ah yes, the pinned commercial.

Completely agree! Thanks for the comment!

Yes, this is mainly for when you're traveling to your destination. Solar panels will do terrible during that time.

I'm not saying to get rid of solar panels completely. But it's the rigid setup that's unnecessary now. You can prop up a portable 400w panel that'll cost less money, less weight, less drag on aerodynamics, and frees up cargo space. So you end up in the sweetest scenario possible and you got there spending a lot less money.

You bet!

I totally agree that you should have some portable panels. Absolutely. But those heavy setups people are attaching to their rigs is just unnecessary now. They don't produce the same wattage, they take up too much space, they weigh over 100 pounds, it's a lot of wiring, and they increase drag, causing you to have less fuel economy. This is a much better alternative for EcoFlow products anyway.

I'm considering trying! So that you don't have to keep running the wire every time too. You'd definitely lose the app support though.

Great question! And the answer to that is a resounding noooo. It's proprietary to EcoFlow. Now if you wanted to accomplish something similar with other brands you could use a DC converter, but that would require extra equipment. Another thing you could do is use a Pecron 500W charger. That, I have yet to use but it seems like a Universal product even though they advertise it as being for Pecron models only. But I'm working on getting one right now that I could make a video on to keep everyone posted. Again, great question and thanks for the comment!

Great question! It's about 208 inches or a little over 17 feet. You can also easily extend it because the part of the cord that connects to the battery is simply 12 inches of exposed wire. So you could easily splice in some extra wire. Looks to be 6 or 8 AWG. Hope this helps!

Nice!

I appreciate the comment! It installs easily as far as the device goes. Running the wire was tricky in my FJ Cruiser only because I don't have carpeted floors so I had to run it along with the main harness of the vehicle which took up majority of the space. But it's a super small footprint compared to panels, way cheaper and a better, more consistent output! I'm surprised they're only $599 as I'd think that would cannibalize their solar panel sales.

@@EcoSolarReviews ahh interesting guess tapping into both markets then, eco flow seems too be coming out with some great ideas. Thank you

It's proprietary to Eco Flow Power stations only. You could cut the adapter off and splice Anderson connectors on there and charge other devices which some people have done. But I don't think you'll retain all of the app functionality then.

I'll reach out and ask, but in theory, it should work just fine. It would give me range anxiety big time! But that is a great question.

It says it's compatible with the Delta Max 2000 but not the Delta Max. I did get something from them telling me what they MAY make compatible in the future and the Delta Max was on there but they could change it. I would go by what's on their site and assume it's not compatible. One thing I've experienced with EcoFlow though is that they have easy returns.

Nope! No need for the cable. This will work fine!

They sent me a spec sheet a few months ago that said that it WOULD be compatible. Maybe they're going to make an adapter? I'm not sure, but you are correct. In the video, it's connecting to the XT150 port which the Delta 1300 doesn't have. Also says that they may make it compatible with the River series as well in the future, but that's not a guarantee.

😂

@@EcoSolarReviews - I meant drink, my bad. 🙄

Wow! Well good to hear you're well-equipped now! These come in handy for those emergency situations. Solar panels won't charge as fast or reliable for this cheap. The quick connectors was a great idea as well since you can now move from car to car. I'm going to make a video on that soon.

Agreed. That's also the limitation of bigger power stations with dc - dc chargers. They cap out at 500w. So if your station can't utilize that, this wouldn't be better than a dc to dc. But DEFINITELY better than a rigid solar setup.

You can adjust the charging output in the app.

Exactly. Which is what makes this better than anything else on the market along with the reverse charging. It can also be rigged to work with other power stations as well, but likely without the app support.

It is. Something other chargers probably have a hard time creating due to limitations in how it interacts with other brand's systems. EcoFlow's app ecosystem is the most robust I've seen which allows it to do these extra functions.

@@EcoSolarReviews , does it come with 24volts?

yeah except an alternator doesn't produce power until a certain rpm and you cant reach that by hand or by bike.. so no that wont work.. this product is less useful than a gas genny ..

Well I'm with you on the thinking outside the box, but I would not be on a bike pedaling LOL. What seems to be flying over everyone's head is... this isn't for off-grid living. It's for campers. And generally, campers need to drive to their destinations. Now, you can use your power at home to charge before you leave on your trip. OR, you can just charge it up pretty darn fast while you're en route. Even more strange, the main people complaining, are those that still say having a whole solar system strapped to the roof of their rig makes more sense.... it indeed does not. This can charge regardless of the weather conditions and also... at night.

@EcoSolarReviews that was a long way to say buy an extra solar genny.. which still makes this product a dumb choice not to mention all solar generators charge thru 12v plug while u drive so how can u justify buying a useless product that does exactly what current product already does. Except your reviewing something so don't be honest.. I get it.. but beta max was a waste of money too

Thank you!

Only EcoFlow. I think every brand that makes one of these in the future will be proprietary. You can accomplish the same thing with a DC to DC charger more than likely. But it won't have the same capabilities via the app. I have the new 800 watt Renogy coming and I'll do a comparison with that. The difference is, that one is universal and will work with all units but will be limited to the solar input of most power stations which is 500 watts or less for most units.

It is for certain EcoFlow products. It makes sense because of the app capabilities and it communicating with other products. You could probably make it work for other brands by modifying the cable but then it would just work like a DC - DC charger and well, that would make no sense LOL. Just save the money and buy one of those as you'd lose the reverse charging capability.

You’ll need to run you vehicle to charge your house batteries where solar is cheaper and the energy is free I have a dc to dc charger on my converted bus and seldom use it as solar usually is all I need but when traveling once the starter batteries are fully charged I’ll use the charger if needed

Definitely way easier! Less wiring, and less components needed which reduces weight, increases cargo space, and reduces any points of failure AND offers the highest charge of any other DC - DC charger. Granted, it's proprietary to EcoFlow products. If you wanted something universal, a regular DC-DC charger or converter would be more ideal. Thanks for the comment! Apologize for the delay, been on vacation!

@@Justmekpc Don't really have that much sun, and have no access to power where my car is parked, but I can easily take the Ecoflow out and charge it inside.

@@EcoSolarReviews it doesn’t produce power no matter what the rating is it takes power from the starting battery and just transfers it to whatever storage system you have

@@dubious6718 they have their uses but they are a lot of money for a 75ah battery

Thanks!

Hey Victor! So, first let's talk about the Wave 2. I think it's a good move to not get the battery that is built for it as it's not a LiFePo4 battery and is only good for about 800 cycles. A Delta 2 Max or Pro (Pro especially) will get you much longer run-time. To go 3-4 days without needing to run the engine, you'd need 1 (2 would be safe) 400 watt solar panels and a lot of sun. As for your alternator, are you able to see how many watts you're pulling from your alternator with it? With the EcoFlow alternator charger you can do reverse charging and charge your aux batteries using the power station itself. You can also adjust how many watts it pulls in the app but the unit will automatically adjust based on the capabilities of your alternator. If your aux batteries are LiFePO4 batteries than that could be why your alternator is struggling as they put more strain on alternators than flooded batteries. I just filmed a video that explains and demonstrates how inverters work vs DC to DC chargers and how to charge the batteries using this setup. It'll be posted in a few days. Without 1, and again I'd say 2 400 watt portable solar panels to help keep that power station charged, I don't think you'll be able to squeeze 3 or 4 days out of that Wave 2. A 1000wh battery goes in roughly 10 hours on eco mode. Hope this helps!

That's a creative idea Mark! For home, personally, I wouldn't go that route only because the alternator would require gas to run. Let's the world ended and all the refineries were closed down. You'd be out of luck. Using solar energy is really the only way to keep everything going. I don't even trust these power stations long-term because if that event did happen, we'd run out of batteries at some point. But the batteries would certainly last longer than gasoline would. I'd have to research that more. Definitely a smaller footprint than solar panels and easy to rebuild in the event of a failure! I've never heard of anyone doing a setup like that. If there was a way to pull it off without a gas engine being needed, I'd say that is the most efficient way to run a home.

The EcoFlow charger, and most GOOD Dc to DC chargers only pull what's extra and won't harm them. Now items like Inverters aren't smart enough to scale down and will pull whatever it can out of the alternator. That's why they're so much cheaper than the DC to DC chargers. But that's good that you're being mindful of that!

If you're attempting to charge a power station with that DC-DC you'll need anderson connectors, which if it charges properly (I assume it would), that's a 500w input max. There's also no ability to utilize power from a power station to jump start the vehicle if needed. The DC-DC would make sense if all you wanted to do was charge and maintain house batteries on an RV. Or, if you wanted to charge other brand's power stations and were fine with the 500w (or less) max on most units.

@EcoSolarReviews no need to jump start with those dc to dc chargers I mentioned as they also charge the start battery preventing damage from running a LA flat , way better than allowing the starter battery to go flat in the first place

You need a power station as you said, if you drove to a site or just drove around period. Or had one dedicated to your RV in place of a gas generator, you can have it maintain the batteries by utilizing the power station.

Thanks for the comment!

In my most recent video I talked about the Victron. It's on backorder unfortunately. I did compare it to the 800w Renogy and showed the difference between this and other DC to DC chargers, and that is the reverse charging capability. The Renogy definitely isn't set it and forget it because you have to adjust a knob depending on the battery you're charging. If you're charging the same battery though, that shouldn't be a problem. They all are "smart" in a sense that they shouldn't pull more from your alternator than it can handle though, and the BMS in LiFePo4 batteries will throttle the watts coming in. As far as mpg it shouldn't be noticeable at all. 800w from an alternator requires the use of only 1 hp.

I don't see how it doesn't replace those rigid panels of yours. That's insane unless you did that first. Or if you have portable solar panels, if you do have portable panels, I salute you! Especially on the battery jumper. I have a bunch of them and they work well.

Yep right in the name. EcoFloalternator charger. It uses the extra reserved energy of your alternator to charge your house batteries or power station. It can also pull power from your power station to charge the battery it's connected to or jump it.

Yep!

Awesome, thank you!

I appreciate it! Yeah, the 150w is super limiting. If you have an alternator that is heavy duty you'll get the 800w out of this easy which can mean the world with a larger Power Station. Just sayin! LOL. Thanks for the sub!

@@EcoSolarReviews You talked me into it. I saw that this, the Wave 2, extra battery and car vent kit was on sale for $1,399. I was able to use some EcoCredits to get it down to $1325. That is still a lot of coin but to be able to charge my Delta2 and have some comfort camping will be worth it. :)

That's cause 150 watts is tested as a safe overload to your alternator, any load above that will burn out your alternator, see the comments..

@@AlexTorres-qv3hv Didn’t know that. Thanks for the info! 😀

It's up now! kzfaq.info/get/bejne/mducn9lmt8rHf4U.html

Very welcome!

Yes it does!

You'd have to have a powerstation as that's the only thing that can connect to the charger.

Victron do a 12v to 48v dc to dc charger 👍 same thing but can be used on any system.

Big facts!

My pleasure!

You still need solar to charge the battery though. The Ecoflow doesn't require any solar at all to reverse charge. It'll pull from the power station. I wouldn't use this for that though, that would be an emergency situation. It's the 800w charging that does it for me. While you can get a DC to DC charger to do 720 watts, it has to use the solar input and most units are capped at 500 watts. The extra 300 watts is a big deal. All DC to DC chargers are going to use the alternator

@@EcoSolarReviews the renogy you can select the amount of solar vs alternator. The amount bewtween both. And no, you don’t need solar, you have the option to select all the way down to one amp from solar. ( the new dc to dc) the older models had those problems

According to their spec sheet it is! It'll always prioritize car accessories so depending on the size of your alternator and the consumption coming from your car, you may or may not get the full 800 watts all the time.

Thanks!

No. It can do what a dc - dc charger can do though and more. It also reverse charges.

Great question! According to the spec sheet, it can charge systems up to 31V and maintain up to 60V

Thanks for the comment!

It'll pull up to 66.6 amps. 800÷12

Nice!

I agree that solar panels are still required. But the rigid panels require more components and come with more weight, and take up more cargo space. I keep portable panels on hand because it's a direct connect to the power stations. But even with those. Nothing is providing a consistent 800 watts. That deifinitely depends on the alternator in the car. But most people overlanding have a vehicle capable of the full 800 watts. But this can be throttled in the app but the unit automatically throttles when needed and car accessories are always a priority which you can see if you watch the install video. kzfaq.info/get/bejne/mducn9lmt8rHf4U.htmlsi=GKTC0S5oTwtrhjbw Thanks for the comment!

Yes, in order to charge the power stations the car has to be running. If you want to charge the car or house batteries with the alternator charger, or jump the car, you can press a button on it or use the app to have the car draw power from the powerstation.

Wrong and wrong

10 hours vs 1.3 hours

What Larry said, humongous difference in charge time!

Agreed!

Cheapest is solar, using a dc to dc charger will use extra fuel in the engine to.power the alternator 👍

@@Dirt-Diggler Turn off AC.

The alternator charger doesn't get charged or holds one, it just converts the energy from the alternator to charge your power station.

@@EcoSolarReviews just thought a good feature would be to unplug it at night when Home take in and charge if not fully for charged on journey following day if not fully charged night before if use with bluetti ac200max would of been lighter to take out to do then the power bank

Now THIS is a great comment and worth discussing. So an inverter turns DC into AC. So it'll turn the 12V DC from your battery into 110/120V to power larger electronics. And certainly, you can charge your power station this way, and other power stations for that matter and with much more input. The thing is, if you are also looking to charge house batteries for your RV, the inverter won't do that because of the high voltage. So this will charge AND maintain house batteries as well as charge a power station at 800 watts max. But if we're talking about just charging up power stations, I think your idea makes WAY more sense.

Also to note, this will really strain your alternator. The cool thing about the EcoFlow is that it prioritizes car accessories, so if the alternator needs to send power to the headlights, it'll throttle the power it's pulling. Most inverters will just pull as much as it can. It'll also still be limited to what the car could provide based on alternator size. For anyone else reading this, just make sure if you go the inverter route, you get one that's Pure Sine because quality power stations won't charge on a dirty modified wave output.

I agree that trying to exclusively use this as your only charging option is very limiting. If you're boondocking, it's worthless. This is for emergencies, night-time boondocking, or driving/traveling. You would still need solar panels, but the need for the added weight of rigid panels is no longer necessary. So the ideal setup would be this paired with portable panels that can be adjusted easily for optimal input and also weight reduction, and you keep cargo space in your truck or SUV. Plus it's less expensive to go this route with portable panels, and less points of failure when factoring in all the hardware needed for rigid panels.

@@EcoSolarReviews I run Ecoflow products exclusively for my power stations. However after some thought this might be a good addition to my current configuration. As I said earlier I get ~90 amps off my dual alternator setup on the truck. That goes directly into a 300 amp hour lithium battery I use to charge my Ecoflow power stations with an on board inverter. Just looking at the main piece of that product makes me think I could swap out at least one of my DC to DC chargers and use that hardware to charge my power stations and not have any loss due to conversion from the DC house battery to the inverter which uses AC current to charge the power stations. Hence negating power losses of ~20% or more due to the inverter.

You either take the power station inside house and charge it, or take a extension cord to the power station.

Thank you for your comment!

They're on pre-order at the Ecoflow site, they're supposed to start shipping on the 17th or so. Here's the link: tinyurl.com/5yn6tmxr

Solar isn't cheap. 200 watts IS NOT $100.00! ITS WAY MORE!

@@CHUCKSNORRIS google it a 100w standard panel is $59 now I just looked again and you can get a 600w solar kit with flexible panels for $160 with the controller and cables I bought mine 4 years ago and each 100w panel was $99 the cable was around $50 and the charge controller I’ve been using for four years was $15 Another $50-$100 for inline fuses and that’s on the high side I bought lithium 3.2v cells and made two 12v batteries for $800 today you can order a 200ah battery for under $400

@@CHUCKSNORRIS the other thing people forget the dc to dc chargers hook up to your starting battery and don’t produce power as they’re taking power from the regular batteries which the alternator has to keep charged If they pull more then they alternator can produce it strains the alternator I also bought a third 100w panel and put a 30’ cable on it to a charge controller with alligator clips It’s real handy to charge car batteries or my house battery’s in my bus if the panels on the roof aren’t getting as much sun like in the winter when the suns angle is lower

@@CHUCKSNORRISI don’t see my comment but yes 100w panels are $59 now I just looked and you can get a 600 watt kit with flexible panels charge controller and cables for $160

@@CHUCKSNORRISmy 100w panels 4 years ago were $99 and solars gotten way cheaper It’s one area that prices have dropped Four years ago I made two 100ah batteries from cells for $800 today you can order a 200ah battery for under $400

LOL, it is insane how so few people understand the difference between this and a DC to DC charger. What's funnier is how adamant all of you are. Maybe I just did a bad job at explaining it, maybe you guys are trolling. Either way I'm going to make another video comparing it side by side to a 60amp DC to DC charger so you all can understand the difference.

@@EcoSolarReviews If in fact this product is not a DCDC charger may I suggest that you explain the reason instead of laughing at your commentators. You're either sponsored by EcoFlow or you're just rude. I took the time to watch your content, I gave you a like for your time, I did not insult you, my remarks were about the brand, yet you choose to personally attack me. Had this not been the case I would have returned to your channel. Thanks for making me aware of your character and saving my time.

They are the first company to make a charger for power banks. No other have the ability to charge from the alternator.

Don't be so thin-skinned​@@cyclemoto8744

@@dubious6718 Another good reason not to buy these products.

Depends on a couple of factors. Do you have EcoFlow products? If so, are they Delta units? Do you want the ability to jump start your SUV or Motorhome? If yes to these questions, then I'd go with this because regular DC-DC charger will be capped at 500w max, plus you'll need Anderson connectors. I also don't know if that would cause any damage to the unit. I don't think it would, but it's technically a hack as it's not actually pulling energy from a solar panel. If you're just looking to just charge and maintain house batteries, then I'd go with any other DC-DC charger as they're cheaper and will do the same job as this for less money. Hope that helps!

A larger output... from your vehicle... 1st, you can regulate how much output comes from your alternator. You're still suggesting an alternator though. So you've invalidated your point. Those other channels aren't covering them well enough if you don't understand the value of this charger. Reverse charging isn't possible on those. Also, show me where someone is getting more than 800 watts out of their setup for this amount of money and this small of a footprint. Nowhere. Other Dc - DC chargers utilize solar inputs. Most cap out at 500 watts and you all love that. I'm confused on how you are complaining about 800 watts not being enough when 500 watts is?

@@EcoSolarReviews no sir, you’re confusing my comments with specs. You’re right it can definitely deliver the charge, but it’s more than the duty rating of your alternator. I’m not sure where you think the energy is coming from, but based on your comment I’m going to assume the battery. Which is getting charged from… wait for it, the alternator. But hey what the hell do I know, I’m just an electrician. By the way, I’m not saying this is a bad idea. I suggested a solution in my first comment. Get a second alternator or a heavy duty unit that’s rated for these loads. Why are you so angry?

What do you mean by do out of the box? As for the Anderson plugs, on certain models like the Delta 2 for example or even the Bluetti AC180, the input through an Anderson port will be capped at 500w. That extra 300w is a big deal.

Nice! Be careful with ordering solar/power station type products from Amazon. NO RETURNS!

My Toyota hybrid does not have a alternator it's a inverter

@@trevorhartley5166 interesting 🤔

No as it takes power from the alternator to use to charge something

Thanks for the comment!

Thanks for your comment!

800 watts in my car. App allows you to adjust the numbers but yep, it's steady! A rigid solar setup would be around $2,000 and would NEVER produce 400w consistent.

It does get hot! I wouldn't recommend mounting it in an area where it won't get much air such as under a seat or inside a box or compartment. If it's open within the cabin like how I have it in my FJ (video will be posted this weekend), it should be fine since the inside of the cabin will be cooled anyway. The casing isn't plastic and I would assume it's a form of heavy duty aluminum like a Macbook Air or Pro so it alleviates the need for a fan. Just like any amplifier and those go under seats no problem all the time.

@@EcoSolarReviews it would be great if you can check the temp with a temperature gun. I see your point with the amplifiers but they don’t use anywhere near the kind of wattage this EcoFlows outputs. I believe the higher wattage amps do have fans or heat dissipating fins.

LOL, yeah, I keep mine in the glovebox. I was paranoid making the video! A flathead screwdriver would work fine too though in a pinch. Just unsnap each side one at a time and you'd be golden.

Yep many many other B2B or DC to DC chargers out there, some even have a built in solar charge controller, only worth it if you already have an ecoflow 🤔

Yes nothing new other then the easy integration with other EcoFlow products.

Yes, with some differences. With a 60A DC-DC charger you can pull up to 720w, which, the 80w difference isn't huge in my opinion. You would have to use Anderson connectors to get the most out of it, but the power station would have to accept that amount in wattage through the solar panel ports. For example on the Delta 2 the max solar input is 500w. Same for the Bluetti AC180. Also this can jump a vehicle if needed. DC-DC chargers can maintain, but can't perform that function either, and then the app support. That's what makes this a little more special than other DC-DC chargers. But understanding the limitations, you can get a 720w DC-DC charger for half the price of this. I don't know if there would be any damage charging it through the solar port though. Would make for a great experiment though!

@@EcoSolarReviews amazing. Thanks for this. Might be something we consider.

@@EcoSolarReviews There is a whole lot of cars and RV's with electrical systems that do not use powerstations like the Ecoflows or Bluetti ........

I used to say that until I went a week with zero sun in the first storm after my install. I have 500 watts solar and 200 Amp hours Lifepo4 batteries. No sun... no electricity. With this you get around that problem.

Exactly. That's why PORTABLE solar panels are needed I think along with this. You should never be without.

👀

Awesome! Thank you!

LOL, thanks!

Appreciate your lengthy comment. I'll respond to each. First, your total is $611 for a POTENTIAL, under perfect conditions, 400w input and all that equipment and points of failure. Not to mention more complex installation and mounting hardware, so that increases your $611. This is $599 for 800w input and one single piece of equipment. But if we're talking portable solar panels: us.ecoflow.com/products/400w-portable-solar-panel?variant=39998021697609. That's on sale. Now if we're talking rigid panels, sure. You can get 100w panels for $53 each... from Temu. You can use those if you want. I wouldn't do it. But if you can find quality rigid panels for that price, please link us! But let's say you found these things. Your total, as I mentioned doesn't include mounting hardware. In addition to that, this unit will allow you to jump start your vehicle if needed. All of that you mentioned can't do that. You would need to wait for optimal conditions to charge your battery/batteries. What if it's dark? You also have all that extra weight. This unit along with portable panels would be perfect, that is IF you have EcoFlow products or some type of adapter.

@@EcoSolarReviews Ok, I'll respond point-by-point in return. $611 is not a potential of 400w, it's a potential of 620-800W (depending on DC-DC charger chosen, and the amount of incoming solar). Minimum is 220w (if using the 18 amp Victron and zero solar gain). Points of failure is not a consideration here; Victron equipment is exceptionally reliable, and is used everywhere from superyachts to small vans. Solar panels, the vast majority, are also highly reliable. We're looking at 10-25 year lifespans for most brands (and that's just to sub 80% rated output). Solar panels in general tend to be the most reliable part of any energy system. There's also nothing complex about mounting panels, and installation hardware is cheap. Comparing portable solar panels to a permanent install of a more complicated DC-DC charger (the EcoFlow) is not apples to apples. I own EcoFlow products, and love them, but if we're talking about hard mounting an underhood device versus mobile panels, there's no way you can compare costs. As for the price of the panels, I have no idea where you're searching. Canadian Solar, one of the higher rated producers, sells a 395w panel for $120. NewPowa (another high volume producer) sells 2x 100w Bifacial panels for $119 on AMZ (today's price) (Canadian Solar 395W Mono-Crystalline Solar Panel (Black) | CS6R395, Newpowa Bifacial 200 Watt 12 Volt Solar Panels, 2 Pieces 9BB Monocrystalline 100W). Nobody is talking TEMU here, and you seem to be unaware that there is a massive global glut of solar panels right now, even leading to many large producers shutting down. Regarding jump starting; anyone can buy a $10 pair of jump starter cables and jump most vehicles from their battery bank, which you will have if you're running that EcoFLow (otherwise, what on earth are you actually charging at 500w?). DC-DC can also be reversed, allowing you to charge starter battery from the house bank. Lifep04 portable jump starters can be had for

@@GoodkatNWyou can also install a high current starter solenoid between your house battery and vehicle battery. The control wires can be run to the dash of the vehicle. Engage the switch and the solenoid makes the circuit from house to car batteries. Wait about a minute to give a little power to the car battery and then start the vehicle, turn off the solenoid to protect the house batteries. If you are using lithium iron phosphate house batteries check with the manufacturer to see if it is safe to use this setup for jump starting the vehicle battery. The current draw might be too much for those batteries with a built in BMS.

@@GoodkatNW You're totally right! Any of these beginner friendly, plug and play options are great for those who have "no idea what they're doing", and let's face it, that's the vast majority of people. A very small minority know you can get better, but better is dependent upon your viewpoint. One argues modularity and ease of replacement and fixing, another will argue that all-in-one is more than enough for their use case, so why bother with something that's hard mounting. I would love a channel created by an electrical engineer specialised in solar, who literally designs and builds this stuff because they could comment on the feasibility of whether or not the current tech out there can "do better" (smaller, more capable, etc.) I have no doubt, for those that have an idea of what they're doing, and in an example like yours, having mounted it in a boat, the fact that you have something more capable, more cost effective, and tailored to your needs is way better than any of these shotgun approaches to solving most people's wants/needs with a singular product. But these all-in-one devices are getting a lot better, especially compared to where we were 5-10 years ago. I still have an Inergy Kodiak gen 1, and that thing keeps on ticking. It's far from perfect, but it's been modular and I've moved it around to more than 5 different set ups. Appreciate the time you took to comment, respond and share your knowledge. Thank you.

LOL, You sure could! 😂 😂 😂. You're giving me ideas! In a pinch that wouldn't be a bad idea!

For this, you would need a large battery capacity. For those Winter months, we can experience darkness on a good day for 13 hours or so. On days with an overcast you may not get much of a charge at all. So to be safe and never be down you would need around 4000wh of battery capacity. That can go around 18 - 19 hours realistically without being charged. You would then need at the very least 400w solar panels which still won't get you the full 400w even under optimal conditions. If it were me, I would get the largest battery capacity I could afford with 4000wh being a minimum, along with 600w - 800w panels to ensure you'd never be without light. A good setup will likely cost around $1,200 - $2,000. You can buy solar panels from Facebook marketplace however, and decent batteries from Amazon and an MPPT Controller. You'll have a solid setup then. I would charge the batteries up using a LiFePO4 charger initially. You can grab that from Amazon as well. Then install everything so that you're starting with a full battery. With enough capacity and 800w panels you should seldom have any downtime. Hope that helps!

You should before you leave the house, but once you're on the road that won't be an option after you've used it.

... that's what I said. Batteries are grounded to the chassis, you can, and should, use the same exact ground point so you don't have so much slack in the wire and because that grounding point is from the factory and you know it's secure instead of making your own.

Nope! The only time you'd really need one if you have this is for when you're just boondocking. For that you can just get some portable ones and have them tucked away instead of needing to build out a system which is FAR more expensive.

Well, then you wouldn't waste gas or money.

Nope. I'm going to have to make another video explaining and showing the difference between the two. It's an extreme difference.

Be sure to do a long-term cost analysis of the cost of gasoline... it will make you sad.

Yes, at a very, very slow and inconsistent rate. I'm not saying you shouldn't have solar panels. You should have portable ones! But what you no longer need is a rigid panel setup that's heavy, expensive, inconsistent, takes up cargo space, and creates drag.

Thanks for the comment Peter!

upgrade alternator--

If you're maintaining batteries using this device, it doesn't use the alternator... it uses the power station. Fuel economy effected greatly? How? To produce 800w it uses a whopping ONE horsepower. So you're saying 1 horsepower is more than a rigid system mounted to the top of your rig that weighs well over 100 pounds and is creating drag, and cost 4 times this amount?

Don’t worry about it lol. It’s a small difference unless you are constantly charging dead batteries without a break in the desert heat

The fuel mileage will be affected by a small amount. You can check the alternator current flow easily. I would start with all batteries fully charged the check amp flow to maintain the charge. Of course, at times, the alternator will full field. All in all, it should be fine. Btw car systems are measured in volts and amps, not watts. Good idea

​@1politicalcowboy This device will definitely put an extra load on your alternator. 800 watts divided by 13.8 volts that alternators put out. So, about an extra 58 amp draw from your alternator.

That's a lot of space taken up and wiring! Most people don't have the space or the savviness

Here it is! kzfaq.info/get/bejne/mducn9lmt8rHf4U.htmlsi=3ZrnwYn4qWTfVtQb

I agree with needing panels for emergency. This makes more sense to me because I don't need the heavy rigid panel setup. With my RV and even my SUV's, weight is a serious factor. Portable panels are lighter and easier to store. They also don't take up as much cargo space. Not sure what you mean by disconnecting additional batteries.

Maybe listen again? This isn't a battery. It doesn't need solar panels at all. This is a charger.