My previous video explaining the original agm lead acid battery power system and my reasons for upgrading: "How I Power The Off Grid Cabin & Why I'm Thinking About Upgrading" ua-cam.com/video/n4UjEnIhoFI/v-deo.html
Since retirement, I live full time at my office grid cabin in Maine. Currently running 1400w of solar panels with a 24V system. Nearly a year ago upgraded to (4)300 ah lithium batteries giving me about 15400 watt hours of storage, running a well pump, refrigerator, freezer, microwave, coffeemaker, computer and lights. Since upgrading my batteries nearly a year ago I’ve never needed to run a generator. The inverter will shut down the solar charging if the battery bank temperature approaches freezing. However, the batteries have an internal heater to mitigate shutdown. I’m set up with a bulk propane tank for hot water and heating if desired. I normally heat with wood but if I’m away I can set the thermostat to keep things from freezing up. While my using propane might mean I’m not a purist, I’ll get over it with a hot shower on demand.
@ Yes, but living off grid full time, it’s the extra storage that makes the difference this time of year with so little sun. I don’t think the batteries have ever gone below 40%, even on these short overcast days of winter. I obviously have to keep the panels clear of snow.
Oh, how I would love to have an email conversation with you! In lieu of that, would you be willing to share the brand/type of batteries you have with the internal heating system that works well enough to prevent damage to your batteries in Maine winters? Also, what brand/type/capacity of inverter are you referring to that shuts down your solar charging automatically when the temperature approaches freezing? And finally, are you located where a company can come and fill your bulk propane tank or is your tank portable enough to be filled off-site? Thank you! Sounds like you've got an AMAZING setup there! Happy Retirement!
First comment I’ve seen with someone with a similar system that I’m planning to build for my family this year as we’re going to be homeschooling/homesteading off-grid on my parents land in North Central Saskatchewan Canada. I’ve purchase 6 x 200Ah batteries, also bought a 24V inverter/charger. And will have similar capacity as yourself with the addition of an Anker 3800 that I just bought… still need to install everything, but looking forward to the challenge of getting this all going. Also have a pallet of 31 x 405 W solar panels. Was curious how the system handles the well pump as that’s pretty high usage. Also, I have 5 kids… so we’re going to use more power than a single person in a small cabin. I think I’ve got the bare minimum required so far, but as most people have 48V systems and A LOT more storage, I was getting a bit nervous - your comment gives me a little more peace. Thank You!
If you buy individual components and screw them down to plywood or inside a milk crate, it can still be portable (though a bit more awkward in size). Plus, you can carry that part and each battery separately for less weight. Also, this allows you to choose each part exactly as you need it, and easily upgrade or replace later. But you are correct; it is an individual choice. Convenience has its value. Thanks for explaining your decision.
Good point, and if you're only using a single battery, it would nice and lightweight for smaller jobs when you need to move it around the property for different jobs. I might build one just for the fun of it. Cheers.
I've got five EcoFlows thus far ( one Delta 2 and four River 2 Pro ) for zonal input into my house ( on grid ) each with their own solar panel. Doing great so far. Using to reduce dependancy on grid power, back up during power failures, and acquiring knowledge and equipment before going off grid at some point. But also making DIY systems on hand trucks which does have more stored wattage ( and fun to design and build ). A couple things to add: You can use the 12v 100 amp lithium battery as add on storage ($275 vs ecoflow add on bank at about $3000 ). Batteries can also be charged through solar panel WITH MPPT charge controller. A back up for your back up. Next, you can charge your units on an "inverter" generator, just make sure you use a surge protector. Brian in the Okanagan, B.C.
I came here to say essentially what you've said, though I'm looking to backfill my power station with a *48v* battery (which my power station, as well as the EcoFlow highlighted here, can accept). The video I'm linking below gives a fantastic breakdown on why you should expect 48 to feed at a higher rate than a 12v. ua-cam.com/video/9ODIF2EfsUA/v-deo.htmlsi=dS1hbyW6U106MADp
I'm in Florida and don't get really cold weather but I have two Ecoflows (the Max and a Delta 2) and I swear by them. They got me through the major hurricanes last summer. My thinking is people want to make it a situation of either or when it might be both or a hybrid system. I'm currently investing in a solar array and a couple of Lithium batteries as long term backup. I say that because during the hurricanes we were out of power for almost a week and I realized I needed multiple alternatives rather than standing on principle of just batteries or just a power station.
Thanks for sharing, this is exactly why I think there’s a place for both DIY and power stations, plus generators. It’s always a good idea to have redundancy for backup power systems.
We have several off grid cabins, and use lead acid batteries. We're in the process of upgrading to lifepo4 for the 3 cabins where we live full time. Here we have the option of pulling the batteries out of the smaller cabins if they are unoccupied for a while and will freeze (they are semi subterranean, so they don't ever get too cold) and store them in the big cabin. The big cabin has a root cellar that we can put all the lifepo4 if we ever leave in the depth of winter, but that would be a chore with the 300 lb wall mount battery that will be there- but not too bad judging by ho easy it was to get it upstairs....
I have an off grid cabin in Maine, and the winter temps can be brutal. I have 2 Temgot 12v 100ah lifepo4 batteries with built in heaters to keeping my cameras and internet running. Combined with a Delta 2 when I visit the camp to supplement some power, I never run out of power. Summer time is another story, but I usually bring more batteries and also use a small gas generator. By the way. I purchased my Delta 2 during Black Friday for only $399. Talk about an awesome deal.
Great to read about your setup. One question - Why do you need more power in summer in Maine than you do in winter? BTW, GREAT deal on your Delta 2! I missed the BF sale so I'll probably have to wait until next year's Christmas season. 😭
@@juliava605 In the summer I run the Fridge and water pump. I have a propane instant hot water heater for the shower. Plus we use the ceiling fan a lot, or sometimes a window fan. When I go down to visit in the winter, everything is frozen, so I only stay a day or 2. I do have a diesel heater setup for cold days, but that doesn't draw much power, plus I have a small woodstove as the primary heat.
You are spot on ! AGM/lead acid are more cold weather hardy - I've run into this on my camper - I have a 12 volt system on my camper - I can run one of my lipo4fe on the camper or put one of my flooded lead acids for cold weather camping - just go my Ecoflow on a black friday deal - and good video ! You can charge your ecoflow with solar as well...
I live in rural France but also travel extensively in my RV. I have both systems like you in my van, I love the portability of the ecoflow delta I have used it around the property to run electric chain saws when we had trees blown down in storms also to provide power in my house when we have outages. If you have just one fixed system you can’t do all of that.
My camp in western Maine near Canadian border and no issues with ecoflow holding charge on winter snowmobile trips. Don't see any loss in charge when I get there and cabin is cold when I get there. I keep 7k generator and propane and a few ecoflows and starlink. I like to keep at least 50 gallons gas and same with water through I did have a well dug but winter it's frozen. I have Canadian brand Unique fridge runs of 12v and draws about 30 watts so I save my propane since no propane service off logging roads in winter. My only issue would be propane staying there all winter since feeding a woodstove takes a lot of time❤
I've found the same thing while planning a camper van build while I keep my eye out for a deal on a used Ford Transit AWD medium roof van. I live in the upper Midwest of the U.S. so it gets pretty cold and lithium batteries just won't be a good choice so I'm going to go with a couple 150ah AGM batteries instead which should handle being in the cold much better. I think for your situation you've made a great choice since you can simply take it with you rather than leaving it there in the cold. I'm planning on keeping everything I can 12V but I'll have a small inverter to use occasionally. I too have decided to go with a low watt projector rather than a TV and I'm trying to figure out a lower watt CPAP option as well but I think I'm going to go with my old Resmed S10 model after looking at the expensive filters/humidifier disks for the travel model. I'm planning a very lightweight and flexible build with not a lot of power needs, no AC unit, no microwave or toaster oven, etc.
Sounds like a nice setup. I'm not sure how effective the little 'travel' cpap machines are (I was told to avoid them by the doc), but the Resmed cpap machine I have uses 53 Watts with the humidifier, easily handled with a 2kwh power station or battery. Good luck!
@@cleverjoe I saw that you have the S10 as I do, I'm going to see how well the humidification works with water in the chamber but the heater turned off and what the wattage drops to. I'm mostly going to use the van overnight in the summer and it's quite humid here. Cheers.
I think you have a smart setup for your situation. The AGM will work in the cold as you said, the generator fills up the power station quickly when no sun and the power station gives you flexibility and capacity. You do you!
Lifepo4 battery powerstations CAN power things below freezing but cannot be charged if below freezing. Batteries with heaters will use charging source to activate heaters first, when warm charging battery will commence
Thanks for pointing that out. It's that huge spread of almost 40 degrees though, when temps are -18C and the recommended minimum operating temps are 20C. From the manual: "Ideally, use and store the product between 20°C ~ 30°C (68°F ~ 86°F). Do not store in temperatures above 45°C (113°F) or below -10°C (14°F) for an extended period." All the best.
I prefer a self built system but for your situation where you are using the power station in 2 separate locations then your choice makes absolute sense. I'd run a few circuits off it at home to eat away at the power bill, although this may affect it's ability to be useful during a powercut.....but if you also have a generator at home...voila!!!
My system is in the pass through on my rv, which is located under my bed. Also in the pass through is a diesel heater that blows air out on one side of the bed and the intake on the other side… keeping my batteries nice and warm. I’m building my cabin which will also be solar… (lithium). It’ll be indoors, keeping the batteries warm. (Wood stove). No problems been running 3 years now. I’ve also a jackery 2000 plus.. it’s an expensive little toy but I like it.
The power bank in video has two DC input. You can connect the one to the AGM battery, charging it slowly. I use a Victron MPPT solar controler as a dump load controller. When the battery reach 13.5V the output is turned on, and off at 12.8V. If your power consumption is modest you can charge your powerbank with this setup. The disadvantage is the powerbank charges slowly from 12V (around 100W).
As far as charging you cant charge below 0c 32f but you can discharge up to -4f. If you have plantry of solar coming in then i would recommending putting a heating pad around it to keep it warm while charging it. Since it has passthrougg charging you can charge ajd discharge at the same time and if the power coming in is more then the power going out then its a net gain..
I'm doing the exact same thing with the cabin I'm building using an Ecoflow system for similar reasons - portability and convenience. Can still plug solar directly in, and the super fast charging with a generator can't be beat. If you add up everything including a really powerful battery charger, inverter, solar charge controller, battery etc., I don't think you're too far ahead with diy and you don't get the portability or comfort of knowing it was all engineered to work together.
I just realized that I watched a couple of your own videos about power stations before making my decision. Thanks for the content, great channel. Cheers.
So here's an interesting thing. I was driving through lower Michigan just in mid December. I was keep camping and it hit 14°F at night. Both my deltas worked in that cold temperature for my electric blanket. I personally can say that my batteries ran all night in super cold weather without a hiccup. I'm not sure about charging because I charged them when I stayed at a hotel a few times, but the majority of the time I was in the jeep and it was cold out. They do discharge just fine in cold temps.
Great jib my friend , I think what would go great with your set up is a an ecowflow smart generator , they have 4 different smart generators , You can set the smart generator to start charging your ecowflow power station once it reaches 30% , once it reaches 100% the smart generator turns it self off , 3 of there smart generator there duel fuel, and one of them is gas only .
It also depends on your daily power requirements. If you just need 2Kwh combined with all in option it is a great solution. But if you need more like 10Kwh a DIY Lithium system is more interesting. As then you go to things like autostarting generator, easy adding more batteries against a fair price. (here a brand expansion of 5Kwh is like $1100). It is all about needs and wanting the hassle to build it yourself. Both are great options.
I wanted backup power for when these drones attack our power grid. Purchased 2 Jackery 1000 explorer plus. 2 Bluetti 180AC and 1 Anker c1000. I have a total of 1200w solar panels. But like you, I need power when the sun is not shining and picked up 2 Westinghouse 2550DF to charge when there is no sun and run an air conditioner or space heater if necessary. I do wish I had gone with the Hondas but the westinghouses start up on 1 pull (normal winter weather). What made you choose the Ecoflow?
Thanks, sounds like you're setup nicely. I talk more about my decision in one of my recent videos: ua-cam.com/video/HMQlddCGz7U/v-deo.htmlsi=a9wUUX_0pGu6iJtD
It depends on what we mean by off-grid. Your reasoning makes sense to me for someone off the electctrical grid but on the road grid. When off-grid moves from road vehicles to ATV, UTV, snowmachine, and boats, portable looks more like fragile. The extra work of DIY portable also buys modular repairability. I know my lifestlye breaks things at higher than average rates, so hard to justify putting all my electrical eggs in one proprietaty plastic basket
You can't charge them but you CAN use them. Lifepo4 batteries get damaged by charging below freezing. Using them below freezing helps warm the batteries up, and can actually allow you to hit the target temperature to begin charging them again.
I have 7 Ecoflows and a 400AH lifepo4 server rack battery and they all work fine below freezing but charging at that temperature shouldn't be done. Any power system using lifepo4 should prevent you from charging in low temperatures
Not true, you can charge them below freezing without damaging them, but the safe C-rate is very low, so most BMS just do not allow charging below 0⁰C. There are LiFePo4 batteries sold in Norway that have a better BMS that allowed charging down to -10⁰C, but at 0.05C. Any additional charge current is dumped to the heating element. The inteded use for thise batteries are unheated cabins with charged with solar.
I only got clued into the damage sub-freezing temps could do to LifePO4's after I installed mine. That said it's not been as big an issues as I expected. It's -4 f/-20 c here as I type.
No issues using it at those temps? I’m concerned about the longevity of the battery if not keeping within the recommended specs. Thanks for commenting.
Don't overlook getting a unit with lots of USB ports, and a 12 volt cigarette plug. There's plenty of stuff you can run off of these, such as lights and fans, and the cig plug is great for running a 12 volt fridge/freezer. This way, you don't have to turn on the AC inverter,.. which in a lot of cases uses 40 watts or more. Make sure you get a LifePo4 battery,.. which has around 4000 charge cycles. Lithium Ion only has 800-1000 charge cycles.
@@cleverjoe Same to me, I like to run my fridge on the cigarette plug. Unfortunately it seems that there always has to be something negative on everything. ☹️
Good point about AGM and cold. I have the same battery but smaller , 80amp. i had it foam over, i guess it vented? I think it was in the sun and i ran something over 30 amps and it must have bubbled a bit. Have you had that happen? What caused it? I am thinking heat. I have a little afferiy, i use it to move power to my van, 16 lbs, easy to carry back and forth, up and down stairs. i also wonder how much solar you are getting in that low light and if you have mono panels. i have poly panels which work great in shde (west coast). Max i have gotten so far is almost 60%, in terms of watts (I couldn't change the angle, they are horizontal).
I think using a power station is a fine trade-off, but you have to be careful not to become dependent on the vendor proprietary lock-ins and, particularly, their expensive expansion batteries. There are also serious scalability issues and lack of repairability. It can be problematic when things break. For that reason, I would limit such setups to only small and medium-sized power stations and have more than one. With a power station you essentially have to keep the unit indoors (which is fine)... and depend on a good ~1 hr with the wood fire before it warms up enough to take a charge, in very cold weather. It is fairly difficult to insulate a power station due to all the cables going in and out of it. It is still doable, just not friendly or easy to get right. -- One thing you can do to make things a bit easier with the power station solution is to construct a small front-end battery bank that is permanently mounted in the cabin to connect to it instead of trying to feed solar directly into the power station. That allows the cabin's solar system to continue to produce energy into the front-end buffer battery system even if you have disconnected the power station (true portability). A battery buffer is quite simple. You have the solar panels, you buy one or more charge controllers and one or more discrete LiFePO4 batteries (get batteries with internal heaters for cold weather), and that's it, you are done. You can feed the battery bus directly into the power station's "solar" input and trickle-charge the power station. You can do this with either a 12.8V system or a 25.6V system. 51.2V systems are generally too high a voltage for most power stations (but the larger ones can handle it). The sweet spot is 25.6V LiFePO4 because that will "trickle charge" the power station at over 250W and can take a substantial amount of solar without needing to deal with high amperages. Basically: ---- PROJECT #1 ---- * 25.6V x 100Ah internally heated battery (up to 4 in parallel) (place in an insulated battery box to reduce power consumption further). 2 AWG cabling. * One main battery fuse (typically ANL type). * Victron 100/20 charge controller, as many as needed to handle the solar. 10 AWG wiring. * DC Breaker or fuse -> connector to plug into power station. Typically 25A. * Just for fun, get some 24VDC LEDs to hang off the system too, to light the cabin up at night. Just 5W or so. Nothing big. And that's it. You are done. The solar and the charge controller will supply power to the batteries to allow them to self-heat, and the above setup WILL self-bootstrap if the batteries have been cold-soaked (due to insufficient sun or snow-covered panels). The battery bank will then trickle-charge any power station you plug it into (power station's "solar" input must handle at least 30VDC in this example, however). The power station is thus far more portable without having to necessarily cold-soak the cabin. --- PROJECT #2 --- Now if you have a generator setup you can do this: * Get a small generator with a relay remote start feature. * And a decent amperage battery charger (e.g. Victron 24V battery charger). * Buy a simple programmable voltage controlled relay to turn the generator on when the battery bank is depleted (around 24.0V), and turn it off when the battery becomes full (lets call it 28.2V). And now the battery bank will be kept alive by the generator automatically on an as-needed basis, and thus be able to stay warm even if the solar panels are covered with snow. --- PROJECT #3 --- And now if you want you can have options that work without the power station needing to be present. Simply add a 24V inverter to get your AC and plug-in whatever you need. Remember to turn the inverter off when leaving the cabin unattended, but leave the generator system live so the batteries never cold-soak. And magically you now have a fully operational discrete system 🙂That I just roped you into doing 🙂🙂 -Matt
Wow, some great information here. I'm still thinking about the best way to integrate the two systems and you've offered some excellent info and great ideas. I'll look into the 24V inverter you mentioned. Thanks!
Very good video, one of the best real use orientated. By the way, does the Ecoflow show its "body-themperature" to know if it can be charged or not? Cheers.
I have a hybrid system, much of the bower is through 5 100ah Lifepo4 batteries and I have a number of lifepo4 power stations for remote work. This is charges by 2 different Solar Array giving 1600 Watts and 80 Watts for the portable units.
I have a similar set up and keep my old AGM battery to supplement the EcoFlow. I have a recent video on that. For you, the AGM battery could help on those super cold days, when you don’t want to “freeze your balls off” 😂
Thanks for sharing. The AGM battery has already saved my butt once, since picking up a power station. I'll talk about this in an upcoming video. Cheers
DIY 15kwh battery pack just built for the cost you spent on that eco Flo. Not knocking your system, just pointing out how much more power you can get. I have over temp, low temp shutoff as well as over voltage. My batteries self heat and I can charge off of solar, generator, and also the grid. Not to mention, my Max discharge rate is about 150 amps continuous, which you’re limited by with the pre built systems. If I were you, I’d mix and match for the best back for your buck. I also live in a cold climate state.
Pecron just came out with a power station where the battery self heats. Its there e1000 model. I hope they start a trend with that. Doesn't matter to me I am in Fl but it matters to my northern neighbors.
2 Delta EF3 Pro 1300's, a Delta 2 Pro and xtra Battery and an River 2 Pro aside of My 5 Separate Solar Systems on My 6.2 acre Ranch ⛩ To Top Off The Eco Flows at Night a 24 Volt Battery Bank of 10KWH Being 4 Batteries @ 100ah each tied to Buss Bars and Wired with 10/3 Marine Grade Tinned Wire ran underground to My Lodge Kitchen to use indoors Helps allot
UPS doesn't mean universal power supply. It means Uninterruptible Power Supply. It has a little battery in it that hopefully lasts long enough for you to shut down the devices you have plugged into it when the power shuts off. It's basically a smaller version of your EcoFlow without all the 12v and solar connection options.
@@cleverjoe Great video though. Good call-out on how cold affects them. I use some DIY batteries with Victron equipment in my Motorhome. The batteries are inside the living space so heat isn't usually an issue.
subscribed. i just got the river delta 2 and pro. home backup eventually. i much prefer building your own system but your right. theres something to say about convenience .
LET ME FIRST SAY I"M REALLY DIGGING YOU CABIN !!!!!! REALLY NICE A COZY JUST A COOL SPOT TO CHILL!!!!! AND YOUR RIGHT SIMPLICITY!!!!!! IT"s PLUG N PLAY AND YOU CAN TAKE IT ANYWHERE !!! DO MULTIPROJECT REPAIR WORK !!!! BUT FOR A STATIONARY SYSTEM YOUR STUCK!!!!! POWER GOES WITH YOU!!!!!
Thank you for sharing. I own an Ecoflow delta max 1600. We were running our small house for a year. Then our AC went out. It tells us overload and it will not charge via the ac outlet. So now we are charging it via a solar panel. We are now plugging in an external power inverter via the 12 volt outlet. The uses work. Just not the AC. We still love our ecoflow. Thank you again
I am wrestling with the freezing issue. I am looking at automating the unit to have a thermostat switch on one plug that will run a small heater between 52F-70F or some other range… Work in progress.
I've considered the same but fear a fire hazard with the space heater. I'm considering a heated blanket instead but some have timed shutoffs and require human interaction to turn them back on.
@ If you're looking for a power station, I don't think you can go wrong with any of the bigger brand names like EcoFlow, Bluetti or Anker. At that high of a price point though, it will be far cheaper to build your own system. Good luck with your project.
A dc to dc charger in your vehicle is cheap insurance in case the generator goes out. I think you can get a 500 watt charge out of them. Are you sure about using them in cold weather? I know you shouldn't charge them in super cold temps but I thought they were fine to use?
Thanks, this is good to know. The manual for the Ecoflow says "Optimal operating temperature 20°C - 30°C (68°F - 86°F)" and "Discharging temperature -10°C - 45°C (14°F - 113°F)", but doesn't specify beyond this. I assume that the more you stay within the optimal specs, the longer the battery will last. Cheers
this may seem cumbersome but unhook your batteries and take them with you when you leave & bring them with you when you come to the cabin again…and keep them inside the cabin when using them while you’re there
one day in the future, that ecoflow powerstation is going to stop working, toss out a error code, and you will have no recourse on repairing it. Depending on what is going on at the same time, this could be very bad. If you have a DIY Lithium system, you can stock replacement parts so that when the same thing happens on a DIY system, you have options. Also, LFP cells come in all sorts of shapes and sizes enabling you to keep the prismatic cells inside the climate controlled area thus removing the issue of not being able to charge below freezing.
Good points, and this is why I feel protected with EcoFlow’s five year warranty to cover any potential issues. I think the combination of diy solar along with a power station makes the most sense for my needs. Thanks for your input.
I couldn't find out new vehicles batteries were so expensive. The expensive ones are AMG. AMG doesn't care if it's cold or hot. Buy the same company I am testing the AMG and Lithium on time run. Night. Mainly. Yet. For a power station. I went with EGO. 3,500 watts, and I have their tools. Made sense. It is a shorter time to charge an EGO battery off of the normal charger on my 2,500-watt sign wave power converter that is hooked up to my Lithium battery than ongrid. Why. I have no clue. Not much faster.
I made the mistake of buying a Bluetti power station. What a pOC because I’ve had nothing but problems and spoiled food. Subjected to countless horrific bouts of customer service. Buy a Bluetti if you want to lose weight via some serious episodes of explosive diarrhea. WRT to not being able to use your Ecoflow do like what we did. The cabin was originally wired to run off a generator. When the cabin has warmed up the generator is turned off and switched over to the Delta 3 Plus.
Look it in the face. I don't connect lead batteries in parallel. Panels are squarish 100 watts, not long or too big to ship. AC is not king. I have camping sized pure sine wave inverters when I need an AC thing, and 12 volt DC chest freezers rule in ECO mode. DC E26 LED bulbs too. Power stations are way overpriced, and so are lithiums. 12 volt fans in the summer. I use diluted electrolyte flooded batteries. Refilled car battery or a pair of golf cart batteries in series.
We are Chinese lithium battery manufacturer. There are cell factory and assembly factory. Is there a chance we can cooperate? The end of the discount, battery variety,welcome to consult!
Sorry but I have no control over ads and I'm really not sure why youtube premium would be displaying them, if that the case. Thanks for watching. Cheers
My previous video explaining the original agm lead acid battery power system and my reasons for upgrading: "How I Power The Off Grid Cabin & Why I'm Thinking About Upgrading" ua-cam.com/video/n4UjEnIhoFI/v-deo.html
Since retirement, I live full time at my office grid cabin in Maine. Currently running 1400w of solar panels with a 24V system. Nearly a year ago upgraded to (4)300 ah lithium batteries giving me about 15400 watt hours of storage, running a well pump, refrigerator, freezer, microwave, coffeemaker, computer and lights. Since upgrading my batteries nearly a year ago I’ve never needed to run a generator. The inverter will shut down the solar charging if the battery bank temperature approaches freezing. However, the batteries have an internal heater to mitigate shutdown. I’m set up with a bulk propane tank for hot water and heating if desired. I normally heat with wood but if I’m away I can set the thermostat to keep things from freezing up. While my using propane might mean I’m not a purist, I’ll get over it with a hot shower on demand.
Nice, thanks for sharing your system, that's a lot of storage!
@ Yes, but living off grid full time, it’s the extra storage that makes the difference this time of year with so little sun. I don’t think the batteries have ever gone below 40%, even on these short overcast days of winter. I obviously have to keep the panels clear of snow.
Oh, how I would love to have an email conversation with you! In lieu of that, would you be willing to share the brand/type of batteries you have with the internal heating system that works well enough to prevent damage to your batteries in Maine winters? Also, what brand/type/capacity of inverter are you referring to that shuts down your solar charging automatically when the temperature approaches freezing? And finally, are you located where a company can come and fill your bulk propane tank or is your tank portable enough to be filled off-site? Thank you! Sounds like you've got an AMAZING setup there! Happy Retirement!
First comment I’ve seen with someone with a similar system that I’m planning to build for my family this year as we’re going to be homeschooling/homesteading off-grid on my parents land in North Central Saskatchewan Canada. I’ve purchase 6 x 200Ah batteries, also bought a 24V inverter/charger. And will have similar capacity as yourself with the addition of an Anker 3800 that I just bought… still need to install everything, but looking forward to the challenge of getting this all going. Also have a pallet of 31 x 405 W solar panels.
Was curious how the system handles the well pump as that’s pretty high usage. Also, I have 5 kids… so we’re going to use more power than a single person in a small cabin. I think I’ve got the bare minimum required so far, but as most people have 48V systems and A LOT more storage, I was getting a bit nervous - your comment gives me a little more peace. Thank You!
I admire your modest usage of electricity. I have the same D2max, and it’s been very useable and reliable
If you buy individual components and screw them down to plywood or inside a milk crate, it can still be portable (though a bit more awkward in size). Plus, you can carry that part and each battery separately for less weight. Also, this allows you to choose each part exactly as you need it, and easily upgrade or replace later.
But you are correct; it is an individual choice. Convenience has its value. Thanks for explaining your decision.
Good point, and if you're only using a single battery, it would nice and lightweight for smaller jobs when you need to move it around the property for different jobs. I might build one just for the fun of it. Cheers.
I've got five EcoFlows thus far ( one Delta 2 and four River 2 Pro ) for zonal input into my house ( on grid ) each with their own solar panel. Doing great so far. Using to reduce dependancy on grid power, back up during power failures, and acquiring knowledge and equipment before going off grid at some point. But also making DIY systems on hand trucks which does have more stored wattage ( and fun to design and build ). A couple things to add: You can use the 12v 100 amp lithium battery as add on storage ($275 vs ecoflow add on bank at about $3000 ). Batteries can also be charged through solar panel WITH MPPT charge controller. A back up for your back up. Next, you can charge your units on an "inverter" generator, just make sure you use a surge protector. Brian in the Okanagan, B.C.
Thanks for your input, I plan to build a portable power station in the future as well. Good luck with your projects.
I came here to say essentially what you've said, though I'm looking to backfill my power station with a *48v* battery (which my power station, as well as the EcoFlow highlighted here, can accept). The video I'm linking below gives a fantastic breakdown on why you should expect 48 to feed at a higher rate than a 12v.
ua-cam.com/video/9ODIF2EfsUA/v-deo.htmlsi=dS1hbyW6U106MADp
I'm in Florida and don't get really cold weather but I have two Ecoflows (the Max and a Delta 2) and I swear by them. They got me through the major hurricanes last summer. My thinking is people want to make it a situation of either or when it might be both or a hybrid system. I'm currently investing in a solar array and a couple of Lithium batteries as long term backup. I say that because during the hurricanes we were out of power for almost a week and I realized I needed multiple alternatives rather than standing on principle of just batteries or just a power station.
Thanks for sharing, this is exactly why I think there’s a place for both DIY and power stations, plus generators. It’s always a good idea to have redundancy for backup power systems.
We have several off grid cabins, and use lead acid batteries. We're in the process of upgrading to lifepo4 for the 3 cabins where we live full time. Here we have the option of pulling the batteries out of the smaller cabins if they are unoccupied for a while and will freeze (they are semi subterranean, so they don't ever get too cold) and store them in the big cabin. The big cabin has a root cellar that we can put all the lifepo4 if we ever leave in the depth of winter, but that would be a chore with the 300 lb wall mount battery that will be there- but not too bad judging by ho easy it was to get it upstairs....
I have an off grid cabin in Maine, and the winter temps can be brutal. I have 2 Temgot 12v 100ah lifepo4 batteries with built in heaters to keeping my cameras and internet running. Combined with a Delta 2 when I visit the camp to supplement some power, I never run out of power. Summer time is another story, but I usually bring more batteries and also use a small gas generator. By the way. I purchased my Delta 2 during Black Friday for only $399. Talk about an awesome deal.
@@twiddler71 that’s a great deal! Thanks for sharing your setup.
Great to read about your setup. One question - Why do you need more power in summer in Maine than you do in winter? BTW, GREAT deal on your Delta 2! I missed the BF sale so I'll probably have to wait until next year's Christmas season. 😭
@@juliava605 In the summer I run the Fridge and water pump. I have a propane instant hot water heater for the shower. Plus we use the ceiling fan a lot, or sometimes a window fan. When I go down to visit in the winter, everything is frozen, so I only stay a day or 2. I do have a diesel heater setup for cold days, but that doesn't draw much power, plus I have a small woodstove as the primary heat.
@@twiddler71 Oooooh - I see now! This makes perfect sense. Thanks so much for taking the time to reply! Sounds like an amazing off-grid place!
You are spot on ! AGM/lead acid are more cold weather hardy - I've run into this on my camper - I have a 12 volt system on my camper - I can run one of my lipo4fe on the camper or put one of my flooded lead acids for cold weather camping - just go my Ecoflow on a black friday deal - and good video ! You can charge your ecoflow with solar as well...
I live in rural France but also travel extensively in my RV. I have both systems like you in my van, I love the portability of the ecoflow delta I have used it around the property to run electric chain saws when we had trees blown down in storms also to provide power in my house when we have outages. If you have just one fixed system you can’t do all of that.
Goals! This is what I want to do. Off-grid static + a built-out van (not RV - been there, done those) for travel. ENJOY your life, Sir!
Good points, thanks for sharing.
My camp in western Maine near Canadian border and no issues with ecoflow holding charge on winter snowmobile trips. Don't see any loss in charge when I get there and cabin is cold when I get there. I keep 7k generator and propane and a few ecoflows and starlink. I like to keep at least 50 gallons gas and same with water through I did have a well dug but winter it's frozen. I have Canadian brand Unique fridge runs of 12v and draws about 30 watts so I save my propane since no propane service off logging roads in winter. My only issue would be propane staying there all winter since feeding a woodstove takes a lot of time❤
All good info, thanks for sharing your setup. Cheers
I've found the same thing while planning a camper van build while I keep my eye out for a deal on a used Ford Transit AWD medium roof van. I live in the upper Midwest of the U.S. so it gets pretty cold and lithium batteries just won't be a good choice so I'm going to go with a couple 150ah AGM batteries instead which should handle being in the cold much better. I think for your situation you've made a great choice since you can simply take it with you rather than leaving it there in the cold. I'm planning on keeping everything I can 12V but I'll have a small inverter to use occasionally. I too have decided to go with a low watt projector rather than a TV and I'm trying to figure out a lower watt CPAP option as well but I think I'm going to go with my old Resmed S10 model after looking at the expensive filters/humidifier disks for the travel model. I'm planning a very lightweight and flexible build with not a lot of power needs, no AC unit, no microwave or toaster oven, etc.
Sounds like a nice setup. I'm not sure how effective the little 'travel' cpap machines are (I was told to avoid them by the doc), but the Resmed cpap machine I have uses 53 Watts with the humidifier, easily handled with a 2kwh power station or battery. Good luck!
@@cleverjoe I saw that you have the S10 as I do, I'm going to see how well the humidification works with water in the chamber but the heater turned off and what the wattage drops to. I'm mostly going to use the van overnight in the summer and it's quite humid here.
Cheers.
I think you have a smart setup for your situation. The AGM will work in the cold as you said, the generator fills up the power station quickly when no sun and the power station gives you flexibility and capacity. You do you!
Thanks for your comment, the fast charging on the ecoflow is a real game changer.
Lifepo4 battery powerstations CAN power things below freezing but cannot be charged if below freezing. Batteries with heaters will use charging source to activate heaters first, when warm charging battery will commence
Thanks for pointing that out. It's that huge spread of almost 40 degrees though, when temps are -18C and the recommended minimum operating temps are 20C. From the manual: "Ideally, use and store the product between 20°C ~ 30°C (68°F ~ 86°F). Do not store in temperatures above 45°C (113°F) or below -10°C (14°F) for an extended period." All the best.
I prefer a self built system but for your situation where you are using the power station in 2 separate locations then your choice makes absolute sense.
I'd run a few circuits off it at home to eat away at the power bill, although this may affect it's ability to be useful during a powercut.....but if you also have a generator at home...voila!!!
My system is in the pass through on my rv, which is located under my bed. Also in the pass through is a diesel heater that blows air out on one side of the bed and the intake on the other side… keeping my batteries nice and warm. I’m building my cabin which will also be solar… (lithium). It’ll be indoors, keeping the batteries warm. (Wood stove). No problems been running 3 years now. I’ve also a jackery 2000 plus.. it’s an expensive little toy but I like it.
I see that you’re a big Jamaican so big up my brother!
The power bank in video has two DC input.
You can connect the one to the AGM battery, charging it slowly.
I use a Victron MPPT solar controler as a dump load controller. When the battery reach 13.5V the output is turned on, and off at 12.8V.
If your power consumption is modest you can charge your powerbank with this setup. The disadvantage is the powerbank charges slowly from 12V (around 100W).
ahhh my chest swells in pride! he has my flag on his shirt!! 2:06
Respect
As far as charging you cant charge below 0c 32f but you can discharge up to -4f. If you have plantry of solar coming in then i would recommending putting a heating pad around it to keep it warm while charging it. Since it has passthrougg charging you can charge ajd discharge at the same time and if the power coming in is more then the power going out then its a net gain..
I'm doing the exact same thing with the cabin I'm building using an Ecoflow system for similar reasons - portability and convenience. Can still plug solar directly in, and the super fast charging with a generator can't be beat. If you add up everything including a really powerful battery charger, inverter, solar charge controller, battery etc., I don't think you're too far ahead with diy and you don't get the portability or comfort of knowing it was all engineered to work together.
Agreed. Convenience, reliability and the five year warranty were all factors in my decision. The fast charging on the EcoFlow is insane too!
I just realized that I watched a couple of your own videos about power stations before making my decision. Thanks for the content, great channel. Cheers.
@@cleverjoe Oh wow, really? That's cool, thanks!
@@HollisDoesStuff Great content on your channel, cheers.
So here's an interesting thing. I was driving through lower Michigan just in mid December. I was keep camping and it hit 14°F at night. Both my deltas worked in that cold temperature for my electric blanket. I personally can say that my batteries ran all night in super cold weather without a hiccup. I'm not sure about charging because I charged them when I stayed at a hotel a few times, but the majority of the time I was in the jeep and it was cold out. They do discharge just fine in cold temps.
That's great to hear. It may not be good to do on a regular basis, but nice to know the power is there if needed.
Your cabin is really cool, organized, and pleasing to the eyes. Great video.
Thank you!
Great jib my friend , I think what would go great with your set up is a an ecowflow smart generator , they have 4 different smart generators , You can set the smart generator to start charging your ecowflow power station once it reaches 30% , once it reaches 100% the smart generator turns it self off , 3 of there smart generator there duel fuel, and one of them is gas only .
You are right about the temperature. You should not charge the lithium batteries below 32F or 0C. It reduces the charge capacity of the battery.
It also depends on your daily power requirements. If you just need 2Kwh combined with all in option it is a great solution. But if you need more like 10Kwh a DIY Lithium system is more interesting. As then you go to things like autostarting generator, easy adding more batteries against a fair price. (here a brand expansion of 5Kwh is like $1100). It is all about needs and wanting the hassle to build it yourself. Both are great options.
Good points, thank you.
I wanted backup power for when these drones attack our power grid. Purchased 2 Jackery 1000 explorer plus. 2 Bluetti 180AC and 1 Anker c1000. I have a total of 1200w solar panels. But like you, I need power when the sun is not shining and picked up 2 Westinghouse 2550DF to charge when there is no sun and run an air conditioner or space heater if necessary. I do wish I had gone with the Hondas but the westinghouses start up on 1 pull (normal winter weather). What made you choose the Ecoflow?
Thanks, sounds like you're setup nicely. I talk more about my decision in one of my recent videos: ua-cam.com/video/HMQlddCGz7U/v-deo.htmlsi=a9wUUX_0pGu6iJtD
I was planning on having my power stations indoors and solar cables in for charging in winter time, and see if it works. Love your cabin 👍🏻
Thanks and good luck with your project.
It depends on what we mean by off-grid. Your reasoning makes sense to me for someone off the electctrical grid but on the road grid.
When off-grid moves from road vehicles to ATV, UTV, snowmachine, and boats, portable looks more like fragile.
The extra work of DIY portable also buys modular repairability. I know my lifestlye breaks things at higher than average rates, so hard to justify putting all my electrical eggs in one proprietaty plastic basket
And yes, the lithium-in-the-cold struggle is definitely real.
You can't charge them but you CAN use them. Lifepo4 batteries get damaged by charging below freezing. Using them below freezing helps warm the batteries up, and can actually allow you to hit the target temperature to begin charging them again.
I have 7 Ecoflows and a 400AH lifepo4 server rack battery and they all work fine below freezing but charging at that temperature shouldn't be done. Any power system using lifepo4 should prevent you from charging in low temperatures
Not true, you can charge them below freezing without damaging them, but the safe C-rate is very low, so most BMS just do not allow charging below 0⁰C.
There are LiFePo4 batteries sold in Norway that have a better BMS that allowed charging down to -10⁰C, but at 0.05C. Any additional charge current is dumped to the heating element. The inteded use for thise batteries are unheated cabins with charged with solar.
I only got clued into the damage sub-freezing temps could do to LifePO4's after I installed mine. That said it's not been as big an issues as I expected. It's -4 f/-20 c here as I type.
No issues using it at those temps? I’m concerned about the longevity of the battery if not keeping within the recommended specs. Thanks for commenting.
Don't overlook getting a unit with lots of USB ports, and a 12 volt cigarette plug. There's plenty of stuff you can run off of these, such as lights and fans, and the cig plug is great for running a 12 volt fridge/freezer. This way, you don't have to turn on the AC inverter,.. which in a lot of cases uses 40 watts or more. Make sure you get a LifePo4 battery,.. which has around 4000 charge cycles. Lithium Ion only has 800-1000 charge cycles.
All great points, thanks.
Unfortunately Ecoflow is getting rid of the cigarette plug on the new models. Big minus point for me...
@@Wastelander13 That’s too bad, I’ve found the cigarette plug extremely useful. I wonder what the reasoning is?
@@cleverjoe
Same to me, I like to run my fridge on the cigarette plug. Unfortunately it seems that there always has to be something negative on everything. ☹️
Directly from the user manual:
The Delta2 Max will discharge power from -10C to 45C (optimum is 20C to 30C).
Charging temps are from 0C to 45C.
Good point about AGM and cold. I have the same battery but smaller , 80amp. i had it foam over, i guess it vented? I think it was in the sun and i ran something over 30 amps and it must have bubbled a bit. Have you had that happen? What caused it? I am thinking heat. I have a little afferiy, i use it to move power to my van, 16 lbs, easy to carry back and forth, up and down stairs. i also wonder how much solar you are getting in that low light and if you have mono panels. i have poly panels which work great in shde (west coast). Max i have gotten so far is almost 60%, in terms of watts (I couldn't change the angle, they are horizontal).
Over heating can cause issues with agm batteries. My panels are poly and they do better in the shade as you mentioned. Cheers
I think using a power station is a fine trade-off, but you have to be careful not to become dependent on the vendor proprietary lock-ins and, particularly, their expensive expansion batteries. There are also serious scalability issues and lack of repairability. It can be problematic when things break. For that reason, I would limit such setups to only small and medium-sized power stations and have more than one.
With a power station you essentially have to keep the unit indoors (which is fine)... and depend on a good ~1 hr with the wood fire before it warms up enough to take a charge, in very cold weather.
It is fairly difficult to insulate a power station due to all the cables going in and out of it. It is still doable, just not friendly or easy to get right.
--
One thing you can do to make things a bit easier with the power station solution is to construct a small front-end battery bank that is permanently mounted in the cabin to connect to it instead of trying to feed solar directly into the power station. That allows the cabin's solar system to continue to produce energy into the front-end buffer battery system even if you have disconnected the power station (true portability).
A battery buffer is quite simple. You have the solar panels, you buy one or more charge controllers and one or more discrete LiFePO4 batteries (get batteries with internal heaters for cold weather), and that's it, you are done. You can feed the battery bus directly into the power station's "solar" input and trickle-charge the power station.
You can do this with either a 12.8V system or a 25.6V system. 51.2V systems are generally too high a voltage for most power stations (but the larger ones can handle it). The sweet spot is 25.6V LiFePO4 because that will "trickle charge" the power station at over 250W and can take a substantial amount of solar without needing to deal with high amperages.
Basically:
---- PROJECT #1 ----
* 25.6V x 100Ah internally heated battery (up to 4 in parallel)
(place in an insulated battery box to reduce power consumption further).
2 AWG cabling.
* One main battery fuse (typically ANL type).
* Victron 100/20 charge controller, as many as needed to handle the solar. 10 AWG wiring.
* DC Breaker or fuse -> connector to plug into power station. Typically 25A.
* Just for fun, get some 24VDC LEDs to hang off the system too, to light the cabin up at night. Just 5W or so. Nothing big.
And that's it. You are done. The solar and the charge controller will supply power to the batteries to allow them to self-heat, and the above setup WILL self-bootstrap if the batteries have been cold-soaked (due to insufficient sun or snow-covered panels). The battery bank will then trickle-charge any power station you plug it into (power station's "solar" input must handle at least 30VDC in this example, however).
The power station is thus far more portable without having to necessarily cold-soak the cabin.
--- PROJECT #2 ---
Now if you have a generator setup you can do this:
* Get a small generator with a relay remote start feature.
* And a decent amperage battery charger (e.g. Victron 24V battery charger).
* Buy a simple programmable voltage controlled relay to turn the generator on when the battery bank is depleted (around 24.0V), and turn it off when the battery becomes full (lets call it 28.2V).
And now the battery bank will be kept alive by the generator automatically on an as-needed basis, and thus be able to stay warm even if the solar panels are covered with snow.
--- PROJECT #3 ---
And now if you want you can have options that work without the power station needing to be present. Simply add a 24V inverter to get your AC and plug-in whatever you need. Remember to turn the inverter off when leaving the cabin unattended, but leave the generator system live so the batteries never cold-soak.
And magically you now have a fully operational discrete system 🙂That I just roped you into doing 🙂🙂
-Matt
Wow, some great information here. I'm still thinking about the best way to integrate the two systems and you've offered some excellent info and great ideas. I'll look into the 24V inverter you mentioned. Thanks!
Very good video, one of the best real use orientated. By the way, does the Ecoflow show its "body-themperature" to know if it can be charged or not? Cheers.
Thank you! The EcoFlow doesn’t display the temperature but does have a low/high temp warning built in.
I have a hybrid system, much of the bower is through 5 100ah Lifepo4 batteries and I have a number of lifepo4 power stations for remote work. This is charges by 2 different Solar Array giving 1600 Watts and 80 Watts for the portable units.
Thanks for sharing your system, that's a lot of power.
I have a similar set up and keep my old AGM battery to supplement the EcoFlow. I have a recent video on that. For you, the AGM battery could help on those super cold days, when you don’t want to “freeze your balls off” 😂
Thanks for sharing. The AGM battery has already saved my butt once, since picking up a power station. I'll talk about this in an upcoming video. Cheers
DIY 15kwh battery pack just built for the cost you spent on that eco Flo. Not knocking your system, just pointing out how much more power you can get. I have over temp, low temp shutoff as well as over voltage. My batteries self heat and I can charge off of solar, generator, and also the grid. Not to mention, my Max discharge rate is about 150 amps continuous, which you’re limited by with the pre built systems. If I were you, I’d mix and match for the best back for your buck. I also live in a cold climate state.
Nice, that's a lot of power.
Pecron just came out with a power station where the battery self heats. Its there e1000 model. I hope they start a trend with that. Doesn't matter to me I am in Fl but it matters to my northern neighbors.
@@johnmal5975 Amazing, hopefully other power stations will follow suit.
What if you wrap the Ecoflow solar generator in a blanket?
2 Delta EF3 Pro 1300's, a Delta 2 Pro and xtra Battery and an River 2 Pro aside of My 5 Separate Solar Systems on My 6.2 acre Ranch ⛩
To Top Off The Eco Flows at Night a 24 Volt Battery Bank of 10KWH Being 4 Batteries @ 100ah each tied to Buss Bars and Wired with 10/3 Marine Grade Tinned Wire ran underground to My Lodge Kitchen to use indoors Helps allot
Igot all of them got 24 volt setup with agm batteries and a 12 volt lithium ion fosphate batteries and two BLUETTIs
Redundancy! 👍
UPS doesn't mean universal power supply. It means Uninterruptible Power Supply. It has a little battery in it that hopefully lasts long enough for you to shut down the devices you have plugged into it when the power shuts off. It's basically a smaller version of your EcoFlow without all the 12v and solar connection options.
Thanks for this correction! Yes I meant to say Uninterruptible Power Supply.
@@cleverjoe Great video though. Good call-out on how cold affects them. I use some DIY batteries with Victron equipment in my Motorhome. The batteries are inside the living space so heat isn't usually an issue.
subscribed. i just got the river delta 2 and pro. home backup eventually. i much prefer building your own system but your right. theres something to say about convenience
.
Good luck with your system. cheers.
Good video...
does thew fire fan not work on it own with out power i seen them do it with out power
LET ME FIRST SAY I"M REALLY DIGGING YOU CABIN !!!!!! REALLY NICE A COZY JUST A COOL SPOT TO CHILL!!!!! AND YOUR RIGHT SIMPLICITY!!!!!! IT"s PLUG N PLAY AND YOU CAN TAKE IT ANYWHERE !!! DO MULTIPROJECT REPAIR WORK !!!! BUT FOR A STATIONARY SYSTEM YOUR STUCK!!!!! POWER GOES WITH YOU!!!!!
Questions...can 1 re power ecoflow delta 2 w a inverter genny.????( im na newbie
Cluesless) to power my fridge / cellphone/in a cabin
I'm not sure if this is what you're asking, but I recharge the power station with both solar, and a gas generator.
Thank you for sharing. I own an Ecoflow delta max 1600. We were running our small house for a year. Then our AC went out. It tells us overload and it will not charge via the ac outlet. So now we are charging it via a solar panel. We are now plugging in an external power inverter via the 12 volt outlet. The uses work. Just not the AC. We still love our ecoflow. Thank you again
Sorry to hear this. Did you contact EcoFlow about the issue and whether it's covered by their five year warranty?
I am wrestling with the freezing issue. I am looking at automating the unit to have a thermostat switch on one plug that will run a small heater between 52F-70F or some other range… Work in progress.
I've considered the same but fear a fire hazard with the space heater. I'm considering a heated blanket instead but some have timed shutoffs and require human interaction to turn them back on.
@ It is a mental obstacle course. Let me know if you come to a good solution.
Hello, Could some recommend some to run a max of 280w for at least 18 hours a day?
Sounds like you’ll need something in the 5kwh range.
@ Do you have a recommendation?
@ If you're looking for a power station, I don't think you can go wrong with any of the bigger brand names like EcoFlow, Bluetti or Anker. At that high of a price point though, it will be far cheaper to build your own system. Good luck with your project.
A dc to dc charger in your vehicle is cheap insurance in case the generator goes out. I think you can get a 500 watt charge out of them. Are you sure about using them in cold weather? I know you shouldn't charge them in super cold temps but I thought they were fine to use?
They will discharge below 0c but the recommended operating temperature is 20c. Same with long term storage. Thanks for watching!
Best thing in this video is that T-shirt. Big up, mi gee!
Big up Jamaica! :)
I'm pretty sure you can use lithium in the cold, you just don't charge it in the cold. I have them in my motorhome and have used them that way.
Thanks, this is good to know. The manual for the Ecoflow says "Optimal operating temperature 20°C - 30°C (68°F - 86°F)" and "Discharging temperature -10°C - 45°C (14°F - 113°F)", but doesn't specify beyond this. I assume that the more you stay within the optimal specs, the longer the battery will last. Cheers
this may seem cumbersome but unhook your batteries and take them with you when you leave & bring them with you when you come to the cabin again…and keep them inside the cabin when using them while you’re there
This is the plan with the power station. Cheers
Get both and a backup inverter generator.
Redundancy is always the best solution! Cheers
I went the opposite way. Started with battery power station, switched to DIY system.
Thanks for commenting, interesting to hear what other people are doing.
Why do you not cover windows
No neighbours to worry about, and it’s usually much too warm inside the cabin with the wood stove (unless it’s a deep freeze). Thanks for watching.
😂 I think you would rather be in Jamaica good video
Lol, soon come.
one day in the future, that ecoflow powerstation is going to stop working, toss out a error code, and you will have no recourse on repairing it. Depending on what is going on at the same time, this could be very bad. If you have a DIY Lithium system, you can stock replacement parts so that when the same thing happens on a DIY system, you have options. Also, LFP cells come in all sorts of shapes and sizes enabling you to keep the prismatic cells inside the climate controlled area thus removing the issue of not being able to charge below freezing.
Good points, and this is why I feel protected with EcoFlow’s five year warranty to cover any potential issues. I think the combination of diy solar along with a power station makes the most sense for my needs. Thanks for your input.
Wow I havnt got none I'm way behind I'm trying to save yo though
Prices will continue to drop for lithium, save your pennies!
@cleverjoe yep will do I will have atleast one hopefully 2
I couldn't find out new vehicles batteries were so expensive. The expensive ones are AMG. AMG doesn't care if it's cold or hot. Buy the same company
I am testing the AMG and Lithium on time run. Night. Mainly. Yet. For a power station. I went with EGO. 3,500 watts, and I have their tools. Made sense. It is a shorter time to charge an EGO battery off of the normal charger on my 2,500-watt sign wave power converter that is hooked up to my Lithium battery than ongrid. Why. I have no clue. Not much faster.
I made the mistake of buying a Bluetti power station. What a pOC because I’ve had nothing but problems and spoiled food. Subjected to countless horrific bouts of customer service. Buy a Bluetti if you want to lose weight via some serious episodes of explosive diarrhea.
WRT to not being able to use your Ecoflow do like what we did. The cabin was originally wired to run off a generator. When the cabin has warmed up the generator is turned off and switched over to the Delta 3 Plus.
Sorry to hear about the issues with Bluetti, especially the diarrhea.
Wait a couple of years until sodium batteries become mainstream.
They are not cold effected.
Tech is moving fast, looking forward to seeing what's coming.
Look it in the face. I don't connect lead batteries in parallel. Panels are squarish 100 watts, not long or too big to ship. AC is not king. I have camping sized pure sine wave inverters when I need an AC thing, and 12 volt DC chest freezers rule in ECO mode. DC E26 LED bulbs too. Power stations are way overpriced, and so are lithiums. 12 volt fans in the summer. I use diluted electrolyte flooded batteries. Refilled car battery or a pair of golf cart batteries in series.
Thanks, good to hear what others are doing. Agm and lead batteries still have their place for sure.
@cleverjoe I dodge AGM. Two of my batteries are dry charged waiting to be reactivated. You can't do that with any kind of gel,AGM.
You have to keep them power stations charging all the time
Who wants to leave the house with that situation
That's why you don't buy power stations buy heated lifepo4 batteries.
Agreed, as long as you don't need your system to be portable. Cheers
We are Chinese lithium battery manufacturer. There are cell factory and assembly factory. Is there a chance we can cooperate? The end of the discount, battery variety,welcome to consult!
Hi, please reach out through the contact email on my UA-cam channel. Thank you.
I pay for UA-cam premium to not watch ads.
Sorry but I have no control over ads and I'm really not sure why youtube premium would be displaying them, if that the case. Thanks for watching. Cheers
Has anyone asked about, or have you ever spoken about, that puff jacket you're wearing??
Yes, in fact I have been asked about it, lol. May the force be with you.