The Cheap Way to Upgrade Your Solar Generator Capacity: REDODO LiFePo4 vs expensive add-on battery

This is the cheapest way to add capacity to your Solar Generator. Connect it to a Lithium Iron Phosphate Battery. There are some benefits to buying the expensive add-on batteries from the Solar Generator company, but this "hack" is by far the cheapest way to double, triple or quadruple your capacity.
Redodo Batteries:
Discount code: COD3 at checkout.
Redodo USA link: www.redodopowe...
Redodo Canada link: ca.redodopower...
Redodo Amazon store: amzn.to/404KfuV
Other items that are shown in the video, Amazon Links:
AimTom 100w Folding Solar Panel: amzn.to/3j4DSr3
Bluetti PV200, 200w Folding Solar Panel: Canada: amzn.to/3HEg0UC
U.S. - amzn.to/3DmezHT
Bluetti AC200Max Solar Generator: Canada: amzn.to/3wyMER2
BougeRV 53 Quart 12V fridge/freezer: Canada: amzn.to/3kNh27M
U.S. - amzn.to/3HlLfm2
Link for Bluetti and a $200 discount on the AC200Max: shareasale.com...
Do you have products you think I should review?
Contact Info: Craig. Email: [e-mail]

[@Bowmans-Woods]

Redodo Batteries: Discount code: COD3 at checkout. Redodo USA link: www.redodopower.com/?ref=Y5FZU2lp Redodo Canada link: ca.redodopower.com/?ref=3QzOMmh1 Redodo Amazon store: amzn.to/404KfuV

[@CherokezPittman]

Thanks for sharing the discount code and links! In terms of solar generator capacity, the Segway Portable PowerStation Cube Series seems like a great option. It offers a massive 5kWh expandable capacity, powerful output, and fast recharging. Plus, with its waterproof technology and comprehensive protections, it's ready for any outdoor adventure. Definitely worth considering for outdoor enthusiasts and RV lovers like us!

[@artadams1]

2 of those batteries wired in series will allow the bluetti to charge at 500 watt supporting a much larger constant draw.

[@shon88]

Hello. I really appreciate your information. This has been extremely helpful and informative to me, and is helping me to get through a difficult situation. I have a Bluetti AC200L and just plugged it into my spare lithium battery per your instructions. I was down to 8 percent power on the Bluetti and wasn't sure how I was going to make it through the night during the current freezing storm with no sun for the solar charging. Thanks to you, I'll going to fine for the night. Thanks so much!

[@Bowmans-Woods]

Glad to be of help

[@sherryn39455]

Can I buy those battery clips or do I have to make them, I just ordered that Bluetti , haven’t received it yet but I am a 77 year old lady and I need something I can depend on rather than a gas generator. Thanks

[@ItsEverythingElse]

I would def. recommend going with a 24V battery if you're going to be using it to recharge a power station. Assuming of course that the solar input of the station can use the increased power. You could also get a voltage converter.

[@Bowmans-Woods]

Yes an up-booster taking the battery from 12v to 24v would double the charge rate and they are very cheap to add on.

[@jamesdiggs6742]

Ty

[@jamesdiggs6742]

Which voltage converter would you recommend?

[@DroneManMurphy]

I have a Renagy 12V 3000 Watt inverter on the way. Is there any way to use it in a 24 V system that would be practical? I know I can get step up and step down converters but if I put 2 12V batteries in series and make a 24V system then step down so it’ll work with the 12 V inverter I would be losing any benefits, correct?

[@Hutch_Davenport]

If it can't charge off the power station it is not an increase in capacity. It might as well be a 110v wall plug.

[@TheEagle157]

Hello: Sounds like a good idea. , How do you recharge the Redodo?

[@christinagardener1889]

I love how you explain it all so someone like me without any electrical background can easily understand

[@Bowmans-Woods]

Glad to help

[@KAIZORIANEMPIRE]

the reason why for example you get less power usage with a max 100 watt from the 12 v battery and you get the full 2000 plus watts from the bluetti is because it has it's own sine wave convert for ac applications. it's more or less an extra power station with wires that can connect it to the original power station. It' is not just a battery however you can more or less buy a cheap sign wave converter and turn your battery pack into a similar product for cheaper much cheaper,

[@Bowmans-Woods]

Great thanks.

[@rockesark9689]

I've done this for about two years and it works great. I normally recharge my LiFePo4 battery with solar when on the road using a controller. I would caution against using any battery charger since it could over charge and damage the battery. I'd recommend using a charger made for lifepo4 batteries just to be on the safe side.

[@robertlee6781]

For my application, going with two of the 12v/200 ah batteries in series is a no-brainer solution. I love the DIY solutions.

[@Bowmans-Woods]

Yes. 2x200ah in series is huge extra capacity. Then charge the batteries when you have more solar than you need.

[@DroneManMurphy]

If you do what you describe does it increase the smaller units ability to handle higher amps?

[@AquaTech225]

@@DroneManMurphydoubt it. Because the built in inverter can only handle what it’s rated for. But you can buy just a dc to ac inverter to connect to the large battery’s. That can handle different amounts. Just depends how much ya willing to spend

[@1GREATDANE]

Most 12 Volt to 24 Volt Step Up Converters at 10 amps are around $20 Bucks and Sealed. One I Found on Amazon has Quick Connections and Worked Straight Away on My Eco Flow Delta EF3 Pro 1300's using the XT60 Input Solar Port.

[@bdmenne]

@@1GREATDANEcould you post a link or give a name to that product you found that can turn 12v to 24v from Amazon? Thank you

[@jerrytalley802]

I also enjoy how down to earth and plain your explanations are. Part of me thinks they are selling the power stations, then hoping to sell you an overpriced backup, lol. I’m thinking of getting to redodo mini’s. Can’t you get an adapter to go from the battery to the solar input? If so, putting 2x 12 volt in series gives 24 volts plugged into the solar input. The tiny 12 volt sockets are more like a trickle charge, but would work for low loads like the fridge.

[@shagitup]

Awesome stuff, thanks a lot! I picked up a 24 V 200 amp hour to supplement my EcoFlow Delta, Maybe a little overkill for that power station, but I have room to grow. Smartest thing I ever did and you saved me a ton of money!

[@Bowmans-Woods]

Glad to help

[@tonyinfinity]

I did the same thing, with the price of LifePo4 now it's a ridiculous deal. I remember when I got into the solar RV thing 6 years ago the price for a 100Ah lithium battery was a grand! So now I bought two 100Ah batteries for $150 a piece! However I use an inverter and use the AC plug to top off my Ecoflow just to get a faster charge, but this is a good idea to use the DC charge at 100w if you're only needing a slight top off or increase the capacity on a low draw.

[@chrisandrews7518]

I use a 52v 20ah ebike battery with the same connection into the back of my eco flow delta 2000. It sends 500 watts I think into the solar port. So 1000 ish watt hours which cost me £329 Uk.

[@allynonderdonk7577]

I made my own batteries using cells from China. Salty Escape did a build series on what I did. You can basically doa 280 amp hour battery for $540 dollarsish. You' would need to invest in a hundred or so dollars in tools and wire for an install, but it is the cheapest way to go doing it yourself. These batteries are incredible for the price though, I'd buy some if I didn't go the do it yourself route. I missed you at the boat show in Annapolis this year, but going every year might be a stretch for some people. I'll be taking my RV this upcoming fall probably and boondocking. for a week or two. I set it up to carry two motorcycles, including an electric one. I have 2300 wats of solar and can run my AC 24/7 unless it gets really cloudy. Really thanks to my two 280ah lithium batteries.

[@Bowmans-Woods]

You have quite the setup with 2300w Solar. Nice! I am not much of a "build my own battery" kind of guy. I'm sure I'd mess something up. The people who like to do that stuff, great. It reminds me of the people that build their own computer from scratch. I've always been the "find the best deal on something that is well built" guy. :-)

[@allynonderdonk7577]

@@Bowmans-Woods I do almost everything myself...sadly I also ran a computer store for 25 years....

[@Allen-yv3ue]

I have a Battleborn battery ( in my Casita TT) and Bluetti AC2000max - good info, Thanks.

[@1texisbest]

Put a 1000 watt adjustable invertor on the spare . Plug it into the the ac charge on power pack .

[@Bowmans-Woods]

Ok. Thanks

[@thefpvlife7785]

BTW a trickle charge under load will extend your battery life.

[@Bowmans-Woods]

True. Every little bit helps.

[@steves3688]

Just my FYI moment(I havent tested this tho...lol)... I think that when using one of the batteries to charge the bluetti you could increase the wire size and make your own wire adapter to go into the solar port to the battery - just wire gauge it correctly to handle the 15.2 amp max solar input rating...thus giving you faster charging, above the limited 100 watt limits of the car adapter. The MAX is rated for 15.2 amp solar input with voltage range of 10-145 volts. In the Bluetti menu you select between car charging and solar charging and that controls the limits I believe. So with that 12.8 volts x 15.2 amps = 195 watts...just need to ensure the wire diameter is rated for 20 amps...12 gauge I believe...this might help with improved recharge time. OR use the Enhancer D050S(still unsure what it outputs for a battery hookup)...just my thoughts and maybe some responses to whether it will work or not....

[@Bowmans-Woods]

I have tried using the D050S and yoou still get 100W. To get 200W, you need to have the battery giving out 24V. So to 12V batteries in series.

[@ccrews0612]

You will be limited by the BMS on the battery

[@bdmenne]

Sweet! I can charge my EF River 2pro with that 12v 200amp?? That saves a lot of room in my camper van.

[@Bowmans-Woods]

Glad it was helpful

[@InTheDirtAgain]

I have the Bluetti EB70S and use it as a UPS for our pellet stove because it was advertised as having pass-thru charging. Technically, that's true but have learned the hard way that it will eventually run dead after a week straight powering the stove..... even when plugged in. Bluetti has confirmed this and won't do anything about it (no partial refund, 2nd smaller unit, etc). Just like your in video, I bought a 200AH LFP battery for when the Bluetti is virtually dead and the power goes out so that my family can still stay warm and I'm away for work. Very disappointed, but can definitely use it for camping/overlanding. The EB70S will run down to about 60% when running a heated mattress pad on low overnight. Still a win, but the false advertising from Bluetti is a major disappointment. I expected better from them

[@Bowmans-Woods]

Sorry to hear that. I don’t have the EB70S to confirm that. A bigger unit with spare capacity like the AC200Max would probably allow for much longer run times and allow you to get through until you can charge it. Best to be oversized than just barely big enough. Especially for something important like hearing when you are away.

[@InTheDirtAgain]

@@Bowmans-Woods @ 3x the cost, the AC200 would likely suit us just fine. But I wasn't about to risk this experiment at that price. Figured if the EB70S wouldn't do what I wanted with my stove, it would definitely work for camping.......and it does that great!

[@debbiedogs1]

​@@InTheDirtAgain- So doesn't your complaint have to do with your pellet stove (and the Bluetti doing its internal work) having a larger draw than the charge going in to the EB70S?? It is obviously doing pass-through if it is running for a week, because that is NOT a large power unit. Sounds like you just did not understand the specs of the unit and your stove when you bought it?

[@InTheDirtAgain]

@@debbiedogs1 not the case, at all. My stove draws 500-ish watts when igniting pellets at start-up, but then drops down to about 60w after the flame has started and just the blower fan + auger is working. This is well within the specs of the EB70S. When talking with Bluetti, they confirmed that this model does not have a true UPS feature, but rather a pass-through charging feature. Cannot tell you what the difference is, but I just know that the included charger will eventually decrease its output over a week's time.

[@atman5230]

Well reasoned.4 of the 100AH lithium iron phosphate ibatteries instead of buying a second 2048WH powerstation is a cheaper way of doing things.

[@1GREATDANE]

I like the Step Up Converter from 12 Volt to 24 Volt at 10 Amps for 240 Watts using The Solar Port on My Eco Flow EF3 Delta Pro 1300's and River 2 Pro Solar Generators to Top Them off at night when No Solar Options are available. *All 3 Units also Piggy Back to each other for Extreme weather Weather Conditions.

[@Bowmans-Woods]

Step up converters bringing it from 12V to 24V will speed things up for sure. Other option is to put two 12V batteries in series making it the equivalent of one 24V battery.

[@1GREATDANE]

​@@Bowmans-WoodsTrue That Mate, I Have 4 24 Volt Systems here powering My Whole Ranch, Well Pump, Water Heater, Internet and Kitchen and Additional Bunkhouse and Shop / Barn.

[@christinagardener1889]

Thanks so much for this info! I would love to buy an extension battery but not in my budget. This will work great for me!

[@Bowmans-Woods]

Glad to help with cheaper expansion alternatives.

[@Electronzap]

Definitely a good option.

[@Bowmans-Woods]

Cheap option, for sure.

[@hardtruth2039]

The only issue here is not knowing how much you have left in the battery but I guess you could put a meter in line. We have a maxed out 25.2kwh ecoflow delta pro system with 3200w solar array and the smart home panel. I’m definitely going to look into this for emergency backup to my back up😂 belt and suspenders guy here.

[@Bowmans-Woods]

Ya. Not easy to know how much battery you have left except to check the voltage and ballpark it from that.

[@mark_luna]

Great video!! Thank you for the info. Thoughts on using a Dewalt power station utilizing the cordless batteries converted to AC to charge a solar gen.

[@Bowmans-Woods]

Thanks. As for charging a solar generator from Dewalt batteries? You would need a lot of Dewalt batteries to charge a solar generator. Not sure that is economical.

[@DannyNomad]

You can get faster charging if you have higher voltage from your battery. Wire multiple batteries in series, or use a single higher voltage battery, and you would get the voltage to charge faster. If you wire your battery series up to 72V you will charge the bluetti at 700w.

[@Bowmans-Woods]

Yep. I’m aware. A cheap up booster can also take a 12v battery and up it to 24v to double your charge rate. But this was the simple solution for someone that just has 12v battery handy.

[@1texisbest]

Faster charge with 1000 watt inverter on spare battey . Plug it into the ac charger on power pack . Charge it at 1000 watts . 100 watts pfft

[@rickjamieson6605]

Best solution without the heat related charge losses of voltage booster or conversion losses of double inversion DC>AC>DC.

[@KAIZORIANEMPIRE]

@@Bowmans-Woodsyou should have included that information lol, since that thing costs $20, you should make extra effort for others instead of jus tthe nubes

[@BeefNEggs057]

60 volts seems to be the highest it can take. Anything more is wasted since the limiting factor is the 15 amp limit. The bluetti will limit any amps over 15 (you wont know it). 60 X 15 = 900 watts. I’d stick with 48V at 15 amps = 720 watts. 48V Chargers are more readily available (for golf carts). Not cheap. A series of 4 - 12v batteries might be a better deal. Still not cheap.

[@Andrea-kx1mj]

I would add that tou can use your bluetti and it’s solar panel to recharge the battery when you have solar.

[@Bowmans-Woods]

Yes, if you were charging your battery through the Bluetti at the 20A charge rate, you would need to have a lot of solar panels connected to charge your AC200Max and your LIfePO4 battery at the same time. I was sort of making this example that you have a short-ish power outage or you are going camping where you would have access to AC at some point to charge up your LifePo battery and will just use the solar to charge the Bluetti. The LifePo just allows you to go longer before charging.

[@jonleone777]

Just bought a ecoflow delta 2 to run 2 refrigerators during a power outage and was hoping i could use this technique but apparently not. The extra batteries if you can find them cost the same as the main unit itself.

[@Bowmans-Woods]

It wont work with an Ecoflow? I don't have one to test.

[@LADETROIT]

I've been looking for a solar input switch, preferably Bluetooth. For a hands-free way to switch between batteries and solar. No luck yet

[@Bowmans-Woods]

Ya. You probably could create something if you are electrically proficient. I’m not.

[@desireemillion]

this is a fabulous genius idea. don't know how you came up with this but thank you.

[@Bowmans-Woods]

Thanks, glad it was helpful!

[@ChefAlexSocci]

Is it possible to charge the lifepo4 with solar while it’s connected to the Bluetti?

[@rimasmeleshyus9486]

Great information, thank you so much .Greetings from beautiful tropical Hawaii islands ⛵️ 🏝

[@Bowmans-Woods]

Oh, you had to mention Hawaii. Now I'm just Jealous. LOL. Thanks

[@xavierlafolie2856]

Is it possible to charge both the generator and the extra battery with the solar panel at the same time, while the extra battery is connected to the generator? I am trying to have a better picture of how this system can work fluently.

[@AquaTech225]

You can do what you did here through the 12v to charge. Or you can get a 400 watt inverter to connect to that 100AH battery. A plug the AC power cord to the inverter. An charge into the solar generator like that. An leave it plugged in. So instead of adding to it at a 100watt rate or whatever. Adding into it the AC route yould be adding in what at a 400 watt rate. Yould loose a little off the conversion going to AC. But if you’re running something higher drain. That big battery will keep up with the solar generators need. Well long as it’s at or about 400 watts of use. Still a lot more going in the AC route vs the DC route

[@Bowmans-Woods]

Yep. You could do that but an inverter loses power in the process so you will drain your battery much faster with the phantom draw of the inverter.

[@stu3678]

Can't you hook up a 400 watt inverter to the redodo battery and charge the bluetti with ac power

[@Bowmans-Woods]

Ya. You could do that but inverters are notoriously inefficient converting. You would be converting it twice. From DC to AC and back to DC. Lots of loss along the way. Best to charge DC to DC.

[@ramonhart2052]

@@Bowmans-Woods so how about connecting two 12v batteries in series’s to make a 24v and feed it trough the solar input or a dc to dc converter boost converter 12 to 36 v I saw a KZbinr name Jason noid doing it the other day vet simple and easy

[@dembaf7569]

Thank you very much for this very thoughtful information to us 👍👍👍

[@Bowmans-Woods]

Glad it was helpful!

[@fishjoy3216]

How are you charging your 100ah battery? Solar? If so are you using the battery clamp cable that came with your panel? I have on that came with the clamp cable to solar connection but I keep reading you need a separate charge controller to charge the battery.

[@Bowmans-Woods]

I have a Battery Charger that I bought on Amazon for like $40. If I have lots of solar and my sol gen is full I dump the extra power through the battery charger to charge the battery.

[@rickdavid1795]

Excellent idea. Thanks

[@Bowmans-Woods]

Most welcome 😊

[@djaj423]

great content, just subscribed. question? can i connect my solar gen to my house battery on the rv. Wondering with the charge controller connected to the house battery charging it and being connnected to it? thanks Craig, safe voyage.

[@t0nkatsu]

How am I best to change the simple LiFePO4 battery? Should I have some controller between the power source and the battery? My ideal situation would be charging back from the Solar Generator once it’s fully charged.

[@Bowmans-Woods]

You’d have to buy a battery charger to efficiently recharge the LifePo battery.

[@Zkpe02]

There are several ways to increase the wattage from the batteries. In a pinch, I use my 4 12v 100ah LifePO4 batteries that I just use a 1k inverter to power my Bluetti ac200p charger, yes I lose some wattage but with 400wh of battery not a big deal..

[@Bowmans-Woods]

Yep. There are a bunch of ways to boost the volts to increase the charge rate.

[@angelolamantia]

That AC200 can take like 150 volts dc input, you don’t need the inverter. Run the 48volt directly to your dc solar input. You would get about 600 watts of charging, I think the current will limit to 12 amps.

[@djaj423]

awesome, so I could take my solar gen and use this method to attach to RV batteries that is being charged by solar and it would charge the solar gen, correct? Just connect the solar gen to house batteries with alligator clips?

[@Bowmans-Woods]

Yep. That is what I do with the house back I have on my boat. The boat batteries are charged by mounted solar panels and those batteries are attached to the Sol Gen to trickle charge it. Works good.

[@jcforeman1]

Do you have links to the connectors you use? Available on Amazon?

[@WhatTrigger]

Just curious at 7:34 looking at Bluetti website the DC input is ((900W Max.OCV 10-145VDC, 15A)) So I'm taking that as whatever is higher Watts/Amps is the limit So I'm thinking for a 12v panel, 180W would be roughly its maximum Now the part where I'm confused, what limits the feed from a 12v battery to only 100W instead of its maximum ability of 180W? Does the Bluetti sense its a battery connection instead of solar panels and artificially limit the power draw. and wondering does it still limit the power draw to 100w if its been fed by a 24V battery which would be around 360w to hit the 15a input limit Or eg at a camper trailer im looking at buying it has a 12v 100ah battery with a 1000W since wave inverter. Would it be better and quicker to just charge the Bluetti via the AC system

[@oskosh50]

Great info ! Thanks

[@Bowmans-Woods]

Glad you liked it.

[@bretthumphries7911]

Great info, thanks. Redodo has a new, smaller 100Ah battery. Have you checked it out yet? Thanks

[@Bowmans-Woods]

I was supposed to test one but it went out of stock. So I’m supposedly getting a 200ah to test. The new smaller smart battery hopefully comes later.

[@mycabinlife1291]

Hello! I just found your video because I am searching for a way to add capacity to my growatt Infiniti 1300. A. I have a 48 volt 100 amp hour lifepo4 server rack battery. Could I just use a regular plug-in inverter that I already have I think it's 600 or 800 watts connect that with the alligator clips to my 48 volt battery and then plug the growatt into the inverter? B. And then to charge the 48 volt battery, I would use my lipo4 48 V charger plugged into the groWatt when I have extra sun coming in correct? C The inverters that I have are 12 volts. So this plan may not work LOL Thank you in advance! I know this video is a year old but my problem is now LOL

[@Joshua-r3r6w]

How do you recharge the battery?

[@Deagle367]

Why not series the batteries to increase to like 24V to 48V volts to increase the watts into the power station? My power station can accept max 150V at 1200 watts with a max of 20 amp each into the two solar connections.

[@Bowmans-Woods]

I do that but this was a review of 1 battery. Not 2 or 4. But that will increase your charging speed for sure.

[@jasonbridges45]

If you use the solar cord instead, you can get more input. Cause it thinks solar is going in. remove your 12 volt cigarette plug. An use Anderson

[@eu-neuwagen4024]

But how is the additional battery charged?

[@jacktally5166]

I just got a Redodo for $158. No brained way to go.

[@AdamNicholasSievers]

Get a "power wheels adapter" for your drill battery brand. Wire a 5.5mm plug onto the end of it. I have a little 280wh rockpals gen and doing this with a 6ah Bosch drill battery adds 113wh.

[@Bowmans-Woods]

Ok. Thanks.

[@ronaldreyes-fn4xj]

Great Info.How about the AC300 connected to a cheaper battery?Hope you can share your thoughts.Thanks

[@Bowmans-Woods]

When you say cheaper do you mean Lead Acid? It will work the same but lead acid batteries get damaged if you take them below 50% of their state of charge. And they generally are dumb batteries so they will let you kill them and do permanent damage. LifePo4 batteries will not be damaged by draining them down until the BMS shuts them off. So, I personally would never use a lead acid battery for this.

[@jjjohny_a5965]

can you use a ac300 or ac500 with a rack mount battery that is not a bluetti battery?

[@GavinNellist]

Great video, I’d love to expand the capacity of my setup which is a ALLPOWERS S1500, but one question please, what equipment would I need to be able to charge the additional battery using my ALLPOWERS S1500?

[@Bowmans-Woods]

Just buy a smart battery charger to charge from the Sol Gen When you have lots of solar.

[@InTodaysVideo]

Thanks Craig for this video. Just to be sure, can I connect that LifePO4 battery to either one of my Lithium Ion or Lithium NMC solar generators?

[@Bowmans-Woods]

Yep. As long as your SolGen has a Solar charging in port that has a range that includes 12V, you should be good.

[@blazingspartan6027]

How do you set up the connection for an ecoflow to set up solar charge with the battery. Im trying to have an offgrid set up with it to run some heatlamps for a chicken brooder at night. I own a ecoflow river 2 pro generator

[@Bowmans-Woods]

Sorry. Ecoflow has never sent me any units to review so I have no info on Ecoflow.

[@vasik363]

Idea is good for extra backup capacity. But it is not useful when you have several time per day blackout due to russia and you need to charge batteries once power restored. With such scenario additional actions are required to connect/disconnect charger. It is just for consideration for those who are looking for extra capacity...

[@Bowmans-Woods]

It’s mainly for adding cheap capacity to a solar generator

[@lindaruth9978]

I'm fairly new to solar so, a question: When you are charging a small Bluetti, is the power from the exterior battery used up first & when the battery is "empty" does the electricity then automatically flow from Bluetti internal battery? I have a teardrop camper and use the Bluetti EBPA3A to separately power our small refridge when camping off grid. Space is at a premium when using teardrops, however, I could fit a smaller exterior battery on the counter to charge the refridge through the night (and help on cloudy days). I just need to make sure that the method shown in the video will use one battery at a time to ensure I'll get the watt hours that I'll need and that the batteries change over automatically if I am asleep or away from camp. If they do so an added advantage for me is that my equipment will be small and light weight which is desirable for a 75 yr old women with arthritis. Hope this makes sense.

[@Bowmans-Woods]

The battery would help charge the Bluetti until the battery dies. It only flows in. Not back to the battery

[@TheGbortnick]

O in this situation, the EB3a and other battery would run the fridge. What would be the best way to recharge the battery? I have 2 EB3a units, and wondering if solar panels to recharge the battery, could I recharge both eb3a units from the battery at night at the same time? Thanks

[@DroneManMurphy]

If you do what you describe does it increase the smaller units ability to handle higher amps?

[@Bowmans-Woods]

It doesn't change any of the metrics of the solar generator. It just brings in power (as if plugged into solar) so that the Sol Gen can last longer. Increases time of use only.

[@raymondlaflamme1655]

One thing. I really don't like about Bluetti power stations is that their capacity is limited compared to other brands.

[@Bowmans-Woods]

The AC200max is expandable to over 6k Wh. If you want more you would buy the bigger AC300 with expansion batteries or the massive AC500. Just depends how big you want to go and how much money you want to spend.

[@angelolamantia]

If you put 4 of the 100amp/hr in series you could charge the AC200 max at 750 watts. The dc solar input has no idea if it’s a solar panel or battery and it takes up to 145 volts

[@tinysparky]

So I can connect this to my golf cart?

[@Bowmans-Woods]

Ya, just check your Sol Gen to see what it can accept before going too big

[@avs-forum]

Great video. Question: Can I leave an extra battery like you described connected 24/7 attached to my Delta 2 that is plugged into the wall? I currently have a delta 2 connected 24/7 to my frig as a backup in case of power outages (which happen almost every month by me). So when we lose power, the delta kicks on with me doing anything. So I would love to extend the run time in case I am not home.

[@Bowmans-Woods]

Sorry not sure what the point of the battery attached to the solar input if you are plugged in. Not sure

[@avs-forum]

@@Bowmans-Woods Its used as a backup. My frig is plugged into the Delta 2 and the Delta 2 is plugged into the wall. But when the power goes out, my frig will still run because its connected to the Delta 2. So I was wondering if I could safely extend the run time by connecting another battery to the Delta 2 all the time like you showed in this video.

[@Bowmans-Woods]

@@avs-forum oh. Ok. I guess that works. But the battery still needs a battery charger to stay charged. Is that plugged into the delta?

[@avs-forum]

@@Bowmans-Woods I figured if the extra battery is already charged, the Delta wont pull any power from it unless the grid power goes out and the delta starts to need power (that the extra battery will provide). Ive not done it yet, but your video inspired me. I was going to just buy the official Ecoflow extra battery until you changed my mind. I know my use case is not standard, but where I live we lose power all the time. So I want at least 24 hours of backup for my frig. Right now with just the delta, it lasts about 12 hours.

[@GSCMods]

Why not use an inverter on the spare battery to get full charging speed?

[@Bowmans-Woods]

This was about how to use just a battery to increase capacity. If you want to spend extra money for a stand alone inverter, you could do that. But it will drain your battery fast since inverters are power wasters.

[@gw9502]

Very badic newbie question...how do you recharge the Redodo?

[@Bowmans-Woods]

Well that is the downside. If you need to charge your battery you need to plug it into a battery charger or run solar panels through a MPPT controller to recharge it. It was meant as a way to add time to your solar generator if you have a longer than normal power outage. It is not as easy as buying the B230 or B300 expansion battery that can charge directly from the Sol Gen when plugged into solar.

[@edtim3550]

still remains the inconvenience and safety (=priceless). What happens when it's recharging time for the redodo : a lot of cable juggling. Sooner or later your going to clip on something wrong.

[@Bowmans-Woods]

Its as easy as clipping the red Aligator clip on the red and the black on the black. Not sure what the hard part is? As for charging the batteries. You can charge it with wall power when it is cheap or if you have the Sol Gen plugged into plenty of solar you can charge the battery with a charger from the AC of the Sol Gen. The battery just stores extra capacity for when you need it.

[@MrTypepatrick]

What I'm really looking for is a hack where we can plug the supplemental battery directly into the Bluetti supplemental battery port? Any thoughts?

[@bruceforster3709]

VERY nice video and you explain things VERY well! I have a question: Based on what you're sharing here, which IS accurate, Could you spend $1500.00 on the new Power Queen 400 Amp (4800 Watt Hour) LiFePO4 Battery and then run at the higher rate like the Bluetti Add-on???

[@Bowmans-Woods]

Thanks for the nice words. Well, no matter how big you build the battery, as long as it is still a 12.8v battery it will be treated by the Bluetti as a "Car charging" option so it will be limited to 100w. But if you put 4 of these batteries in series to make it a 48+v battery and connected it to the solar input you may be able to fool it into thinking you are connected to solar and get it to charge faster. You would need to make or buy a 48V battery to test that. Not saying it would work but it might. If you buy the D050S DC Charge enhancer, I know you can get 12.8V batteries to give you up to 500W charging as it ups the voltage but will draw down a battery fast so you better have a big Ah battery bank. In that case, you could build 4 batteries in parallel and have a 400Ah battery and use the DC enhancer to dual charge any of the large Bluetti Sol Gens. So you could have 900W of solar and 500W of battery charging simultaneously and have a total of 1400w of charging. That will charge the Sol Gen, really fast or allow you to keep using it at a decently high draw and still charge the Sol Gen. The only downside of that is that the batteries will not charge just by the AC200Max being attached to solar. The only one that allows you to use the battery for capacity and also allows it to charge from the AC200Max is by buying the B230 or B300 smart battery connected to the Sol Gen. When connected the AC200Max just treats it as one large battery.

[@tonyoreilly7196]

Hi there, can I ask you do you still ride the sherman EUC, sorry to jump off topic...

[@Bowmans-Woods]

In the summer, yes. I use to to get around on shore when I am on my sailboat in the summer.

[@tonyoreilly7196]

@@Bowmans-Woods Is it too heavy to get in and out of the boat or would have bought something lighter, I am looking to get my next wheel and it's in the running, thanks.

[@blessidunion]

I have an EcoFlow Delta Max and my cigarette lighter adapter has the solar output plug on the other end so it plugs into the solar input on the Delta Max. If the solar input max on the EcoFlow is 800w what would keep you from hooking it up there?

[@Bowmans-Woods]

Sorry. I don’t have an eco flow so I can compare.

[@jamesdiggs6742]

I have a 24v battery can I use it on my ALLPOWERS S700 ?

[@Bowmans-Woods]

You should be able to put that in to the solar in plug. The Sol Gen just sees 24v and treats it like solar power.

[@gregggoebel3916]

Can you leave the solar connected and running to to lithium batteries while the batteries are charging the solar battery ( Bluetti) via the alligator clip / xt90?

[@Bowmans-Woods]

Not sure what you are trying to do? Here is how I do it. Have the solar go into your solar generator, when you have sun. Use the battery as simulated solar when it is dark or gloomy and you are not getting much solar. When the battery is dead you need to have a battery charger to charge it back up. There are cheap ones on Amazon for $40-$60. Assuming you have a decent amount of solar panels, on sunny days you may find that your Solar generator is fully charged and not taking in any more solar in. That is the perfect time to charge the battery (with the charger) from the AC coming out of the Solar Generator so that you can continue to have solar coming in. Free way to recharge the LifePo4 battery.

[@ramhammer10-4]

What if you connected the 100 amp hr battery to a 1000 watt inverter? Then charged the bluetti with the 120 volt ac output from the inverter?

[@Bowmans-Woods]

You would charge faster but there is some inefficiency in the conversion and you would drain the battery much faster.

[@claytonyoung1351]

What about the 12v/24v aligator clips adapter for lead acid batteries that bluetti makes that doesnt go in the cigarette port?

[@Bowmans-Woods]

Sorry. Not sure I’ve seen what you are referring to

[@Planzman1]

Sailing off duty?

[@FirmTacticalSolution]

Question: im installing an 8000 or 10k btu window unit to my off grid hubting cabin. The ma'am wants ac pretty much all day during our summer trips to keep her from murdering me. Im looking at a bluetti ac200max, 4 pv200 pannels, and a b230. Would i be better off gettinf another b230 or would these redodo batteries suffice to help keep me from getting murdered by a sweaty and overheating psycho?

[@Bowmans-Woods]

For plug and play and the ability to charge the expansion battery directly from your solar panels then the b230 or b300 would be the best choice. If you want to go cheaper and have a way to charge your separate batteries with an MPPT controller, then you could get a bunch of LifePO batteries and put them in series to get them to be higher than 12v and charge directly from the batteries. Eg> If you had 2x 12.8v 100 amp our batteries in series it would be a 25.6v battery and should charge your Solar generator at aprox 200W. 3 would be 300. 4 would be 400. Depends how many watts your AC will draw. Im guessing you will use the power faster than you can charge it back up. So you may nee a lot of batteries if you plan to run the AC all day.

[@bkanegson]

Could one not run the 12v batteries in series to charge the Bluetti at 24v (2) or 36v (3) and therefore double or triple the wattage/ speed? (As opposed to using a heat generating/ less efficient buck converter)?

[@Bowmans-Woods]

Yes I do series a lot. Charges twice as fast

[@yttimbabin]

If you had a solar input, could you charge the external batter from the dc output?

[@Bowmans-Woods]

You can use the DC enhance

[@tome2806]

If your on a 30 day trip and get the redodo battery over the factory Bluetti b230 battery how do you recharge the Redodo because you would be able to with the bluetti solar??

[@Bowmans-Woods]

When your Sol Gen is full just plug a battery charger in to charge your battery. You are storing what would be unused Solar power into the battery for later.

[@MrCharmz81]

I keep seeing different methods of connecting, I seen somebody connect positive first than negative, are they doing it wrong?

[@Bowmans-Woods]

I don’t believe it should matter which order.

[@chrisharrell2449]

Good video, I would like to hear something on charging options in regards to these batteries, from my point of veiw I'm using a non grid-tide 3 solar panel array of total 1230watts but each panel facing in different directions so not to over charge at any time of day. I bought bluette ac200max to avoid me having to install charge controllers and inverters. with this type of battery you have shown means I need another charging sauce, could I utilise my exsisting panels somehow, also do you not have to go into bluette menu and change from solar imput to car charge to use the battery and again to go back to solar each morning, if the sun comes up?

[@Bowmans-Woods]

I’d put the 3 solar panels on angled platform on wheels and turn it to fave the prevailing sun vs having 3 panels pointing in different directions. Your way 2 out of 3 are not doing much. I dont you need to change anything. If it senses 12v coming in it assumes you are car charging. I’ve never changed anything in the menu.

[@chrisharrell2449]

@@Bowmans-Woods Sorry but 2 out of 3 working well is the whole point, as it is over paneled. at 1230watts when battery can only take a max 900watts input. and I Don't fancy climbing on my garage roof multi times a day, turning them. my main concern is is wind knocking over the panels as its a windy place where I live, and I worry I have enough weight holding down the panel frames to the garage roof,before some one says bolt them done! thats not a good practise as that may cause roof leaks, and if they had wheels on them, they would fly off the roof!

[@Diycanada560]

Having 4 batteries in parallel, does it increase the charging wattage of the power station or it stays at 100w?

[@Bowmans-Woods]

if you have 4x 12v 100AH batteries in parallel you will still have a 12V battery that charges the Sol Gen at the same slow rate. You will just have 400AH of capacity vs 100AH. If you want to charge faster you have to put them in series. 4x12v in series is a 48V system. Just make sure you read what the max V your Sol Gen accepts so you do not put too much through and potentially damage it. Although the MPPT should have protection against over Volts. The bigger ones will handle 48V, no problem.

[@richardszilagyi6239]

I have the AC200 max and i have an LG Resu 3.3 khw battery. You think i can connect them together ?

[@Bowmans-Woods]

Sorry not sure.

[@alexandraclark9160]

So can you put the batteries charging off the alternator and then hooked up to bluetti at same time?

[@Bowmans-Woods]

I guess you could do that.

[@alexandraclark9160]

@@Bowmans-Woods I was more so asking if you could and if so, how

[@Zkpe02]

@@alexandraclark9160charge your batteries & solar generator with a gas generator….

[@frankm2752]

And when your 100 watt ah battery runsout... how do you you recommend recharging it in the field?

[@avs-forum]

Like any other battery, either car, solor or gas generator. This video just shows how you can extend run time.

[@ChefAlexSocci]

I have a gz yeti 400 lithium which has just one 8mm input with max input voltage of 22v. Would it be possible to do this without a step up converter or with a 12v to 18v step up? I’m hoping I can run solar panels through a charge controller to a lifepo4 battery (50 or 100ah) and then connect the battery directly to the 8mm input on the yeti, with or without a step up converter. Do you think this would work or am I missing something? Thanks!

[@Bowmans-Woods]

The 22V is the max Volts it will accept. You should be able to charge it with a 12V. If you step it up to 24V, Im guessing your SolGen will not accept the charge as it will be too high.

[@jackarrow-journal5317]

Can i charge the lifepo4 through the bluetti?

[@Bowmans-Woods]

With a battery charger plugged into the Sol Gen you could. But not DC to DC.

[@Hemifan4266]

The only problem is that the Bluetti wont recharge the Lifepo bat but will recharge the add on Bluetti batts....

[@Bowmans-Woods]

Yep. Need an inexpensive battery charger for the battery for when you have a ton of solar coming in and your Sol Gen is nearing full. Just dump the unneeded energy into the battery.

[@GraigLeatherbury]

The info / calculations you share do not take into account the inability to get 100% of the battery usage. Please consider looking up the practical / realistic usage formulas for your future endeavors.

[@Bowmans-Woods]

Its just to extend use of your solar generator in a pinch. No need to get hostile science guy. LOL

[@MiguelAndrade-f6d]

Hello Do you know If its possible to use Bluetti with car battery?

[@Bowmans-Woods]

Yep. Any battery gives off volts and the solar generator treats it like a solar input. It has no idea how the volts are created.

[@cscs237]

Do you need to attach a BMS to the 12v battery?

[@Bowmans-Woods]

No. The BMS is built in.

[@ChrisTheGr8est]

DC to DC step up converter 12v to 24v and you can get more watts

[@Bowmans-Woods]

Yes. That is true. Thanks

[@onepunch7071]

If you got the Delta Pro, you won't have that problem since you can increase the capacity to 25kWh.

[@Bowmans-Woods]

You can increase the Bluetti’s too. This was more a video about, if you could afford the Sol Gen but not the additional batteries, this is a cheap way to add more capacity.

[@AquaTech225]

@@Bowmans-Woodsthis is actually the smarter way not to just give away money

[@georgelo2576]

Really like your idea! Quick question: can I use a car battery to do the same? During emergency power outage, do this to extend the power my Ecoflow delta 2 power station? Thanks.

[@Bowmans-Woods]

Yes you can! But if it is a lead acid battery, remember you cant discharge it below 50% or you will damage the battery and a Led acid doesn't have nearly as many cycles. Many reason to switch to LifePo4 from LA. But in a pinch LA will still do the job.

[@teresanietoaraujo2770]

We have used the kzbin.infoUgkxOTeIs0vv4_9B5hsmnLsk9r930uDQLu_Y for probably 30 hours with our camper and it’s been great! The noise level is really only noticeable when running the AC and other appliances like the microwave, hair dryer, or coffee pot. It’s not huge like other ones and it has wheels so even at 90lbs, I can move it!

[@Bowmans-Woods]

Thats great

[@SirHackaL0t.]

It’s a shame that the solar generator can’t charge the extra batteries like it can with it’s own batteries

[@Bowmans-Woods]

Ya, that is the downside to the cheaper LIfePO4 option is that you have to charge the battles separately when they die.

[@bruceforster3709]

@@Bowmans-Woods That's not true. There IS a way to do it. You can be charging the big Bluetti from the Solar during the day when the Grid is up. The Bluetti, as you pointed out, has Pass-tzhru charging ability, so, you cn be charging the Bluetti from the Solar and then use the BLUETTI'S AC Outputs to run an External AC Charger to top up your external Lithium Batteries. I built a Solar Charging System that stays in my house, and use this method for my External Lithium Batteries that run lights in other rooms in the house. Is it AS efficient? No, but it WILL work.

[@FTVG_inc]

@@bruceforster3709that’s still charging them separately as they can’t charge and discharge automatically, the best way to do it would be to use a 24v battery and an extra mppt charge controller. Hook up the power stations Solar input to the load terminals on the mppt and then you’ll have a system that keeps the power station at full charge and uses excess electricity created by the solar to charge the extra battery. And when the sun goes down the battery should in theory keep charging the power station until depleted.

[@MrTypepatrick]

@user-wu2nb4nv9f This is a very brilliant idea that I have been searching for a while! I don't fully understand as I'm a newbie to solar systems. I'm not sure how the supplemental battery would continue to charge the blue eddie? Could you please give me more detail or be willing to send me a diagram?

[@ItsEverythingElse]

You may be surprised how little energy a 65" TV uses these days!

[@Bowmans-Woods]

My 65" TV uses 45W when "off" and in the low 200W range when it is on. You don't generally care about TV watts when you are looking for the best picture. But to save money I have my TV plugged into my Bluetti with a smart plug that I can turn it off through Alexa. When I am using it, it runs off the solar power I have generated. :-)

[@victory6422]

Confusing for certain:-/

[@Bowmans-Woods]

What was confusing?

[@BlueThailand]

Ok, it is intellectually interesting but economically, it is not... The price of a 12V LiFePo4 100AH battery is about 200€ and you have to buy all others elements (cables, connectors, 12V->24V converter, etc..). And you will keep a problem : How to charge this battery ? At least, you will need a solar panel and a charge controler For only 90€ more, you can buy a second Bluetti EB3A. You will get a real and reliable second system as an extension and all the powerstation connectors.

[@Bowmans-Woods]

Alligator clips to an XT90 plug is all you need. Battery acts as 120w of constant solar. You connect to a 100ah LifePo4 battery and you have 4x your capacity. As for charging your battery. A $40 battery charger is all you need. Any time you have solar power and your Sol Gen is full just plug in the battery charger and dump the extra power into the battery for free additional power later. Otherwise your solar stops charging once your Sol Gen is full. Just a cheap way to add capacity to any brand of Sol Gen.