Re: Power for your bugout laptop?

Mysterion wrote:


Why did you go for 600Amphr in 12V batteries?
a) it was what i could afford,
b) it was the only way I knew.
c) the batteries need to be moveable by hand to power pumps, etc


All of the above.
....snip....
You start with an idea and it grows.
Yep.

The 4 125Ah batteries were expensive and heavy. One person can't move one
very far at a time.

I have two trojan 130Amphrs and they weight 35kg and that is the current limit of my comfortable short distance move. Thankfully I have a 3 wheel trolley/stair climber that I can also use around the house.

The 100Ah was cheaper and is considerably lighter (I suspect thinner plates)

I have a Trojan 100AmpHr which was purchased because it was considerably cheaper(/watt) and now two Bosch 75AmpHr (which I only purchase on sale (RRP$AUS195 ouch). Part of the reason for purchasing them, a part from the less $/AmpHr, is that other people (family) could move them, if need be.

Unfortunately, these units, whilst okay for "mobile uses" all add up to individual power units that can not be amalgamated for larger or multiday uses.

Following advice received on s.c.e.battery (do not parallel), my next battery purchases are going to a sizeable 2V string that will form the backbone of a home battery bank unit. Apart from being able to run larger items (mixed feelings about that), it means stuff (power outlets, lights) can be installed permanently[1], so for minor calamities, family can just pull out the 12V radio and plug it in or turn on the already installed LED lighting. [2].


In a no-grid situation, I think I'll be okay for about 3 weeks before it
becomes a real pain.

I'd feel a lot happier if I could purchase (at a reasonable price) an LPG generator in this country. Petrol generators are cheap, but storing much fuel is rather risky (and probably illegal if I looked into it). We use LPG for the cook top, so a few more bottles would be no problems and a lot safer. the catch is that it currently costs as much as another basic generator to have one converted to LPG.


[1] My max cable run would be 10 metres to reach every core room in the house, so I'm not too worried about voltage drop.

[2] I just love sitting on the back porch during power outages as everything around us is so quiet. I don't enjoy having to wander around and find torches and the like.

.

Relevant Pages

  • Generator Rescue Mission
    ... there was another generator at the check out. ... in case of a power cut. ... The float charger is on all the time. ... it did occur to me to check the battery. ...
    (misc.survivalism)
  • Re: Redox batteries
    ... When you say that charging will use a fraction of the power of the generator because most of it is used by the propulsion, you are right when you consider riding at nominal speed. ... In this case, what I need is having the generator run for one hour at full power, then quietly ride using the batteries only for ten hours. ... You do not need to modify the charger itself - it bases lowering the current on voltage only, and "relaxing" will make sure that battery voltage will not go high enough to start throttling down the current. ... it does not matter how to charge it as long as you do not cause ...
    (sci.chem.electrochem.battery)
  • Re: Ping Neon John Again
    ... here I'll be plugged in to shore power. ... have one in your RV already for your generator. ... I've camped with no power, I've used 12V only, running off battery ... To make the inverter automatic, you simply buy another relay and ...
    (rec.outdoors.rv-travel)
  • Re: Redox batteries
    ... When you say that charging will use a fraction of the power of the generator because most of it is used by the propulsion, you are right when you consider riding at nominal speed. ... In this case, what I need is having the generator run for one hour at full power, then quietly ride using the batteries only for ten hours. ... Next, as far as vanadium batteries, you know that being flow cells, the battery capacity and the battery power are totally decoupled. ... it does not matter how to charge it as long as you do not cause ...
    (sci.chem.electrochem.battery)
  • Re: Portable inverter/generator questions
    ... probably a very long cord to locate the generator elsewhere {:-). ... And add a bit more because inverters cost power any way) ... If you only want to run the generator say once every four days, then you need 400+ AmpHours in battery storage. ... j) solar panel regulator so it doesn't pump too much charge into the battery. ...
    (misc.survivalism)