Please forgive me if this has been covered before, but a cursory search of the group didn’t reveal any conversations to me.
I was thinking of purchasing an all in the box “Solar Generator” (Controller, Inverter, and battery) to capture the energy from two 110w Xantrex solar panels. Now I’m thinking I would rather install a hybrid inverter/controller with my own battery choice. This would give me flexibility and modularity with the entire system.
Do any of you have experience, opinions, or ideas to share? Greatly appreciated.
John Phillips
26U - Persuasion
Lyme, Ct (currently)
I just happened to have just recently purchased an ECO Flow Delta Max portable power station aka "Solar Generator: https://amzn.to/3zL4uTm
What a game changer! Even though I have the 12 volt house bank and two gas generators on board for charging my electric propulsion battery bank. I try not to use them for any extended time other than charging. When I saw these new battery/inverters come onto the market I had an AHA moment thinking about how handy it would be on board. I do have a 48 volt inverter on board but, have yet to wire it into my battery system. I don’t think I will do that now since I bought the ECO FLOW MAX.
I can also use it for my on board bread maker but, more importantly I also bought a Ice Maker that operates off of the ECO FLOW: https://amzn.to/3Q9wiWJ
I now make ice every time I am on board. Works great! I also use it to charge my battery for the dingy’s electric outboard. I added some additional solar panels on deck which keeps the battery pack charged up making ice all day. At 40 pounds I will take it home in the off season as an emergency backup at home. It also has several USB charging outlets to keep other devices like cell phones charged too. It has been a great addition to boat life.
I’m thinking about getting a portable power station and three types seem to come at the top of a google research. Just wondering if there is any Nonsuch specific advice. We have a 26C so not as many bells and whistles (no ice maker, no hot water heater, no TV etc) as our larger cousins.
The three types I see listed most are: ECO FLOW (although it seemed to be sold out when I hit Mike’s link); BLEUTTI; and BIG BLUE. Has anyone else had experience of any of these units?
Couple of more specific questions beyond the general one above:
What sort of power rating should we be looking at? They seem to range from 500 to 2500 W: what would be a reasonable compromise on usefulness -vs- price? Would somewhere in the 900~1000W (which seems to be mid-range) be appropriate or too light to be truly useful?
What about solar power to recharge: what sort of wattage again would be practical for a boat of our size?
At dock we have power, and we are cruising Lake Ontario (or our small portion of it) so we are not off the grid for any extended time.
Your thoughts and experience would be greatly appreciated.
Just finished my first season with the ECO Flow Delta Max on board.
https://amzn.to/3zL4uTm
I bought four 100 watt flexible solar panels which kept the unit charged up and even was enough to run the ice maker. I just laid the panels on the deck. Two on each side on the cabin top. Did not bother to orient them for max power either. Never had to fire up the generator to charge it all season. Now have the Eco Flow at home to be used it case the power goes out over the winter.
This is slightly off topic. A few years ago we purchased a generac 2000 gas powered inverter. It came I handy today in the cold Shenandoah valley when the power went out for several hours.
We bought it so when gunk holing on the Chesapeake we had power back up.
Sits in cabin when not needed. Runs for several hours on a sip of gas.
Used it in the summer to charge batteries and run a small room ac unit at anchor.
Stays home most of the time.
Happy holidays each and every one of you.
Thanks, Mike. Yep the Commander-in-Chief is looking for something that might be useful in case of a power outage at home as well - a portable unit is the way to go for sure. She’s also our CFO so easier to justify!
Honestly, used only once on the hook one really hot July night Annapolis. Set small window unit in companionway propped up with a few float cushions underneath. Slid companion way hatch over top, stepped over into cabin, slid hatch closed, stuffed towels in opening and “viola”. Gen set on aft seat with exhaust facing aft. Also used ac at the dock with same set up on shore power.
Looked like Gypsies lived there!
Happy Xmas.
This will not be the most useful answer here, but an idea in the FWIW department.
I am writing this message as we lost power at home for the second time in two days. We are on Lopez Island, Washington, in the San Juans, and we depend on the mainland for power. Although our local lines are very reliable, the feeder from Puget Sound Energy is not. That is why, having lived 36 years on the island, we have both a Tri-fuel ICE generator and, the game changer, an EGO power station. I am running our Internet modem, our router, our Ooma phone off go it right now. I get 24+ hours from the four batteries on it, even with recharging laptops, iPads, and phones. I am considering taking it with us when we go on our 260, especially when we will do docent work at Patos Island for a week at a time. It is silent, instant, trouble-free, and all we need for lights, charging phones, running basic electronics, etc. I already have a lot of EGO tools, so batteries are plentiful. The one time an outage lasted more than a day, I used my ICE generator to recharge batteries, just in time for the power to come back on.
I realize that this is not at all a direct answer to the thread’s problem, but I could see how this could be of help for some, I believe, especially if their power needs are lower than what appears to be required by many and they have some EGO tools already.
By the way, if you are ever anchored at Spenser Spit State Park and need help, we are the neighbors to the west, about 300 feet from their water tower. Call, write, or come on over: we are in the log house with the green steel roof.