Master thread for disasters and generators.

[MyUsernameTX]

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People with EVs' feel there will always be electricity just for them.

Funnily enough, gas pumps are out in the area and people are having a hard time finding gas

Meanwhile, my wife's Mach-E charged up last night, while on generator power

So its actually the other way round

 

[orbital]

Funnily enough, gas pumps are out in the area and people are having a hard time finding gas

Meanwhile, my wife's Mach-E charged up last night, while on generator power

So its actually the other way round

+

I'll take a punch when called for..

Many people don't have a good generator setup

 

[MyUsernameTX]

I have solar but no batteries, so my solar is off now because there is no grid to sync to. If I had batteries, I could charge it directly from the sun

The best thing about an EV is that literally any fuel can power it. Coal, Wind, Sun, Gasoline, Diesel, Natural Gas, Hydro, Nuclear

 

[orbital]

I have solar but no batteries, so my solar is off now because there is no grid to sync to. If I had batteries, I could charge it directly from the sun

The best thing about an EV is that literally any fuel can power it. Coal, Wind, Sun, Gasoline, Diesel, Natural Gas, Hydro, Nuclear

+

Batteries get expensive.

If you bought four of the largest 24V LFP units, that would give you over 20kWh of usable power.
That will also cost around $5000 if you get a good deal.

Important:: LFP batteries have a stunning life span & give incredible performance = charging at high Amps etc..

_____________________________
I have 700Ah at 24V of LFP, (bought them over a few years)

 

[TPA]

People with EVs' feel there will always be electricity just for them.

They're going to be in for some rough times over the next week or two. Those tall high voltage pylons don't get replaced overnight. I'm not sure how the TX grid is designed and if there's a bypass path available, although I'm suspecting there isn't.

They seem to be making some progress though, <700,000 without power in Texas now. Not sure what the peak was.

 

[Monocrom]

Is Centerpoint Energy normally inept? I ask because in Florida, Duke Energy is truly the worst. They refuse to proactively maintain their grid, and it shows. Usually pulling up the poweroutage.us site, Duke will have the same amount of people out as FPL, but Duke has 1/5th the number of customers.

FPL, which used to be known as Flicker Power & Light, has really improved their infrastructure over the past 20 years.

Con-Ed. used to be the same way as Duke.
Wasn't even the massive Northeast Blackout of 2003 that got them to change. It was a smaller, localized 10-day Brownout that came later on.... The one that only effected the local neighborhood literally right outside Con Ed's gates. Problem is, that Astoria neighborhood is full of businesses who lost several millions upon millions of dollars in merchandise, revenue, and trade. Facing massive lawsuits, Con Ed. finally learned its lesson.

 

[MyUsernameTX]

My power just came back

Checked the oil, still right at the full mark, and so clean you struggle to read the dip stick

 

[MyUsernameTX]

I also did put out a fire while this was going on...

 

[TPA]

What did y'all do in TX to **** off the weather gods? 500k+ without power due to weather...again.

 

[glockboy]

What did y'all do in TX to **** off the weather gods? 500k+ without power due to weather...again.

It's not the Texans, It's the new comers.

 

[MyUsernameTX]

Got my $260 Ecoflow River 2 Pro today, this thing is AWESOME!

Hooked it up to an old dud solar panel and got 200w with the angle being terrible and even covered in dirt

Brought it into the cool to charge up fully over AC. Will probably mess with solar more tomorrow

 

[orbital]

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Nice TX

A year ago I helped my neighbor's sister get a small/starter solar setup.
Had her get a River 2 Max & two 100W panels. She likes it alot.

Personally today had around 1.5kW of solar panels in use, charged around 7000Wh

 

[MyUsernameTX]

I have 17kw on the roof, but that is not nearly as fun as this

 

[Lips]

Got my $260 Ecoflow River 2 Pro today, this thing is AWESOME!

TX, how'd you get it so cheap! That's below refurbished price.

I'm thinking about getting another one...

.

 

[MyUsernameTX]

TX, how'd you get it so cheap! That's below refurbished price.

I'm thinking about getting another one...

.

It was on Slickdeals, keep a look out

EcoFlow RIVER 2 Pro 768Wh Portable Power Station LFP (Cert. Refurb.) $275.50 + Free Shipping

EcoFlow Official Store via eBay has EcoFlow RIVER 2 Pro 768Wh Portable Power Station LFP (Cert. Refurb., ZMR620-B-US-BP) on sale for $275.51 when you apply coupon code ECOFLOWMAY21OFF at checkout. ...

slickdeals.net

It looks like they go on sale every now and then

 

[TPA]

How does battery replacement on those Ecoflows work? How much are they? And what sort of lifespan do they have? I'm used to the UPSs which only last about 3 years in Florida.

 

[MyUsernameTX]

How does battery replacement on those Ecoflows work? How much are they? And what sort of lifespan do they have? I'm used to the UPSs which only last about 3 years in Florida.

Its non replaceable, but its lithium, and LFP specifically, so you're looking at a 10-20 year lifespan

 

[MyUsernameTX]

Can anyone suggest a portable fold up solar panel for my Ecoflow? The Ecoflow branded ones are very expensive so looking for all available options

 

[KITROBASKIN]

Still pretty expensive, sometimes they go on sale. The 100W panels are Sunpower cells (copper backplate).

Portable Solar Panels - Xtardirect

Buy XTAR 100w portable folding solar panels, solar array and outdoor usb power adapter for your RV camping and off-grid living. 10% off. Free shipping for US.

xtardirect.com

We have Rich Solar panels; $2 a watt (or so) for these portable units. If you figure out a way to mount metal frame solar panels, they will be less expensive and last longer than flexible types.

Portable Solar Panels I RICH SOLAR

RICH SOLAR offers a wide range of portable solar panels to keep you powered up on the go. Find the perfect solution for your needs now!

richsolar.com

While I do not recommend Renogy electronic components, we also have some of their solar panels; just fine.

solar panels for sale, buy portable camping solar panels | Renogy

Where to buy solar panels? Renogy offers types of portable camping solar panels, home solar panels, is best place for solar panel wholesale and solar panel sale

www.renogy.com

Be sure you have plug compatibility. The MC4 connections are handy but be careful about cheap extension cables with cheap connectors.

Amazon is a possibility (where we got Renogy)

 

[MyUsernameTX]

I actually just got this from Harbor Freight for $150. Looks identical to the folding Rich Energy ones but for $50 less

https://www.harborfreight.com/100-watt-solar-panel-briefcase-57991.html

Its quite a large "suitecase" as they call it, I'm on the fence if its too big for the River 2 Pro

I have an SAE to XT60 adapter arriving tomorrow I can use it