I am converting my new Hyundai IMAX van into a "Mobile home" of sorts.
I am NOT electrically minded and am looking for an idiot proof system to power a fridge etc.
I currently have a 100w flexible, folding suit case type of solar panel and will be adding extra panels to the roof of the van once my Pop top is fitted.
Does anyone know much about the Goal Zero products? Of have any other advice for me?
Cheers,
Jewel
-- Edited by Jewel on Sunday 10th of December 2017 12:54:32 PM
-- Edited by Jewel on Sunday 10th of December 2017 12:55:24 PM
T1 Terry said
12:00 PM Dec 10, 2017
Jewel wrote:
Hi all, at the risk of starting a Holden vs Ford debate I am looking for advice about Lithium Ion batteries.
In particular the Goal Zero lithium portable power stations that are just being made available in Aus.
Let me explain my situation...
I am converting my new Hyundai IMAX van into a "Mobile home" of sorts.
I am NOT electrically minded and am looking for an idiot proof system to power a fridge etc.
I currently have a 100w flexible, folding suit case type of solar panel and will be adding extra panels to the roof of the van once my Pop top is fitted.
Does anyone know much about the Goal Zero products? Of have any other advice for me?
Cheers,
Jewel
The link didn't work, but Google found this https://www.goalzero.com.au/shop/rechargers/yeti-400-solar-generator-230v/ and $699 for claimed 33Ah battery makes it $21.20Ah @ 12v ..... but even the 33Ah is questionable as the specs show 396w yet no mention of the lithium chemistry used (all lithium batteries are classed as lithium ion, that is the ION exchange that all chemistry lithium batteries use to function). LFP/LYP, the safest of a lithium chemistries have a nom. 3.2v per cell so the capacity is 3.2v x the number of cells x the capacity of each cell, or by dividing the watts (396w) by 4 and dividing that by 3.2v the capacity comes out as 30Ah. Now, if they are using LiPo or lithium polymer cells, these are the fireball cell the model plane people talk about and are 3.7v nom. so 396w divided by 4 divided by 3.7v = 26.75Ah.
The next eye opener is the 13 hrs to recharge via the vehicle, lithium is well known for its fast recharging ability so.......????
What is missing from the spec sheet but is the all important part, what chemistry lithium batteries are they
The next worry is this in the Yeti 1400 listing
High-Quality, Replaceable Lithium Pack Lightweight lithium batteries yield long runtimes and extended 18-month shelf-life. High quality cells feature additional monitoring electronics for superior management and ultimate safety. The lithium pack is also easily replaceable and is easily swapped out at the end of the product lifecycle.
So the 18mth shelf life suggests LiPo cells, you don't want to be putting them inside any where you plan to live or sleep.
The other bits you get are an unknown, but it they tell porkies in their spec sheet you have to wonder don't you, is the inverter modified sine wave or pure sine wave? What is the inverter capacity? .... the list of questions go on and on.....
T1 Terry
Jewel said
12:36 PM Dec 10, 2017
Hi Terry, thanks so much for replying.
Im a bit of a dimwit at times, this is the link for the lithium battery...
Not much battery there, for what money?
As Terry tries to say, forget it. There are lots of better ways to do what you want to do.
Cheers,
Peter
robol said
09:12 AM Dec 11, 2017
Just in case you havn't thought of it.
Make sure the struts on your poptop are capable of lifting the poptop as well as the extra weight of solar panels, depending on how many you place up there.
Cheers Rob
Jewel said
09:34 AM Dec 13, 2017
Peter, thanks for your reply.
My current dilemma is that I need to be able to power a small fridge and a fan when I drive up from Melbourne to Brisbane to get the pop top fitted.
Because I dont know what Im doing Im scared of waking up one morning and having a flat battery.
My current thinking was to buy a battery system that will do for now and also for when I get a proper solar system up and running.
Rob, thanks for the tip. Ill be sure to check with the roof supplier.
Cheers,
Jewel
daffyfrancis said
10:17 AM Dec 13, 2017
Hi,
The compact Li jump starter kits for around $100 are an ideal thing to carry in case you have a flat battery - ours has easily started a friends Suziki Vitaria 4x4 & our Santa Fe V6 both had completely flat batteries. - luckily not had to try it on our Sprinter or yacht as yet but it is so compact that I always carry it on both when travelling - info says it will start a 5l petrol or 3.5l diesel.
Well worth having whatever else you do.
David
Jaahn said
11:55 AM Dec 13, 2017
Jewel wrote:
Peter, thanks for your reply.
My current dilemma is that I need to be able to power a small fridge and a fan when I drive up from Melbourne to Brisbane to get the pop top fitted.
Because I dont know what Im doing Im scared of waking up one morning and having a flat battery.
My current thinking was to buy a battery system that will do for now and also for when I get a proper solar system up and running.
Rob, thanks for the tip. Ill be sure to check with the roof supplier.
Cheers, Jewel
Hi Jewel
My thoughts !
If you want to get a system running in the future and not double up on the purchases, then I do not think a combo unit like that is good. It has various good features that are useful, but the basic battery capacity to support all those things is a too small and the price is a bit large. Only 10.8V, 39.6Ah @ $699.
I am still of the opinion that an AGM will give you what you want for a reasonable cost, at half that price and 2.5x the Ahrs (some unusable). But you will need some other stuff too depending on what you want to do. Basically though you need to plan a bit on the use first then see how to achieve it.
What is the small fridge and fan and what is their current draw ? While driving all that way the car will provide power to them probably and if you switch the fridge off when stopped it will hold its cold if it has some bottles of water in there. Stop in a c/park or ? and plug into power. I carry a jump starter always but have never used it on my vehicle, but helped plenty of others I guess the new style small ones would be my choice today.
Jaahn
PS your car alternator can be the best charger you have for the auxilary battery if correctly setup. If you drive a lot then it can fully support you.
-- Edited by Jaahn on Wednesday 13th of December 2017 11:59:57 AM
-- Edited by Jaahn on Wednesday 13th of December 2017 12:02:36 PM
Aus-Kiwi said
01:17 PM Dec 13, 2017
A 120 watt panel or similar sized and battery connected to vehicles charging system will assist , be well enough for 55 watt or so fridge . Just make sure cables are large enough over the distance . Even the short cable that come with these portable fridges is a choke on voltage .
Jewel said
12:11 AM Dec 18, 2017
Thanks again for all your replies.
At this stage I have decided NOT to buy the GoalZero unit.
daffyfrancis... The LI jump starter kit sounds good. Thanks for the suggestion, Ill have to have a look into it. Any ideas on a particular brand?
Jaahn... Lots of good advice there, thanks. The fridge will be a Waeco 28ltr. My thinking about not buying an AGM battery mostly has to do with the weight. The weight and size vs limited capacity of my van, but more to the point my own limited capacity to handle heavy weights.
Aus-Kiwi... Thanks for the advice, much appreciated. I was looking at a Jcar catalogue and they had cables and joining things. Maybe I could manage to alter cables, not sure.
All in all I want to say I appreciate all and any replies and am always pleased to see that people have taken the time to give advice.
Cheers,
Jewel
FillSee0 said
03:45 PM Jan 1, 2018
Hi Jewel, Hope your pop-top plans are working out.
Quite bit of technicality to electricity. Goal Zero is aimed at adventurers: From ultra-lightweight backpackers to 4WD guys who take their portable (but heavy) systems in their vehicle. Yes, they are combos, ready-made to work and not designed to be modified. Although the brand is strong (they are pretty bullet-proof), we pay an excess for lower weight (lipos are lightweight) and small size. Small panels mean long charge times. Its the right balance for adventurers, but maybe not for vans and motorhomes.
I would start at the generating end and work from there: Start with filling up ur limited roof space with flexible panels. Don't skimp here as you won't regret buying decent suitable panels. You can pgrade your controller and bank as you go.
Keep us all updated if you want further guidance.
Fill
T1 Terry said
04:48 PM Jan 2, 2018
Welcome to the forum Fill. I see these are Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide cells , are they cylindrical cells or prismatic cells? Is this the reason for the slower charging or can these be charged at a much higher rate/
Hi all, at the risk of starting a Holden vs Ford debate I am looking for advice about Lithium Ion batteries.
In particular the https://www.goalzero.com.au/shop/rechargers/yeti-400-lithium-solar-generator/ [I FIXED THE LINK]
that are just being made available in Aus.
Let me explain my situation...
I am converting my new Hyundai IMAX van into a "Mobile home" of sorts.
I am NOT electrically minded and am looking for an idiot proof system to power a fridge etc.
I currently have a 100w flexible, folding suit case type of solar panel and will be adding extra panels to the roof of the van once my Pop top is fitted.
Does anyone know much about the Goal Zero products? Of have any other advice for me?
Cheers,
Jewel
-- Edited by Jewel on Sunday 10th of December 2017 12:54:32 PM
-- Edited by Jewel on Sunday 10th of December 2017 12:55:24 PM
The link didn't work, but Google found this https://www.goalzero.com.au/shop/rechargers/yeti-400-solar-generator-230v/ and $699 for claimed 33Ah battery makes it $21.20Ah @ 12v ..... but even the 33Ah is questionable as the specs show 396w yet no mention of the lithium chemistry used (all lithium batteries are classed as lithium ion, that is the ION exchange that all chemistry lithium batteries use to function). LFP/LYP, the safest of a lithium chemistries have a nom. 3.2v per cell so the capacity is 3.2v x the number of cells x the capacity of each cell, or by dividing the watts (396w) by 4 and dividing that by 3.2v the capacity comes out as 30Ah. Now, if they are using LiPo or lithium polymer cells, these are the fireball cell the model plane people talk about and are 3.7v nom. so 396w divided by 4 divided by 3.7v = 26.75Ah.
The next eye opener is the 13 hrs to recharge via the vehicle, lithium is well known for its fast recharging ability so.......????
What is missing from the spec sheet but is the all important part, what chemistry lithium batteries are they
The next worry is this in the Yeti 1400 listing
High-Quality, Replaceable Lithium Pack Lightweight lithium batteries yield long runtimes and extended 18-month shelf-life. High quality cells feature additional monitoring electronics for superior management and ultimate safety. The lithium pack is also easily replaceable and is easily swapped out at the end of the product lifecycle.
So the 18mth shelf life suggests LiPo cells, you don't want to be putting them inside any where you plan to live or sleep.
The other bits you get are an unknown, but it they tell porkies in their spec sheet you have to wonder don't you, is the inverter modified sine wave or pure sine wave? What is the inverter capacity? .... the list of questions go on and on.....
T1 Terry
Hi Terry, thanks so much for replying.
Im a bit of a dimwit at times, this is the link for the lithium battery...
https://www.goalzero.com.au/shop/rechargers/yeti-400-lithium-solar-generator/
They have different size units right up to 1400.
I appreciate your opinions,
Cheers,
Jewel
PS I found this chart and yes it does seem that the Lithium charge tomes are long?
-- Edited by Jewel on Sunday 10th of December 2017 01:00:03 PM
-- Edited by Jewel on Sunday 10th of December 2017 01:02:07 PM
As Terry tries to say, forget it. There are lots of better ways to do what you want to do.
Cheers,
Peter
Just in case you havn't thought of it.
Make sure the struts on your poptop are capable of lifting the poptop as well as the extra weight of solar panels, depending on how many you place up there.
Cheers Rob
Peter, thanks for your reply.
My current dilemma is that I need to be able to power a small fridge and a fan when I drive up from Melbourne to Brisbane to get the pop top fitted.
Because I dont know what Im doing Im scared of waking up one morning and having a flat battery.
My current thinking was to buy a battery system that will do for now and also for when I get a proper solar system up and running.
Rob, thanks for the tip. Ill be sure to check with the roof supplier.
Cheers,
Jewel
Hi,
The compact Li jump starter kits for around $100 are an ideal thing to carry in case you have a flat battery - ours has easily started a friends Suziki Vitaria 4x4 & our Santa Fe V6 both had completely flat batteries. - luckily not had to try it on our Sprinter or yacht as yet but it is so compact that I always carry it on both when travelling - info says it will start a 5l petrol or 3.5l diesel.
Well worth having whatever else you do.
David
Hi Jewel
My thoughts !
If you want to get a system running in the future and not double up on the purchases, then I do not think a combo unit like that is good. It has various good features that are useful, but the basic battery capacity to support all those things is a too small and the price is a bit large. Only 10.8V, 39.6Ah @ $699.
I am still of the opinion that an AGM will give you what you want for a reasonable cost, at half that price and 2.5x the Ahrs (some unusable). But you will need some other stuff too depending on what you want to do. Basically though you need to plan a bit on the use first then see how to achieve it.
What is the small fridge and fan and what is their current draw ? While driving all that way the car will provide power to them probably and if you switch the fridge off when stopped it will hold its cold if it has some bottles of water in there. Stop in a c/park or ? and plug into power. I carry a jump starter always but have never used it on my vehicle, but helped plenty of others
I guess the new style small ones would be my choice today.
Jaahn
PS your car alternator can be the best charger you have for the auxilary battery if correctly setup. If you drive a lot then it can fully support you.
-- Edited by Jaahn on Wednesday 13th of December 2017 11:59:57 AM
-- Edited by Jaahn on Wednesday 13th of December 2017 12:02:36 PM
Thanks again for all your replies.
At this stage I have decided NOT to buy the GoalZero unit.
daffyfrancis... The LI jump starter kit sounds good. Thanks for the suggestion, Ill have to have a look into it. Any ideas on a particular brand?
Jaahn... Lots of good advice there, thanks. The fridge will be a Waeco 28ltr. My thinking about not buying an AGM battery mostly has to do with the weight. The weight and size vs limited capacity of my van, but more to the point my own limited capacity to handle heavy weights.
Aus-Kiwi... Thanks for the advice, much appreciated. I was looking at a Jcar catalogue and they had cables and joining things. Maybe I could manage to alter cables, not sure.
All in all I want to say I appreciate all and any replies and am always pleased to see that people have taken the time to give advice.
Cheers,
Jewel
T1 Terry