Anybody have a portable solar generator?

[jdmidwest]

8 minutes ago, MrGiggles said:

I think it's cool and all, but at the end of the day the most expensive power is the kind that you make yourself.

I don't know why people spend all kinds of money just to say they're "off grid." Doesn't seem like it would ever pencil out to me.

It sharpens the pencil in a "grid down" situation.

Here, its ice storms, wind, drunks hitting a pole.  Someday, it may be Doomsday.  Always have a backup plan.

The tornado that hit Fredricktown in late October nailed the main headquarters for the Co-Op that provide power for a big chunk of our area.  Flattened the maint building and office.  We never lost power at either of our locations, but the ability to repair damage by them was hindered.  It could have been worse. 

[N9BOW]

23 hours ago, Johnsfolly said:

Thanks @snagged in outlet 3! NOW I am seeing portable generator ads and we bought one this summer that uses gas and propane.🙄 

I got the same one!

Actually here is mine..

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01FAWMMEY/ clean enough sine wave to run the Ham Radio - Bought it after the Derachio hit us in Cedar Rapids IA.

I managed to get by running my fridge with this and all my 20/60v batteries this:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01H41SDGU

until I got stuff into my 150 qt cooler  we were out a week, my son was out for 2 weeks... It happens

used an 
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B012YUJJM8
for the phone. kinda minimalistic but was able to run the cell phone.

Cooked dinner on a couple different options

MSR reactor stove.... when the little bottle ran out used my GasOne - 50180 /50190 refill adaptors to get what little was left in the big 20lb tanks that were "Empty"  (I keep about 5 x 20lb tanks at the ready for cooking and the generator.)

and my little sweetheart Emberlit stoves (bought one for each of my kids to keep handy) https://emberlit.com/collections/stoves he's a good guy! - BTW his Sprongs are genius

Used that opportunity to polish up being self sufficient and treat it as a camping excursion.. Never used my bush craft primative (Punk wood charcoal in a Altoid tin - striker)  but it was at the ready.

 

 

[snagged in outlet 3]

1 hour ago, N9BOW said:

I got the same one!

Actually here is mine..

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01FAWMMEY/ clean enough sine wave to run the Ham Radio - Bought it after the Derachio hit us in Cedar Rapids IA.

I managed to get by running my fridge with this and all my 20/60v batteries this:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01H41SDGU

until I got stuff into my 150 qt cooler  we were out a week, my son was out for 2 weeks... It happens

used an 
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B012YUJJM8
for the phone. kinda minimalistic but was able to run the cell phone.

Cooked dinner on a couple different options

MSR reactor stove.... when the little bottle ran out used my GasOne - 50180 /50190 refill adaptors to get what little was left in the big 20lb tanks that were "Empty"  (I keep about 5 x 20lb tanks at the ready for cooking and the generator.)

and my little sweetheart Emberlit stoves (bought one for each of my kids to keep handy) https://emberlit.com/collections/stoves he's a good guy! - BTW his Sprongs are genius

Used that opportunity to polish up being self sufficient and treat it as a camping excursion.. Never used my bush craft primative (Punk wood charcoal in a Altoid tin - striker)  but it was at the ready.

 

 

Nice setup!!

[snagged in outlet 3]

12 hours ago, MrGiggles said:

I think it's cool and all, but at the end of the day the most expensive power is the kind that you make yourself.

I don't know why people spend all kinds of money just to say they're "off grid." Doesn't seem like it would ever pencil out to me.

I agree except when you NEED a backup like @jdmidwest and @N9BOWsaid.   
I sold steel roofs for a while and a few people were going solar with them.  It would take me decades to just break even on a whole house system relative to my electric bill.  And that wouldn’t include any maintenance or repairs.  Heck the system probably wouldn’t last that long.  

[N9BOW]

17 minutes ago, snagged in outlet 3 said:

Nice setup!!

Thanks man! I’m a bit of a prepper. With a river nearby I should not go hungry. I should be good for the zombie apocalypse… Even have this lol 

[snagged in outlet 3]

50 minutes ago, N9BOW said:

Thanks man! I’m a bit of a prepper. With a river nearby I should not go hungry. I should be good for the zombie apocalypse… Even have this lol 

Perfect!!

[jdmidwest]

On 12/30/2021 at 6:11 AM, N9BOW said:

I got the same one!

Actually here is mine..

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01FAWMMEY/ clean enough sine wave to run the Ham Radio - Bought it after the Derachio hit us in Cedar Rapids IA.

I managed to get by running my fridge with this and all my 20/60v batteries this:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01H41SDGU

until I got stuff into my 150 qt cooler  we were out a week, my son was out for 2 weeks... It happens

used an 
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B012YUJJM8
for the phone. kinda minimalistic but was able to run the cell phone.

Cooked dinner on a couple different options

MSR reactor stove.... when the little bottle ran out used my GasOne - 50180 /50190 refill adaptors to get what little was left in the big 20lb tanks that were "Empty"  (I keep about 5 x 20lb tanks at the ready for cooking and the generator.)

and my little sweetheart Emberlit stoves (bought one for each of my kids to keep handy) https://emberlit.com/collections/stoves he's a good guy! - BTW his Sprongs are genius

Used that opportunity to polish up being self sufficient and treat it as a camping excursion.. Never used my bush craft primative (Punk wood charcoal in a Altoid tin - striker)  but it was at the ready.

 

 

How does it run on Propane or have you tried it?  Looking at a 2500w unit on Home Depot and it has about 46 bad review that all seem to be linked to the dual fuel system.

I have an old gas one for outages, been looking for a propane one.  Don't have to worry about bad gas or gas sitting in carbs gunking up while stored.

[Terrierman]

On 12/30/2021 at 8:00 AM, N9BOW said:

Thanks man! I’m a bit of a prepper. With a river nearby I should not go hungry. I should be good for the zombie apocalypse… Even have this lol 

You also need a combination shovel/broad axe.

[N9BOW]

23 hours ago, jdmidwest said:

How does it run on Propane or have you tried it?  Looking at a 2500w unit on Home Depot and it has about 46 bad review that all seem to be linked to the dual fuel system.

I have an old gas one for outages, been looking for a propane one.  Don't have to worry about bad gas or gas sitting in carbs gunking up while stored.

Yes.. seemed to work great. I tested it out and ran it for about 30 minutes (not a real world load and duration but enough to check for base functionality, had my fridge plugged in and opened the door till the compressor kicked in) ... I need to do a test run here again. Maybe today... its a cold one out there today.. 

[N9BOW]

22 hours ago, Terrierman said:

You also need a combination shovel/broad axe.

got one.. just a bit smaller and screws together/takedown... take it with when I go 4 wheeling. good enough to did a hole or chop a branch or good size root.. but nothing I'd want to use on the regular.