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I don’t see this 2.8 ounce Lixada 10W High Power Panel in the list. I’m not sure this is quite it, but some day in the near future the tech is going to cross a line into feasibility and make battery packs a less obvious choice. This is starting to get close.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06Y655DJD?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
BTW, for anyone wanting to do something like this, the technology is there. For example, these:
https://www.amazon.com/DOKIO-Foldable-Monocrystalline-Inverter-Controller/dp/B075SZMFP2
are foldable. You could have 8-9 in the trunk and an inverter and do real level 1 charging. If you really wanted to get crazy, fold down the rear seats and put something like 50 or 60 of these in:
https://www.amazon.com/Renogy-Extremely-Flexible-Monocrystalline-Solar/dp/B079HJQBVW
You'd be able to do something like level 2 charging.
Both of these would require inverters and possibly even some kind of battery buffer to keep the Tesla happy when things are cloudy. I would expect lots of issues as this isn't anyone's primary use case.
The thing that amazes me are that panels like this exist and don't cost all that much (historically speaking). The idea of carrying around 8kw worth of panels in a small car would have been laughable just a few years ago.
My bike had an issue that killed the battery for years before I figured it out (starter motor was drawing crazy juice on startup).
I ended up getting one of these https://smile.amazon.com/gp/product/B017K6PH1S/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1 and the battery never died again.
A bonus is, once you install it on your battery - you can use it for jumping the bike.
Totally worth $40
If you could do fold up ones, that were the size of your windshield and put them on like an ice/snow cover, w/ the handles inside the doors, clipped together, that'd be pretty cool :o
Something like this:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075SZMFP2/ref=cm\_sw\_em\_r\_mt\_dp\_RHP20M1STBKRRNFCK447?\_encoding=UTF8&psc=1
I’d like to add a couple things here, since you’re in an apartment and if you start dabbling you can cause serious damage.
First and foremost, never plug the power you end up generating into your outlets. If you’re using an inverter to convert your batteries to AC power the AC power will be out of phase and the result of trying to combine them will probably burn the place down in a giant snapping electrical arc of doom.
Second...do buy a big battery and an inverter large enough to supply some basic needs and simply charge the batteries with grid power when it is available. You can buy a nice sized solar generator easily enough that combines solar an inverter and a battery (Joe rogan advertises one on his show for instance).
Like this. I did my own solar setup but you don’t have to and this is a clean option for your case! It is also about as expensive as what my setup cost me (although I have more capacity in the end).
Jackery Solar Generator 1000, Explorer 1000 and 2X SolarSaga 100W with 3x110V/1000W AC Outlets, Solar Mobile Lithium Battery Pack for Outdoor RV/Van Camping, Emergency https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08P2Q83BY/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_fabc_NFQQQ5MRYNACXYKAQCBK
You can find a dashboard solar panel that plugs into the cigarette plug in the car. It has saved me on more than a few occasions over the years, giving me enough to at least get the engine started after being in the sun for a while.
Something like this
I'm buying 100W panels (renogy 100W monocrystaline easy to find on Amazon) for messing around with. I bought these which just a week ago were $173 each.
Holy shit. Thanks Trump...
You might want to look into solar providers and see if you can get a loose 300W (60-cell) panel or two instead. They cost more per unit but would probably be cheaper per Watt.
I was planning on buying my new set (I have 3 already bought 3 more to make a 3S2P setup) in July ... glad I didn't wait.
edit to add: Some tips
- Buy a spool of "marine" 10AWG and loose MC4 connectors. Much cheaper to make your own cables than buy retail.
- Just buy a 40A MPPT. It costs "a bit" more than a 20 or 10A MPPT but will give you a lot more room to grow/configure
- You'll probably want at least ~2kWh of raw storage to start (be it lifepo4 or SLA) So budget for that
- And "at least" a 1kW inverter (ideally pure sine). If you want to do more than 1kW then ensure your batteries are in at least a 24V configuration
Hopefully the link below works, but I got that solar panel a few months ago. It's super light and works like a charm. I've taken it backpacking and store it right up against the back/frame of the backpack to minimize flexing. The solar cells are encased in some type of plastic that's reasonably sturdy but flexible
The only annoying part is that the USB output port kind of awkwardly sticks off the corner.
I generally use it in tandem with a small battery and have been happy with it. I still need to test the actual power output to get some hard data
Lixada 10W High Power Paper Shaped Mini Portable Monocrystalline Silicon Solar Panel Charger USB Port for Cell Phone Camping Riding Climbing Travel Outdoor Activity https://www.amazon.com/dp/B06Y655DJD/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_apa_i_YkSHCbCAF23ET
Amazon has the same Renogy setup with MPPT controllers:
- http://www.amazon.com/Renogy-100W-Mono-Starter-Kit/dp/B00BFCNFRM/
- http://www.amazon.com/200W-Mono-Starter-Kit-Controller/dp/B00BCRG22A/
But the PWM is a 30Amp, while the MPPT is a 20Amp; yet the MPPT jumps up the cost significantly.
Additionally, being my first dabbling in DIY solar, I'm a bit more interested in simplicity and cost than in efficiency.
Do you have any direct recommendations that wouldn't add significantly to cost and simplicity?
I believe I have the same panels. Very easy way to get into solar, and they are tough. Sitting outside on a camper roof in upstate NY for 3 years now and still going. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B079JVBVL3/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
Unplugging at least + is a good start, and will definitely help. But lead-acid batteries will self-discharge some even from just sitting around.
Better would be to remove the battery from the tractor, bring it inside, and put it on an inexpensive battery maintainer for the winter, which will keep it charged. Discharged batteries degrade more quickly, so it's more than just needing to jump-start the tractor in the spring.
If there are windows in the shed, you have other options too. I got a solar battery maintainer, for my unpowered shed. I put it in the window of the shed, and leave it connected to the tractor battery for the winter. I installed the included quick-disconnect connector to the battery, so I just plug in the solar panel in the fall, and unplug it in the spring. And the tractor is ready to go.
This is the 5W version (currently $20 in the US), I bought the 10W version (currently $30). https://www.amazon.com/dp/B015ZGDYII/
One example of a plug-in battery maintainer ($21 USD): https://www.amazon.com/MOTOPOWER-MP00205A-Automatic-Battery-Maintainer/dp/B06XWDZ2KQ
Removing the battery is hardly the end of the world, to bring it inside for the fall. But honestly, it is more work than simply plugging in the solar panel's cable :) My solar panel also keeps another 12V car battery charged, in the shed. That 12V battery runs LED lighting, to make the shed easier to work in.
Not sure if its exactly the same but amazon has this on sale.
It's cheap enough to get 2 with your budget...
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I have a 100w one on my campervan, but its not exactly portable, I mounted it to a roof rack, it keeps a mini fridge, laptop, TV and diesel heater running along with charging my phone daily, its connected to a 12v 110Ah Leisure battery that has an invertor for the 240v stuff, I try to avoid 240v at all costs as its overhead is large on the invertor.
Paid £100 for it in 2020 so its gone up a little since at £160 for 100w, budget another ~£100 for the battery, would you save the £260?
Panel is similar to this one: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Renogy-Watts-Volts-Monocrystalline-Starter/dp/B00BFCNFRM/ref=dp\_prsubs\_1?pd\_rd\_i=B00BFCNFRM&psc=1
seems like a good option.. sounds like you have it handled.. for me personally i think i'm going to avoid the whole diy aspect and go with a more integrated approach.. kinda just a few of these types of things.. <em>https://www.amazon.com/Jackery-Generator-Explorer-SolarSaga-Emergency/dp/B08P2Q83BY/ref=sr_1_6?crid=3T5G9Q4MEYWGN&keywords=solar+generator&qid=1658900764&sprefix=solar+generator%2Caps%2C142&sr=8-6</em>
i have this thing
Depends on how long you're camping vs driving if it's worth it. Something like this 100w suitcase with controller is the easiest way. Can replace the alligator clips with a set of plugs to make hooking it up easy and not have to pop the hood.
No the advice you were looking for, but for me, all over the JMT.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B06Y655DJD/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
It weighs about as much as a USB power adapter itself, and completely charged up my small 6700 mAH battery everyday. The entire setup weighed less than a 10,000 mAH power bank.
Solar doesn’t work everywhere, but it did along my 2020, and 2021 JMT hikes.
>BMS
Thanks so much. By the way do you know if I could string the Golabs panel with one of those 100W Renogy panels using the MC4 connectors? The Renogy are 12V but I can't figure out what the Golabs voltage is...
I purchased a Lixada solar panel. It only seems to charge my airpods case, not my iphone or backup battery. Anyone know why this might be?
These are the solar panels I got. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08L3NN3W2?ref=ppx_pop_mob_ap_share
The micro usb weather seal works really and hasn’t caused any issues with charging the camera. I’ve had them now for about 2 months and all of my cameras pretty much stay at 100% charge.
For absolute quiet (and "greenness") get a battery "generator". These are not generators at all but just large battery packs with an inverter. Maybe with some solar panels, like this:
This suits the "tech" company image a lot more than any gasoline generator and they are virtually silent.
Aside from the noise (those little inverter generators are very quiet at idle but the noise really comes up if you try to draw significant power out of them) you are going to have to deal with carrying gasoline around plus remembering to check the oil.
You need to figure out how many watts you plan to draw and for how long and size your generator or battery power supply accordingly.
DOKIO 220w 18v Foldable Solar Panel Kit (Lightweight 9lb) Monocrystalline Solar Cell with Controller 2 USB Outputs to Charge 12 Volts Batteries /Power Station ( AGM Lifepo4 Jackery) RV Camping Marine https://www.amazon.com/dp/B075SZMFP2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_9C7Y780Y7N6MBYQ1BHHT
How about a solar charger/maintainer like this?
ECO-WORTHY 12 Volt 5 Watt Solar Trickle Charger for 12V Batteries Portable Power Solar Panel Battery Charger Maintainer for Car Boat Marine Motorcycles Truck https://www.amazon.com/dp/B015ZGDYII/ref=cm_sw_r_apan_i_NDZFFAGMKJ1GQHPT8Z9Y
I bought this for a battery bank. And these panels. I also had to buy some extra lengths of cords and connectors to get them to hook up correctly and be able to put the panels in the sun while keeping the battery bank inside.
I’ve since installed rooftop solar with powerwalls so I keep this as a backup.
Lol, exactly or an actual generator and not a power station. It’s also very heavy and not very portable. I also find it strange Duracell doesn’t make a solar panel for this item. They actually recommend this on their https://www.amazon.com/Renogy-Monocrystalline-Solar-Compact-Design/dp/B07GF5JY35/ref=sr_1_3?dchild=1&keywords=Renogy+100+Watt+12+Volt&qid=1594233391&sr=8-3 Also Costco had this product for $500, not sure if it’s still available. IMO you need to do some more research cause there are a ton of better options that will charge your kobalt power tool batteries when on job sites.
So, 5 of these guys would fit, but 5 can be an awkward number unless you put them in paralell: https://www.amazon.ca/Renogy-Monocrystalline-Solar-Compact-Design/dp/B07GF5JY35/
I've got one hanging on the side of a barn right now, they're solid units.
Sorry, I didn't mean bring the snowblower into the garage or whatever. I meant for summer, just remove the battery (if it's easy), bring the battery inside, and just put it somewhere out of the way, connected to the charger. And let the charger keep it topped off until winter is coming. That way you don't need to worry about remembering to manually charge it monthly or whatever.
I actually got a solar battery maintainer, since I don't have power in my shed either. I put the solar panel on the inside of a shed window. In the winter, it gets hooked up to the tractor battery, and it keeps the tractor charged. I have the 10W panel, but the 5W's current $22 price is more appealing: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B017K6PH1S/