Need Help Choosing the Correct LifPo4 Battery Power Station/solar Generator

[ss_56]

Hey y'all,

I am about to buy a lifPo4 battery power station for use during a power outage. I've given up on the idea of running my window AC in the summer - i'll make do with ice and a fan. In the winter, i'll use a portable propane heater.
During an outage i would love to keep my PC going for several hours. I added it up and the desktop PC uses no more that 700 watts. Actually I could plug up my old PC - it probably only uses maybe 500 watts and I feel i could keep it going for much longer - and may or may not try to play any power hungry games.
So i'd be powering an AC powered fan, charging 2 phones and running a PC and modem (and should i also power my UPS system with that?)

What size power station should i invest in? I do want a good name brand - and if it comes with an app - i would rather it not be 'App dependent' or Not 'Require' any app to function, just a readable display - OR have software I could get on the PC i'm hoping to run. So far I've looked at Bluetti, Goal Zero and Jackery - in the $1000 range. Unsure about capacity and watt hours needed.
Not interested at the moment in connecting solar panels but the ones where you can add a second battery might be useful in the future - after i win the lottery

Anyone care to talk me through this? Maybe you could save me from the buyer's remorse i'm sure to get on my own over here.
Thanks

 

[Ralston18]

Not a direct answer with respect to "choice".

You may be able to avoid buyer's remorse by not buying anything at all.....

How frequently and for how long do you lose power?

What would you be doing while you "keep my PC going for several hours."? Gaming should be the lowest on the list of things to keep running/doing during power outages.

And you will not only need to power the PC: what about modem, router, and monitor at the minimum?

Setting aside any requirements to print or backup to other devices - all likely moot at such times.

Consider that there may be no internet and only imited mobile communications.

Especially for areas subject to severe weather: snow storms, hurricanes/tropical storms, heat related grid failures, etc.. Then earthquakes, floods, tsunamis, and forest fires.

At best, I suggest that a simple UPS be used to allow enough time for a graceful system shutdown when power goes out.

If backup power is needed for medical devices then a small generator may be warranted.

Do remember that the marketed "specs" are often based on ideal circumstances and other generally favorable assumptions about device performance. Holds for UPS's, generators, and battery power stations.

Certainly doable to use solar panels, windmills etc. for longer term power outages to provide additional support for some lighting, water/well pump, small heaters. Still needs to be planned out with respect to specs and sizes.

Keep in mind that you may not be able to stay with your power station, generator, and solar panels.....

You may not be home at all and not be able to get back.

Rethink your planning with using a computer being at the bottom of the list during power outages.

Tough enough just planning for adverse natural and man-made events that take out power.

If it is the apocolypse - then hide. You do not want to be a bright ocean of light and resources.

The attracted moths and bugs will be the least of your worries.

 

[BFG-9000]

That kind of load for that long would require about a 48v 100Ah LiFePo4 battery which alone costs about $1000. Add an inverter and charger to this and it should still be comparable in cost to the old-school solution of a small UPS and propane or natural gas generator that you go outside and start if it looks like the outage will last awhile. I should point out that your ISP may have less battery capacity than this so you might not have internet the whole time.

i'll make do with ice and a fan. In the winter, i'll use a portable propane heater.

The heater is not a good idea because it generates so much humidity (water and CO2 are the combustion byproducts of burning propane) that condensation will start running down the walls. Look at a properly outside-vented unit like the ubiquitous "Chinese Diesel Heater". If you have a large source of propane, there are propane-powered air conditioners and you could choose a heatpump model that doubles as a heater and will be much more efficient than just burning the propane.

Surprisingly the fan can be the biggest issue if you cheap out on the inverter, or repurpose a large old UPS as the inverter, because electric motors are the one thing that really don't like the stepped-approximation-of-sinewave the cheaper models put out. Things that use switchmode power supplies (SMPS) like your PC, phone chargers or modem power brick usually don't care at all or can even be more efficient on such an AC waveform.

 

[stonecarver]

Anyone care to talk me through this? Maybe you could save me from the buyer's remorse i'm sure to get on my own over here.

I will say this I have seen those infomercials that sales pitch there device will let you run this or that if you buy our backup battery inverter system.

What is not being talked about is the run time off the batteries of these compact power outage system.

If bought with the intention of using it to power lights and maybe a laptop your good. Throw in a modem maybe an electric razer, still good.

What there not saying is that the inverter part of the device Does have the wattage to run high power home devices but the batteries can't do it for long.

As someone who does run computers on an independent solar self installed system you need to be feeding the batteries as there being used to actually keep up and to run without down time.

Have you ever sat in the car listening to the radio to long and go to start the car and to dead now. That's how I feel about those so called solutions that say when the power goes out plug everything into our product and your good.

 

[ss_56]

IDK that i've even known about propane powered air conditioners; refrigerators yes - so why not an AC. Thanks, i'll look into those.

Humidity from gas heaters. IDK that i've ever had that byproduct so bad that condensation was running down my walls. Maybe i've had enough fresh air coming in, to ward off carbon monoxide poisoning, that it offset that condensation buildup, i guess. I'll keep a hygrometer handy and exhaust the room if needed.
Yes i was wondering about the motor on that fan; thanks for explaining. maybe use a smaller one at least. Thanks. You got me curious about that propane AC/heat pump combo

 

[ss_56]

You said that right. it's hard but i try not to read or watch the marketing pitches and i understand about run times; basically the fewer low draw items connected, the longer the power station will run them before it depletes. I like that they do have monitors so you can see what taking up you juice and it'll tell you how much runtime you have left.
And you're so right about the 'charge as your running' - that buying solar panels and all runs into a lot more money than i have to spend. I'll keep my requirement low or go ahead and get a gas or dual power inverter generator instead. i think i've about made up my mind on that - i think lol

I like your radio in the car story - yep, that no-start really kills your moody blues!

 

[ss_56]

Not a direct answer with respect to "choice".
But still very much appreciated. Yes, i have put running an AC and gaming at the bottom and yes, were it to come down to an outright apocalypse - we'd all have much greater concerns and priorities - like surviving!

On these power stations, i found you gotta have wi fi. so you can run a smartphone. so you can use a 'app'. so you can download updates. none of that appeals to me. I got spoilt to using remotes - but by God thats where i draw the line! getting a smallish honda generator and maybe try running on propane - that'd be a first.
Cheers!

 

[ss_56]

My entire plan may take me back to a gas, maybe propane, powered inverter generator - as i can't find any of these solar generators that Do Not require a freakin 'app', for their firmware updates! I've never used bluetooth or wi fi and never owned any device that required it. This revelation has about halted my search for one of these as a backup power supply. It's not like i'm trying to live off-grid over here; i only, sadly, want to stay comfy during a 6-12hr power outage. We have them sometimes and i've always just manned up and waited it out. I'll keep my comfy expectations a bit lower and get a honda. Thanks for all the tips y'all, really.

 

[BFG-9000]

Solar charge controllers typically do require an app, even the most premium ones such as from Dutch Victron Energy.

I thought you wanted to avoid solar to skip all that, as there is usually no upgradeable firmware in separate batteries, inverters, or non-solar chargers. The more all-in-one type device it is, the more likely one part of it will break and render the whole thing useless, so separate and individually upgradeable/replaceable components are the way to go for anything in the large capacity range you are looking at.

If you want to add solar panels and a solar controller later, they just hook up alongside the regular 120v charger so you can charge from whatever energy source is available. But yes, unless you get a ridiculously expensive one with a screen on it, you'll need a phone app to adjust settings and monitor things.

If the solar charger company goes under and their old app no longer functions on a later model phone in the future, well you'll only need to buy a new solar controller rather than a whole all-in-one "solar generator" unit.

 

[ss_56]

Solar charge controllers typically do require an app, even the most premium ones such as from Dutch Victron Energy.

I thought you wanted to avoid solar to skip all that, as there is usually no upgradeable firmware in separate batteries, inverters, or non-solar chargers. The more all-in-one type device it is, the more likely one part of it will break and render the whole thing useless, so separate and individually upgradeable/replaceable components are the way to go for anything in the large capacity range you are looking at.

If you want to add solar panels and a solar controller later, they just hook up alongside the regular 120v charger so you can charge from whatever energy source is available. But yes, unless you get a ridiculously expensive one with a screen on it, you'll need a phone app to adjust settings and monitor things.

If the solar charger company goes under and their old app no longer functions on a later model phone in the future, well you'll only need to buy a new solar controller rather than a whole all-in-one "solar generator" unit.

Hey man; sorry for not getting back sooner. Honestly, i've been goin through some 'stuff' that has me in burnout mode - to the point where i'm just going to save my money and decide on all this alt. energy at some point down the road. I've love the idea of solar power but i'm not electronically/mechanically minded and i know little to nothing about solar controllers or panels. If i had the money i would be tempted to buy one of elon's solar powered tiny homes and move out to the country. Not getting any younger though so doubt that will happen.
Thanks for informing/reminding me about solar power though; i love how clean and green it is.
Blessings to you and yours

 

[BFG-9000]

As I said, if you don't want an app, skip the solar part for now. Nothing needs to have an app if it can only charge from a wall outlet.

Perhaps by the time you get interested in adding solar in the future, the price will be much lower then and the technology mature enough to just work without the need for frequent firmware updates. Right now though, the LiFePo4 batteries are cheaper than they have ever been and should last ~10 years. In that time a UPS would easily go through 3-4 sets of lead-acid batteries.

 

[ss_56]

the price will be much lower then and the technology mature enough

I have dreamed of that day and i guess prices have come down already, so yes, i'm waiting for that breakthrough.
I've also been hankerin for battery tech to evolve and i think it has with LiFePo4 Who cares about weight in a battery that lives for 10 years!