a hot car with sun beating down on the cooler that usage will certainly go up. If you are in 50 degree weather it will go down. So a jackery 500 should get approximately 50 hours on this fridge if the ambient is near 70 and the fridge is set to 35-38 degrees. If you run it in freezer mode your usage will shoot up double or triple. These aren’t scientific methods I’m using. I don’t have that sort of equipment but I’m close! It’s a great cooler.

[@LeftyMcgee808]

@@ChasinSimplicity nice thanks... if i could get 2 days off the Jackery I would be stoked!! Thanks for the reply 🤙🤙

[@ChasinSimplicity]

Anytime! The testing I did was with no input charge meaning i was pretending I had no solar and no car charging. Worst case scenario. Great setup for a weekend. I would recommend precooling the fridge at home for an hour or so before leaving

[@LeftyMcgee808]

@@ChasinSimplicity right on... i just ordered the Alpicool c20 on Amazon for 199$ hopefully I don't get a bad unit.. 🤞🤞🤞 been hearing about them 😱

[@ChasinSimplicity]

I hope you get a good one too! Make sure to leave it sitting on the floor correctly for a day or two before turning it on the first time. Just in case it was upside down for a bit in the ups van

[@skipsamples2647]

I have a question as to how you use it and what power source do you use to charge your RockPal? From what I have seen if you have a solar panel it will fully charge in about 6 hours. If RockPal really wants to dominate the market they do need to have a regulated 12v power as with fridges it does become an issue.

[@ChasinSimplicity]

I charged it with cig lighter most of the time as I don’t stay in one spot for long. With good sun it would charge very fast. However, just getting through the night with only using that is cutting it too close for me as I also use a cpap. So I sent it back and got something else. Totally agree with you on the regulated 12v

[@skipsamples2647]

@@ChasinSimplicity I heard that you can use the AC cord and it will allow you to go past the DC voltage limit you mentioned. I wonder if that is safe or an acceptable alternative until you get solar charging the next day.

[@ChasinSimplicity]

You could do that for sure. It’s not as efficient because you have to have the inverter on which used power on its own. As long as you have some sun the next day and all you wanted to do was run the fridge you would be in good shape!

[@flyfliker]

Care to comment on why you got rid of the 5 x 8 cargo trailer camper?

[@ChasinSimplicity]

Hi flycaster. Two reasons. 1. It was too heavy for the size. 1,600 lbs with nothing in it. Massive amounts of plywood were used during construction. This kept it reasonably well insulated but I was more concerned with portability. 2. The setup was good but I wanted something I could live out of a bit better with a shower and kitchen setup. Other then that it was a great trailer. Very well built.

[@flyfliker]

@@ChasinSimplicity thanks for the reply and great KZbin content.

[@ChasinSimplicity]

Anytime and much thanks! I should make some more videos 🤔

[@PlayingwithSticks]

Steve Irwin Doll...priceless!

[@ChasinSimplicity]

Steve is the best!

[@betilife]

If you like Alpicool refrigerators and want to buy them, you can click here to enter: www.alpicool.cc/products/alpicool-c20-b20-lg-compressor-car-cooler

[@TSunshineful]

How are you doing.? Miss you! Hope all is well and you are just busy or happy.

[@ChasinSimplicity]

Thank you very much. Overall doing well. Missing making videos and chatting with you all. Things in the works for new stuff but busy with work for sure.

[@bhamptonkc7]

use the 120v outlet

[@LOFIRULESCOM]

Rokpals and those coolers is a total FAIL. DO NOT BUY. Your battery will last 8 hours, followed by the need for another 8 hours to recharge using their solar unit. Total crap.

[@ChasinSimplicity]

Thanks for the feedback!

[@CigRacing]

Steve!

[@ChasinSimplicity]

He’s the best!

[@marshabrown8337]

Here is a great, intelligent young man who is always on top of the newest and does a great review job. Will Prowse : kzbin.info/www/bejne/bpyUhoWJj79sq7s This is one of many of his reviews of quite a few of the models out there. Check out his channel for even newer reviews. Love your videos and great to see you doing so well. Take care.

[@ChasinSimplicity]

Hi Marsha thanks did the kind words. Will is awesome. His story is amazing of how he went from the streets to where he is now. Thanks for the suggestion!