Solar Generator vs Dual Battery Setup (or both?)

[GazzaC]

Feels like those solar generators are going to slowly win the battle just from a convenience stand point. As someone who doesn't have either the effort of installing a whole new system seems a bit daunting. Great if you're really into it. But from what I read they are all lithium batteries so don't have the issue of draining them below 50%?
Plus those EcoFlows can charge both from the hook up and solar. One major downside is you can't charge it on the go say if you're driving and have a solar panel on your roof which would be handy if you do like 4hour road trips at a time.

 

[Fisher23]

If it is just the fridge with a generator seems a little over kill.

 

[Boston Mangler]

Dead space under hood = Perfect Space for second battery and doesn't take up any valuable storage inside vehicle.

Pretty much a no brainer to me.

My last 3 builds have utilized a Perfect Switch dual rectifier isolator with self jump at the push of a button feature and a large AGM battery, and a 100w solar panel on roof.

I Didnt shut my ARB fridge off for TWO YEARS, true story.

Do the math and break down the AMP HOURS of those "Solar Generators" and i think you'd be quite surprised how little it is.

Current build is utilizing a 60A sterling power DCDC charger with programmable profile to charge the house LiPo4.

The "Solar Generators" (such a misleading name) have their place, and are ok for temp use, but i personally dont see the cost/benefit ratio working out versus a nice solid dual battery system.

I have a small Bluetti EB55 i have inside the camper in case of house battery failure, or if i camp with someone that may need it, but in the 2 or so years i've have it, i have not personally used it once.

These are pretty slick and clean looking, in my opinion, and likely the route i'd go when i find a 200, in addition to a DCDC charger for dual bats:

Toyota Land Cruiser 200 Series J200 Lensun 100W 12V Car Hood Solar Panel - https://www.lensunsolar.com/index.php?route=product/product&path=84_88&product_id=525

My .02

 

[FrazzledHunter]

It's turning into a solar DC world. I just love electrical stuff.
We've done quite a few trips by now and I have a couple of thoughts on solar generators (I hate that term):

1. Add up your power usage! We're power users LOL. We pretty much drain our YETI 1500X daily with a Dometic 75L fridge/freezer, camp lighting, cell phone charging, AC electric mixer for frozen margaritas and 1 or 2 oscillating fans. (Yeah, we're roughing it).
2. I'd recommend anybody considering a "solar generator" like a YETI is that the unit has a high wattage means to recharge via DC so that your car alternator or a larger solar array can quickly recharge on the go or at camp at high(er) wattage. Otherwise you'll need a generator or shore power to recharge quickly.
   1. The YETI uses its DC solar input for ALL charging and offers AC adapters to charge at 120, 230 and 600W; I wish it could take more! This means that you can also charge via DC up to 600W whether it's solar, via a DC-DC charger (like the Victron 12-24/15), using their AC-DC adapters or whatever. It's extremely flexible.
   2. I looked at the ECOFLOW user manual. The ECOFLOW unit mentioned earlier has a high 1000W charging port that can charge it very very quickly but it requires 120VAC. The DC charging port can take up to 200W for solar and 96W car. That is not a lot at all for car charging. I guess you could run a 1200W inverter off the alternator. Not saying it's a bad unit but just something to know.

When we're in camp and need to recharge we use solar and if it's allowed we'll use a Honda EU1000i ultra quiet generator using the YETI 600W ACDC adapter.

I'm thinking of getting a Victron 12-12/9, 12-12/18 or a 12-12/30 to add to the 2nd battery in my setup so that a constant voltage can be supplied to a cutoff point as the battery drains.

 

[NYC570]

I use solar generators for my power needs. I have a few of them and find them more convenient for my use case. With so many options from Bluetti, Ecoflow and to a lesser degree Jackery, I can't see my self getting anything from YETI or Goal Zero though.

 

[speakout525]

It's turning into a solar DC world. I just love electrical stuff.
We've done quite a few trips by now and I have a couple of thoughts on solar generators (I hate that term):

1. Add up your power usage! We're power users LOL. We pretty much drain our YETI 1500X daily with a Dometic 75L fridge/freezer, camp lighting, cell phone charging, AC electric mixer for frozen margaritas and 1 or 2 oscillating fans. (Yeah, we're roughing it).
2. I'd recommend anybody considering a "solar generator" like a YETI is that the unit has a high wattage means to recharge via DC so that your car alternator or a larger solar array can quickly recharge on the go or at camp at high(er) wattage. Otherwise you'll need a generator or shore power to recharge quickly.
   1. The YETI uses its DC solar input for ALL charging and offers AC adapters to charge at 120, 230 and 600W; I wvia ish it could take more! This means that you can also charge via DC up to 600W whether it's solar, via a DC-DC charger (like the Victron 12-24/15), using their AC-DC adapters or whatever. It's extremely flexible.
   2. I looked at the ECOFLOW user manual. The ECOFLOW unit mentioned earlier has a high 1000W charging port that can charge it very very quickly but it requires 120VAC. The DC charging port can take up to 200W for solar and 96W car. That is not a lot at all for car charging. I guess you could run a 1200W inverter off the alternator. Not saying it's a bad unit but just something to know.

When we're in camp and need to recharge we use solar and if it's allowed we'll use a Honda EU1000i ultra quiet generator using the YETI 600W ACDC adapter.

I'm thinking of getting a Victron 12-12/9, 12-12/18 or a 12-12/30 to add to the 2nd battery in my setup so that a constant voltage can be supplied to a cutoff point as the battery drains.

Completely agree - know your power use! I've kept these batteries in my Cruiser for a few years now to run my fridge and they stay plugged into DC power and solar. I was using a Dometic PBL40 which was great for size and relative power, but lacked AC and performed really poorly in cold conditions (almost unreliable entirely). With the Ecoflow Delta Mini acting as my primary power block, I've not yet had any issues with keeping it topped off using DC or at least with more than ample power for my 55L fridge, various phone and tablet charging, making coffee and the very occasional use of the induction unit for cooking (now that one DOES pull tons of power). The Delta mini can run up to 2100w surge which is really nice for higher demand things. I use the smaller river pro for more light duty use around camp AND to quickly recharge my main unit via AC if I need it. It's like anything else - once you get a system in place and understand the units in real-world use, you figure it out and make it work. I'm not sure if the Delta mini is the best for overlanding or not - just happens to be what I use and at under $475 at Costco, is a steal.

All that said, I do often think about going with dual battery systems for all the reasons already stated. But primarily so that I basically don't have to think about the system much at all, if ever. I pull a trailer for longer outings when my family is with me and it has 2 100ah lithium batteries and those guys just go and go and go - never have to worry (and self heating). The costs, I think, are probably about equal in the grand scheme of things if you want a battery generator that can really perform. Ultimately the convenience and flexibility of use is why I go with battery generators in my Cruiser, at least.

 

[TeCKis300]

It's camping and perhaps sometimes less is more. I probably could be accused of having too much just the same. Just saying that rather than throwing more capacity and power at these things, sometimes there's more benefit to optimizing consumption with more efficient devices, fridges, etc.

I've used a portable Goal Zero 1000 for years. With use, I found some gadgets and things were more made up than actual needs. No need for 120V devices as that also ups the ante for consumption. I prefer simpler and smaller these days. So even as the GZ1000 is reasonably compact and easy to use, I wanted something even less fussy. I also found Lithium based batteries such as the GZ 1000 don't perform well in the desert in summer. The fans will often come on in 95F+ degree weather just to keep itself cool in the evening without even really using the battery. LiFePO4 is the way to go and many more solar generators use this chemistry today.

My setup now consists of a bare bones 100Ah LiFePO4 house battery, and a simple Victron Smart 12-12/18A. It's all that's needed to power a hybrid rotomolded fridge/cooler and charge phones/gadgets/drones over long weekends. There's almost nothing to think about and the fridge could run indefinitely with just commuting just a few times a week.

 

[FrazzledHunter]

Follow up video on how to charge the EcoFlow faster.

It a was a good video and it highlighted the need/desirability for high wattage DC charging capability. He mentions that the Victron Orion chargers are for batteries. I should add that the Victron DC-DC Orion chargers have 2 modes: battery charger and power supply. Battery charger mode supplies power based on a charging profile. Power supply mode simply provides power up to its current limit at a constant voltage. I run my Victron 12-24/15 in power supply mode to charge my Yeti 1500X.

Victron only. Victron all day long. Victron all the time LOL.

 

[FrazzledHunter]

I use solar generators for my power needs. I have a few of them and find them more convenient for my use case. With so many options from Bluetti, Ecoflow and to a lesser degree Jackery, I can't see my self getting anything from YETI though.

Just wondering what your issue is with Goal Zero Yeti. Perhaps there is something we should all know?

BTW, I'm not necessarily a Goal Zero pusher. What I am suggesting is an Ops concept that allows high wattage DC charging so that the vehicle can quickly charge the power station. Any brand that supported that concept would have my vote. So far as I know Goal Zero does that the best.

 

[TeCKis300]

I got my GZ well ahead when they were practically the only option on the market. They're not cheap especially today against tne endless choices. But I do find them to be generally a notch above with more robust and balanced options, features, and build quality. My buddies have Jackeries, Ecoflow, and Bluetti and we're constantly comparing and taking notes.

A big one for anyone really going off-road. Look for Anderson ports. My GZ has them for input and outputs. Not many other brands consistently have them. Just about every other plug will work its way loose.

 

[FrazzledHunter]

I got my GZ well ahead when they were practically the only option on the market. They're not cheap especially today against tne endless choices. But I do find them to be generally a notch above with more robust and balanced options, features, and build quality. My buddies have Jackeries, Ecoflow, and Bluetti and we're constantly comparing and taking notes.

A big one for anyone really going off-road. Look for Anderson ports. My GZ has them for input and outputs. Not many other brands consistently have them. Just about every other plug will work its way loose.

THIS!!! Same here. The GZ not only can charge DC high wattage in the most flexible way IMHO but uses standard connectors everywhere to-boot. I have any number of adapter cables that go frtom SB-50 to PP 45. I HATE CUSTOM CABLES LOL!

Cost? Really? OK we all have our value judgements. BUT the difference in price for a GZ is about what my wife and I spend at the grocery store in 1 week. Chump change, IMHO.

I grew up camping with my dad using batteries, propane, Coleman fuel etc... staying in a USGI ARMY pup tent.

We first got clued in to the electrical future of camping in the early 2000's by going along with our friends in their RV's and travel trailers and then owning our own RV. Still, we couldn't have imagined the electrical options of today. Recently, we've invited other tent campers for frozen margaritas and the first thing they ask is "How'd you do that?" LOL.
I'm seriously considering a higher amperage alternator.

Camp FrazzledHunter Long Pine Key, Everglades FL, Feb 2023 using solar a Merlin XP-170 to charge the Yeti 1500X. There's no place like Florida for sun!!!

 

[NYC570]

Just wondering what your issue is with Goal Zero Yeti. Perhaps there is something we should all know?

BTW, I'm not necessarily a Goal Zero pusher. What I am suggesting is an Ops concept that allows high wattage DC charging so that the vehicle can quickly charge the power station. Any brand that supported that concept would have my vote. So far as I know Goal Zero does that the best.

Even though they were stuck in the past, their prices have always been considerably more than the competition while offering less. They've updated their products somewhat now, but are still not up to the level of some of the comp. They also lack variety. You get more for the money with other brands as well as more choices. I have a few sogens from different brands and have my preference, but there are several brands that offer great products.

 

[FrazzledHunter]

Even though they were stuck in the past, their prices have always been considerably more than the competition while offering less. They've updated their products somewhat now, but are still not up to the level of some of the comp. They also lack variety. You get more for the money with other brands as well as more choices. I have a few sogens from different brands and have my preference, but there are several brands that offer great products.

I tend to agree. I got the Goal Zero 1500x when it first came on the market. It was updated to have regulated DC output and a MPPT controller for solar. It was really great, if not expensive, for its time. I did get it for 25% off on one of REI's sales which made it a better buy. But, at this point Goal Zero really needs to up their game as the competition has caught up. I'm not sure if I'd get a Goal Zero if I were starting from scratch today.

 

[Boston Mangler]

I tend to agree. I got the Goal Zero 1500x when it first came on the market. It was updated to have regulated DC output and a MPPT controller for solar. It was really great, if not expensive, for its time. I did get it for 25% off on one of REI's sales which made it a better buy. But, at this point Goal Zero really needs to up their game as the competition has caught up. I'm not sure if I'd get a Goal Zero if I were starting from scratch today.

I have a Bluetti EB55 and it does it’s job well

But a couple buddies have gotten the new EcoFlow variants and they seem to be the cats meow if a solar generator is your thing.

And prices are comparable to the others