DIY - Portable Solar Power - The Practical Freezer Test - PART 3

This video is the 3rd of a 3 part series to show what a homemade portable solar generator could do in a power outage.

Conclusion: A portable solar generator can be a practical alternative to gas generators. When used with adequate planning and preparation, they will run a small compact freezer for extended periods without commercial power. Freezer packs, ice packs, etc will enhance the longevity of the battery between recharging by assisting in maintaining a constant temperature within the freezer thereby decreasing the number of times the compressor has to activate.

****SPECIFICS*****
The freezer is 5.0 cu ft, 115V, 1.69Amps, and Startup Amps = 12A. All of this is on the label. After initial startup the kill-a-watt's average read of the freezer is 96 Watts at .99Amps to 1.04Amps. I finished the experiment at 5:00 p.m. with an ending voltage of 11.19v (starting voltage was 13.07v). I started charging the battery with a speed charger (12v at 4Amps "medium battery setting") around 5:30 p.m. so after aprox 5.5 hrs of charging, the battery was at 12.45v.

To build your own, check out this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ROyER7YT4DM

Category:

Education

Tags:

• DIY
• Solar
• portable
• backup
• generator
• deep
• cycle
• emergency
• shtf
• prep
• prepper
• prepare
• freezer
• food
• storage
• power
• electricity
• energy
• alternative
• sun
• do
• it
• yourself
• gel
• packs
• outage
• test
• rhandsom
• renewable
• practical

[imasurvivornthriver]

That was great! Now, how long would it take to charge the battery back up? Would you recommend making two of these portable systems so that I could use one while the other one is getting a solar charge?

[rhandsom]

@imasurvivornthriver The battery started fully charged at 13.07v. At 15hrs it was 11.9v. I finished at 11.19v. I started charging the battery with a smart charger using household current and in approx 5.5hrs the battery was at 12.45v, 13v is full. The charger was set for 12V at 4Amps. In Solar this is equivalent to a 12v panel at > or = 4Amps. Also, a 2nd unit with a small 400w inverter is not a bad idea and would work well as a backup. I also have a 2nd box and 400w inverter that will do.

[imasurvivornthriver]

@rhandsom Sounds GREAT! I think I'm gonna give it a shot. Thanks for sharing.

[rhandsom]

@imasurvivornthriver No problem, good fortune and Take Care.

[svenvideos]

neat stuff, thank you !

[rhandsom]

@svenvideos Your welcome, glad to contribute. Take Care.

[rhandsom]

@shartne That's true.

[rhandsom]

@shartne The battery is a Kirkland Starting\Deep Cycle 115ah Marine/RV battery from Costco.

[shartne]

Of course it will last longer when you hook it up to a solar panel or two.

[shartne]

how many amp hour battery is it and what kind?