Build or Buy For a Beginner

About 2 years ago, I purchased an Allpowers 300-watt solar generator along with one of their 100-watt foldable panels. Well, the generator died in less than three uses over the course of 2 years. I was looking at this time purchasing a 700 or 1000-watt from a different manufacturer, but now, after coming across Will Prowse, I think I can make one SAFETY as long as I follow everything step by step, not rush, and pay close attention to detail .

I was looking at his classic for RVs and also his milk crate setup. Which one of those would be more appropriate for a one bed room apartment? Id only use this for when a hurricane hit NOLA or if someone drove and knocked out a power pole. The first, I could be without power for up to 120 days like Ida, and the second, maybe overnight.

I see some setups call for four 100-watt panels. To save space, could I do 2 200-watt panels (storing it in a one-bedroom when not in use)? Would it be more efficient with fewer panels but the same total wattage?

So, which should I start out with as a beginner? I would be powering a fridge, router, desktop, or laptop, some lights when needed, and a fan.

I'd like to start this project in May and have it finished and up and running by the end of June. So any help would be great. Or should I just purchase a 1000-watt solar generator from GoalZero and call it a day? Again this would be for a one bedroom apartment with one person living there.

200W panels are bigger than 100W panels, so it’s not clear you’d save any space.

Ok thanks for that.

Dollar budget? Power budget?

There are pro's and cons both ways...

Pre-Built -
Pro's: smallest form factor, warranty, fast, easy
Con's: no mods really possible, solar and charging options can be limited, expensive per watt-hour

DIY -
Pro's: customizable, modular for changes later, better value, lots more fun, educational, forum clout
Con's: time consuming, bulky, lots of minutia to learn

I have both, a couple small portables for filling air mattresses and running water pumps and the like. For anything I want to do any actual work I go the DIY route. Building your own batteries maxes out the energy density route and doing 12v and USB is super easy, but I don't use massive inverters because 2kw is more than I needed in anything semi-portable.

wpns said:

Dollar budget? Power budget?

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The Dollar Budget would be around $1000-$1200 max. If that could do it, then I would be happy. If not, if I could expand the system over time to get to where I want to be, that would be the perfect setup.
I understand that at some point if I expand it, it will no longer be portable/semi-portable. And the portability option is just that an option. As long as I could tuck it away in a large closet for when not in use, then roll it out when needed would be enough.

I recommend you do start with 1 48v lifepower4 and work from there.

Then decide the inverter and charge controller. EG4 3k? Victron Phoenix + Victron MPPT? Or otherwise.

Then after that decide on your panel config.

The only big reason to consider these in reverse order would be whether you can get your solar string over 60v or not. Can you fit two 400w panels in series?

A solar generator isn't a thing. I wish the industry would stop calling it that.

There are 3 different things that are very similar.

wh, or watt hours, it's capacity, how much juice is in the cup
watts, these are two different numbers. one is dealing with how much power is generated by a solar panel. one is dealing with how much power an inverter can supply.

Goalzero is a battery plus inverter. It doesn't generate anything. the 1000x has a capacity of 968 watt hours, and a 1500w inverter. It can charge at a maximum of 600w. You would have to get matching solar panels.

Before buying anything, i would recommend buying a meter that will tell you how much power you're using, over a 24hr period, and at any given time. I have a 2048wh battery/inverter and it literally can't power my freezer with 1000w of panels hooked up to it over a 24hr period, and my 4 250w panels measure 130"x80". that's nearly 11 feet by nearly 9 feet.

fatjay said:

Before buying anything, i would recommend buying a meter that will tell you how much power you're using, over a 24hr period, and at any given time

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This. You need a power budget (watts and watt-hours) to have a goal in mind. Are you really going to be able to survive for 5 days in Nola post-hurricane without any AC?

kflo01 said:

The Dollar Budget would be around $1000-$1200 max

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That rules out Victron but might be do-able. Used solar panels, a 40a MPPT, just enough overhead on the inverter to round up, and DIY battery you might swing it. The battery is going to be the most expemsive part and you'll need to figure out how much you can get away with first.

Pro tip: If the controller has USB ports, it's a fake MPPT and lying to you. Flexible panels are a waste.

Rule of thumb for a 12v system is 10a of MPPT per 100w of solar.

If you can get away with about 1000w of inverter, think about a Licitti Box and some 280 or 304ah cells in there, and a 40a MPPT to add in.

This is my cpap backup. Add in a MPPT and a couple of panels for solar charging.

Have to figure the panel count to go from 20% to 100% in 4 hours sun. 4 x 200watt would probably do it.

Fits in a sewing box.

Total probably come in around $1100, basic box is $500

Downside, it will never grow beyond a small system.