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Portable solar?

 
Posts: 10
Location: Arkansas
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Today I am looking for advice on portable solar, for a few outside chores. Anybody found the best most reliable outfit? Any suggestions would be welcome thank you!
 
steward
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Are you looking for a system like this:

https://permies.com/wiki/112937/pep-electricity/Small-DC-solar-system-PEP

Or something like this only smaller:

https://permies.com/wiki/144516/pep-electricity/Large-articulating-solar-panel-system
 
pollinator
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Or are you looking for small panels to run phone and other small things?  I have a Goal Zero pack with two fold out panels, that works great and has been keeping us in power for over 10 years now.  Guide 10 power pack, and nomad folding panels.   I am sure they have upgraded/better ones now lol  We bought ours in a kit with some USB lights at Costco. I wish they would do that again!

I also bought some phone power packs with an integrated solar panel from a....    I thought these would be good to leave in the car for emergencies. They are not worth the time I am taking to write this. :(   Just remember you get what you paid for.  I sure did.

Sandy
 
Tauni Whitley
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Location: Arkansas
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Something that will run a chainsaw and some of my electric tools ... I have a few marine batteries ... Needed advice on type of panels that would be portable and sit in the back of my f150. I just don't have the money to invest in new equipment. I would rather spend it on a solar setup ... I'm a old girl living in the Ozarks on my own ... So this stuff can't be too heavy.
 
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Its hard for me to answer this question without context.
What type of tools do you need the electricity to power?
How much power does it use, normally and at peak/startup?
How long do you need to power the tools for on average?
What size gas-generator would you have bought to do these chores?

The average household outlet provides 2000W, so maybe you just want something that does that, and you want it to sustain 4hrs of "chores".
It might also help to think of it in a similar light as battery powered tools, that you charge with the grid, then bring it with you to do "chores"

So what if you had a 2000W solar array+charger, with 4hrs worth of battery+inverter, and then you could just disconnect the battery pack and bring it with you to power your tools for the chores. Alot of times it can be hard to get a shade free place next to the worksite for solar to really work and even harder for the low angle sun to "juice up" the tools in the early morning or later afternoon.

But to give your question a short answer, this is the system that I would recommend:
2000W of solar array (with about 4hrs of sunlight) for $2,000
2000W charge controller (48V x 50A) for $500
8000WHr of LiFePO4 Battery (48V x 200AHr) for $6000
2000W inverter with a peak of 6000W for $2000
 
Tauni Whitley
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Location: Arkansas
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S Bengi!! Thank you thank you!! Your answer is what I'm looking for! I'm in the woods most of the morning cutting for my winter. I have a Remington electric chainsaw ... And two battery powered B&D saws. They are my biggest issue ... My electric works the best and I've decimated everything my "cords" will let me reach. So I'm thinking solar in the back of my truck for a couple more hours might get me what I need. Plus that probably all I'm physically able to cut per day anyway. I have 4 ... 80 watt panels and a 1000 watt comptroller that I use at my cabin... But the panels are old and huge and heavy.
 
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