XPost: rec.radio.amateur.moderated, uk.radio.amateur, free.uk.amateur-radio

M0IAX

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100ah Solar Generator

Posted: 06 Apr 2022 07:37 AM PDT https://m0iax.com/2022/04/06/100ah-solar-generator/



For some time now Ive been using LoFePo4 batteries for my radio and camping power, I have a 20ah battery in a deli case in the care that provides power
for my Yeasu FTM-300 and also powers my portable radios when required. It
works great and I have a 100w portable solo panel to charge it so that it
costs me nothing to provide power to my radios and iPad/iPhone when camping
or on a day put portable.




Sometimes though, 20ah isnt quite enough. So early this year I started to
build a solar generator due to the impending doom of the current crisis no mater when you read this I am sure there will be a crisis that you can
apply here, so whatever the current crisis or emergency is it doesnt really matter




To start with I needed a suitable LiFePo4 battery, I decided to buy a commercially available one that included a BMS with Bluetooth so I could
easily monitor it. I chose an Ultramax 100Ah as I have had a couple of 12ah batteries of the same brand for a few years and they have worked very well.








This came with mains charger, I dont intend to use this but will carry it
just in case.




Next I added a a distribution box with Andersone power poles and a circuit breaker so that I can easily isolate the battery, for both safety and preventing unintentional discharge when not in use.








The circuit breaker is 50a and I dont think I have anything that will pull
that much current, but the battery is capable of providing 100a so I may
change this later.




Next of course I needed a case to put it all in, I got this from solent plastics and its the 22 litre top opening case I also bought the carrying
strap designed for the case.








The case is just large enough to fit the battery with space around of to
mount the powerpole distribution panel and carry some cables and the mains
and solar charger.








The power is supplied to the distribution panel with the circuit breaker on
the positive cable, I added an additional cable fused on both positive and negative with cable rated to 30A that will only really be used for charging.




To hold the battery firmly in place I used some dense foam gardening knee
pads that my wife left where I could reach them, she should know better by
now I simply cut them down and used them as packing and thats held the
battery in place so far.




With the battery box almost ready I had a look for a suitable solar panel,
as previously mentioned I already had a 100w portable panel that worked
well so I got the 220w version to charge this battery.








The panel folds to 1/4 the size which is sort of suitcase so it portable enough for what I need and reasonable value. it comes with a change
controller, but I wanted one with the ability to monitor the charge.




So the latest addition to the box is a Victron charge controller same brand
as the battery charger I have used for several years so hopefully it is as reliable.








its about 3mm too tall to be permanently mounted in the lid or on top of
the battery but can be stored at the side of the battery when not in use.








To provide some illumination I added an LED lamp, this draws less than 1a
so will run for over a week on this battery if needed, and I also attached
some 12v sockets and USB charge sockets to the inside of the lid.








And I also made up a few cables to carry in the box.








So far since completing the solar generator I have used it to power and
charge my radios and to charge my iPad.




It also kept my phone, iPad and Sarahs phone and iPad charged during a 4
day power outage at home (we were using the iPads to watch movies most of
the time so they needed recharging every day sometimes more than once) and
it still had most of its power left at the end of the power cut)




Im going to use it this year for keeping my radios powered 100% off grid
and for camping trips etc with the constantly rising cost of electricity it will probably pay for itself by the end of the year!




73




Mark, M0IAX

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