Rechargeable power pack

[Doug B]

Has anyone any experience/ recommendations for a portable rechargeable power pack, I know Festool do theirs in a systainer but that’s out of my budget, a google search bought up this which looks a handy size https://uk.jackery.com/products/exp...tkh8QiopYAnwfbQJf51yUGg39KkoijoBoCGcAQAvD_BwE
As this is an unknown to me I though I ask for recommendations before jumping in, TIA

 

[robgul]

I know nothing about these things - but loads of YouTubers have promoted EcoFlow power units . . . . probably worth a look

 

[Dabop]

Jackery is very well known in Australia, them, Ecoflow, Bluetti and Anker are all well known and reliable units (cheaper to 'DIY' but if your tech skills aren't up to it, they are all good units

There are lesser known units out there as well- but you'll have to take your chances with those others...., those are the 'big names' in portable powerbanks...

One thing to watch out for- they all have 'lithiums' in them- BUT there are different 'lithiums' which are completely different chemistries- and performance- LFP (LiFePO4) is more expensive (and slightly bigger for the same capacity) but is also practically 'fireproof' and has 3000-5000 charge cycles- avoid the NMC or 'LiPO' ones- they are the 'catch fire easy and cant be put out' lithium cells- plus only good for 500-800 charge cycles (at best) unless you REALLY 'baby them'

 

[gmgmgm]

What are you trying to run, and where? Some of these devices are designed for use deep in the "backcountry", which is rather different to typical use in the UK where a power socket is often nearby, or a car/van (which will provide 240v with an inverter, and often rather better than a portable battery).

 

[Dabop]

Actually, they have become very common, very popular in the camping community, as well as with many tradies... they are available in a huge variety of sizes- ranging from little baby units not much bigger than a kids lunchbox (really only good for a few recharges of a laptop or other small wattage devices) up to larger ones capable of running a small welder for several hours about the size (and appearance) of one of those 'wheely' suitcases... many with multiple charge options (from vehicles, mains or even many incorporating their own MPPT solar charge controller...)

Sure they are more expensive than DIY versions (I made my own up several years ago using an old esky, 4 LFP lithium cells and an old 12v inverter I had lying around) but for those not sure of their electrical skills, they make a relatively inexpensive way of getting portable mains power without noise and needing to carry around tins of flammable liquids lol

Seriously, TSH used one with their minimig welder (a 5000w Jackery unit lol) and did a LOT of welding, and it still had plenty of power left afterwards...

Thats a lot bigger than most would buy however, but the 3000w and 5000w units are becoming very commonly seen here with tradies instead of generators...

 

[Doug B]

I’m looking into one just because I’m getting more work off grid, it’s mainly going to be just a fail safe not something used all the while, perhaps charging a drained battery or using a mains powered tool.

 

[ChaiLatte]

...perhaps charging a drained battery or using a mains powered tool.

It might be useful to do an economic analysis if you are to use it for those purposes.

The item above is £550. How many spare 18v batteries would that buy? Similarly, how much would it cost to replace the mains-powered tool with its cordless equivalent?

For charging cordless batteries, perhaps a charger that can be powered by your vehicle's battery might be an option. For a small (low power) mains tool, maybe a 12v to 230v inverter could work.

 

[Dabop]

I’m looking into one just because I’m getting more work off grid, it’s mainly going to be just a fail safe not something used all the while, perhaps charging a drained battery or using a mains powered tool.

You need to have a sit down and think about exactly what your requirements are- as in power usage ie how many watts is what you are planning on using draws (remembering that motors draw more than the 'label' suggests at startup or when heavily loaded (stalled) so leave a good reserve with anything with motors involved!!!)- at least double the run wattage listed on the plate as a minimum...
(the one in your link I would suggest having powertools rated at 750w or less- larger ones 'may' start up- but no guarantees...)

Then your run time- obviously running it near its maximum output will mean a shorter run time than a smaller load- they will have a watt-hours or kWh battery storage rating- divide that number by the wattage drawn (remembering that 1kWh is 1000Watt-hours lol)- a 1070Wh/1.07kWh battery storage like in your link with its 1500w inverter running at full bore will have about 40 minutes run time, but with only a 100w load instead of that 1500w would have a run time of over 10 hours!!!

 

[Jameshow]

You need to have a sit down and think about exactly what your requirements are- as in power usage ie how many watts is what you are planning on using draws (remembering that motors draw more than the 'label' suggests at startup or when heavily loaded (stalled) so leave a good reserve with anything with motors involved!!!)- at least double the run wattage listed on the plate as a minimum...
(the one in your link I would suggest having powertools rated at 750w or less- larger ones 'may' start up- but no guarantees...)

Then your run time- obviously running it near its maximum output will mean a shorter run time than a smaller load- they will have a watt-hours or kWh battery storage rating- divide that number by the wattage drawn (remembering that 1kWh is 1000Watt-hours lol)- a 1070Wh/1.07kWh battery storage like in your link with its 1500w inverter running at full bore will have about 40 minutes run time, but with only a 100w load instead of that 1500w would have a run time of over 10 hours!!!

You could use it in tandem with the van battery as a buffer so the van tops up the powerbank slowly via the cigarette socket?

 

[ChaiLatte]

You could use it in tandem with the van battery...

Reading that makes me wonder if any of the electric van manufacturers offer a power take off facility for their vehicles.

Many of the traditional diesel vans used by the utility companies have on-board 110v and sometimes air compressors so electric from an electric vehicle does not seem to far a stretch of the imagination. With all the onboard computing power, it would be possible to limit current draw and limit battery drain so you could still get home.

 

[Dabop]

You could use it in tandem with the van battery as a buffer so the van tops up the powerbank slowly via the cigarette socket?

Reading that makes me wonder if any of the electric van manufacturers offer a power take off facility for their vehicles.

Many of the traditional diesel vans used by the utility companies have on-board 110v and sometimes air compressors so electric from an electric vehicle does not seem to far a stretch of the imagination. With all the onboard computing power, it would be possible to limit current draw and limit battery drain so you could still get home.

Many already have either an onboard 230v inverter running off the EV battery pack, or some of the newer ones have V2G where the ev charger is bidirectional, letting you use the EV as a 'whole house backup'... couple that with a good solar array and even in a 'long blackout' you can run your house as if the grid was still there lol
(the Atto3 I am looking at can do V2G, but as I'm already offgrid, my house batterybank is already far more than I need to run with zero solar input for 3 days... the Atto would give me a couple of weeks!!! )