Milwaukee Packout DIY Solar Generator. Part 2 of the Ultimate Build.
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- Опубліковано 22 лип 2023
- In this video I wire up this solar box and do a little testing. Spoiler alert. For a DIY project this box turned out amazing. With its 3000 watt inverter, AC charging, solar charging and a cooling system that just won't quit. I'm extremely proud of this box and I hope you like it.
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Links to the parts I used.
DISCLOSURE:
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
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Giant Jenga amzn.to/3OQsigB
Batteries I used. amzn.to/3GsNa80
Batteries that also will work. amzn.to/47GiyMl
50W Panel light for back of box. ebay.us/fwsZO5
Renogy Battery Monitor and Shunt. amzn.to/427K7ul
MidNite Solar Inverter MN3024DIY amzn.to/3O7p2gs
Victron Orion DC to DC Converter - 70A. amzn.to/3Boj9ny
Main Inverter Relay amzn.to/44WDuxG
12 Volt Fuse block. amzn.to/41H7meQ
Main AC Charging Plug. amzn.to/3M0Yg6O
ANL Fuse Holders. amzn.to/3nYtnI1
Push Button Breakers 40A amzn.to/41zxVCk
Push Button Breakers 15A amzn.to/3pIGzBa
Fans 24V 60mm. amzn.to/3W0o1bM
Dual Temperature Controller. amzn.to/3M92sS6
Charging Posts amzn.to/3OofwVW
Halo Latching Push Button Switch 22mm amzn.to/42yL3Js
Halo Latching Push Button Switch 19mm amzn.to/42UbFEi
Rock Lights. amzn.to/3o6bFlQ
Back LED Light Panel. ebay.us/fwsZO5
Inside lights. amzn.to/3KqQ9jH
RivNut Kit. amzn.to/42OVwA8
#solargenerator #power #offgrid #offthegridliving
8 years as a electronics technician in the military. Now six years in as an electrician. I wish I had you as a father. We would build all kinds of cool stuff! So this idea is great, convenient and portable. However its got me thinking about a larger scale. What about a cross over tool box in a truck? Larger battery bank, PV arrays mounted on the lid. Maybe a 12 volt compressor and tank. An external air chuck. WP GFCI outlets. A slave cable slot for jump starting. Set it up to where the trucks electrical system powers a charge controller for the batter bank. Build some sort of integrated headache rack with task lighting ran off the batter bank. External lights that illuminate the bed. Just throwing out some ideas
Milwaukee does have their larger chest style Packout! That would be one heck of an epic build! But to incorporate all this into a truck toolbox… that would be amazing!
It's been a long haul but I'm finally done building this Packout power box. I want to thank all my subscribers who patiently waited for this video to be released. You guys are awesome.
And we want to thank you!
It's always interesting to learn from your knowledge and get a kick out of your humor!
👍✌️
Thank you so much.🙏
This is great!!! Any possibility for an electrical diagram for how you have it all wired up?
Sorry, I rarely write down diagrams. It just comes out of my head as I go. Sometimes, if a build is stupid busy with multiple AC voltages I'll sketch something out but for this low voltage stuff I just know what's what. Thanks for watching.
My Milwaukee rolling box is screaming at me right now! As a 15yr electrician with a bit of OCD...I'm really quite impressed my dude! I just did a job on a camper involving a Bluetti, ATS & solar panels. I fear, I may have caught the bug! Thanks..Dick, for showing me how intricate & expensive we can make these 😂
Bwhahahaha!! Go big or go home sparky.
In process getting all the parts for a similar build .. nice build.
This is something I really want to accomplish soon. I've put a lot of effort into my plans and I love some of the things you have done with yours that really takes it to another level.
This is the absolute best project for that exact packout setup. It's terrible for tools to have the lid only accessible where we are going to stack some stuff onto, but putting a power system and lights down there is the way it should provide the most value for sure.
Awesome. Ty for doing that and showing us your project.
Well thanks for watching. I'm glad you liked it.
It turned out incredibly! Adding interior lighting is something I hadn't considered for my build.
My future plans involve building an off grid homestead so I just thought having lights on the inside would help if I got caught in the dark and I blew a fuse or worse. Peace of mind for an extra $20.
I know your a busy guy, but I'm looking so forward to seeing more!!
Thanks for all the time and the ride along.
Thank you. I'm working on a couple of new videos now but at the same time taking care of some home renos and still working 60 hours a week at the day job, so..you know...life. I'll get the videos out as soon as I can.
Amazing job bravo
Thank you.
nice box👍
Thank you.
love all your fun built! excellent... 2 x 100ah can run fridge however with proper solar panel...
Exactly
Awesome build. I made a similar build a few years ago… posted on my UA-cam page. That small footprint all in one inverter/charger is game changer. Nice 👍🏽
Thanks, I thought so too. Thanks for watching.
This is great info. Thanks for sharing your build. Im getting ready to start this project too but with less bells and whistles and no relays lol. I've been debating on 12 vs 24v, after watching this, im now leaning towards a 24v system with your 12v solution for the accessories.
First off, thanks for watching. I feel going the 24 volt route has far more up sides then going 12 volt. You can get away with far smaller wire size. Your inverter doesn’t have to work as hard so it will be cooler inside your box. You can add 65 watt PD (Power Delivery) ports without fear of them melting. It’s just the way to go if your building a 100 AH box or bigger. And as far as the DC To DC converter goes, the Victron Orion is just one of many out there. I plan on using mine in an off grid situation and wanted the amperage output it has… No relays!? Now I’m just shaking my head.. lol. But seriously, I get it. My build was a lot of work and perhaps over the top, most guys don’t need all the bells and whistles I’ve installed. To each his own. I’d like to see a few picts of what you came up with when your done. Again, thanks for watching and stay in touch.
Your build is absolutely beautiful, and so well planned out! I've gone thru a couple of prototype builds myself. My most recent is the most polished so far. I used it to power my ham radio gator box all day at summer field day. Running radios all day, standalone (no external solar or other charging) it only drew down to 13.09v. I bit the bullet and went with a 100 ah Power Queen battery that has a built-in on/off switch on top. My sort-of vision is modularity, eventually mounting my 2000 watt inverter in a separate detachable box on top, for situations where I don' need to have it. Also have 3 charging methods - A/C to DC, DC to DC (from vehicle system), and solar. I opted to use 2x12v panels in series with a 24v to 12v solar charger to maximize the charging potential on less-than-jdeal days.
Thanks for the inspiration. Keep up the good work!
Thank you for the kind words. You mentioned DC to DC charging, that's one thing I wish this box had. I might have to look into rigging something up. Thanks for watching and good luck in your future builds.
Awesome! Great video.
Thank you and thanks for watching. 👍
This is an amazing build. Love it. Got inspired and might do something very similar! :)
Awesome, thanks.
Milwaukee should offer an OEM version of your build! Fantastic job!!
lol. I agree.
Yeah! They’d only charge about 10grand for it😂
I want to build a system like this, but with a 30amp RV style outlet. Good job!
Thanks.
Great tutorial! I am making my own power station at the moment using some old 12v PS Sonic batteries.
Thanks and happy building.
Man I would loved to be blessed with your knowledge brah. 💯💯💯
Thank you so much, we all have it in us. You just need to start playing around with stuff. Thanks for watching.
You did an awesome job
Thanks.
That is super awesome, I want to build one, maybe not all the options but ya never know. Super cool!
Thanks, I'm glad you liked it. You can definitely build one. Do it.
Yes I am sure I will, would like to use it in my enclosed car hauler trailer to run some small tools and maybe a coffee pot or toaster oven for lunch. LOL thanks again
@@i.b.lancerI’d have a lot to learn before I even attempted this. I own a tree service and my expertise is chainsaws. lol.
really nice build
Thank you.
Thank you 👍🏻
What a whopping build bro absolutely love it but those fans ain't gonna cool Jack. Better than no fans loved the video and the music 🔥 I just subbed 🎯💯‼️
Thanks, glad you liked it. Oh, and the fans are working just fine. 👍🏻
Very interesting project...one observation, regarding the inverter. Covering it with aluminum is like insulating it....unless the aluminum angle can reject more heat than the aluminum inverter housing. In this case, it would be a big win, if you added some aluminum angle fins (with heat transfer compound), to give the air stream from the fans a bigger target. Very critical to remember, air blown directly on a heat sink is MUCH more effective at cooling than air sucked past it will be. Trust me on this, I do it frequently. (Note: I would have pointed all fans in with a passive exhaust on top, heat rises, don't full around with mother nature.)
Also, your inverter has a derating curve. What ever it is in open air, it will be less when in elevated ambient temperatures, so protect that inverter for what the max load pulled from the derating curve is, as soon as you know how hot it is getting (even a bit less is conservative). It is very common for inverters to be stuffed in a hole on a boat for example and then run at the room temperature rating while it's 130°F in the hole it's in. They don't last...
If you’re talking about the aluminum bar that I ran front to back on top of the inverter, that is only to lock the inverter in to keep it from moving around during transport. It has no cooling function whatsoever.
The fan set up is rock solid. The inverter has its own fans to handle the heat sinks, my fans just feed fresh air and exhaust the hot air. I stand by my fan set up. I’ve pushed that thing to the limit and never seen anything hotter than 100° come out of it. Thanks for your input and thanks for watching.
Thanks for sharing, the only thing I would have done different from using the packout on the job I use the foot shove to get the box out and ready to roll, hence the back light would need to be higher, that is my thing though.
Oh copy that. I’ll have to check to see if it’s an actual issue. Thanks for the heads up.
@@i.b.lancer LIke I said just me but the angle piece below the light is set up to shove the box out to get rolling. If you dont use it than no big deal, if however you add a mid size box on top with more batteries than its an issue.
@@inactive67 I’ve been playing with it to see if that’s an issue and it’s definitely close but I’m able to kick it back without an issue, even with my work boots on. I mean if you’re not careful you could kick the light but it is fairly robust and can take a little abuse.
I would add a plug for another box filled with just batteries with some 12 volt fans. More juice never hurt.👍
Ya I did.
that very nice cool love it build my own DIY power station 3000 watts 48V 120AC 60Hz love it
👍
@@i.b.lancer thanks 😊 🙏 love ❤️ your build power 🔋 station
This really an awesome build. I wish I knew enough about electrical to follow most of what you were doing. It felt like somebody gave an apprentice a test, and said build out an inverter box with as many details as you can fit into the box. This is you final grade. LOL.
Going to probably get something awesome, but barely practical to build for anybody not an expert
I just wanted a box that covered all the bases for me personally. Obviously not everyone needs all the gadgets I threw in there. Thanks for watching.
@@i.b.lancer- Like I said, amazing job.
The technical details here are very well done.
Thank you sir.
i should learn to make this
Yes, yes you should.
Do you have a wiring diagram for this build? This is by far the best build I have found on UA-cam but I am not enough of an electrician to replicate this by sight
Thank you for the kind words but no sorry I don't have any drawings for this build. I've been doing this kind of stuff so long that I just think of what I want and just do it. Sometimes I might doodle something down roughly on paper but for the most part it's just in my head. If I could offer a bit of help I would suggest starting with something smaller and simpler, just to get the ball rolling. Build a little guy in an ammo box or something with a small 30ah battery and a couple of usb ports and a light or two.. Once you get a little guy under your belt and you live to tell the tale... A big box like this packout is a piece of cake. Good luck.
cool
Thanks👍
I’m guessing Canada’s ambient temperatures are on avg 22- to 27 deg Celsius. That being said once you exceed ambient temperature above 30 Cel. Under charging conditions would the ac be sufficient to maintain a cool battery/inverter temp.
Thanks for watching
very nice build cool love it 😇😇😇🥰🥰🥰i build my own but i have 20Amp breaker switch from inverter going to my 110A/C outlet so nothing will happenend to my Inverter the breaker will only flip wich cool
Very nice. 👍🏻
@@i.b.lancer when i finish i will post video so you see not finish yet need more part 🥰😇😇😇
@@mikejack9796 Ok, Can't wait.
great job!, how do you connect 2 chargers at the same time? let's say solar and AC charger, do you disconnect AC manually? can you use diodes? how would the wiring be?
I don’t connect solar and AC charging at the same time. I’m not sure that the all in one unit can deal with that. I haven’t tested it.
What made you choose 24v? I just built my 12v, very similar to yours. Definitely not as advanced as yours. Nice build.
I would look it up on the Googler. There's a few good reasons to go 24v instead of 12. Basically, a 24v system runs 2x less amperage so you can get away with smaller wire sizes which save money. The inverter doesn't have to work as hard... I'm running PD power delivery ports which would probably explode if I was to run them off 12v. Thanks for watching.
Hey Lancer, great build and exactly what I was looking for.
What did you use to cut and trim the covers on your big fuse holders?
I just hit it with a small drum sander bit on a Dremel type tool. I used a bit just a little bigger than the wire.
@@i.b.lancer awesome, thanks! I'm putting together something very similar, but 12v with a 2000w inverter I already had for this project, just putting it all in the packout now.
Where in 🇨🇦 are you?
@@hobbyguy79 Vancouver
@@i.b.lancer cheers from Calgary! Stay dry out there
I wish i can buy it😅
Not for sale
For $3K, I would put a GPS tracker on that bad boy. Incase it ever got stolen!
Good idea
Presumably those Eco-Worthy batteries are rated to a continuous output of 100amps?
Even wired series, that still limits you to 100 amps, just at 24 volts. So 2400W max continuous (or 2200/2300 with losses)?
I'm thinking of making something similar, but was looking at 3 batteries in parallel at 12V, to give 300amps (@12V) continuous, so I could get a full 3600W, then using a 3000W Renogy inverter (at 240V here).
My only concern is requiring at least 250amps (which at 24V drops to 125amps), which creates more heat and would require 0 or 1 AWG wire.
I like the idea of inverter/charger/solar charger in one though. Renogy do something similar for 12V, but its bulky and expensive.
If you need a 220 output, forget about 12 volt and start thinking 48v. Thanks for watching and good luck.
Checked your video library and didn't see "explanation video" you alluded to at the end pt.2 (the packout generator)
Is that something which I've just overlooked?
How would you add vehicle/DC charging capability?
After some time using this unit, what would you do differently?
What worked better than you anticipated?
Cris in Hurricane country
You're right, I didn't make a follow up video... I will. It'll be a little while longer though as right now I'm dealing with the sale of my house and the big move to property up country.
Vehicle charging is the two power poles on the back above the light. They put out 14v from the DC to DC converter. I've charged up my welders battery from those poles and it worked great.
I've only used the unit a 1/2 dozen times to date and it's worked great, no complaints yet. Mind you it is just a back up power supply at this point. As soon as I move up country I'll be using it a lot. That's when I'll really put it to the test.
I would have to say that the inverter worked way better then I anticipated... or maybe the cooling system.. It's hard to say. I'm really impressed with that combo inverter.
Thanks for watching.
Thanks for reply.
Good luck with move & property.
In future video, would you consider showing proper set up for a separate packout "battery box" with additional two batteries
Will it power multiple refrigerators &/ freezers, when the power goes out?
Ya probably
I might go back and swap out all the plywood with Polycarbonate, for a less flammable material, and possibly lighter weight.
This comment makes me laugh. This box is a bomb on wheels. If it catches on fire, the two pounds of plywood is the least of my problems.
Did you have to charge each battery to 100 percent before putting them in parallel? Or did you hook them up in parallel, and then charge them both fully for the first time?
First off, they’re not in parallel, they’re in series. But to answer your question yes, I charged each battery to 100% then connected them together and let them sit for a day or so for them to equalize and then charged them again to 100%.
@@i.b.lancer Got it, thanks for the response!
What lights did you use inside the box?
amzn.to/3KqQ9jH
What was your over all cost to build (empty pack out to closed lid)?
In American dollars I spent $2200 on that box. That’s 3000 Canadian if anybody’s keeping track.
Maybe I'm not understanding why you put the batteries into series for 24v, but then turn around and used a DC-to-DC converter to do 12v. Why not just put the batteries in parallel to keep 12v and have 200ah capacity? Is it just to be able to use smaller wires? or something else?
A 24v system is just more efficient.
So was this cheaper to build compared to a similar solar gen u can buy such as a jackery or eco flow? And how much did this cost to build?
Nope, definitely not cheaper. Not for mine anyways. I would say that I spent just over $3000 for the parts. Then there's the time it took to build it. My work schedule only allowed me to work on my box 1 day a week so it took me somewhere in the neighbourhood of 4 months to build it. I'll let you put the value on your own time. You definitely could build one of these much cheaper. How many bells and whistles do you want? The thing is, myself and the many others who build such boxes, do so for the love of the project. It's up to you to decide how much you want to spend. Good luck.
@i.b.lancer dang. Yeah I want to build my own, I'm a gc and like building things. But I dont think I'm willing to spend that ,when I can just buy 1 but that's awesome. I wouldn't want several things. But all my tools are Milwaukee so I would want that,200ah battery,3000w inverter,fans, don't need to charge with solar really and dont need the 12v car lighter sockets,don't need the lights either. I guess I would just want the basic model, would just use for a few hrs when power goes out during hurricane to run a 5kbtu a/c untill the wind dies down so I can get my Generator going.
I would shop around and just pick up the pieces you need and start small, you could always add onto it as time goes on.
I like your build. I made a small one with an eco worthy 30ah battery and the small Packout box. It’s posted on my channel. If you check it out let me know your thoughts.
I’m thinking of making an even bigger one with the same type of Milwaukee Packout box you used, but I’m going to stick to 12VDC.
One question. Seems like you went in series with your batteries. Any specific reason you went that route?
12V systems are fine for small boxes. But if you’re going to build anything of size, you wanna up the voltage. The reason for this is that the higher, the voltage the lower the current draw, allowing you to use smaller wire gauges. In this video, I ran 2-12 V batteries in series to make 24V.
Why 24 v ? Do you get more life out of the batteries?
There are multiple reasons to go 24v over 12v. Just google it.
Ok I'll "bite", why is 30 amps of pv a "ton"????
I also was wondering if the 2 12 volt bats in series was based purely on size / space constraints? (Never mind, I see how snug the fit is now) I am contemplating my setup, but I was planning for 24+ volt battery / batteries but am still researching the interconnection issues with LiPo4 batteries. I've read that series connections can cause troubles with internally heated batteries, which my setup will probably require due to cold weather outdoor use. And I am wondering about paralleling the extra battery capacity for one specific task I have in mind, that would require the extra, but what about hot plugging LiPo4's that may or may not be at the exact same state of charge and voltage when they're hot plugged into the system?
Above 30 amps everything gets more complicated and expensive. Mc4 connectors are maxed out at 30A. SAE plugs are maxed out at 30A. Your wiring gets bigger and more expensive above 30A. This supposed to be a portable system, more then 30A of Pv is a huge solar array. That doesn’t sound very portable to me. My MPPT charge controller is only good for 40A of PV input. It also takes the extra voltage and converts it to amperage so in theory I’m getting more than 30A anyways, just not through the external wiring. The rest of your question I know nothing about. Good luck with your build.
@@i.b.lancer I did not realize MC4's maxed out at 30 amps, that's a factoid to file for future use, and a GREAT reason to utilize higher voltages to keep the current manageable! Thanks
Bravo on an EXCELLENT build!!!!
@@dannydivine7699 👍🏻
So still no wiring diagram or explanation of the relays and why. Great build. But was hoping for more concentration on wiring and not building.
ua-cam.com/video/thvuh82wdms/v-deo.htmlsi=m2ZOl5_SAEAa6ipX
Thanks for linking to my channel. I really enjoyed watching the two inverter builds on your channel. Very nice work!@i.b.lancer
Looked so expensive?
It was
Would you consider building/selling these?
The problem with that, as confident as I am in this build, is the liability if anything went wrong. Plus, I’m not sure these would actually pass any kind of federal inspection. I may down the road considers a kit of some sort, but this is something we have to try to figure out.
Hey bud, do you have the cooling fans oriented, one blowing in and one blowing out?
Yes I do
You forget put speaker
Lol. Wait for future video… I have that covered… big time.
How much for it ?
Sorry, it’s not for sale.
How much would it cost me to have you build me one?
"If" I could find the time to build these, the biggest hurdle is getting lithium batteries across the border. (I'm in Canada) They don't like that. The best I could do is find a battery you could buy off the shelf in the states and put them in an already built box. I'm currently researching this but every battery I've found so far is too high. This is an ongoing search.
If I can get this worked out then I'll start designing a box for customers.
Just curious what batteries did you use ? Can they be ordered here in the states ? Or if possible can you send me over the measurements and specs of the batteries you used ?
Def interested as well!@@i.b.lancer
You're no longer allowed to claim the title of "amateur" electrician. You've been forcibly promoted.
Thanks boss. Do I get a raise too? 😂
Why ?
Why not?
Hi I.B. Lancer, great build I am stoked about your build, I have purchased several of the parts for a solar generator system but never thought about doing the build in a Milwaukee pack out. I can do almost the same build but my batteries will have to go in on their side and I will have to do an “External Inverter Charger Mounting”, that will have to connect to the DIY SOLAR GENERATOR, any thoughts on the parts to connect the inverter charger to the outside of the Milwaukee pack-out? (Some kind of quick connect system) the Inverter Charger I already purchased is a large “Victron Multiplus 24/3000 70-50 120V” other parts I have already purchased are “ Victron Blue Smart Charger 120V” “Victron Orion 24/12-70A Converter” , “Smart Solar MPPT 100/30” , “Lynx Shunt” & “2 Lynx distributors” . I was going to build a 24V system that is showcased in “Explorist . Life Ford Transit conversion “ This is why I have the large amount of Victron supplies already. My thoughts now are to create 2 Milwaukee power stations like yours but with the parts I have in a bit of a different configuration. If you have any suggestions please let me know as I could really use some technical support :)
Anderson Plugs. They’re as tough as they get.