Featured EG4 Battery... signaturesolar.com/eg4-lifepower4-v2-lithium-battery-48v-100ah-server-rack-battery-ul1973-ul9540a-10-year-warranty/?ref=lithiumsolar NEW Blog Post... offgridbytes.com/building-a-3000w-portable-emergency-power-system/ This is a super quick and easy build. Let me know what you guys think! (affiliate links)
First of all, congratulations on the knowledge of electricity and talent to build your projects. I'm a new subscriber and your videos are very educational and enjoyable. Regarding this 3000W portable solar power station, can you please give a few examples of how long this power station will last on one charge using different appliances, devices or power tools? For example, if you hook up a refrigerator, how long will it last? A full size TV?
THIS IS EXCELLENT! I suspect I may have commented the same previously : Your videos are to the point, void of unnecessary time-wasting talk and just packed with useful information - ALL crunched into a short, concise, easy-to-understand video! THANK YOU - PLEASE KEEP IT UP!!! *EDIT* : Your video has inspired me to build my own mobile powerstation which turned out to be so popular that I have had to build a few for family & friends too!
Thank you for your kind words! I completely agree with you, the video is excellent and the information provided is really useful. It's great to hear that it has inspired you to build your own mobile power station. If you're looking for a reliable and versatile power station, I highly recommend checking out the Segway Portable PowerStation Cube Series. It has a massive capacity, powerful output, and fast recharging capabilities. Plus, it's built tough and waterproof, making it perfect for outdoor adventures. Keep up the great work and happy building!
One modification I might recommend is mounting the EG4 battery backwards so you have clear circuit breaker access-- breaker on front/top and lug on back/bottom. Also, the Costco 3-in-1 hand truck might make a few things easier-- using self-tapping screws instead of U-bolts as an example, but also easier to use it to haul panels at the same time. It's a little more expensive, but a good value none the less.
I absolutely LOVE this, especially because it’s so mobile! I’m over 65 and just don’t have the strength to move this stuff around and I’ve been wanting to provide myself with a backup emergency power. However, my husband passed last year Im alone and have nobody around to help me do this project. Someone ought to find a way to help those who can afford it but don’t have the help to do it themselves. Calling a ‘Solar company’ wouldn’t do something like this..this is Brilliant!
Love where these cart builds are going. It's like the beginning of hotrodding all over again, same with ev swaps into old cars. Every one start learning to weld let's build America into a highly modified craftsmen culture it should be.
Thank you for an easy and wonderful design. I built the portable solar generator, but used 2 EG4-LL batteries to have 10kw. I bought a garden cart (supports 400 lbs) to mount everything on. I used my EGO ZTR mower to pull it around. I also bought 8 (used) 455w panels from SanTan solar for $175 each to recharge it. I estimated the ROI is 5 years for the whole setup. Thanks!
running the growatt 3k. same bat.. one cable and they communicate! . wall mount, it runs my whole house 24/7 with 1,300 watts pv.. big fridge. toaster. electronics. electric blankets... could charge from the grid ... but no need . luv it signature solar.
This is the best portable power station build I have seen so far. Many of the ready made power stations cost over $800 per kWh. This one comes in at about $521 per kWh and has more than double the capacity. The only thing I would add to this setup would be a copper ground rod with a lead. Then I could push it into the ground before starting up the system. Just an extra safety step.
Would you stick with 48V vs 24V? Im a noob with this sort of thing and get nervous witha nything grater than 24V if you do something dumb..I know, dont do something dumb! lol
I like your advice for a ground rod. I am a noob and have watched a number of smarter people build their handtruck systems without talking about earth ground or charging the metal hand cart with 48V. How deep does a ground rod have to go into dirt? Guidelines of 6-8 feet for home grid systems are all I can find.
I just finished one with a Growatt and the same battery but with the addition of a breaker box that allows me to use the full 25amp capacity thru a 30amp receptacle that my camper will plug into and I added a male electrical plug to receive a cord for recharging the battery.
Great stuff ! Love it. To make it electrically safe and compliant, you are are required to add an RCD protected power board instead of that black one you have. Also a 6mm2 earth lead connected to the inverter, that you can roll out and connect a portable earth electrode to and bash it into the ground. This is extremely important. If the outer case of the inverter or trolly were to become ‘live’ and someone touched it, this would prevent electrocution, otherwise the human body would be become a part of the circuit to ground. Gotta be careful with these you tubers !
Why don't any of the self contained electric "generators" have the ground bar like you're talking about? Serious question, I don't know much about the stuff
In a power outage, would leaving the AC input connected to the house (although there is no power from the grid) provide the needed grounding, The AC Input has a green lead that is connected to the green of the house. If with a multimeter check continuity may make sense.
@@WideAwakeHuman A domestic generator (used at home) does not come supplied with this earth spike. So Joe Soap doesn't use the earth spike. But, if you work in the mining industry it is compulsory to have an earth spike attached to the generator that you hammer into the ground.
@@IsmaelMartinezPR Assuming the house is properly "earthed/grounded" (in other words an earth mat buried somewhere around the house), then YES, the earthing/grounding would be sufficient!
you could use a metal hose clamp to attach the battery handles to the cart. that is a bit more secure than zipties. You could also bolt a piece of angle iron to the bottom of you cart, for the battery to rest on.. It would prevent the bottom of the battery from shifting forward.
Oooo metal hose clamps are a great idea!! I thought of a simple L-bracket at the bottom but the bottom of the cart needs to sit flat to keep the wheels up, so having a bolt underneath wouldn't work. I suppose you could counter-sink it fairly easily - that might work.
@@LithiumSolar LOL, I was looking for a comment about the zipties. When I use them in my videos people don't seem to think highly of them :) Although I find them to be highly effective, and reliable.
I think a good add on would be a led light on top. If power goes out, it would keep you from fumbling with a flashlight while getting it into the house, hooking up what you need to run, etc.
This is exactly what I was hoping to find. The technical and physical setup were each explained in a clear manor with the right amount of detail. Liked & Subscribed!
Just did this set up a few weeks ago works great. We live in a 5th wheel with some land we have 10 410watt bi facial panels and growatt 3000es it powers the whole 5th wheel including the 13.5btu ac during the day and have enough battery to run all basic appliances during evening hour's. We do have to turn some things off with higher loads not a big issue we will probably do split phase with another growatt in the future. If you have the space to do it just do it you'll be amazed what solar is capable of. Pay back period for us will be less than 2 years.
@@mikew2046 I'm producing about 20kwh on a full sunny day and recharge takes about 4-5 hours roughly depending on the power being drawn Im sure I could easily charge 2 batteries on a sunny day if I an extra.
WOW,WOW,WOW.... I'm just about to buy the bluetti ac200 max but after seeing this I'm torn.... this is 5000wh compared to 2000wh with the ac200 max this has a 3000watt inverter compared to the 2000watt ac200 and this is capable of more solar more ac charging and I can add MUCH MORE watt hours in batteries all for ABOUT THE SAME PRICE. the only plus I see with ac200 max is compact has 12v and looks cleaner....... I don't know what to buy now..... THANKS ALOT!
It's important to note too in the decision process, that the Bluetti is significantly smaller and can be picked up. While this cart wheels very easily, you can't exactly lift it up (has to weigh 150lbs or so) without 2 people. :)
I was close to ordering a ac200max a few months ago, but finding it only had a solar input of 15 amps stopped me, would need panels to be wired in serial, in an RV, you often can't get all the roof in the sun and that's a big problem with serial hookups. Other than that, I think it's prob about best "solar generator" out there that I could find. I plan on a Growatt, Mpp or Signature Solar has a new all in one too and need to hear more. about.
It's funny to see the epiphany, some potential DIYers have. A separate system is always gonna be cheaper for the same output than a "designer" plug-n-play one. Even better you can save more money if you decide to build your own battery and combine it with an inverter and other components that correspond to the voltage and ah of the battery.
So we’ll done!!! My EG4 is being delivered on Wednesday, I am making my house a hybrid part off grid/part on grid house. I really like this design & great job on the editing. You have earned another subscriber!
I have the exact same handcart and love it. Buying the stuff you need for solar is rather expensive, but the ability to generate electricity for free whenever the sun shines regardless of the grid is totally worth it.
I agree that's why I'm doing a system. I'm not doing a portable like this but I thought about it actually and I may do it someday. One of the commenters said he built one for himself that it was so popular now he's building some for all of his family members .I would imagine you could build 1 somebody might buy it
As a young apprentice electrician, I cut PLENTY of 3/4” unistrut with a hacksaw. Cut through the U and score the inside and it brakes off pretty easily. Works on 11/2” to, but you’ll be there all day and it can get wavy. I like this contraption! ✊🏾
I like your build enough that I plan on making one myself. I figure it will run a pellet stove for a long time if we get a bad blizzard that knocks out the power. Three hints on your build. If you can cut the strut in between the slots so that it cuts down on the sharp pointy edges. As you tighten up the ty-wraps pull them around to where the cut ends are out of the way where hands/arms and other soft tissue will not contact them. These ends when cut tend to be sharp and will cause cuts, even the small ones will cut you. If the solar generator will be outside very much, consider use black ty-wraps as these are more UV resistant.
Hey! I just did that today in the forest! I moved everything to the canoe, then onto the dolly, then up the hill to cut some trees. The 1800W chainsaw works well, but this is very hard physical work! By the end of the day, I was able to charge the battery back to 100%. It's very heavy and a bit inconvenient (the chainsaw with the cable behind), but I can repeat the process each day without going back to the city or gas station. I think the benefits are far greater than the work to move the weight. Anyways, within a few years, we should have better equipment and batteries after we invested in this transition technology. I hope to see the day when it becomes stupid to use refined gas instead of raw energy coming right at us... I use a few ratchet straps (reusable) to fix the battery and inverter on the dolly. You can also put the inverter/controller sideways with a strap or two, no? I also use double sided velcro to fix cables, they are reusable as well if the setup is temporary.
@@eradicator187 At 23 kg per solar panel, I leave them in the rack! I just carry the battery back to the cabin and connect it directly to the charge controller.
@@joerivas9847 can these batteries be recycled ,, i think not ,they are a forever product once built ,, meaning you have to just throw em in a dirty big hole ,, maybe they can fill those big mine holes with em ,great for the landscape ,,
Good buildout, would like to see a 220v split phase inverter as well as a generator transfers switch for a whole house cut-over. At least a 50A setup so you can run your AC/Fridge and some lights.
You might be able to fit a split-phase inverter; however, think this is about the most I'd want to put on the cart. It can hold the weight but it gets bulky to move around.
I built the 24 volt version of this, and yes, my DC circuit breaker is about the size of a shoe box! LOL. I made a few changes like adding am 800lb working ratchet strap tie down ($6) to hold the two 12 v 206 AH SOK batteries in place. I also used a 2 x 4 in place of the bottom full-size, (no drilling) not 1/2 strut, secured with 2 hole pipe clamps. I did not need to drill the Growatt and the back of the 2 x 4 holds two 20A GFCI outlets and the PV circuit breaker. Works great! Thank you for the inspiration. Good Job!
Brilliant, yet simple! Exactly what I am looking for in an emergency backup to run refrigerators and a freezer, and charge with solar. Holy smokes, that's up to 4500W of solar input! That's awesome. Thanks for doing the video! Can you make a solar panels recommendation?
Consider using your vehicle to power your refrigerator after opening it. Best to have a top lift lid for freezer so cold air doesn't flow out as much when opened. Keep fridge and freezer closed and off as much as possible. Organize it to minimize open time. Learn to preserve foods without a fridge or freezer. You will be golden.
@@wellnesspathforme6236 One thing most ppl don’t realize is that a manual defrost freezer uses far less energy than a frost-free freezer. A frost-free unit is, on average, 34% less efficient. That’s a big number. Especially when powering from a solar generator.
@@wellnesspathforme6236 I agree with your comment about learning to preserve foods without refrigeration. Everything from properly storing grains, to vacuum sealing, to pickling, to dehydrating. One of the important things I’ll use a solar generator for is to power my grain mill. Yes, I could use my hand-crank mill. But it’s time consuming. I live in southern AZ where the sun shines 360 days a year. I’ll plug in the solar panels while I’m baking my bread.
I would put the unistrust on the back side then use longer hardware to mount it. The weight would be in closer to the hand truck. I would also recommend putting it to use full time to offset the cost. Mount some solar panels and power as much of your house from it. The battery will fail due to years far earlier than you will wear it out for cycles plus you know it's always good to go if you're using it.
While I understand not adding plywood to the cart I would think at the very least a strip of rubber membrane tape should be added to each rail on the cart prior to cinching the components to the cart rails. This would provide a sort of non-slip surface to prevent the components from any amount of slippage plus protect the rails from abrasion.
Suggestion: Put your power outlets as close to the ground as possible (Obvious reasons). Use the entire length of your zip ties, especially on heavy loads -not just one turn and cut off the access. Don't waste the tie. USE the access length and double / triple / Quadruple the holding power of the tie. Put rubber feet on the D handle to help keep the dolly from rolling when you lay it down.
I would also flip the battery over, so the terminals are closer to the truck, the positive and negative leads don't cross each other, and the breakers become easier to access.
@@ES-mq9ox You're wrong. Take a 12 inch zip-tie and lock it off forming a loop. With your hands, pull it apart. Note how much force that requires. Now take another 12 inch tie (same exact kind) and do the same thing except double it over after you close it forming TWO LOOPS. Now try to pull it apart.
Thanks! I copied your idea, but used a MPP2724 with outlet plugs built right into the unit on the side and MC-4 PV input plugs on the bottom, and I built a DIY battery using 304Ah cells (24 volt) and Daly BMS with the 2A active balancer. It works great. We are using it in the Green house for now, later in the RV when the weather is warmer, and in the fall time we can use it around the homestead while we get ready for winter. Handy to have power anywhere you need it SILENT! unlike the gas generator we used to use, that is LOUD, smelly and expensive to gas up. Great project for anyone with a few basic tools and skills.
I already purchased from signature solar and I am not happy with them. I have inverter that I can't use until they send me a data cable and I don't own a computer so I have to find one and borrow it and I don't have internet so then I have to go find that it's just ridiculous this is supposed to be plugg and play. Anyhow I like the idea of the inverter that you bought but I would like it bigger. I already own three of the eg4 batteries and 14 of the 455 watt solar panels. I brought four of the panels with me back home and the other 11are up at the cabin. I have a growatt infinity 1300 power station which i like, just doesn't last long. So i started researching how to increase my battery capacity and fell down this rabbit hole to make a cart system that basically works like my growatt using the eg4 batteries I've all ready paid for. I like the idea of the built in plugs of the unit 2724. Does ut come in a more powerful unit? One that will take more input from solar and one that will export more power so I can run like a window AC unit and hook up additional batteries?
Having endured the catastrophic ice storm in Texas, I am researching to find a solar back up. Now, I am already hearing of power outages in our state and something like this would certainly bring peace of mind. Great job!
I bought a 13k portable generator that runs off propane and gas and I keep a dedicated propane tank just for it. I'll be building a solar setup as well just to get off grid as much as possible. Best of luck in Texas from us here in Arkansas.
Possibly a good idea to add a set of dummy clips for the solar connections you could use 3m clips to adhere them to the side of the inverter to both secure the cables further but also keep the solar connections clean from dust and dirt on field deployments
I love this idea! Very frustrated with all the options by bluetti or echoflow due to the cost. love this DIY and you have given me confidence to do it!
I'm SOOO tempted to build this!!! In an emergency, it seems pretty easy to run extension cables from it to my fridge, computers, etc. vs. trying to wire a backup system into existing wiring, cutoff transfer switches, etc.
Wow THIS LOOKS NICE I’m a newbie and have put together a 100 watt kit this weekend Just to get started I’m ready to make sure I step UP and this is very affordable I’ll probably go with this exact build THANK YOU
I just discovered your channel with this video, and... THIS is what i like ! Divert the use of an object, to create something useful, better and cheaper than what can be found on the market. Really creative! Thank you !
Excellent information. Since portability means you might be moving this at unexpected times, I would fashion a waterproof cover, which would also keep the dust out when not in use. Tall garbage bags would do in a pinch and are cheap and lightweight. Adding a LED headlight (rechargeable) would help if grid power goes down. A bag of extension cords tied to the bag would come in handy. Larger tires, solid core, might add to the weight but would help going thru puddles, shallow water. If you use air tires, find a place for an inflator pump. I’d consider swapping out the power strip for one that has USB charging ports, or just add a second cheaper one.
Integrated USB ports get outdated every 5 years. They are a gimmic. 5 years from now USB A cords probably won’t even be included with any products. USB C are the new norm and most power strips don’t have USB C. Independent chargers are cheaper and usually must faster
I love how clean and adjustable and reusable your setup is! Nothing is permanently joined with welding. One adjustment for even cleaner setup. Use velcro stripes instead of tie-wraps. Peace!
We live in a fantastic time for dependable energy, you can power a house, from a handtruck.. another excellent build. Thankyou for sharing. And I'll agree with others about the tires. Solid core tires with decent bearing will last forever.
You can add another battery pack then you will have 10KWh which is more than I what I use on my 1600Sq home per day. and it is great for rolling black out here in Cali.
@@Armenian Well, you just have to build your backup system based on your needs, no one size fit all. I have 10KWh system for my backup and it fits my need just fine.
@@budmartin3344 i understand this. And hence why I mentioned that 5kwh is hardly enough. You’re looking at a 30k+ investment just for energy storage alone. Not including panels and split phase controllers/inverters & wiring.
This was great and is now my model for a portable unit. I already have a Bluetti AC200P that I use to run my fridge, freezer, and modem/router. Your setup will give me what I need to run a window unit. I live in Texas and have been to Signature Solar to purchase a panel. I need to make another trip back for these parts and more panels. Thanks for all you do!!!
Thanks, good idea. I had to build one. I ended up cutting off one side of the bottom U-bolt's threads for clearance of the inverter fastening holes. Pinched the u-bolt in a vice so it's tight around the dolly, and the one nut held it on very well. Unistrut caps are also a nice touch.. but at $5 each. Or you could use some large heat shrink to cover the struts -or both like I did
After owning several brands of portable premade units, I will be building my own in the future. Just too many complaints and issues from customers and poor customer service/support. Just makes sense.Easier to replace an item if a major component fails.
I really appreciate your explaining clearly on the Mc4 extension. I'll remember Pointy to negative. Just bought the EG4 with battery and planning to follow your very well easy to follow video. Mahalo.
Connectors are a bit more complicated than that, unfortunately. Gender applies to the electrical contact, not the plastic shroud. If you look inside the shroud on each MC4 connector, you'll see inside the round one a "large" open metal part which receives the mating connector. This is the female. The male metal part in the rectangular plastic shroud is smaller diameter to fit inside the female, and sometimes is open on the end and sometimes closed.
@@Sylvan_dB And that's exactly why I called them "pointy" and "rectangular" LOL. The pins are opposite gender of what you'd expect by looking at the plastic housing. Calling it "pointy" sounds silly, but it's difficult to mix them up that way...
Maybe place a small block of foam on the bottom blade to cushion the battery and perhaps line the cart rails with pipe insulation to help prevent marring of the battery case. It would probably make the battery less likely to slide around on the red metal rails.
You can use back to back struts. They make pipe clamps that will fit the diameter of the dolly pipe. There are several ways to do what you want done by using different types and sizes of strut. Ask for the product book that will show all the pieces made and offered by the strut co. If you dont file the cut ends there are or were end caps available. It was cheapermost of the time to have both ends dipped in a rubber coating. Go to electrical supply house for material and if you're lucky the sales department guys will give you help and lots of ideas.
Not Everyone understands "Electricity 101" however, so, while "Redundant" for us, it's still helpful, and important, since he's not shadowing each of us building one!
Can I suggest that, - prior to trimming the U bolt that you thread a bolt onto it and use the bolt to even out any issues with the thread when you take it of - some washers and spring washers will make it more secure - hose clamps instead of plastic ties, - a rachet strap on both the inverter and battery when wheeling over the rough stuff.
I like this. A few things I'd do differently, call it the benefit of hindsight. - position zip ties so the sharp cutoff are less accessible - less chance of cutting hands. (also use flush cut sidecutters) - dual pole isolation switch on the solar input cables. - mount a water proof switchboard cabinet on the trolley, then mount the components inside (yes this increases expense) the weatherproofing on this will be needed as I'm expecting it would be used outdoors for (say) camping, building sites, etc - I dislike zip ties, find a different bolt mount system, I'd look at threaded bar and channel to clamp the battery in place. but those are really cosmetic issues by comparison to the fundamentals. still good design. thanks for creating and posting the video.
x x ...I'm planning a similar build. Can you recommend a specific "water proof switchboard cabinet", and what parts would be inside? All of it inide one case would require...basically a small closet. I looked on Amazon, and it's not easy to sort by dimensions.
I'm sorry for all the questions but you've been a WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE. Systems like the bluetti or ecoflow have an ac output efficiency of about 80/85% have you done real would test to see the efficiency of the growatt and eg4 battery. I'm buying the new bluetti ac200L for a semi portable unit but LITERALLY because of all your videos and help IM BUILDING a diy growatt and eg4 battery system for home emergency. Its scalability to add thousands of watt hours and even to add a 2nd inverter for more output is amazing....... THANK YOU
Thank you for sharing! I'm trying to learn about going solar (perfect for where I live, in the desert south west). Unfortunately my knowledge of electricity is minimal, to non-existent (replacing outlets, switches, and installing light fixtures is all I've ever done). That's why I love you, and Will. Your instructions are extremely easy to understand, and with these all-in-one systems, makes it even easier. But don't worry...I intend to find an electrician to make sure that it's correct. ❤️🌵☀️⛈️🌈☮️🐎
I built one. Had to extend the battery tray to hold solar panels during transport. I have 2 lead acid batteries and 2 super capacitors. The super capacitors cycle so the batteries don't. Like a capacitor on a car amplifier to keep headlights from dimming as the bass hits. A super capacitor can cycle millions of times and a lithium battery only 12000-18000 cycles. You get longer life out of batteries by using super capacitors. Super capacitors act as a soft start too. This also helps to reduce hard cycles and heat on batteries.
@@russlo5324 Go look at some solar boat videos. 12000 cycles is only 4 years of daily use. That's only one cycle per day. In fact, several studies, indicate that battery capacity may drop as much as 40% or more after 1000 cycles.
Recommendations: 1) To avoid voiding the warrantee by drilling through the cage at the bottom of the Growatt Inverter, you could have made a custom aluminum mounting plate to make the attachment. One plate with 4 holes and added mounting hardware. 2) Advise the manufacturer of the design issue (flaw) with the mounting holes inside of the inverter cage at the bottom. They can easily add a flange at the bottom of the inverter housing, much like they did at the top of the inverter housing. I assume that the spacing of the slotted mounting plate at the top of the housing is spaced 16" apart for mounting with lag bolts to the standard 2"x4" stud spacing. 3) Explain why you placed a small piece of plywood between the handcart flange and the bottom of the battery (cell pack assembly). Question: 1) When will you provide a video on the interconnection of the communication ports of the cell pack assembly and the Growatt inverter? 2) When will you cover setting up the WiFi connectivity? This will enable remote monitoring without needing go manually check the system. The remote system should alert you to when the system charge is low and requires recharging. Note: In the past, I haven't commented on your videos mostly because I don't have the time, however, I do monitor your UA-cam videos and am subscribed. I appreciate your efforts! Keep up the great work that you do! Go forth and do good deeds!
Instead of using a single sided unistrut, Unistrut makes double sided unistrut and that would allow you to use spring nuts and pipe clamps to clamp the strut to the dolly and spring nuts with bolts to anchor the inverter.
Excellent design. I plan on buying a used Nissan Leaf and charging it using a similar device with a 7000 watt lithium cell, 12 volts and 3KW, pure sine wave inverter. Mine will be a bit larger and horizontal but still very much like yours which is pretty reasonable and appropriate.
Great build. I build my first after watching your earlier videos but its only 2400w with 2400w inverter. Maybe time to build another one. Just need to hide the receipts from the boss lady.
I like it that's pretty good idea really there are fancier hand carts that cost more but ones that have another wheel at the top too so they can be rolled around in the horizontal position also
Great video! I'm gonna build one of these with a Harbor Freight hand truck. It has the plastic wheels that you mentioned, but I don't expect to be using it outside my house. I'm old and getting it outside and off my porch would be an accident waiting to happen. LOL I bought a 3 KW, 24 volt, All In One, rather than the 48 volt unit that you're using, and I'm waiting on delivery of a REDODO 200AH 24V battery with a 200 amp BMS. That's going to be over 5 KW of storage and, along with several 200 and 300 watt portable solar panels, should get me through any emergency power outage that I might encounter. (I live in tornado country) I'm thinking about using some cheap HF 1" ratchet straps to hold everything to the hand truck until I'm satisfied with my layout. (to be honest, if it works well, initially, it will probably never be "improved" with a permanent installation, if you know what I mean 😉) Thanks for the content!
Great setup! At a cost of 3k I wouldn’t just keep it on standby in the garage. I’d throw a few solar panels on that bad boy and take a few loads off the grid. The cost of a few panels is not much more as it relates of the current investment. The of Roi might not be huge but it in the case of increasing rates or leveraging time of use rates it good be. In theory you shouldn’t have to worry about life cycles on the battery or other expense and maintenance.
Well doo)e. I like the double use of the power strip for input and output. Same thumbs up on the Anderson cable. Nice ideas there. I would like to see a framed box at the foot of dolly for the battery to rest into. I fear a big bump may allow latteral movement with risk the battery may pop off the dolly (small chance but not zero). Or maybe double sided tape? Super build. Good price. Thanks for sharing
I built a portable power bank with strap for carrying a 200ah lithium but with the ability to add other battery's to increase capacity without going into the battery box. Using a Noco 8D box and 2500watt roarbatt inverter with 50 amp victron solar controller. cost under 1500$. I put a large silicon mat i found cheap on amazon on top of the Noco battery box and that allowed me to screw components that can get hot on top of the plastic box without worrying about a meltdown. Wood was too bulky and less conforming. I decided to go with Terminal bus fuses to fuse in and out of the battery. I already have plans on building a 2nd box but that box will only have a kill switch and fused cables that can hook right into bus bars i installed on the main battery box.
I strongly recommend replacing the air-filled tires with solid core tires. In my experience the air-filled tires on those hand trucks lose air frequently and require maintenance air fills. Solid core tires means one less thing to maintain.
I purposely picked one that had rubber tires. Ever try pulling one with skinny plastic tires through the grass? I've had this cart for almost 2 years now and have only put air in the tires once. I'm not concerned about it, it's super easy to put the bicycle pump on it for 10 seconds, but I do hear and understand your concern.
@@LithiumSolar dang that is so awesome. Out here in vegas the tires degrade and fall apart in a few months with our bombardment of uv rays and 120+ temperatures. Sounds like youre in a good environment compared to me haha. We do not have grass either. Just rock and dirt. So solid tires are great here. But I see why you chose yours
I love how detailed you were. I built mine on a 4- wheel cart instead of a dolly (hand truck). As a Petite female getting up there in age, I don't want all that weight coming @ me as I start to move it. Also, I built mine with two 3500 lumen 6500k led 2 ft. long light bars (I got them from Hykolity on Amazon). I live on 1.5 Acres & had a 4 day Black out here in deep South Texas last year. It would not have been Hell if I had built it before the Ercot fiasco. I use mine every single day! So now I am building a 2nd one and trust me, I will be using that one a lot as well since my She Shed is 90'wide x 140 ft. long & don't have electrical outlets in most areas. I wish I cud post pics here. Even when the Moon is not out & it is pitch black out here in the countryside, It looks like Chernobyl when I turn on those light bars!
Maybe, if you can find it a power strip with 20 amp capacity that also has USB ports built into it. If not, then just go and buy a good 110 small charger that has PD for USB-C & USB-A
Great video. Something else I think people would want you to do is build a 240v ac output using two inverter setup. Some people might want to build two to charge their ev. Bluetti has an ac to dc charger for replacing the solar charge with ac charge at people's apartment residence. And multiple companies offer 240v ac split phase adapter, Jackery, Bluetti, Eco Flow, Anker, Pecron, and maybe more. I thought it would be too much work to drive ev while living in apartments, but it might be doable.
I am still looking for you to show how to set up the proper solar panels to charge this system. The solar power charging is the main feature I want to have. Also, I would like to know how long this setup would actually run that air compressor before the low battery cut off would stop it until it was recharged. The quality of an item like this to me is 1) What devices will it run and how long 2) Total cost 3) Being able to run and continue to run the invertor with a solar panel input as long as the sun is out of course
Awesome. So the goal, if I understand correctly, was to make this pricey setup more functional as both a solar power system and quick disconnect from solar array to be used as a portable/backup power when desired? Seems well suited and easily pulled up a simple ramp into a p/u truck or trailer for offsite power, fun wknd portable power at beach, campsite, jobsite, etc. I have used a similar dolly setup for portable dual high velocity 22" fans with mister system for portable cooling in scorching Tx. This for RV class C solar setup, hmmm? Perhaps laid down in an outside storage compartment? Roll in / out horizontal? Specs of the 100 ah 48 volt EG4 battery is 109 lbs. I would also have connections to EG4 inverter/controller for my Onan generator and truck alternator beside solar array. Feasible to have those easy quick disconnects? Guess just nut release?
Those lower bolt holes on the inverter had solid steel around it for sturdiness. Those you drilled were surrounded by other holes. You’d probably want to use at least a 1” washer or greater on those bolts.
love the handtruck!! that's a heavy battery😮 compared to the light weight Growatt!! also like the PV connection , the Growatt is a little tricky to access a few extra inches between the battery and the all in one unit could help! I got to use this system this am when someone hit a utility poll up the street! first time I needed bigger load and it worked like a charm !!😊
The first step I would have performed would be to flip that EG4 cover in order to make the presentation look more uniform. Great overall. Thanks for the presentation.
Great build, great video! As all-in-one solar generators get heavier, I think they may start using this form factor. The little wheels used on the current models will have to become heavier-duty and need metal axles, etc.
I really liked your video. you made it look so simple to put together. I want to build one for myself but I would like to know if you would recommend any changes to the hardware you used from the time you made your video, and what is available now.
That makes a lot better portable power supply than buying one, like a Bluetti. A little bit bulkier in size but, so much more if your powerstrip has USB plug-ins.
Very nice build ! The only thing I would add is either loc tight / thread locker for the bolts or lock washers and line the resting rails with black rubber tape also for vibration dampening . Just a thought is all . Again great set up !!
Featured EG4 Battery... signaturesolar.com/eg4-lifepower4-v2-lithium-battery-48v-100ah-server-rack-battery-ul1973-ul9540a-10-year-warranty/?ref=lithiumsolar
NEW Blog Post... offgridbytes.com/building-a-3000w-portable-emergency-power-system/
This is a super quick and easy build. Let me know what you guys think!
(affiliate links)
links show much higher price than you posted. I do like the build and think it, or something very similar will work great!
@@stephensuter5016 Which item are you seeing a higher price for?
@@stephensuter5016 They all seem to be the samerice when I click on the links - unless you’re looking at CAD or another currency?
@@mondotv4216 Yep , thanks to uncle Biden.
First of all, congratulations on the knowledge of electricity and talent to build your projects. I'm a new subscriber and your videos are very educational and enjoyable.
Regarding this 3000W portable solar power station, can you please give a few examples of how long this power station will last on one charge using different appliances, devices or power tools? For example, if you hook up a refrigerator, how long will it last? A full size TV?
Watching this video during a blackout in PR. These videos actually helped me build a small system after Hurricane Maria.
You realize a small gas generator puts out way more power for 4x cheaper.
This combo would work for outdoor parties and the components could be made to fit on a bike trailer for camping
FYI the growatt is a BEAST! 2 years in my boat on the ocean. No issues
I'd love to see pics of your setup. I'm hoping to get a 30' Cruisers next year and want power for the A/C and water heater.
Can you provide more info about your setup?
Nice
THIS IS EXCELLENT!
I suspect I may have commented the same previously : Your videos are to the point, void of unnecessary time-wasting talk and just packed with useful information - ALL crunched into a short, concise, easy-to-understand video!
THANK YOU - PLEASE KEEP IT UP!!!
*EDIT* :
Your video has inspired me to build my own mobile powerstation which turned out to be so popular that I have had to build a few for family & friends too!
Wow that's awesome .I think this cart setup is very nice too
Thanks. my thoughts also!
Thank you for your kind words! I completely agree with you, the video is excellent and the information provided is really useful. It's great to hear that it has inspired you to build your own mobile power station. If you're looking for a reliable and versatile power station, I highly recommend checking out the Segway Portable PowerStation Cube Series. It has a massive capacity, powerful output, and fast recharging capabilities. Plus, it's built tough and waterproof, making it perfect for outdoor adventures. Keep up the great work and happy building!
One modification I might recommend is mounting the EG4 battery backwards so you have clear circuit breaker access-- breaker on front/top and lug on back/bottom. Also, the Costco 3-in-1 hand truck might make a few things easier-- using self-tapping screws instead of U-bolts as an example, but also easier to use it to haul panels at the same time. It's a little more expensive, but a good value none the less.
I absolutely LOVE this, especially because it’s so mobile! I’m over 65 and just don’t have the strength to move this stuff around and I’ve been wanting to provide myself with a backup emergency power. However, my husband passed last year Im alone and have nobody around to help me do this project. Someone ought to find a way to help those who can afford it but don’t have the help to do it themselves. Calling a ‘Solar company’ wouldn’t do something like this..this is Brilliant!
If you show this video to a electrician most would do this for you or even a mechanic could handle it
Love where these cart builds are going. It's like the beginning of hotrodding all over again, same with ev swaps into old cars. Every one start learning to weld let's build America into a highly modified craftsmen culture it should be.
Thanks for including your costs associated with this build. So many people that do DIY builds, don't.
Thank you for an easy and wonderful design. I built the portable solar generator, but used 2 EG4-LL batteries to have 10kw. I bought a garden cart (supports 400 lbs) to mount everything on. I used my EGO ZTR mower to pull it around. I also bought 8 (used) 455w panels from SanTan solar for $175 each to recharge it. I estimated the ROI is 5 years for the whole setup. Thanks!
running the growatt 3k. same bat.. one cable and they communicate! . wall mount, it runs my whole house 24/7 with 1,300 watts pv.. big fridge. toaster. electronics. electric blankets... could charge from the grid ... but no need . luv it signature solar.
I am very thankful you are so thorough in your procedures. I wish more people on the tubes did it like you!
This is the best portable power station build I have seen so far. Many of the ready made power stations cost over $800 per kWh. This one comes in at about $521 per kWh and has more than double the capacity. The only thing I would add to this setup would be a copper ground rod with a lead. Then I could push it into the ground before starting up the system. Just an extra safety step.
Would you stick with 48V vs 24V? Im a noob with this sort of thing and get nervous witha nything grater than 24V if you do something dumb..I know, dont do something dumb! lol
@@whoanelly- Personally, I would use the 48 volt. But the 24 volt would work well also. You would also need the 24 volt inverter to make it work.
I like your advice for a ground rod. I am a noob and have watched a number of smarter people build their handtruck systems without talking about earth ground or charging the metal hand cart with 48V. How deep does a ground rod have to go into dirt? Guidelines of 6-8 feet for home grid systems are all I can find.
@@whoanelly- For something movable like this, with a metal cart, 24V would def. be safer IMO.
@@ItsEverythingElseI already got the 48v battery and can't return it. Should I try and sell it and get a 24v for this type of unit?
I just finished one with a Growatt and the same battery but with the addition of a breaker box that allows me to use the full 25amp capacity thru a 30amp receptacle that my camper will plug into and I added a male electrical plug to receive a cord for recharging the battery.
This is exactly what I need. I will have a 30A plug to plug this into my manual transfer switch for critical circuits.
Great stuff ! Love it. To make it electrically safe and compliant, you are are required to add an RCD protected power board instead of that black one you have. Also a 6mm2 earth lead connected to the inverter, that you can roll out and connect a portable earth electrode to and bash it into the ground. This is extremely important. If the outer case of the inverter or trolly were to become ‘live’ and someone touched it, this would prevent electrocution, otherwise the human body would be become a part of the circuit to ground. Gotta be careful with these you tubers !
Why don't any of the self contained electric "generators" have the ground bar like you're talking about? Serious question, I don't know much about the stuff
@@WideAwakeHuman they use a plastic case
Can’t electrocute ur self on plastic!
In a power outage, would leaving the AC input connected to the house (although there is no power from the grid) provide the needed grounding, The AC Input has a green lead that is connected to the green of the house. If with a multimeter check continuity may make sense.
@@WideAwakeHuman A domestic generator (used at home) does not come supplied with this earth spike. So Joe Soap doesn't use the earth spike. But, if you work in the mining industry it is compulsory to have an earth spike attached to the generator that you hammer into the ground.
@@IsmaelMartinezPR Assuming the house is properly "earthed/grounded" (in other words an earth mat buried somewhere around the house), then YES, the earthing/grounding would be sufficient!
WOW, perpetual power...as long as he keeps walking with his little wagon.
you could use a metal hose clamp to attach the battery handles to the cart. that is a bit more secure than zipties. You could also bolt a piece of angle iron to the bottom of you cart, for the battery to rest on.. It would prevent the bottom of the battery from shifting forward.
Oooo metal hose clamps are a great idea!! I thought of a simple L-bracket at the bottom but the bottom of the cart needs to sit flat to keep the wheels up, so having a bolt underneath wouldn't work. I suppose you could counter-sink it fairly easily - that might work.
@@LithiumSolar LOL, I was looking for a comment about the zipties. When I use them in my videos people don't seem to think highly of them :) Although I find them to be highly effective, and reliable.
@@LithiumSolar You can also get stainless steel zip ties which will have a longer life than plastic.
I think a good add on would be a led light on top. If power goes out, it would keep you from fumbling with a flashlight while getting it into the house, hooking up what you need to run, etc.
This is exactly what I was hoping to find. The technical and physical setup were each explained in a clear manor with the right amount of detail. Liked & Subscribed!
Just did this set up a few weeks ago works great. We live in a 5th wheel with some land we have 10 410watt bi facial panels and growatt 3000es it powers the whole 5th wheel including the 13.5btu ac during the day and have enough battery to run all basic appliances during evening hour's. We do have to turn some things off with higher loads not a big issue we will probably do split phase with another growatt in the future. If you have the space to do it just do it you'll be amazed what solar is capable of. Pay back period for us will be less than 2 years.
Great to hear for RV usage , what type of solar power is regenerating and how long to charge?
@@mikew2046 I'm producing about 20kwh on a full sunny day and recharge takes about 4-5 hours roughly depending on the power being drawn Im sure I could easily charge 2 batteries on a sunny day if I an extra.
WOW,WOW,WOW.... I'm just about to buy the bluetti ac200 max but after seeing this I'm torn.... this is 5000wh compared to 2000wh with the ac200 max this has a 3000watt inverter compared to the 2000watt ac200 and this is capable of more solar more ac charging and I can add MUCH MORE watt hours in batteries all for ABOUT THE SAME PRICE. the only plus I see with ac200 max is compact has 12v and looks cleaner....... I don't know what to buy now..... THANKS ALOT!
It's important to note too in the decision process, that the Bluetti is significantly smaller and can be picked up. While this cart wheels very easily, you can't exactly lift it up (has to weigh 150lbs or so) without 2 people. :)
I was close to ordering a ac200max a few months ago, but finding it only had a solar input of 15 amps stopped me, would need panels to be wired in serial, in an RV, you often can't get all the roof in the sun and that's a big problem with serial hookups. Other than that, I think it's prob about best "solar generator" out there that I could find. I plan on a Growatt, Mpp or Signature Solar has a new all in one too and need to hear more. about.
It's funny to see the epiphany, some potential DIYers have. A separate system is always gonna be cheaper for the same output than a "designer" plug-n-play one. Even better you can save more money if you decide to build your own battery and combine it with an inverter and other components that correspond to the voltage and ah of the battery.
Consider buying a EcoFlow delta pro. It’s about 3600 Wh of LFP battery.
Having separate components is very smart because if one fails you can just buy another inverter, battery or whatever .
So we’ll done!!! My EG4 is being delivered on Wednesday, I am making my house a hybrid part off grid/part on grid house. I really like this design & great job on the editing. You have earned another subscriber!
I have the exact same handcart and love it. Buying the stuff you need for solar is rather expensive, but the ability to generate electricity for free whenever the sun shines regardless of the grid is totally worth it.
I agree that's why I'm doing a system. I'm not doing a portable like this but I thought about it actually and I may do it someday. One of the commenters said he built one for himself that it was so popular now he's building some for all of his family members .I would imagine you could build 1 somebody might buy it
As a young apprentice electrician, I cut PLENTY of 3/4” unistrut with a hacksaw. Cut through the U and score the inside and it brakes off pretty easily. Works on 11/2” to, but you’ll be there all day and it can get wavy. I like this contraption!
✊🏾
Maybe I need a better hacksaw then (or at least a different blade) 🙂
angle grinder with cutoff discs will chop thru this easily. but it will make a lot of sparks....
I like your build enough that I plan on making one myself. I figure it will run a pellet stove for a long time if we get a bad blizzard that knocks out the power.
Three hints on your build. If you can cut the strut in between the slots so that it cuts down on the sharp pointy edges. As you tighten up the ty-wraps pull them around to where the cut ends are out of the way where hands/arms and other soft tissue will not contact them. These ends when cut tend to be sharp and will cause cuts, even the small ones will cut you. If the solar generator will be outside very much, consider use black ty-wraps as these are more UV resistant.
I like it. I would though add a hitch attachment to the upper handle of the hand truck to connect it to the back of my riding lawn mower.
Hey! I just did that today in the forest! I moved everything to the canoe, then onto the dolly, then up the hill to cut some trees. The 1800W chainsaw works well, but this is very hard physical work! By the end of the day, I was able to charge the battery back to 100%. It's very heavy and a bit inconvenient (the chainsaw with the cable behind), but I can repeat the process each day without going back to the city or gas station. I think the benefits are far greater than the work to move the weight. Anyways, within a few years, we should have better equipment and batteries after we invested in this transition technology. I hope to see the day when it becomes stupid to use refined gas instead of raw energy coming right at us... I use a few ratchet straps (reusable) to fix the battery and inverter on the dolly. You can also put the inverter/controller sideways with a strap or two, no? I also use double sided velcro to fix cables, they are reusable as well if the setup is temporary.
It sounds like you have a sweet setup. How do you charge your battery? Do you haul around solar panels too?
@@eradicator187 At 23 kg per solar panel, I leave them in the rack! I just carry the battery back to the cabin and connect it directly to the charge controller.
And make sure you dont use ANY products like tires, cosmetics, plastics, etc. made from stupid refined oil/gas.
@@joerivas9847 can these batteries be recycled ,, i think not ,they are a forever product once built ,, meaning you have to just throw em in a dirty big hole ,, maybe they can fill those big mine holes with em ,great for the landscape ,,
Commentary is incisive and overall inspiring. Thank you
Good buildout, would like to see a 220v split phase inverter as well as a generator transfers switch for a whole house cut-over. At least a 50A setup so you can run your AC/Fridge and some lights.
You might be able to fit a split-phase inverter; however, think this is about the most I'd want to put on the cart. It can hold the weight but it gets bulky to move around.
That would be great, and the battery would fail in about 25 minutes. 🙄
You need atleast 4 of these batteries for a split phase inverter to even make sense
I built the 24 volt version of this, and yes, my DC circuit breaker is about the size of a shoe box! LOL. I made a few changes like adding am 800lb working ratchet strap tie down ($6) to hold the two 12 v 206 AH SOK batteries in place. I also used a 2 x 4 in place of the bottom full-size, (no drilling) not 1/2 strut, secured with 2 hole pipe clamps. I did not need to drill the Growatt and the back of the 2 x 4 holds two 20A GFCI outlets and the PV circuit breaker. Works great! Thank you for the inspiration. Good Job!
Brilliant, yet simple! Exactly what I am looking for in an emergency backup to run refrigerators and a freezer, and charge with solar. Holy smokes, that's up to 4500W of solar input! That's awesome. Thanks for doing the video! Can you make a solar panels recommendation?
Consider using your vehicle to power your refrigerator after opening it. Best to have a top lift lid for freezer so cold air doesn't flow out as much when opened. Keep fridge and freezer closed and off as much as possible. Organize it to minimize open time.
Learn to preserve foods without a fridge or freezer. You will be golden.
👍👍👍
@@wellnesspathforme6236 One thing most ppl don’t realize is that a manual defrost freezer uses far less energy than a frost-free freezer. A frost-free unit is, on average, 34% less efficient. That’s a big number. Especially when powering from a solar generator.
@@wellnesspathforme6236 I agree with your comment about learning to preserve foods without refrigeration. Everything from properly storing grains, to vacuum sealing, to pickling, to dehydrating. One of the important things I’ll use a solar generator for is to power my grain mill. Yes, I could use my hand-crank mill. But it’s time consuming. I live in southern AZ where the sun shines 360 days a year. I’ll plug in the solar panels while I’m baking my bread.
I would put the unistrust on the back side then use longer hardware to mount it. The weight would be in closer to the hand truck. I would also recommend putting it to use full time to offset the cost. Mount some solar panels and power as much of your house from it. The battery will fail due to years far earlier than you will wear it out for cycles plus you know it's always good to go if you're using it.
While I understand not adding plywood to the cart I would think at the very least a strip of rubber membrane tape should be added to each rail on the cart prior to cinching the components to the cart rails. This would provide a sort of non-slip surface to prevent the components from any amount of slippage plus protect the rails from abrasion.
How about a pool noodle for vibration absorption. 🙂
I owned that exact hand truck for many years, and it's good, but it's now $100. Harbor Freight sells essentially the same one for $70. FYI.
Suggestion: Put your power outlets as close to the ground as possible (Obvious reasons). Use the entire length of your zip ties, especially on heavy loads -not just one turn and cut off the access. Don't waste the tie. USE the access length and double / triple / Quadruple the holding power of the tie. Put rubber feet on the D handle to help keep the dolly from rolling when you lay it down.
I would also flip the battery over, so the terminals are closer to the truck, the positive and negative leads don't cross each other, and the breakers become easier to access.
@@ES-mq9ox you go around with your ty a couple of times before you set the tie..
@@ES-mq9ox Try it. And you'll see.
@@ES-mq9ox In addition to adding strength every rap puts less stress on the teeth that hold it together.
@@ES-mq9ox You're wrong. Take a 12 inch zip-tie and lock it off forming a loop. With your hands, pull it apart. Note how much force that requires. Now take another 12 inch tie (same exact kind) and do the same thing except double it over after you close it forming TWO LOOPS. Now try to pull it apart.
Thanks! I copied your idea, but used a MPP2724 with outlet plugs built right into the unit on the side and MC-4 PV input plugs on the bottom, and I built a DIY battery using 304Ah cells (24 volt) and Daly BMS with the 2A active balancer. It works great. We are using it in the Green house for now, later in the RV when the weather is warmer, and in the fall time we can use it around the homestead while we get ready for winter. Handy to have power anywhere you need it SILENT! unlike the gas generator we used to use, that is LOUD, smelly and expensive to gas up. Great project for anyone with a few basic tools and skills.
I already purchased from signature solar and I am not happy with them. I have inverter that I can't use until they send me a data cable and I don't own a computer so I have to find one and borrow it and I don't have internet so then I have to go find that it's just ridiculous this is supposed to be plugg and play. Anyhow I like the idea of the inverter that you bought but I would like it bigger. I already own three of the eg4 batteries and 14 of the 455 watt solar panels.
I brought four of the panels with me back home and the other 11are up at the cabin.
I have a growatt infinity 1300 power station which i like, just doesn't last long. So i started researching how to increase my battery capacity and fell down this rabbit hole to make a cart system that basically works like my growatt using the eg4 batteries I've all ready paid for.
I like the idea of the built in plugs of the unit 2724. Does ut come in a more powerful unit? One that will take more input from solar and one that will export more power so I can run like a window AC unit and hook up additional batteries?
Having endured the catastrophic ice storm in Texas, I am researching to find a solar back up. Now, I am already hearing of power outages in our state and something like this would certainly bring peace of mind. Great job!
I bought a 13k portable generator that runs off propane and gas and I keep a dedicated propane tank just for it. I'll be building a solar setup as well just to get off grid as much as possible. Best of luck in Texas from us here in Arkansas.
Thank you! God bless your endeavors!
Possibly a good idea to add a set of dummy clips for the solar connections you could use 3m clips to adhere them to the side of the inverter to both secure the cables further but also keep the solar connections clean from dust and dirt on field deployments
I love this idea! Very frustrated with all the options by bluetti or echoflow due to the cost. love this DIY and you have given me confidence to do it!
I'm SOOO tempted to build this!!! In an emergency, it seems pretty easy to run extension cables from it to my fridge, computers, etc. vs. trying to wire a backup system into existing wiring, cutoff transfer switches, etc.
Wow THIS LOOKS NICE I’m a newbie and have put together a 100 watt kit this weekend
Just to get started
I’m ready to make sure I step UP and this is very affordable
I’ll probably go with this exact build THANK YOU
I think it's a very good build myself there's other inverters out there but I'm starting to like the grow watt.
I just discovered your channel with this video, and... THIS is what i like !
Divert the use of an object, to create something useful, better and cheaper than what can be found on the market.
Really creative! Thank you !
Excellent information. Since portability means you might be moving this at unexpected times, I would fashion a waterproof cover, which would also keep the dust out when not in use. Tall garbage bags would do in a pinch and are cheap and lightweight. Adding a LED headlight (rechargeable) would help if grid power goes down. A bag of extension cords tied to the bag would come in handy. Larger tires, solid core, might add to the weight but would help going thru puddles, shallow water. If you use air tires, find a place for an inflator pump. I’d consider swapping out the power strip for one that has USB charging ports, or just add a second cheaper one.
Dude! Sounds like a sweet tricked out rig!
Princess Auto sells foam filled airless wheels.
Integrated USB ports get outdated every 5 years. They are a gimmic. 5 years from now USB A cords probably won’t even be included with any products. USB C are the new norm and most power strips don’t have USB C. Independent chargers are cheaper and usually must faster
@@Dr.LongMonkey I’ve been using USB ports for the past 10 years.
@@danlux4954 must be fun waiting 5 hours for your phone to charge. Meanwhile I’ll take my 1 hour change time
I love how clean and adjustable and reusable your setup is! Nothing is permanently joined with welding.
One adjustment for even cleaner setup. Use velcro stripes instead of tie-wraps.
Peace!
We live in a fantastic time for dependable energy, you can power a house, from a handtruck.. another excellent build. Thankyou for sharing. And I'll agree with others about the tires. Solid core tires with decent bearing will last forever.
Well not really 5kwh is hardly enough to power a realistically sized residential dwelling
You can add another battery pack then you will have 10KWh which is more than I what I use on my 1600Sq home per day. and it is great for rolling black out here in Cali.
@@budmartin3344 the only time I use 10kwh daily is in the cooler months. Texas is hot. Not everyone lives in “Cali”
@@Armenian Well, you just have to build your backup system based on your needs, no one size fit all. I have 10KWh system for my backup and it fits my need just fine.
@@budmartin3344 i understand this. And hence why I mentioned that 5kwh is hardly enough. You’re looking at a 30k+ investment just for energy storage alone. Not including panels and split phase controllers/inverters & wiring.
This was great and is now my model for a portable unit.
I already have a Bluetti AC200P that I use to run my fridge, freezer, and modem/router.
Your setup will give me what I need to run a window unit.
I live in Texas and have been to Signature Solar to purchase a panel. I need to make another trip back for these parts and more panels.
Thanks for all you do!!!
Which solar panels do you use to charge your Bluetti up with? I use (4) 200 watt Rich Solar panels to charge mine.
@@ImASurvivorNThriver I use a 395w URE bifacial panel.
Thanks, good idea. I had to build one. I ended up cutting off one side of the bottom U-bolt's threads for clearance of the inverter fastening holes. Pinched the u-bolt in a vice so it's tight around the dolly, and the one nut held it on very well. Unistrut caps are also a nice touch.. but at $5 each. Or you could use some large heat shrink to cover the struts -or both like I did
I bought a bag of strut end caps on ebay for about $10.
After owning several brands of portable premade units, I will be building my own in the future. Just too many complaints and issues from customers and poor customer service/support. Just makes sense.Easier to replace an item if a major component fails.
Brilliant concept & execution. Thanks for tsking the time to shoot this & share 👍
I really appreciate your explaining clearly on the Mc4 extension. I'll remember Pointy to negative. Just bought the EG4 with battery and planning to follow your very well easy to follow video. Mahalo.
Excellent presentation. Is there a video that shows how to build the solar array for this power station if I want to use it on a daily basis?
Very clear direction, all with out annoying background music. Thank you.
Connector biology 101: Pointy=male, “rectangular”=female.
I’m working on a similar build. Thanks for the ideas!
Connectors are a bit more complicated than that, unfortunately. Gender applies to the electrical contact, not the plastic shroud. If you look inside the shroud on each MC4 connector, you'll see inside the round one a "large" open metal part which receives the mating connector. This is the female. The male metal part in the rectangular plastic shroud is smaller diameter to fit inside the female, and sometimes is open on the end and sometimes closed.
@@Sylvan_dB And that's exactly why I called them "pointy" and "rectangular" LOL. The pins are opposite gender of what you'd expect by looking at the plastic housing. Calling it "pointy" sounds silly, but it's difficult to mix them up that way...
Would be nice if there were red and black connectors
That's actually badass for people that use camper covers / need a small package.
Maybe place a small block of foam on the bottom blade to cushion the battery and perhaps line the cart rails with pipe insulation to help prevent marring of the battery case. It would probably make the battery less likely to slide around on the red metal rails.
You can use back to back struts. They make pipe clamps that will fit the diameter of the dolly pipe. There are several ways to do what you want done by using different types and sizes of strut. Ask for the product book that will show all the pieces made and offered by the strut co. If you dont file the cut ends there are or were end caps available. It was cheapermost of the time to have both ends dipped in a rubber coating. Go to electrical supply house for material and if you're lucky the sales department guys will give you help and lots of ideas.
"positive lead goes to positive terminal", brilliant
Not Everyone understands "Electricity 101" however, so, while "Redundant" for us, it's still helpful, and important, since he's not shadowing each of us building one!
@@robertweekley5926 Awww. You so butch!
Can I suggest that, - prior to trimming the U bolt that you thread a bolt onto it and use the bolt to even out any issues with the thread when you take it of - some washers and spring washers will make it more secure - hose clamps instead of plastic ties, - a rachet strap on both the inverter and battery when wheeling over the rough stuff.
I like this.
A few things I'd do differently, call it the benefit of hindsight.
- position zip ties so the sharp cutoff are less accessible - less chance of cutting hands. (also use flush cut sidecutters)
- dual pole isolation switch on the solar input cables.
- mount a water proof switchboard cabinet on the trolley, then mount the components inside (yes this increases expense) the weatherproofing on this will be needed as I'm expecting it would be used outdoors for (say) camping, building sites, etc
- I dislike zip ties, find a different bolt mount system, I'd look at threaded bar and channel to clamp the battery in place.
but those are really cosmetic issues by comparison to the fundamentals. still good design.
thanks for creating and posting the video.
One could also drill a hole in the hand-truck (trolley) frame and put the cables through the frame.
x x ...I'm planning a similar build. Can you recommend a specific "water proof switchboard cabinet", and what parts would be inside? All of it inide one case would require...basically a small closet. I looked on Amazon, and it's not easy to sort by dimensions.
I'm sorry for all the questions but you've been a WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE. Systems like the bluetti or ecoflow have an ac output efficiency of about 80/85% have you done real would test to see the efficiency of the growatt and eg4 battery. I'm buying the new bluetti ac200L for a semi portable unit but LITERALLY because of all your videos and help IM BUILDING a diy growatt and eg4 battery system for home emergency. Its scalability to add thousands of watt hours and even to add a 2nd inverter for more output is amazing....... THANK YOU
Thank you for sharing!
I'm trying to learn about going solar (perfect for where I live, in the desert south west).
Unfortunately my knowledge of electricity is minimal, to non-existent (replacing outlets, switches, and installing light fixtures is all I've ever done).
That's why I love you, and Will.
Your instructions are extremely easy to understand, and with these all-in-one systems, makes it even easier.
But don't worry...I intend to find an electrician to make sure that it's correct.
❤️🌵☀️⛈️🌈☮️🐎
Wrap the zip ties around it several times before pulling it through the end and tightening it. Makes the zip tie stronger.
yes! you were able to turn the sound off. thank you so much for this tip, I hate the loud beeping. awesome build!
Yes! It's so obnoxious. I have no clue why that comes defaulted "on" for all of these inverters...
I built one. Had to extend the battery tray to hold solar panels during transport. I have 2 lead acid batteries and 2 super capacitors. The super capacitors cycle so the batteries don't. Like a capacitor on a car amplifier to keep headlights from dimming as the bass hits. A super capacitor can cycle millions of times and a lithium battery only 12000-18000 cycles. You get longer life out of batteries by using super capacitors. Super capacitors act as a soft start too. This also helps to reduce hard cycles and heat on batteries.
Dude. 12,000 cycles is over 30 years! Only?
@@russlo5324 Go look at some solar boat videos. 12000 cycles is only 4 years of daily use. That's only one cycle per day. In fact, several studies, indicate that battery capacity may drop as much as 40% or more after 1000 cycles.
Recommendations:
1) To avoid voiding the warrantee by drilling through the cage at the bottom of the Growatt Inverter, you could have made a custom aluminum mounting plate to make the attachment. One plate with 4 holes and added mounting hardware.
2) Advise the manufacturer of the design issue (flaw) with the mounting holes inside of the inverter cage at the bottom. They can easily add a flange at the bottom of the inverter housing, much like they did at the top of the inverter housing. I assume that the spacing of the slotted mounting plate at the top of the housing is spaced 16" apart for mounting with lag bolts to the standard 2"x4" stud spacing.
3) Explain why you placed a small piece of plywood between the handcart flange and the bottom of the battery (cell pack assembly).
Question:
1) When will you provide a video on the interconnection of the communication ports of the cell pack assembly and the Growatt inverter?
2) When will you cover setting up the WiFi connectivity? This will enable remote monitoring without needing go manually check the system. The remote system should alert you to when the system charge is low and requires recharging.
Note:
In the past, I haven't commented on your videos mostly because I don't have the time, however, I do monitor your UA-cam videos and am subscribed.
I appreciate your efforts! Keep up the great work that you do! Go forth and do good deeds!
Instead of using a single sided unistrut, Unistrut makes double sided unistrut and that would allow you to use spring nuts and pipe clamps to clamp the strut to the dolly and spring nuts with bolts to anchor the inverter.
Excellent design. I plan on buying a used Nissan Leaf and charging it using a similar device with a 7000 watt lithium cell, 12 volts and 3KW, pure sine wave inverter. Mine will be a bit larger and horizontal but still very much like yours which is pretty reasonable and appropriate.
Great build. I build my first after watching your earlier videos but its only 2400w with 2400w inverter. Maybe time to build another one. Just need to hide the receipts from the boss lady.
It's really amazing, so can I use this to my house as regularly I am ever day as normal electricity.
I like it that's pretty good idea really there are fancier hand carts that cost more but ones that have another wheel at the top too so they can be rolled around in the horizontal position also
Great video! I'm gonna build one of these with a Harbor Freight hand truck. It has the plastic wheels that you mentioned, but I don't expect to be using it outside my house. I'm old and getting it outside and off my porch would be an accident waiting to happen. LOL I bought a 3 KW, 24 volt, All In One, rather than the 48 volt unit that you're using, and I'm waiting on delivery of a REDODO 200AH 24V battery with a 200 amp BMS. That's going to be over 5 KW of storage and, along with several 200 and 300 watt portable solar panels, should get me through any emergency power outage that I might encounter. (I live in tornado country) I'm thinking about using some cheap HF 1" ratchet straps to hold everything to the hand truck until I'm satisfied with my layout. (to be honest, if it works well, initially, it will probably never be "improved" with a permanent installation, if you know what I mean 😉) Thanks for the content!
Nice build out. This is actually a deal. Solar generators are already starting to increase in price.
Thanks. And yes, everything is increasing in price unfortunately... I just ordered several feet of #4/0 cable last night and had price shock 😧
So cool...I am going to try building this awesome backup system.
In my neighborhood, there's always power outages.
Great setup! At a cost of 3k I wouldn’t just keep it on standby in the garage. I’d throw a few solar panels on that bad boy and take a few loads off the grid. The cost of a few panels is not much more as it relates of the current investment. The of Roi might not be huge but it in the case of increasing rates or leveraging time of use rates it good be. In theory you shouldn’t have to worry about life cycles on the battery or other expense and maintenance.
Lol
you did a really nice job.. it's almost plug and play!
Well doo)e. I like the double use of the power strip for input and output. Same thumbs up on the Anderson cable. Nice ideas there. I would like to see a framed box at the foot of dolly for the battery to rest into. I fear a big bump may allow latteral movement with risk the battery may pop off the dolly (small chance but not zero). Or maybe double sided tape? Super build. Good price. Thanks for sharing
Or a Ratchet Tie-Down Strap.
I built a portable power bank with strap for carrying a 200ah lithium but with the ability to add other battery's to increase capacity without going into the battery box. Using a Noco 8D box and 2500watt roarbatt inverter with 50 amp victron solar controller. cost under 1500$.
I put a large silicon mat i found cheap on amazon on top of the Noco battery box and that allowed me to screw components that can get hot on top of the plastic box without worrying about a meltdown. Wood was too bulky and less conforming. I decided to go with Terminal bus fuses to fuse in and out of the battery. I already have plans on building a 2nd box but that box will only have a kill switch and fused cables that can hook right into bus bars i installed on the main battery box.
I strongly recommend replacing the air-filled tires with solid core tires. In my experience the air-filled tires on those hand trucks lose air frequently and require maintenance air fills. Solid core tires means one less thing to maintain.
So true. I actually swapped out my tires for this reason a few weeks back. Good advice
I purposely picked one that had rubber tires. Ever try pulling one with skinny plastic tires through the grass? I've had this cart for almost 2 years now and have only put air in the tires once. I'm not concerned about it, it's super easy to put the bicycle pump on it for 10 seconds, but I do hear and understand your concern.
@@LithiumSolar dang that is so awesome. Out here in vegas the tires degrade and fall apart in a few months with our bombardment of uv rays and 120+ temperatures. Sounds like youre in a good environment compared to me haha. We do not have grass either. Just rock and dirt. So solid tires are great here. But I see why you chose yours
@@LithiumSolar they do make rubber, solid core wheels that are the same dimension of those air filled tires fwiw.
I love how detailed you were. I built mine on a 4- wheel cart instead of a dolly (hand truck). As a Petite female getting up there in age, I don't want all that weight coming @ me as I start to move it. Also, I built mine with two 3500 lumen 6500k led 2 ft. long light bars (I got them from Hykolity on Amazon). I live on 1.5 Acres & had a 4 day Black out here in deep South Texas last year. It would not have been Hell if I had built it before the Ercot fiasco. I use mine every single day! So now I am building a 2nd one and trust me, I will be using that one a lot as well since my She Shed is 90'wide x 140 ft. long & don't have electrical outlets in most areas. I wish I cud post pics here. Even when the Moon is not out & it is pitch black out here in the countryside, It looks like Chernobyl when I turn on those light bars!
Nice, simple design…well done.
Watch those tie wraps when you cut them square…they cut you when you least expect it.
Maybe, if you can find it a power strip with 20 amp capacity that also has USB ports built into it. If not, then just go and buy a good 110 small charger that has PD for USB-C & USB-A
Very down-to-earth and straight forward. Great video, awesome teacher
I have this same system running in my RV. You can power a 15,000 BTU Air Conditioner without soft-start. The Growatt is kind of a power hog though.
Great video. Something else I think people would want you to do is build a 240v ac output using two inverter setup. Some people might want to build two to charge their ev. Bluetti has an ac to dc charger for replacing the solar charge with ac charge at people's apartment residence. And multiple companies offer 240v ac split phase adapter, Jackery, Bluetti, Eco Flow, Anker, Pecron, and maybe more. I thought it would be too much work to drive ev while living in apartments, but it might be doable.
I am still looking for you to show how to set up the proper solar panels to charge this system. The solar power charging is the main feature I want to have. Also, I would like to know how long this setup would actually run that air compressor before the low battery cut off would stop it until it was recharged. The quality of an item like this to me is 1) What devices will it run and how long 2) Total cost 3) Being able to run and continue to run the invertor with a solar panel input as long as the sun is out of course
Vt. X amp = Wattwstt
You do math. Not my work or study
V x A = W
Very clean without the plywood but the plywood does provide more mounting flexibility.
Awesome. So the goal, if I understand correctly, was to make this pricey setup more functional as both a solar power system and quick disconnect from solar array to be used as a portable/backup power when desired? Seems well suited and easily pulled up a simple ramp into a p/u truck or trailer for offsite power, fun wknd portable power at beach, campsite, jobsite, etc. I have used a similar dolly setup for portable dual high velocity 22" fans with mister system for portable cooling in scorching Tx. This for RV class C solar setup, hmmm? Perhaps laid down in an outside storage compartment? Roll in / out horizontal? Specs of the 100 ah 48 volt EG4 battery is 109 lbs. I would also have connections to EG4 inverter/controller for my Onan generator and truck alternator beside solar array. Feasible to have those easy quick disconnects? Guess just nut release?
Those lower bolt holes on the inverter had solid steel around it for sturdiness. Those you drilled were surrounded by other holes. You’d probably want to use at least a 1” washer or greater on those bolts.
love the handtruck!! that's a heavy battery😮
compared to the light weight Growatt!!
also like the PV connection
, the Growatt is a little tricky to access
a few extra inches between the battery and the all in one unit could help!
I got to use this system this am when someone hit a utility poll up the street!
first time I needed bigger load and it worked like a charm !!😊
I'm impressed by this...really like it.
Really nice. Also perfect for a construction jobsite. No need to erect a temp power pole etc.
The first step I would have performed would be to flip that EG4 cover in order to make the presentation look more uniform. Great overall. Thanks for the presentation.
Believe it or not, I tried that... it doesn't go on the other way, the screw holes don't line up unfortunately.
@@LithiumSolar Ha, I stand corrected! Thanks for your time in producing a quality video.
Great build, great video! As all-in-one solar generators get heavier, I think they may start using this form factor. The little wheels used on the current models will have to become heavier-duty and need metal axles, etc.
I will take your word on how it works. One of the best, if not the best video that ive ever watched.
I really liked your video. you made it look so simple to put together. I want to build one for myself but I would like to know if you would recommend any changes to the hardware you used from the time you made your video, and what is available now.
Quality parts UL listed too, good instructions, Huge plus for using 48v. Nicely Done🇺🇸👍🏻
I would love to see some testing. How many panels do you plan to have for this? The specs seem to indicate short strings.
A new video is up showing the solar panel connections 🙂
ua-cam.com/video/QWJpafOHoD0/v-deo.html
That makes a lot better portable power supply than buying one, like a Bluetti. A little bit bulkier in size but, so much more if your powerstrip has USB plug-ins.
Thanks for the Build and reviews, and the prices! Freakin awesome stuff UL also.
Very nice build ! The only thing I would add is either loc tight / thread locker for the bolts or lock washers and line the resting rails with black rubber tape also for vibration dampening . Just a thought is all . Again great set up !!
Nice job and a well done video. One question, how long did it take to initially charge the battery?