I've had 20kW of grid tied solar for about two years now. Two things I know for certain: 1. There is no "optimal solution" without having the benefit of an unlimited budget. 2. The vast majority of your solar power is collected between 10am-3pm, and I have nearly two years' worth of energy monitor data to back that up. That's a great setup there as you're taking advantage of the peak hours, and the panels are also partially protected by the fabric roofs. If a certain solution works for you in your usage scenario, it's the right solution.
I have to say. I appreciate the bloopers at the end. A lot of people (myself included) look at these youtuber's and say "no way, I can't do that!" not knowing that there are multiple 'takes' and post editing going on in the background. Thank you for another great video!
You can do UA-cam if you want to just do it don’t worry about what you can’t do just start doing it and step on the land mines as you go you’ll figure it out and get better. All these TV shows and movies. All of this is an allusion. It takes a lot of work a lot of mistakes and all of that. There is no person that has some magical advantage over other people. I would say if you want to do it, go for it.
Love the FrankenConnector, maybe Mango can build one as an accessory. Great Video. I agree these batteries are the future. When the sun is being uncooperative, im sure they can manufacture a way for the alternator to recharge the batteries. Give this video a rating of 11 out of 10 stars :)
Great suggestion, mango E come up with an alternator hook up cable. That’s one thing I’ve never seen with any of these units and that may be a lot easier said than done. But how cool would it be to be able to charge your power station by running your car for just 20 minutes.
What I learned with solar for 10 years is it is great except for the foggy rainy, snowy multiple days in a row that it just does not work. But a small generator charges up the batteries then. Did charge them, they are old now and need replacement. I would disagree about the fun of arguing about split phase, it always seems like when you want to teach the basics to someone with no knowledge on AC power someone needs to make it so complicated they give up again. It is OK if some people have a rudimentary understanding and they do not need to be overrun with the magic. The garden hose analogy is OK for beginners. Your cable you made is not bad, it was not unsafe and it did the job needed. The thing is all of that would need to be stored someplace. Thank you it was a very good explanation how this can be used by a beginner. I would love one of those units but it is not in the budget for now. We did loose power about 2 in the morning and it was about 10 below outside, I did not even think about getting the generator out of the garage. Hope you had a Merry Christmas and stay safe and healthy.
Love watching your videos. Your approach to fixes are down to earth and at the same time helping save people money. Because of your videos we are looking at Tiffins as our next adventure. I would love to see a broad video on how different manufactures build their roof systems. Not just the top covering but the frame work if any. Thanks and have a great New Year.
So clear this up for me. Using two of these I can use them to supply off grid power to a Diesel Pusher 50-amp shore cord and still run two roof-top ACs simultaneously. That is assuming 18-20 amps per AC / per leg.
The issue with all these battery systems for off-grid is power management, as you can't refill them fast enough, and continue to consume the power for when the sun is down, or cloudy out. Everyone says that I can run off them forever, but as you even saw, you have about 2.5hours of run time, before the batteries are depleted and then no more power. That won't work out very will in the AZ heat. Unless you have about 5K watts of solar to both supply and recharge the units. For periodic draws like your shop they are an excellent choice, as the solar can recharge the batteries without issues, its the fact you need the fridge and AC to work 24 hours a day. Its all about the use case and the ability to power manage the usage. Great video by the way James.
-Try not too connect or disconect solar panels in sun. You will blow the fuse in your solar charger. HAPPY NEW YEAR JAMES HE'RES TO A GREAT YEAR TOO COME CHEERS Steve h.
Love the way you do your videos, with that tongue-in-cheek wry smile style. Appreciate it. Although what you are McGyvering isn't that overly complex to put together, getting the voltage and watts correct I would find challenging because electrical has never been my forte. Keep the videos coming buddy, I always learn something watching you in action.
Great addition to your first review. I, too have bumped my head on the high voltage needed for the solar panel input to move power. But otherwise, I really think that my Mango is perfect for a lot of tasks. Thanks again and always for your informative efforts.
I would still have a small 2200w gas generator with eco mode I could use to charge my system in a pinch when that sun just doesn’t shine on those cloudy days👍 that is what I do now with my solar setup….
Nice video. I envy you still have good dexterity on your left hand to do things with it, while right hand busy recording. My left thumb base ligaments are stressed out and ache from over use for my work.
James, I’ve designed electrical systems for 35 years. With 3 years of solar. You are absolutely correct to be leery of any electrical videos. There are lots of opinions, most without knowledge or training. The peak time for solar is 9:00 to 3:00. As long as you make near or more than you use, who cares. I’m not going to get into “split phase, out of phase, 180 degrees, or two phases. A couple things, a larger coach with three AC’s could be an issue if two that you want to run are on the same bus in the panel. Please do a continuity check from ground to neutral. If continuity, all is good. If not, a built in EMS surge protection unit will not work. The fix would be to get a neutral to ground plug. They are available at Amazon. This will bond them as is required to make it run. Earth ground is wrong terminology. That is equipment ground. Earth ground(Grounding Electrode, and grounding electrode conductor) is for lightning protection. You will not be grounding these systems. If this does not make sense, or you have questions, let me know. Hope you had great Christmas and a good new year! Kevin
I can surely see how this addresses an immediate issue you have when it comes to shop power. Given it's bulk and limited storage on most RVs, I can't see this translating very well to a mobile use set up for RVs. Also given the cost of some of these items, seems like it would be more practical to do a traditional RV solar set up? Maybe a future comparison video (hahahaha)?? Love your stuff and thanks for the info!!
Totally agree with you....use the free energy ! Cut down more of the maintenance and fuel costs. These types of power boxes provide great opportunities. Absolutely love how two (2) Mango Power E units can be connected. This is a great way to build more utility and adds great functionalities. The next area that could use a little more attention are the batteries and some means to make them upgradable and expandable. Solar panels in strings have limits that those of us with just a few panels in parallel quickly learn. My solar generation starts as early as 8:30-9am and can extend to 5pm in the winter and i don't need a fancy MPPT solar charge controller; my turn on is at 21volts and 2-6amps per 100watt panel. Over my full day our captured solar power quickly adds up. My limit is the batteries and my intention is to run my not just all my lighting, but also the refrigerator and freezer units full-time from solar. Have not enjoyed my utility's frequent outages.
I really like your video because it's kind of what I would have to do for my situation and I don't got RVs but I got other hookups that 240 volts 50 amp and 120 volts 30 amp . Some of the same solution would have I would probably have to have to also slightly different than what you have for a situation I would have. So thanks for the video and thanks for teaching lessons.
Really enjoy your videos. Just a note on your solar panel configuration on the roof of your shop. Since the panels are connected in series, any partial shading may be preventing any charging of the mango power station. You may be better off placing all of your panels in a single line either on one side or down the middle. You can test your current configuration by partially shading one panel to see if charging is lost. Or check the exact time in the morning that charging starts and in the afternoon for when charging stops. I think a single row configuration will maximize your charging time.
Thanks for showing how to do this type system, with all the “portable solar systems” out in the market now it will help a LOT of RV’ers!!! We are going the Bluetti route - 2 x AC500’s, 4 x B300/S (more later as $$$$ are available 😉). Bluetti has cables coming out for what you used, and we’re using a transfer switch box to connect into the RV 2x 120V legs at ~50A each. You have done a great thing by being a true RV’er - Thanks!😁😷
Man, I'd love to have one or two of those units for both my '95 G20 Custom Van for camping and for in my sons room if the lights go out. I have UPS systems in the house now for those situations but they are not capable of running his equipment very long at all and have to have 110 to recharge. Where as these units could keep it all going indefinitely as long as I add a few solar panels. Thanks for these demonstrations I was already looking at these and you just confirmed that I really do need to find a way to get at least one. Thing is even on sale they're just so prohibitively expensive. I'll have to wait until the tech becomes more common place and as a result hopefully much, much cheaper... Thanks again, God Bless...
I think the mango and then a normal mission generator both at your place, I live up in Washington and this time of year we barely get 8 1/2 hours worth of obstructed daylight, so I’m not entirely sure how well it would charge with clouds all day. It’s definitely something I would love to try and if I were a true Boondocker, I would probably use the mango for during the day and have a small back up generator for the evening in case I didn’t get a charge out of it. Nonetheless, great video. Enjoyed it. Hope you enjoy your new year.
Interesting technique.. magnets! could make a neat way to mount on a steel roof…. no holes, so no leaks and no caulking to wear out and require upkeep. Wonder if this would on a mobile situation like a schooly.. or you could glue down some fender style washers (magnetic and preferably rustless).
So I'm just down the road in sun city and my solar sucks today lol been using solar for years on the house but please talk about the power bank after 7 years how to dispose of lythum batterys and then a new cost to replace
I'm done with this project. Waited for almost two years for mango power union, just to be struggling with it past 3 months. All units I received failed, and I'm stuck with expenses solar system that I cannot put to use. Mango sims to have a new strategy now, just to avoid answering questions. I even offered to replace faulty parts, and work with them as much as possible to get that system going. Ridiculous.
Don't worry all this smart people are electricians would tell you you doing something right and wrong both at the same and they'll probably try to explain it to you and I think you're doing everything just as perfect as can be especially when I see that electricians do the same thing they just don't admit to it sometimes.
The sun is also towards the south during winter. You'll be fine. As far as the solar system a user would probably want at least 60 volts going in to the system to justify the purchase anyways. If you're serious about running your ac off solar you're better off considering getting a mini split with a SEER rating of 20 or higher. They are far more efficient than a standard roof air and can run forever. They make an expanded polystyrene foam insulation kit for storage containers that has a nice R rating you should consider installing before summer hits. Install a mini split and you'll be in good shape for the heat. Btw, 'insofast' makes the kits. There's probably others as well
I have a beaver marquis that I just added 1000 watts of solar to roof and 800watts foldable panels but I did 4000 watt inverter and 650amp hours of batteries.
It would be so cool if Mango made a product w/ the same features of the Power E, but in a single power unit that can bolt in as an an exact replacement of the Onan generator sets making retrofits super clean. It would also swap the weight of the Onan for the weight of the power system in the same coach location. Hopefully not affecting the vehicle’s carrying capacity. You can also utilize the RV’s existing wiring system and functionality without any changes.
I'm thinking units like that will be more common, especially removing the lead acid batteries, stand alone battery charger, and with LED lighting the standard and electric refrigerators this is a far superior setup anyway.
Thank you, James, love your videos. They are very informative, and you make them entertaining. I'm looking for a solution to run my 30amp coach not using the onboard gen. Looking to run a security system while boondocking, and possibly have the ability to run one of the 2 AC units.
That Mango unit looks like very light weight construction plastic but I guess they are only suppose to last for so many charges so maybe it all balances out. Hopefully more manufacturers get into the battery gen business. You might be able to increase your optimal hours of solar power collection by lifting the solar panels a few feet above the metal storage shed.
It's a pretty solid box that I intentionally dragged around in the gravel and dirt and mud. I did secretly take it apart so there is access, and the electronics are mounted securely in a robust frame close to unistrut.
Nice video and proof of concept. I wonder what the life expectancy of the Mango power unit will be. I looked at some of those systems, but at this point I just keep using the 10kw diesel generator that’s in the coach. I can buy around 1000 gallon of Diesel fuel that will provide 2500hrs of inverter and charger use in my case.
people get ticked when genset's are running at night. don't forget wind gen's that can be running at night that could be popped in a socket on the roof and plugged in charging at night.
James, what happened to the camper you dropped off in northern AZ a couple of years ago, not that you have had much time to visit it. Was curious about your get hide away stop. MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR.
So, this unit has a 3.5kWh battery and so for a 12V system you would get about 300Ah of which about 240 is usable. To use it you need only to connect the solar and the RV. I get simplicity, but not the practicality. If I am RVing somewhere, I am not going to leave my Mango-E and my solar panels lying around when I go for a hike or they will be gone 15 minutes after I leave. So, I either sit around beside the RV reading a book and charge my batteries or I stow everything and go hiking. I can read a book at home. Your unit is listed at $3600 USD and so for me in Canada with exchange and taxes its gonna be about $5500 CAD. I put in a solar unit on my 35 foot gas RV with 800W on the roof and 4 x 100 Ah LFE batteries for a total of
Yes, you can get 7200 watts out of the combined Mango setup, but it;s not free for ever at all. At some point, somehow, you still need to be able put that 7200 watts back into the Mangos, and you're not gonna do it very fast at 200 watts. Yes, you can get 7200 watts for one hour, or 3600 watts for 2hrs, but at some point you have to generate that power, which means you have to turn off everything and sit in the dark for 36 hrs of full sun to replentish the Mangos back to 100% if you only have 200W of solar panels available. IMO the "power centers" like the mango are basically a scam in the way they are being marketed. They're not a replacement for anything, they're just a way to store and transport power generated somewhere else.
your points are fairly accuracte except its 800 watts of solar. A boondocker off grid RVer, already has power management as a learned art, but LED lights and a refrigerator will run all day on the excess solar, keeping the battery charged for night use, and recharge with sunlight the next day. Microwave is short term use, it's really the A/C, but those will be changing soon too. My biggest gripe is that the 12vdc outlet is rated at 10amps, I'd like to remove the house batteries completely, but10amps won't cut it, I'd like a good 50amp 12vdc circuit out.
James, while your setup works... in Dec in AZ and for maybe a few hours, it cannot replace an ICE generator for meeting power needs over a full day period of time. And, remember this new setup has over $9,000 worth of equipment cost. Sure it saves on future gas and maintenance costs but 2 to 3 hours of "free" power is easily surpassed with 24-hours of low cost generator purchase cost and operation. Do your test in Arizona in August and when you run out of power 2-hours into your day with an 8 to 10 hour recharge time using free solar you wouldn't even last one day before getting the gas generator.
I think I did say az summer is a bad idea for this. Short of the ac this will run most rvs with free power. Rv roof ac are trash and that will change too, truma has a unit coming out which will start forcing a change on that side too.
@@AZExpert I certainly agree that RV roof A/Cs are loud, lumbering, inefficient beasts that users have been stuck with for decades. OEMs buy them by the truckload and are so slow to change. The Truma and other's are just starting to make a dent but it seems most OEMs are only putting them in Class B Vans at this time. If Truma made a drop in replacement for a Coleman-Mach and Dometic that worked with those brand's thermostat wiring then every two years when our A/C units fail - as they seem to do every 2-3 years - we could replace them with better A/Cs.
It puts the two hot 120VAC legs 180 degrees out of phase, which is the only way to get 240VAC from two 120VAC legs. If they were exactly synchronized to the same phase 0 degrees apart,, there would be 0V between the two hots. If they were 120 degrees apart, it would be 208VAC betwen them. If the AC voltage between the two legs slowly varied from 0V to 240V and back down, it would mean the frequencies were a little different, rather than exactly equal and phase locked relative to each other. If the voltage were a different but steady amount each time you started it up, it would mean the frequency is identical but the phases are not locked. So the adapter thing matches the frequencies exactly, and locks the phases 180 degrees apart to give 240V between the hot legs.
I'm surprised you went with these battery packs instead of just building trailer or cart of some type with victron solar equipment and lithium batteries like a rv would use anyways.
I am curious… you say that we need to inspect our roofs at least once a year and that only the lower seal is what protects from leaks the top sealant is just to redirect water, does that mean the lap sealant on top isn’t water tight? We live in Riverside CA and my stepdad has a 2008 Bounder 35h and it is hardly used… has 10,000 miles on it… he has never touched his roof, never resealed it and it looks like there is hardly any lap sealant on it… yet he has no leaks 🤷♂️… when it’s cold the TPO roof will have some wrinkles but it looks tight and normal when it warms up which I’m told is normal… so what exactly are we looking for and last what is the best lap sealant for a TPO roof? (Bounder Royal Tuff Roof)
@@AZExpert hi there thanks for the reply. But you might have replied to me but for someone else’s question. I was hoping to get a link to your magnets. I also have a UA-cam channel and would love to do the same thing and give you a shoutout when I attach the panels to my southern facing back porch roof. Thanks!
I think they'd be perfect if I buy my daughter a camper and myself camper but my daughter's close to being 18 years old and she said she wants to live in something like that so I couldn't go up and get her one and get it all set up for her then maybe at the same time I'll do the same thing for myself and also set up my house for the same thing which also means I have to buy 6 of those generators and it's batteries meaning of us have to buy 6 batteries that'd be a bit more than$14,000 * 3.
I have a question. Suppose you are using the power station to power the RV or house. Can you plug the 120 AC charging plug into an outlet and then back into the battery so that at the same time it is powering the RV it is charging itself? That would be like a perpetual usage and charging set up.
I bought a 2001 Monaco and the leveling system wasn’t working. I climbed underneath and the electric plugs going to the pumps disenigrated in my fingers. Can you still buy those
Highly informative, but the math is off. The grey boxes that were sent to you told you there were 3 hours of power available under some load. How is that going to last from 3pm today to 10am tomorrow? 3pm today to 10am tomorrow is 19 hours. This does not compute. 3 hours does not equal 19 hours. To be completely off grid requires more batteries and more solar panels = even more $$$, more roof acreage and more battery storage space with more weight.
He was not claiming you could run ACs 24/7 from solar, in fact he said you can't. It is more than enough solar input and battery storage to run your electronics, LEDs, and everything else reasonable (but not electric heat, AC, electric oven etc) 24/7, especially if you ditch the portable solar and as you say, cover the roof "acreage" with permanent solar.
Too bad I want better buy that to the end of the year then that's probably when I will actually have the money it. I mean I am looking at $14,000 or more.
I've had 20kW of grid tied solar for about two years now. Two things I know for certain: 1. There is no "optimal solution" without having the benefit of an unlimited budget. 2. The vast majority of your solar power is collected between 10am-3pm, and I have nearly two years' worth of energy monitor data to back that up. That's a great setup there as you're taking advantage of the peak hours, and the panels are also partially protected by the fabric roofs.
If a certain solution works for you in your usage scenario, it's the right solution.
No Generator, NO Noise ‼️ BEAUTIFUL SOLUTION ‼️‼️ LOVE IT.
I have to say. I appreciate the bloopers at the end. A lot of people (myself included) look at these youtuber's and say "no way, I can't do that!" not knowing that there are multiple 'takes' and post editing going on in the background. Thank you for another great video!
LOL
You can do UA-cam if you want to just do it don’t worry about what you can’t do just start doing it and step on the land mines as you go you’ll figure it out and get better. All these TV shows and movies. All of this is an allusion. It takes a lot of work a lot of mistakes and all of that. There is no person that has some magical advantage over other people. I would say if you want to do it, go for it.
Very good video James. Thank you Mango Power for teaming up with James sharing this great product. Happy trails!
Great video. Thank you for all of your time, effort, and hard work.
Glad you "SHOT FOR THE STARS!", we were all hoping to find out the same. Thanks for your amazing "One handed camera work" , loving it!
Love the FrankenConnector, maybe Mango can build one as an accessory.
Great Video. I agree these batteries are the future. When the sun is being uncooperative, im sure they can manufacture a way for the alternator to recharge the batteries. Give this video a rating of 11 out of 10 stars :)
Great suggestion, mango E come up with an alternator hook up cable. That’s one thing I’ve never seen with any of these units and that may be a lot easier said than done. But how cool would it be to be able to charge your power station by running your car for just 20 minutes.
Great Job James. Your our modern day McGyver. Learned lots of tips and tricks from that old show. LOL
Thank you James 😊, I always enjoy your bloopers at the end, for the haters there are cheaper ways to do this but proof of concept is right on
What I learned with solar for 10 years is it is great except for the foggy rainy, snowy multiple days in a row that it just does not work. But a small generator charges up the batteries then. Did charge them, they are old now and need replacement. I would disagree about the fun of arguing about split phase, it always seems like when you want to teach the basics to someone with no knowledge on AC power someone needs to make it so complicated they give up again. It is OK if some people have a rudimentary understanding and they do not need to be overrun with the magic. The garden hose analogy is OK for beginners. Your cable you made is not bad, it was not unsafe and it did the job needed. The thing is all of that would need to be stored someplace. Thank you it was a very good explanation how this can be used by a beginner. I would love one of those units but it is not in the budget for now. We did loose power about 2 in the morning and it was about 10 below outside, I did not even think about getting the generator out of the garage. Hope you had a Merry Christmas and stay safe and healthy.
Love this. Was looking to build my own, but this may be a good alternative
Thanks for the expanded experiment and all of the in/out walking you had to do to set it up!
Love watching your videos. Your approach to fixes are down to earth and at the same time helping save people money. Because of your videos we are looking at Tiffins as our next adventure.
I would love to see a broad video on how different manufactures build their roof systems. Not just the top covering but the frame work if any. Thanks and have a great New Year.
So clear this up for me. Using two of these I can use them to supply off grid power to a Diesel Pusher 50-amp shore cord and still run two roof-top ACs simultaneously. That is assuming 18-20 amps per AC / per leg.
Radio I learn more about the Mango E than I ever knew before. Thank you.
Very informative and inspirational! Thank You!
The issue with all these battery systems for off-grid is power management, as you can't refill them fast enough, and continue to consume the power for when the sun is down, or cloudy out. Everyone says that I can run off them forever, but as you even saw, you have about 2.5hours of run time, before the batteries are depleted and then no more power. That won't work out very will in the AZ heat. Unless you have about 5K watts of solar to both supply and recharge the units. For periodic draws like your shop they are an excellent choice, as the solar can recharge the batteries without issues, its the fact you need the fridge and AC to work 24 hours a day. Its all about the use case and the ability to power manage the usage. Great video by the way James.
-Try not too connect or disconect solar panels in sun. You will blow the fuse in your solar charger. HAPPY NEW YEAR JAMES HE'RES TO A GREAT YEAR TOO COME CHEERS Steve h.
Thanks for the advice
Love the way you do your videos, with that tongue-in-cheek wry smile style. Appreciate it. Although what you are McGyvering isn't that overly complex to put together, getting the voltage and watts correct I would find challenging because electrical has never been my forte. Keep the videos coming buddy, I always learn something watching you in action.
Great addition to your first review. I, too have bumped my head on the high voltage needed for the solar panel input to move power. But otherwise, I really think that my Mango is perfect for a lot of tasks. Thanks again and always for your informative efforts.
I would still have a small 2200w gas generator with eco mode I could use to charge my system in a pinch when that sun just doesn’t shine on those cloudy days👍 that is what I do now with my solar setup….
Always great videos and ver educational. We look forward to each video you post.
Never boring! Thanks.
Great for a schoolie
You're getting good at the editing!
Great video hope you get to keep it all for Free!
Nice video. I envy you still have good dexterity on your left hand to do things with it, while right hand busy recording.
My left thumb base ligaments are stressed out and ache from over use for my work.
James, I’ve designed electrical systems for 35 years. With 3 years of solar. You are absolutely correct to be leery of any electrical videos. There are lots of opinions, most without knowledge or training. The peak time for solar is 9:00 to 3:00. As long as you make near or more than you use, who cares. I’m not going to get into “split phase, out of phase, 180 degrees, or two phases. A couple things, a larger coach with three AC’s could be an issue if two that you want to run are on the same bus in the panel. Please do a continuity check from ground to neutral. If continuity, all is good. If not, a built in EMS surge protection unit will not work. The fix would be to get a neutral to ground plug. They are available at Amazon. This will bond them as is required to make it run. Earth ground is wrong terminology. That is equipment ground. Earth ground(Grounding Electrode, and grounding electrode conductor) is for lightning protection. You will not be grounding these systems. If this does not make sense, or you have questions, let me know. Hope you had great Christmas and a good new year! Kevin
I can surely see how this addresses an immediate issue you have when it comes to shop power. Given it's bulk and limited storage on most RVs, I can't see this translating very well to a mobile use set up for RVs. Also given the cost of some of these items, seems like it would be more practical to do a traditional RV solar set up? Maybe a future comparison video (hahahaha)??
Love your stuff and thanks for the info!!
Totally agree with you....use the free energy ! Cut down more of the maintenance and fuel costs. These types of power boxes provide great opportunities.
Absolutely love how two (2) Mango Power E units can be connected. This is a great way to build more utility and adds great functionalities.
The next area that could use a little more attention are the batteries and some means to make them upgradable and expandable.
Solar panels in strings have limits that those of us with just a few panels in parallel quickly learn. My solar generation starts as early as 8:30-9am and can extend to 5pm in the winter and i don't need a fancy MPPT solar charge controller; my turn on is at 21volts and 2-6amps per 100watt panel. Over my full day our captured solar power quickly adds up. My limit is the batteries and my intention is to run my not just all my lighting, but also the refrigerator and freezer units full-time from solar.
Have not enjoyed my utility's frequent outages.
Thanks for watching! :)
I really like your video because it's kind of what I would have to do for my situation and I don't got RVs but I got other hookups that 240 volts 50 amp and 120 volts 30 amp . Some of the same solution would have I would probably have to have to also slightly different than what you have for a situation I would have. So thanks for the video and thanks for teaching lessons.
Very interesting and very cool! Thanks for the video!
Glad you liked it!
Really enjoy your videos. Just a note on your solar panel configuration on the roof of your shop. Since the panels are connected in series, any partial shading may be preventing any charging of the mango power station. You may be better off placing all of your panels in a single line either on one side or down the middle. You can test your current configuration by partially shading one panel to see if charging is lost. Or check the exact time in the morning that charging starts and in the afternoon for when charging stops. I think a single row configuration will maximize your charging time.
Great Instruction! it's the way of the future.
Thanks for showing how to do this type system, with all the “portable solar systems” out in the market now it will help a LOT of RV’ers!!! We are going the Bluetti route - 2 x AC500’s, 4 x B300/S (more later as $$$$ are available 😉). Bluetti has cables coming out for what you used, and we’re using a transfer switch box to connect into the RV 2x 120V legs at ~50A each. You have done a great thing by being a true RV’er - Thanks!😁😷
Check out my Bluetti reviews www.youtube.com/@watchlls
Great idea to count on your availability. There's no perfect system but you still have the upper hand.
Man, I'd love to have one or two of those units for both my '95 G20 Custom Van for camping and for in my sons room if the lights go out. I have UPS systems in the house now for those situations but they are not capable of running his equipment very long at all and have to have 110 to recharge. Where as these units could keep it all going indefinitely as long as I add a few solar panels. Thanks for these demonstrations I was already looking at these and you just confirmed that I really do need to find a way to get at least one. Thing is even on sale they're just so prohibitively expensive. I'll have to wait until the tech becomes more common place and as a result hopefully much, much cheaper...
Thanks again, God Bless...
Thank you for all the great information and advice.
I think the mango and then a normal mission generator both at your place, I live up in Washington and this time of year we barely get 8 1/2 hours worth of obstructed daylight, so I’m not entirely sure how well it would charge with clouds all day. It’s definitely something I would love to try and if I were a true Boondocker, I would probably use the mango for during the day and have a small back up generator for the evening in case I didn’t get a charge out of it. Nonetheless, great video. Enjoyed it. Hope you enjoy your new year.
Thank you!
Educational Summary:
It takes 2 to do
The Dual A/C Mango Tango
🥭💃🏼🕺🥭
Interesting technique.. magnets! could make a neat way to mount on a steel roof…. no holes, so no leaks and no caulking to wear out and require upkeep. Wonder if this would on a mobile situation like a schooly.. or you could glue down some fender style washers (magnetic and preferably rustless).
So I'm just down the road in sun city and my solar sucks today lol been using solar for years on the house but please talk about the power bank after 7 years how to dispose of lythum batterys and then a new cost to replace
Thx buddy, very interesting to ponder. The concept pleases
I'm done with this project. Waited for almost two years for mango power union, just to be struggling with it past 3 months. All units I received failed, and I'm stuck with expenses solar system that I cannot put to use. Mango sims to have a new strategy now, just to avoid answering questions. I even offered to replace faulty parts, and work with them as much as possible to get that system going. Ridiculous.
I think you meant to say that L1 and L2 are phased oppositely. I suspect that the interface accomplishes that detail.
Thanks for the great videos also. Hope to go solar when I start living full time in my RV
Will all this work for when I go into the desert to launch WOCKETS! 😱😁🤪🤣👍👍🇺🇸
Don't worry all this smart people are electricians would tell you you doing something right and wrong both at the same and they'll probably try to explain it to you and I think you're doing everything just as perfect as can be especially when I see that electricians do the same thing they just don't admit to it sometimes.
Now we solved endless power, we need a Mango 🥭 endless water system.
Great video James! Thank you for the info! Happy Holidays!
Put some aluminum reflective in the v on both sides and shit kick the sunlight problem
Great video James! Very educational.
The sun is also towards the south during winter. You'll be fine. As far as the solar system a user would probably want at least 60 volts going in to the system to justify the purchase anyways. If you're serious about running your ac off solar you're better off considering getting a mini split with a SEER rating of 20 or higher. They are far more efficient than a standard roof air and can run forever. They make an expanded polystyrene foam insulation kit for storage containers that has a nice R rating you should consider installing before summer hits. Install a mini split and you'll be in good shape for the heat. Btw, 'insofast' makes the kits. There's probably others as well
wish i could get just one dang nice
You are brilliant. Thanks for the video. Very informative.
Great video !! I like it
I have a beaver marquis that I just added 1000 watts of solar to roof and 800watts foldable panels but I did 4000 watt inverter and 650amp hours of batteries.
NICE!!! 4000watt inverters have been hard to find, is it still 12vdc?
It would be so cool if Mango made a product w/ the same features of the Power E, but in a single power unit that can bolt in as an an exact replacement of the Onan generator sets making retrofits super clean. It would also swap the weight of the Onan for the weight of the power system in the same coach location. Hopefully not affecting the vehicle’s carrying capacity. You can also utilize the RV’s existing wiring system and functionality without any changes.
I'm thinking units like that will be more common, especially removing the lead acid batteries, stand alone battery charger, and with LED lighting the standard and electric refrigerators this is a far superior setup anyway.
Thank you, James, love your videos. They are very informative, and you make them entertaining. I'm looking for a solution to run my 30amp coach not using the onboard gen. Looking to run a security system while boondocking, and possibly have the ability to run one of the 2 AC units.
That Mango unit looks like very light weight construction plastic but I guess they are only suppose to last for so many charges so maybe it all balances out. Hopefully more manufacturers get into the battery gen business.
You might be able to increase your optimal hours of solar power collection by lifting the solar panels a few feet above the metal storage shed.
It's a pretty solid box that I intentionally dragged around in the gravel and dirt and mud. I did secretly take it apart so there is access, and the electronics are mounted securely in a robust frame close to unistrut.
Love the channel, thx for the info and hard work….
Nice video and proof of concept. I wonder what the life expectancy of the Mango power unit will be.
I looked at some of those systems, but at this point I just keep using the 10kw diesel generator that’s in the coach. I can buy around 1000 gallon of Diesel fuel that will provide 2500hrs of inverter and charger use in my case.
Maybe we can get Mango to go all the way to 3600 watts, would cover my class C just fine :)
people get ticked when genset's are running at night. don't forget wind gen's that can be running at night that could be popped in a socket on the roof and plugged in charging at night.
Thank You. Very useful info.
Thank You 😊
I forgot say sixty-five days my friend seems like you're smarter than the average punch which makes an awful lot of sense.
So I guess you’ve never used The generators on the RVs you’re working on ? that seems like an easy way to get power 🤔
Awesome thanks
I've seen other battery generators that are cheaper ($/watt) than Mango so they would do well to lower their prices a bit.
Great info!
Cool
James, what happened to the camper you dropped off in northern AZ a couple of years ago, not that you have had much time to visit it. Was curious about your get hide away stop. MERRY CHRISTMAS AND HAPPY NEW YEAR.
Hi James. I hope you can help me with an RV inspection in Prescott AZ
So, this unit has a 3.5kWh battery and so for a 12V system you would get about 300Ah of which about 240 is usable. To use it you need only to connect the solar and the RV. I get simplicity, but not the practicality. If I am RVing somewhere, I am not going to leave my Mango-E and my solar panels lying around when I go for a hike or they will be gone 15 minutes after I leave. So, I either sit around beside the RV reading a book and charge my batteries or I stow everything and go hiking. I can read a book at home. Your unit is listed at $3600 USD and so for me in Canada with exchange and taxes its gonna be about $5500 CAD. I put in a solar unit on my 35 foot gas RV with 800W on the roof and 4 x 100 Ah LFE batteries for a total of
Yes, you can get 7200 watts out of the combined Mango setup, but it;s not free for ever at all. At some point, somehow, you still need to be able put that 7200 watts back into the Mangos, and you're not gonna do it very fast at 200 watts. Yes, you can get 7200 watts for one hour, or 3600 watts for 2hrs, but at some point you have to generate that power, which means you have to turn off everything and sit in the dark for 36 hrs of full sun to replentish the Mangos back to 100% if you only have 200W of solar panels available. IMO the "power centers" like the mango are basically a scam in the way they are being marketed. They're not a replacement for anything, they're just a way to store and transport power generated somewhere else.
your points are fairly accuracte except its 800 watts of solar. A boondocker off grid RVer, already has power management as a learned art, but LED lights and a refrigerator will run all day on the excess solar, keeping the battery charged for night use, and recharge with sunlight the next day. Microwave is short term use, it's really the A/C, but those will be changing soon too. My biggest gripe is that the 12vdc outlet is rated at 10amps, I'd like to remove the house batteries completely, but10amps won't cut it, I'd like a good 50amp 12vdc circuit out.
Hubble Twist Locks
James, while your setup works... in Dec in AZ and for maybe a few hours, it cannot replace an ICE generator for meeting power needs over a full day period of time. And, remember this new setup has over $9,000 worth of equipment cost. Sure it saves on future gas and maintenance costs but 2 to 3 hours of "free" power is easily surpassed with 24-hours of low cost generator purchase cost and operation. Do your test in Arizona in August and when you run out of power 2-hours into your day with an 8 to 10 hour recharge time using free solar you wouldn't even last one day before getting the gas generator.
I think I did say az summer is a bad idea for this. Short of the ac this will run most rvs with free power. Rv roof ac are trash and that will change too, truma has a unit coming out which will start forcing a change on that side too.
@@AZExpert I certainly agree that RV roof A/Cs are loud, lumbering, inefficient beasts that users have been stuck with for decades. OEMs buy them by the truckload and are so slow to change. The Truma and other's are just starting to make a dent but it seems most OEMs are only putting them in Class B Vans at this time. If Truma made a drop in replacement for a Coleman-Mach and Dometic that worked with those brand's thermostat wiring then every two years when our A/C units fail - as they seem to do every 2-3 years - we could replace them with better A/Cs.
My husband and I love watching your videos. What are your opinion on a foretravel presidential coach? Take care and be safe !!!
Great video, James. I have seen worse adapters than your.
Thanks for watching
I bet the cable you connected to join them synchronizes the AC.
It puts the two hot 120VAC legs 180 degrees out of phase, which is the only way to get 240VAC from two 120VAC legs. If they were exactly synchronized to the same phase 0 degrees apart,, there would be 0V between the two hots. If they were 120 degrees apart, it would be 208VAC betwen them.
If the AC voltage between the two legs slowly varied from 0V to 240V and back down, it would mean the frequencies were a little different, rather than exactly equal and phase locked relative to each other. If the voltage were a different but steady amount each time you started it up, it would mean the frequency is identical but the phases are not locked. So the adapter thing matches the frequencies exactly, and locks the phases 180 degrees apart to give 240V between the hot legs.
I'm surprised you went with these battery packs instead of just building trailer or cart of some type with victron solar equipment and lithium batteries like a rv would use anyways.
Well these were provided for me so.....
Bluetti does it all
You gotta get rid of that Prius and get a man car!😉
Thanks, I've found that any car I drive is a man car though! :)
Brilliant!! Excellent Form.👍🏜
29AH ? That's a pretty Small battery If I did my math right.
There is a dual 30 amp to 50 amp pigtail adapter. Would that work for this application?
I think for that price...id just get a bunch of lithium 12v or 6v pairs.
I am curious… you say that we need to inspect our roofs at least once a year and that only the lower seal is what protects from leaks the top sealant is just to redirect water, does that mean the lap sealant on top isn’t water tight? We live in Riverside CA and my stepdad has a 2008 Bounder 35h and it is hardly used… has 10,000 miles on it… he has never touched his roof, never resealed it and it looks like there is hardly any lap sealant on it… yet he has no leaks 🤷♂️… when it’s cold the TPO roof will have some wrinkles but it looks tight and normal when it warms up which I’m told is normal… so what exactly are we looking for and last what is the best lap sealant for a TPO roof? (Bounder Royal Tuff Roof)
California has a new law to not allow small gas generators to be installed and sold in new RV’s in couple years.
How would this work to power a house if it's not true split phase 220?
I guess the next question is how long will these units last. Having batteries with a system, when batteries die you just replace batteries.
They do have a 5 year warranty, but that is a good question.
Do you have a link to those magnets?
10 year on the fiberglass material only not stucture or workmanship of the roof
@@AZExpert hi there thanks for the reply. But you might have replied to me but for someone else’s question.
I was hoping to get a link to your magnets.
I also have a UA-cam channel and would love to do the same thing and give you a shoutout when I attach the panels to my southern facing back porch roof.
Thanks!
I think they'd be perfect if I buy my daughter a camper and myself camper but my daughter's close to being 18 years old and she said she wants to live in something like that so I couldn't go up and get her one and get it all set up for her then maybe at the same time I'll do the same thing for myself and also set up my house for the same thing which also means I have to buy 6 of those generators and it's batteries meaning of us have to buy 6 batteries that'd be a bit more than$14,000 * 3.
I have a question. Suppose you are using the power station to power the RV or house. Can you plug the 120 AC charging plug into an outlet and then back into the battery so that at the same time it is powering the RV it is charging itself? That would be like a perpetual usage and charging set up.
Will it work with 50hz in Ireland?
I bought a 2001 Monaco and the leveling system wasn’t working. I climbed underneath and the electric plugs going to the pumps disenigrated in my fingers. Can you still buy those
Highly informative, but the math is off. The grey boxes that were sent to you told you there were 3 hours of power available under some load. How is that going to last from 3pm today to 10am tomorrow? 3pm today to 10am tomorrow is 19 hours. This does not compute. 3 hours does not equal 19 hours. To be completely off grid requires more batteries and more solar panels = even more $$$, more roof acreage and more battery storage space with more weight.
He was not claiming you could run ACs 24/7 from solar, in fact he said you can't. It is more than enough solar input and battery storage to run your electronics, LEDs, and everything else reasonable (but not electric heat, AC, electric oven etc) 24/7, especially if you ditch the portable solar and as you say, cover the roof "acreage" with permanent solar.
What charges the house batteries? Plugged into shore power, but won't start and everything is dead if unplugged.
Too bad I want better buy that to the end of the year then that's probably when I will actually have the money it. I mean I am looking at $14,000 or more.