DIY- Portable Power Plant ( no tools needed)

woodsman · Sep 15, 2016

This is a great plug and play project that anyone can put together, there are only two wing nuts to tighten and it’s done. It’s based around a marine deep cycle battery housed in a smart box that has a power indicator, USB port, cigar lighter 12volt port and terminals for lager ac/dc inverters or other.

I just finished my third unit, I keep one at home, another at my fishing cabin that does double duty for my trolling motor and I gave one to my daughter because she gets a lot of power outages in her area. In todays connected world it’s nice to be able to stay online during a power outage. Typically unless the lines are cut you will still have cable or DSL. This will run your router, wifi and also give you USB outlets and lights. For those with a medical device cpap or nebulizer something like this is a must have. With todays pure sine wave inverters you can have a confidence level that you will not harm sensitive electrons with a power station such as this.

The smart box can hold a very large class 29 battery but I choose to go a bit smaller with a class 24. In that left over space I keep two USB powered bulbs and extension cables in a tupperware container so they don’t get damaged, each light has 17’ of cable and the lights are equivalent to a standard 40watt bulb. I put this kit together after looking at pre-made units, they are so very expensive $1000+ this will preform as good or better for $250. The one flaw is the weight, yes it is a full on marine battery but I have matched a small folding hand truck with these units for mobility.

A few Notes: Its best to mount the inverter to the side of the box, I used double sided velcro tape so it can be removed while out in wet conditions, fishing or camping. I also have a few accessory for my home unit. One is a smart USB splitter for apple and sensitive android phones and tablets, the other is a wifi signal booster, If the lines are cut I can still pickup a hotspot or weak signal with this. I also replaced the standard nuts on the battery with wing nuts, no tools needed to remove the battery. I’m not including info to recharge this battery, I figured that would be obvious. Anyway’s here are some links to what I used.

Smart box:

https://www.amazon.com/Newport-Vess...sr=8-1-spons&keywords=smart+battery+box&psc=1

Battery:

https://www.walmart.com/ip/EverStart-Group-Size-24DC-Marine-Battery/20531540

Inverter:

https://www.amazon.com/BESTEK-Power...78058&sr=8-1&keywords=Bestek+300watt+inverter

Lights-X2:

https://www.amazon.com/SunJack-Camp...sbs_229_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=KSZCGF4VA7Q95CPTD5RP

Handtruck:

https://www.amazon.com/Magna-Person...9_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=EK5D15PXQ49W1NVYQVD2

Cables:
https://www.amazon.com/Cable-Matter...=1473877329&sr=1-4&keywords=usb+cable+10+foot

https://www.amazon.com/Male-Female-...7_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=0R18WWNAK1CTB2QXX89Q

eohrnberger · Sep 15, 2016

woodsman said:
This is a great plug and play project that anyone can put together, there are only two wing nuts to tighten and it’s done. It’s based around a marine deep cycle battery housed in a smart box that has a power indicator, USB port, cigar lighter 12volt port and terminals for lager ac/dc inverters or other.

I just finished my third unit, I keep one at home, another at my fishing cabin that does double duty for my trolling motor and I gave one to my daughter because she gets a lot of power outages in her area. In todays connected world it’s nice to be able to stay online during a power outage. Typically unless the lines are cut you will still have cable or DSL. This will run your router, wifi and also give you USB outlets and lights. For those with a medical device cpap or nebulizer something like this is a must have. With todays pure sine wave inverters you can have a confidence level that you will not harm sensitive electrons with a power station such as this.

The smart box can hold a very large class 29 battery but I choose to go a bit smaller with a class 24. In that left over space I keep two USB powered bulbs and extension cables in a tupperware container so they don’t get damaged, each light has 17’ of cable and the lights are equivalent to a standard 40watt bulb. I put this kit together after looking at pre-made units, they are so very expensive $1000+ this will preform as good or better for $250. The one flaw is the weight, yes it is a full on marine battery but I have matched a small folding hand truck with these units for mobility.

A few Notes: Its best to mount the inverter to the side of the box, I used double sided velcro tape so it can be removed while out in wet conditions, fishing or camping. I also have a few accessory for my home unit. One is a smart USB splitter for apple and sensitive android phones and tablets, the other is a wifi signal booster, If the lines are cut I can still pickup a hotspot or weak signal with this. I also replaced the standard nuts on the battery with wing nuts, no tools needed to remove the battery. I’m not including info to recharge this battery, I figured that would be obvious. Anyway’s here are some links to what I used.

Smart box:

https://www.amazon.com/Newport-Vess...sr=8-1-spons&keywords=smart+battery+box&psc=1

Battery:

https://www.walmart.com/ip/EverStart-Group-Size-24DC-Marine-Battery/20531540

Inverter:

https://www.amazon.com/BESTEK-Power...78058&sr=8-1&keywords=Bestek+300watt+inverter

Lights-X2:

https://www.amazon.com/SunJack-Camp...sbs_229_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=KSZCGF4VA7Q95CPTD5RP

Handtruck:

https://www.amazon.com/Magna-Person...9_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=EK5D15PXQ49W1NVYQVD2

Cables:
https://www.amazon.com/Cable-Matter...=1473877329&sr=1-4&keywords=usb+cable+10+foot

https://www.amazon.com/Male-Female-...7_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=0R18WWNAK1CTB2QXX89Q

Hey, a nifty bit of systems integration there.

How well do you think it'll do during a Zombie apocalypses? (Just kidding).

longview · Sep 15, 2016

woodsman said:
This is a great plug and play project that anyone can put together, there are only two wing nuts to tighten and it’s done. It’s based around a marine deep cycle battery housed in a smart box that has a power indicator, USB port, cigar lighter 12volt port and terminals for lager ac/dc inverters or other.

I just finished my third unit, I keep one at home, another at my fishing cabin that does double duty for my trolling motor and I gave one to my daughter because she gets a lot of power outages in her area. In todays connected world it’s nice to be able to stay online during a power outage. Typically unless the lines are cut you will still have cable or DSL. This will run your router, wifi and also give you USB outlets and lights. For those with a medical device cpap or nebulizer something like this is a must have. With todays pure sine wave inverters you can have a confidence level that you will not harm sensitive electrons with a power station such as this.

The smart box can hold a very large class 29 battery but I choose to go a bit smaller with a class 24. In that left over space I keep two USB powered bulbs and extension cables in a tupperware container so they don’t get damaged, each light has 17’ of cable and the lights are equivalent to a standard 40watt bulb. I put this kit together after looking at pre-made units, they are so very expensive $1000+ this will preform as good or better for $250. The one flaw is the weight, yes it is a full on marine battery but I have matched a small folding hand truck with these units for mobility.

A few Notes: Its best to mount the inverter to the side of the box, I used double sided velcro tape so it can be removed while out in wet conditions, fishing or camping. I also have a few accessory for my home unit. One is a smart USB splitter for apple and sensitive android phones and tablets, the other is a wifi signal booster, If the lines are cut I can still pickup a hotspot or weak signal with this. I also replaced the standard nuts on the battery with wing nuts, no tools needed to remove the battery. I’m not including info to recharge this battery, I figured that would be obvious. Anyway’s here are some links to what I used.

Smart box:

https://www.amazon.com/Newport-Vess...sr=8-1-spons&keywords=smart+battery+box&psc=1

Battery:

https://www.walmart.com/ip/EverStart-Group-Size-24DC-Marine-Battery/20531540

Inverter:

https://www.amazon.com/BESTEK-Power...78058&sr=8-1&keywords=Bestek+300watt+inverter

Lights-X2:

https://www.amazon.com/SunJack-Camp...sbs_229_1?ie=UTF8&refRID=KSZCGF4VA7Q95CPTD5RP

Handtruck:

https://www.amazon.com/Magna-Person...9_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=EK5D15PXQ49W1NVYQVD2

Cables:
https://www.amazon.com/Cable-Matter...=1473877329&sr=1-4&keywords=usb+cable+10+foot

https://www.amazon.com/Male-Female-...7_2?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=0R18WWNAK1CTB2QXX89Q

After Hurricane Ike, I threw one together so a friends parents could run a small fridge and a fan.
When you are living without AC on the gulf coast even little things help.

woodsman · Sep 15, 2016

eohrnberger said:
Hey, a nifty bit of systems integration there.

How well do you think it'll do during a Zombie apocalypses? (Just kidding).

It’s a great kit for the money. My nephew has a very fancy goal zero yeti 1250 generator that costs $1,600. I can’t afford that type of thing so this is a great option. It does the same thing as the Yeti less all the digital readout nonsense that I really don’t need.

I’m not really a prepper I just put things together for my off grid fishing cabin and this made budget sense. Its also a good idea to have something ready for storms and outages, I do live in NH and Its pretty common in the winter to go without power for a day or two.

woodsman · Sep 15, 2016

longview said:
After Hurricane Ike, I threw one together so a friends parents could run a small fridge and a fan.
When you are living without AC on the gulf coast even little things help.

Kits like this are perfect for after a disaster or storm, nice job putting one together for a family member after the hurricane. This rig is just putting it all together as economical as possible but having all the modern functions for todays electronics.

Not to come off as a crazy prepper, but I also have kits for a USB powered A/C unit and a forced hot air furnace to keep one room comfortable. If any are interested just ask and I will post how I did it.

eohrnberger · Sep 15, 2016

woodsman said:
It’s a great kit for the money. My nephew has a very fancy goal zero yeti 1250 generator that costs $1,600. I can’t afford that type of thing so this is a great option. It does the same thing as the Yeti less all the digital readout nonsense that I really don’t need.

I’m not really a prepper I just put things together for my off grid fishing cabin and this made budget sense. Its also a good idea to have something ready for storms and outages, I do live in NH and Its pretty common in the winter to go without power for a day or two.

Right. I'm with you on that. My intent was to compliment you on your ingenuity, and keeping the price down, as you have.

Were is not for the 15 horse Honda generator that I already have, I'd look at a couple of these as a backup.

SmokeAndMirrors · Sep 15, 2016

woodsman said:
It’s a great kit for the money. My nephew has a very fancy goal zero yeti 1250 generator that costs $1,600. I can’t afford that type of thing so this is a great option. It does the same thing as the Yeti less all the digital readout nonsense that I really don’t need.

I’m not really a prepper I just put things together for my off grid fishing cabin and this made budget sense. Its also a good idea to have something ready for storms and outages, I do live in NH and Its pretty common in the winter to go without power for a day or two.

Very cool. What's this thing weigh, when all's said and done?

woodsman · Sep 15, 2016

eohrnberger said:
Right. I'm with you on that. My intent was to compliment you on your ingenuity, and keeping the price down, as you have.

Were is not for the 15 horse Honda generator that I already have, I'd look at a couple of these as a backup.

Yes, I know you were just joking around about the zombie apocalypse. Since I down sized to a condo I can’t have a fuel powered generator so kits like this are great for apartments and condos or for off grid, hunting camps or camping sites.

eohrnberger · Sep 15, 2016

woodsman said:
Yes, I know you were just joking around about the zombie apocalypse. Since I down sized to a condo I can’t have a fuel powered generator so kits like this are great for apartments and condos or for off grid, hunting camps or camping sites.

Yes, they are. Kudos again to you!

longview · Sep 15, 2016

woodsman said:
Kits like this are perfect for after a disaster or storm, nice job putting one together for a family member after the hurricane. This rig is just putting it all together as economical as possible but having all the modern functions for todays electronics.

Not to come off as a crazy prepper, but I also have kits for a USB powered A/C unit and a forced hot air furnace to keep one room comfortable. If any are interested just ask and I will post how I did it.

I have a hurricane kit, generator, capable of running two window unit ACs the fridge, freezer, and TV,
For limited cycles I can run the microwave, instead of an AC or fridge.

Fenton · Sep 15, 2016

DC power is limited to the amp hours of the deep cycle batteryl and the the load being powered by the inverter

So unless you have a way to charge that battery your emergency power wont last very long and it definitely wont get you through the after effects of a hurican

You can charge a deep cell with your car alternator but if your alternator but that's going to use up your fuel.

woodsman · Sep 15, 2016

SmokeAndMirrors said:
Very cool. What's this thing weigh, when all's said and done?

Its a beast at approximately 50lb, that’s why I included in my post the hand-cart and in the price to put this kit together. I strap the finished box to the cart that has a telescoping handle with a strong bungie cord. The smart box that houses the battery does have a very strong center handle and side handles molded in for the occasional lifting up and down.

You really can’t get this amount of amp hours without the weight, even the fancy units come with carts for mobility.

Hand-cart:

https://www.amazon.com/Magna-Person...9_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=EK5D15PXQ49W1NVYQVD2

SmokeAndMirrors · Sep 15, 2016

woodsman said:
Its a beast at approximately 50lb, that’s why I included in my post the hand-cart and in the price to put this kit together. I strap the finished box to the cart that has a telescoping handle with a strong bungie cord. The smart box that houses the battery does have a very strong center handle and side handles molded in for the occasional lifting up and down.

You really can’t get this amount of amp hours without the weight, even the fancy units come with carts for mobility.

Hand-cart:

https://www.amazon.com/Magna-Person...9_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&refRID=EK5D15PXQ49W1NVYQVD2

That's not so bad really. Thanks, I'm gonna have to bookmark all this...

woodsman · Sep 15, 2016

Fenton said:
DC power is limited to the amp hours of the deep cycle batteryl and the the load being powered by the inverter

So unless you have a way to charge that battery your emergency power wont last very long and it definitely wont get you through the after effects of a hurican

You can charge a deep cell with your car alternator but if your alternator but that's going to use up your fuel.

As I pointed out in my OP, I thought It obvious how to recharge a battery. At home I use a simple $30 Walmart purchased battery charger. Off-grid I have a 100w portable solar panel that I bring home for winter use. My last test was ten days of power with this kit using that solar panel.

This kit is only intended for a short stay, 36,48 hours without recharge with heavy use. If used just for lights it would last for over a month. This is not a generator to power refrigerators or other large household appliances. The point of the OP was how to put together an economical low cost power plant to keep a few lights on stay connected, and have a comfort level with emergencies.

Fenton · Sep 15, 2016

woodsman said:
As I pointed out in my OP, I thought It obvious how to recharge a battery. At home I use a simple $30 Walmart purchased battery charger. Off-grid I have a 100w portable solar panel that I bring home for winter use. My last test was ten days of power with this kit using that solar panel.

This kit is only intended for a short stay, 36,48 hours without recharge with heavy use. If used just for lights it would last for over a month. This is not a generator to power refrigerators or other large household appliances. The point of the OP was how to put together an economical low cost power plant to keep a few lights on stay connected, and have a comfort level with emergencies.

People who are unfamiliar with this tech need to understand that a DC power source as a emergency power source isn't practical unless you have some means of recharging that batery.

As a long term emergency power source Its not worth doing if you dont have a generator or a solar set up

woodsman · Sep 15, 2016

Fenton said:
People who are unfamiliar with this tech need to understand that a DC power source as a emergency power source isn't practical unless you have some means of recharging that batery.

As a long term emergency power source Its not worth doing if you dont have a generator or a solar set up

But it’s absolutely perfect as described, meaning for short term power outages, hunting and fishing camps or just general piece of mind that you are reasonably prepared for an emergency. Yes, matching this kit with a solar panel as I do is best but most will not go with the added expense. And I don’t feel folks are unfamiliar with how a battery works, once depleted it needs to be charged.