Eco flow or similar power station question

[trevskoda]

To much money you lot, any chance of a loan<big one> which will help reduce your sweeting and worry about having to much in the bank, i like to help people in this way, no need to thank me mind you.

 

[caledonia]

People j

To much money you lot, any chance of a loan<big one> which will help reduce your sweeting and worry about having to much in the bank, i like to help people in this way, no need to thank me mind you.

People just need the latest kit Trev. Like upgrading your iPhone every time a new one comes out when your old one works fine

 

[Moped]

So how to you increase your daily battery capacity without spending ££££?

Please spill the beans. A standard 100ah lead acid or even lithium doesn’t do it for us so what’s the secret?

Is it to stand still and minimise 12v power consumption?

But if you are an inverter user for several hours daily that won’t work.

 

[trevskoda]

So how to you increase your daily battery capacity without spending ££££?

Please spill the beans. A standard 100ah lead acid or even lithium doesn’t do it for us so what’s the secret?

Is it to stand still and minimise 12v power consumption?

But if you are an inverter user for several hours daily that won’t work.

Only use my smart soft start inverter to run the fridge, it goes 24 hrs on two 90ah lead acids, next time round it will be lead carbons, what are folk running, a disco maybe.

 

[jacquigem]

Can you use these things to start your engine if battery fails? Asking for a friend lol.

 

[Boris7]

Can you use these things to start your engine if battery fails? Asking for a friend lol.

Yes and No, depends on the output of the unit, but tell you “friend” if that the primary reason for wanting one there are cheaper options

Here

for example

 

[Okta]

Can you use these things to start your engine if battery fails? Asking for a friend lol.

The 12V output is usually via a cigarette lighter type socket and these do not have the capacity for engine starting.

 

[Nabsim]

The Honda EU 10i 1kw generator consumes 2.1ltr of fuel in 3.9 hours on full load = 0.53ltr per hour = 75p per hour if using petrol. Maybe it’s not the most efficient but they are the manufacturers quoted figures. They are around £850 to buy and are considered to be one of the quietest running.

Not everybody has refillable LPG but accept this brings the hourly cost down to maybe 50p if £1 per litre is paid but lpg is less energy dense than petrol so consumption does increase. Figures are for full load.

Agreed that the power bank technology has not yet been proven over 3000 cycles (don’t the manufacturers carry out pre production load and cycle testing?) but people have to make up their own mind about the figures quoted and the lifetime cost of a internal combustion generator v solar power bank.

And the convenience and practicalities of using one or the other.

It is only 6 years since manufacturers of portable solar generators appeared and the early starters are still in business so surely that says something about reliability?

The silent running of these systems has opened up wild camping or off grid options for many including me!

And that includes using low priced basic £8 to £10 a night farm campsites with fantastic views rather than the high priced commercial hook up versions where you are lined up regimental style. Or even the grass pitch CCC sites with the 30% discount which can be over half the price of their normal hook up pitches and these can work out at £10 a night or less. Try doing this with a generator!

It’s horses for courses and whatever suits an individuals lifestyle.

Not sure you have it right still. I used less than 10 litres last winter into Spring when my solar and b2b provided enough. I wouldn’t get the Honda because they are overpriced in my opinion so I got a Hyundai, it cost me under £300 in a bank holiday sale over 3 years ago. My Hyundai 1Kw in use uses less than my mates 1Kw Honda, quite a bit less in fact. I only run to power a 30amp mains charger to charge leisure battery’s though.

I suppose if someone is using a genny all the time all year round then that would be where your figures come in?

I did use hook up two days in January on a cl but that was because I didn’t have the genny with me. Total so far this year is under £60 if you say petrol was £2 a litre, (which it wasn’t), cl was £20 which I wouldn’t normally pay as much but was convenient at that time.

 

[Nabsim]

Can you use these things to start your engine if battery fails? Asking for a friend lol.

You could use a power bank as I use my genny, plug a 12v mains charger into the 230v outlet and let it charge your battery for 20 minutes or so

 

[trevskoda]

Yes and No, depends on the output of the unit, but tell you “friend” if that the primary reason for wanting one there are cheaper options

Here

for example

Or cheaper, 4cv

 

[jacquigem]

Yes and No, depends on the output of the unit, but tell you “friend” if that the primary reason for wanting one there are cheaper options

Here

for example

Thanks ,that's what my friend was looking for I think !

 

[jacquigem]

Or cheaper, 4cvView attachment 122998

Don't think my friends knees can bend like that ?

Or cheaper, 4cvView attachment 122998

 

[Boris7]

The 12V output is usually via a cigarette lighter type socket and these do not have the capacity for engine starting.

That’s correct for the smaller units, but larger units such as EcoFlow Delta have adapters to start cars of even charge EV’s (not sure how much charge you’ll get, but in an emergency I guess it would be helpful)

But these are kin expensive

 

[Okta]

Yes and No, depends on the output of the unit, but tell you “friend” if that the primary reason for wanting one there are cheaper options

Here

for example

If you just want something to start a vehicle with a flat battery one of these jump starters could well be the answer. However for £143.99 you are only getting an 8Ah battery with unspecified li-ion cells. For £215 I got an EcoFlow River 2 with 20Ah of LiFePO4 battery together with a built in inverter and solar charger. Built for different jobs and therefore not really comparable but I know which one I think represents better value for money.

 

[guerdeval]

Who thinks these things are going to last 10 to 15 years. How long does any electrical item last these days? How long before a better one comes out and yours is obsolete? A lot less than 10 to 15 years I bet.
I think people are just justifying a big spend by kidding themselves it’s going to last 10 years and pay for itself.
I am going to buy one but I’m fully aware it’ll probably be in the “Ronco” cupboard in a few years when the next big thing comes along.

Is the ronco cupboard in the JML area of the house/?

 

[jacquigem]

Thanks , after recent problems just thinking about having a back up solution for starting van.

We don't use much electricity and I am happy with current leisure set up.

Just got concerned when 4 month old engine battery failed without warning. This time a solution.

Not really sure what the e tea £400 for power pack would achieve .

 

[Moped]

If you just want something to start a vehicle with a flat battery one of these jump starters could well be the answer. However for £143.99 you are only getting an 8Ah battery with unspecified li-ion cells. For £215 I got an EcoFlow River 2 with 20Ah of LiFePO4 battery together with a built in inverter and solar charger. Built for different jobs and therefore not really comparable but I know which one I think represents better value for money.

Not sure there is enough muscle available in one of these to start a vehicle.

I suppose as long as you use the 12v socket and crocodile clip lead and clip it to your existing lead acid vehicle battery you will probably be OK but it’s only a 6amp output. Depends how many cranks it needs to start.

The bigger Ecoflow units have 25amp 12v outputs available and this is what you will need I suspect.

 

[wildebus]

Not sure there is enough muscle available in one of these to start a vehicle. Indeed is it advisable to use any lithium battery as jump starter kit?

Don’t know the answer maybe others do.

There are loads of Lithium based Jump Starters and they work very well generally. I bought one over 5 years ago and when I have had occasion to use it, it did the job perfectly.
A major improvement on the original Lead Acid based jump starter packs which tended to be flat at the point you needed it (at last mine always were!).

As far as Power Stations used as Jump Starters, some may well have limits in terms of the current draw, but as an example the Power Station I have has a Jump Start feature and a specific port and Cable for that very purpose

 

[molly 2]

The 12V output is usually via a cigarette lighter type socket and these do not have the capacity for engine starting.

Correct !! but you could run a battery charger from power Station to top up engine battery

 

[trevskoda]

Thanks , after recent problems just thinking about having a back up solution for starting van.

We don't use much electricity and I am happy with current leisure set up.

Just got concerned when 4 month old engine battery failed without warning. This time a solution.

Not really sure what the e tea £400 for power pack would achieve .

Simple solution in my van, 200amp relay and switch, use heavy battery cable.