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| Re: [GMCnet] Interesting low amp draw power unit at Costco [message #222359 is a reply to message #222334] |
Fri, 13 September 2013 21:49  |
mickeysss
Messages: 1476
Registered: January 2012
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mickey anaheim ca. 77 palm playa:
57 of 74 people found the following review helpful
Let's See How Deceptively We Can Market Solar Gadgetry!, January 22, 2013
By David Mace
This review is from: Wagan EL2546 Solar e Cube 1500 (Automotive)
Heads up: Five 16 watt panels is a MAXIMUM production (peak energy produced under ideal conditions) of 80 watts. Since most of them can't be aimed, that's at high noon, on the equator. So, substantially less than 80 watts available to charge its 55AH battery. You seldom get every watt a solar panel is rated for, even in 'ideal' conditions, unless the panels track the sun.
THIS IS NOT 1500 WATTS! 100% truthful specifications, but presented as a misleading con. I never said the specifications weren't 'accurate'. It's misleading to claim that this could deliver 1500 watts, like a $1000 Honda generator could. Using the solar panel to charge it, you could reasonably expect enough watts to charge a cell phone and maybe run some low wattage LED lighting at night, and maybe a radio or very small TV set. That's it. This won't run a refrigerator for more than 15 minutes. This won't be a replacement for a 'real' generator for the household.
Rapid, deep cycles are extremely destructive to lead acid batteries of all kinds. The solar panels ON TOP OF THIS are completely inadequate to keep the battery charged, *especially* if you are foolish enough to plug 1500 watt loads into it. The battery is 55 amp-hour, and judging from the size, I'll assume that's 12 volt. Roughly 660 watt hours (new), which will degrade over time. Which means at the '1500 Watt' power output, you will have far less than 20 minutes of runtime, and a full 24 hours (of peak daylight), meaning 2~3 days of recharge in ideal conditions, not using this box at all during that entire time, to recharge with its built-in solar, alone. Heavy draws drain batteries faster, and destroy batteries far more quickly, too. Every deep cycle like this will knock months off the battery's rated life, and it will never bounce back with as much capacity, afterwards.
From the (<80 watts of) solar, this would be fine for charging cell phones and running very small loads, up to a smallish LCD TV, maybe charge some cordless tools, but a cheaper, plain 12 volt solar panel with various accessories will charge gadgets just as well, or attached to more sanely priced battery packs with more realistic inverter capabilities, will run the same loads. The big inverter is actually a big strike against it, because higher wattage inverters are less efficient, which means more of your solar power gets wasted.
What you really need to ask yourself is, how much would an 80 watt (or even larger) solar panel (100% of which can point AT the sun), deep cycle battery, 1500 watt inverter and interconnects cost?
When you add it together, that's an awfully expensive plastic box that you have there. I'm sure Amazon sells big plastic tool boxes or hard-sided luggage with built-in hand trucks pretty cheap. They have better folding solar panels pretty cheap, too. Plus deep cycle batteries, and inverters.
Also keep in mind that lead-acid batteries need to stay charged, or they self-discharge and get ruined very quickly. You can't buy this thing and just keep it in a closet, unless you have an outlet to plug it into, full-time. You will not be able to leave this outside all the time to charge it every day, either. All those nooks and crannies will let the weather (and bugs and rodents) in. All those big ventilation holes mean it's not even remotely weather resistant. A true 'fair weather friend'. What good is a 'solar generator' that you have to keep covered?
When I say that you can buy cheaper parts to build your own for less than the 'low, low price' of $999, I mean here on Amazon, or online.
For instance, combine this..
Duracell DRPP600 Powerpack 600 Jump Starter and Emergency Power Source
With this...
Go Power! GP-PSK-80 80W Portable Folding Solar Kit with 10 Amp Solar Controller
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