My $300 Goal Zero...

[Crossfaced]

I looked at the Goal Zero and decided I wanted one but didn't want to spend the $$ on one. So I got this list of items off amazon and a 45 AH deep cell wheelchair battery all for $300. Its less $$ than a Goal Zero, modular and more powerful.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01A...keywords=newport+vessels+trolling+motor&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B007...e+inverter&dpPl=1&dpID=51+uc8wnz0L&ref=plSrch

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00E...Y340_QL65&keywords=3+amp+battery+tender&psc=1

I chose the inverter I did so I could have clean power and the charger at only 3 amps because ibwilll be recharging off my vehicles inverter. So far it's worked very well. Next I'll be looking into solar chargers.

Also I didn't buy the Battery Tender off Amazon. I found it locally for only $49.

 

[trae]

I looked at the Goal Zero and decided I wanted one but didn't want to spend the $$ on one. So I got this lol st of items off alAnazon and a 45 AH deep cell wheelchair battery all for $300. Its less $$ than a Goal Zero, modular and more powerful.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B01A...keywords=newport+vessels+trolling+motor&psc=1

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B007...e+inverter&dpPl=1&dpID=51+uc8wnz0L&ref=plSrch

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00E...Y340_QL65&keywords=3+amp+battery+tender&psc=1

I chose the inverter I did so I could have clean power and the charger at only 3 amps because ibwilll be recharging off my vehicles inverter. So far it's worked very well. Next I'll be looking into solar chargers.

Also I didn't buy the Battery Tender off Amazon. I found it locally for only $49.

Looks pretty solid. Is this to stand in for yeti 400?


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[southpier]

pretty compact unit.

 

[Crossfaced]

Looks pretty solid. Is this to stand in for yeti 400?


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Yes...

Sorry it's not a great description on how I did it and why but I was kinda pressed for time and didn't get a lot of pics.

It can take up to a Group 27 battery so it can surpass the capabilities of the $1600 Goal Zero 1250 by putting a deep cycle Gr 27 battery. Ultimately I'd like to look into LiPo batteries for a power source.

Like I said though I'll be charging this daily using the 150watt power plug in my jeep so I went with a battery and charger combo that I can charge while driving around for 8 hrs or so.

My uses for this will be mostly powering my wife's CPAP. Though last night I did my 1st test and for 8 hrs it ran her CPAP, charged 3 phones, charged a video camera and ran 2 small CPU fans via the USB and the voltage went down to 12.29 volts on my 12v 45AH Deep Cycle AGM battery. This is an extreme version of a scenario I may run into on a cross country trip I'm doing this summer with my family. I'm still researching now if that voltage drop is acceptable.

 

[trae]

Neat.

Goal Zero 1250 spec page says they are using a group 31 battery which is fairly pricy at $300. What else does it provide for the other $1200 that your battery box doesn't do? That's quite a premium.

 

[vtsoundman]

Yes...

Sorry it's not a great description on how I did it and why but I was kinda pressed for time and didn't get a lot of pics.

It can take up to a Group 27 battery so it can surpass the capabilities of the $1600 Goal Zero 1250 by putting a deep cycle Gr 27 battery. Ultimately I'd like to look into LiPo batteries for a power source.

Like I said though I'll be charging this daily using the 150watt power plug in my jeep so I went with a battery and charger combo that I can charge while driving around for 8 hrs or so.

My uses for this will be mostly powering my wife's CPAP. Though last night I did my 1st test and for 8 hrs it ran her CPAP, charged 3 phones, charged a video camera and ran 2 small CPU fans via the USB and the voltage went down to 12.29 volts on my 12v 45AH Deep Cycle AGM battery. This is an extreme version of a scenario I may run into on a cross country trip I'm doing this summer with my family. I'm still researching now if that voltage drop is acceptable.

It will add some cost, but look into ctek DC/dc chargers for your AGM. These can supply up to 20A of charging current and recharge it much faster than the 3A battery tender. They are also available with a built in MPPT.

I did the same thing you did - been building a "Goal Zero Boxes" for years and for way way less with a much larger battery...

Nice work.

The lower the discharge voltage on a deep cycle battery will simply reduce cycle life. Read the DOD vs cycle life chart on the mfr datasheet for the battery and make a decision. I decided that occasionally dropping below 50% SOC was just fine for my application.

One other suggestion - significantly oversizing an inverter is not a good thing as they will typically run less efficiently. Peak ****** for most compact inverters is right around 75% of rated load. A 600w inv for a 45ah battery is pretty big. Most quality sine inv will have an overload capabilty. If you have the ability to run your CPAP machiens directly from DC, do it. Youll save quite a bit of electrical losses - somewhere in the 20% range for when accounting for all the conversion losses.


sent via the cone of silence

 

[trae]

It will add some cost, but look into ctek DC/dc chargers for your AGM. These can supply up to 20A of charging current and recharge it much faster than the 3A battery tender. They are also available with a built in MPPT.

I did the same thing you did - been building a "Goal Zero Boxes" for years and for way way less with a much larger battery...

What are using as the base "box"?


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[Crossfaced]

It will add some cost, but look into ctek DC/dc chargers for your AGM. These can supply up to 20A of charging current and recharge it much faster than the 3A battery tender. They are also available with a built in MPPT.

I did the same thing you did - been building a "Goal Zero Boxes" for years and for way way less with a much larger battery...

Nice work.

The lower the discharge voltage on a deep cycle battery will simply reduce cycle life. Read the DOD vs cycle life chart on the mfr datasheet for the battery and make a decision. I decided that occasionally dropping below 50% SOC was just fine for my application.

One other suggestion - significantly oversizing an inverter is not a good thing as they will typically run less efficiently. Peak ****** for most compact inverters is right around 75% of rated load. A 600w inv for a 45ah battery is pretty big. Most quality sine inv will have an overload capabilty. If you have the ability to run your CPAP machiens directly from DC, do it. Youll save quite a bit of electrical losses - somewhere in the 20% range for when accounting for all the conversion losses.


sent via the cone of silence

Yeah I considered the size of the inverter but I intend to use a larger AH battery in the future to power a fridge.

 

[Crossfaced]

What are using as the base "box"?


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This...

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01AE2TG7...e=df0&creative=395093&creativeASIN=B01AE2TG7G