Everyone who's suggesting using 2 batteries in series doesn't understand a few things. First, it's far more expensive to buy 2 batteries instead of one. Second, it is more difficult to transport and still requires you to crimp and solder wires. And lastly and most importantly, it does not give you current-limiting functionality for safety purposes. So please, if you are wondering, I do NOT generally recommend connecting 2 batteries together instead of using a DC boost converter. You can do that if you want but just know that it is not a better solution for the purpose of this video.

@HebrewNomadOverlander

3 ай бұрын

Very true, there would be no need to purchase 2 batteries when you can simply purchase a 200ah battery, a all in one. Question?

@Zkpe02

3 ай бұрын

I recently purchased an Anker C1000 with the expansion battery. I have several 12.8v 100ah batteries that I can attach if needed a pure sine wave inverter that I can pump up to 1300w or as low as 100w of power into my power station using the Anker app to adjust whatever wattage I want to charge with. My expansion problems are over with…With 3ea 200w solar panels I’m good to go. I’ve done all that small step up inverter work with the different adapters to my smaller power stations which are basically obsolete, but I wanted something out of the box I could just plug and play that would meet all my needs..Small, portable & powerful…

Been doing this for years. Just be warned that those small DC to DC boost converters get very very HOT. Maybe enough to start a fire. Keep them on a non combustable surface. A better alternative is the Victron Orion 12-24 converter. Much bigger heatsink and runs much cooler.

@freelyroaming

Жыл бұрын

Not this one. This is exactly why I opted for this 3A unit because relative to the 10A version the heatsink here is massive. I've been using this one for a long time and it never gets to hot to touch even after hours of use. Victron doesn't make a small 3A unit like this. 10A is the smallest and it's costs 10 times the price. But if you want to, you can and the idea is the same. Just be aware that 10A is too much current for some smaller power stations with a 120w input limit. Make sure it has a built-in current limiter.

@bulldogs131

Жыл бұрын

@john doeYes you can. It's limited to 8.2A though so you'll charge at about 100W. You can upconvert it similiar to the video to 24v for 200w

@careybrown3776

Жыл бұрын

Great video! Newby here. I have a Delta mini with 300 watt solar input. My question is why do you need a step up from 12 to 24 volts if the input goes in to 12 volt like solar? I can see why it would have to be regulated. I already have a 24volt to 12 volt 20 amp 240 watt step down converter. Would this work?

@zodaguado6655

11 ай бұрын

@@bulldogs131 is there a video of a 24v charging

@jessefrazier6305

11 ай бұрын

Can I charge my marine lifepo4 battery directly from my ecoflow max?

Good video. I use adjustable output boost converter for my Bluetti, and other Solar gen I have, it works great. Here are some of my suggestions to improve safety. 1) Put a fuse on the battery positive terminal so in case the Boost converter shorted out or accidentally short circuit the wiring. 2) Put a Female XT60 on the battery side instead of having exposed male pins as you have right now.

@freelyroaming

Жыл бұрын

I've got a bag full of different soldered connectors I made to adapt whatever I need so I don't have to deal with making one-off adapters when I need to make something work. Some are for the explicit purpose of having an automotive blade fuse but I didn't feel the need to use it here. Plus these connectors aren't any more or less safe on the female or the male side by design. The male pins are not exposed. Plus just about every power station in the market today has reverse polarity and short circuit protection. Definitely every single one I showed here do. But sure I figured there is always gonna be some Safety Sallys piping up on every video.

@davidr9876

Жыл бұрын

@@freelyroaming How do you survive with such a thin skin? let me fix your snarky reply for you - "Ty, good idea. I don't need it for my purpose but others might benefit"

@numan8775

Жыл бұрын

@@davidr9876 u r right david.. we have to be more "flexible" and open minded and have neoguh nerves to be stay calm and open for suggestions.

@freelyroaming

10 ай бұрын

@@paulstaf you sound like someone who has zero practical experience. Just desperate commenting on other people's channels to find any shred of relevancy.

@s.mendez7160

7 ай бұрын

Great video production! We fuse our LFP's to protect the wire. LFP's, due to their very low internal resistance, can delivery more instantaneous joules of energy than AGM or FLA Batteries in the event of a short circuit. Nobody wants a fire, and most people on here don't have Electrical Engineering backgrounds.

Perfect! I literally have been trying to figure this one out and wasn’t sure what to try. Thank you.

I'm a newbie. It would be nice to have a video on how to build the pigtale cable coming off the battery.

@freelyroaming

Жыл бұрын

Thanks for the feedback. I will try to find time to make some howto videos like that.

@william38022

10 ай бұрын

Look around for this model on KZread and there are quite a few videos that show how to make that wire

@whydontyouaskme

9 ай бұрын

I recommend you get a professional to make the pigtail cable, maybe even warrantied try a cellphone repair/ electronics repair and show them what you need. If you do this wrong you will regret it. That being said a newbie should be able to do it anyway. But it’s your money and battery….

@Master-Blaster-4x4

8 ай бұрын

@@freelyroamingplease send link if you made video

@camposvazquez

8 ай бұрын

@@freelyroaming thank you for this video.. I am about to buy a first gen Prius... will this work to increase driving range?

Xlnt! Thanks. Bought 2 12v 100amp lifepos (2yrs ago) for a solar project. This is perfect for how to double their use. Great tutorial!

I'm new to solar and solar powered generators and such, but this is exactly what I had in mind.

I was about to just connect my LifePO4 battery to the charge port. Glad I saw this. Thanks, man.

Thank you, Sir. Great hack. I think I'll be leaning towards the pre-soldered wires that is being offered. And good tip on the 24v pass-thru. I think my Bluetti has that...hmm. I was going to go with a different battery, 230wh, but I really like this battery and all of its protective safety features. Thank you! Great hack!

This is exactly the video I've been looking for. I couldn't get my batteries that are charged with my solar panels to charge my Bluetti. The current just wouldn't flow. I thought that I was doing something wrong. Thank you thank you!

Knowledge is power and this is pure gold sir. Great video content. Very needy info. Thank you!

I really like that idea for getting 4 to 5 times longer use and faster charge time is a game changer

I enjoyed your video, I am still in the decision making process for my camper build electrical system, always appreciate new ideas, thanks.

Awesome info! I was looking for an economical way to supplement my new EcoFlow Delta.Thanks!

Very easy to understand. Thanks for your clear explanation , especially the universal examples. I have a Anker Solix F1500 that I wanted to connect my ebike batteries to for extra capacity. I’ll have to determine the voltage DC input on the station and decide from there if I need a step down or step up to satisfy the input range. I think the power station DC input range is 11V-60V. I have lithium ion batteries (that I can make use of) ranging from 36-72V. There are now anti-spark and battery blender devices that can be used with batteries of same voltage, but differing Ah capacities. I’ve used these successfully on my e-bike projects. I’ll have to read more from the comments, but connecting a adjustable low voltage cutoff device from the feeder battery would be good. The BMS isn’t always so great, especially under load.

That's a great hack. Thanks. Great to have in a power failure to keep the fridge and freezer running longer.

@fibber2u

Ай бұрын

I'm getting my portable system delivered in a couple of days. In a power outage, I'd let the fridge go and use my solar/battery power on the freezer(s). I can eat the contents of the fridge in days but the freezer(s) are full of a years food from my garden. It's the thought of the loss of the WORK even more than the food its self that has lead me to get a back up system. I've lost entire freezers in the past but supermarket foods is just money lost. By the end of the summer I have two freezers on the go nowadays. I have other backup plans for cooking and lighting no need for a battery there.

Can't I just hook up a power inverter to the battery and just plug in my solar inverter to that and charge it that way?

@TravelwithDaySack

20 күн бұрын

I need to know this as well! I have Delta 2 and a 220w solar panel and I want to expand the capacity this way..

@freelyroaming

20 күн бұрын

This is how you would normally charge it but it require more equipment and is slightly less efficient. You are inverting the DC source first to AC and converting it back again to DC. Each one of those jumps create inefficiency. Using the method shown eliminates one of those conversion steps which creates more efficiency.

Thank you such an informative and grounded video. I have been searching for ways to expand the capacity of my Oupes 1200 power station. Todd Parker has a video where he uses the Oupes supplied car charging cable and then attaches a female cigarette adapter to the lithium battery. I tried it just now, as you this may not work with all batteries and power stations. It works fine and I am charging at about 97 watts from my 200 amp hr Ampere Time battery.

Poetable power stations almost aways cost $0.80 to 1.00 per watt hour depending on the features But my lifepo4 on sale was $0.16 per watt hour I have an Anker 521, it takes 11 volts natively, so i just plug the spare battery in and it goes

Amazing video for using my 100Ah lithium battery to charge power stations. Explained many products and charging. A+ video.

What up Doe!? Very nice Hack!! Can't wait to try on our power station. Great job 👍🏼

Excellent demo for what I need. 👍🏽👏🏽 I hv Ecoflow 882wh mini delta & 1000 Jackery & need extended power. I'll need to make some pigtails connectors.

You explain things in a way that allows me to understand easily. Thank you. Now, please excuse me while I go and hit that subscribe button!

That's a very smart solution. Never thought of that, thanks for sharing this idea.

@freelyroaming

Жыл бұрын

Thanks! Glad you like it.

@SYSirius

Жыл бұрын

@@freelyroaming I really do. Btw, we based our LifePO4 conversion on your videos. One year ago now. I will do a capacity test video soon.

I connect directly to a cig lighter with a cheap wattmeter to a compact 3s 3.7v lithium pack from 10.5v it fast charges at 10 to 11 amp. Then later boost to lifepo4 battery. Great for no sun in December and January

Thank you so much, I really need to get over my timid nature, when it comes to this topic, mainly because of diy wires, but where there’s a will there’s a way, and I would have saved hundreds vs the AC70 that I may be returning, still in my hallway unopened, since I don’t have the certainty of being able to pay it off! A bit of confidence and caution and I wouldn’t be wrestling buyers remorse! Although I am new to this, and watched a different tutorial were the boost converter had the caveat of running a bit too hot, the circumstances may have been different in key ways during that KZreadr’s tutorial, I just don’t remember why, but all this just to say thank you 🙏

I really enjoyed your video and it was very informative so it’s utilizing a boost converter you are getting a stable wattage for them to accept solar connection via XT60 connector.

@evliving5495

3 ай бұрын

I personally have a foxnov 384W, and 2 Allpowers S2000 1500W units. I’m planning on adding batteries instead of buying other units until I have enough for a large scale unit that can output 8000-10,000W as I’m looking for a whole home power station solution

I use a pure Sine 12V to 220V 600W pure sinus inverter for my Bluetti 2400. Works as a charm. ( Europe has 220V )

@TheCornucopiaProject-bd5jk

6 күн бұрын

You are converting the energy twice, resulting in lower efficiency and higher idle consumption. You can do it if you don’t mind the loss. Otherwise the boost converter is more efficient

Very nice presentation. I've saved it for reference. I too need written directions on how to make pigtail cables. I've got a booklet by Will Prowse which I hope will explain for novices how this set up safely increases the generator capacity.

Why not plug your battery directly into the solar panel connector. The internal controller should regulate the battery current.

@raylivengood8040

5 ай бұрын

He’s probably keeping it at a voltage range that spreads across dc voltage inputs of those devices. Makes sense, but so does your question lol.

That’s a great idea. Thank you for sharing.

I just connected my 50ah LifePO4 directly to the charge port on my EBL power station, which is marked 12V - 26V input. It's charging perfectly at 48 watts. So, maybe you don't even need this boost converter. Try it... if your PS allows it.

Good stuff ‼️ Thanks for sharing.

Well-done. Very well articulated.

Thanks for the video. Here's a less portable, more efficient option if you have 2 or more batteries: Hook your batteries in series to raise the voltage. No need for the boost converter's inefficiencies or need to cool it. (Mine gets very hot without a fan) Just make sure the batteries are within .1V of each other before connecting them in series. (You'll get a big rush of current if they aren't the same voltage.) Took my Delta 2 from 180ish charging watts with 1 battery to 365ish watts with 2 in series. (Your results may vary depending on the charging circuit of your power station.)

@freelyroaming

10 ай бұрын

The problem with series connected battery is that there is no current limiter.

@jeffmcclain

7 ай бұрын

@@freelyroaming MPPT (or older PWM) DC/solar charger limits that for you on the generator side. None of these power generators connect you directly to the internal 36v or 48v storage cells. They all use their own DC charger/BMS.

@freelyroaming

7 ай бұрын

Rely on that only if you are willing to constantly replace blown internal fuses. Just so you know, hooking up two 100Ah batteries in series and connecting them directly to the solar input port of your power station is the equivalent of connecting 2,500 watts of solar panels to that same port. If you think your power station is designed to handle that then go for it. Bottom line is every power station has a different charge controller. Some will definitely trip or blow a fuse as its internal protection method. So If you want to reliably use this method over a wide range of units, don't count on all of them to behave the same. A simple boost converter that you select, can control to behave the same across all units is much more reliable. Not only does simplifying make for a more reliable system, eliminating external variables is also a best practice. And yes, simply asking people to connect multiple batteries in series without making sure they know the risks of unbalanced packs is dangerous. Which is why this should not be recommended as a practice for all to follow. Not to mention the extra space, cost and cabling required. This video is showing a much simpler, cheaper and practical way of extending the capacity of a power station used in a mobile environment. Keep that in mind when you watch these videos. The channel is called 'Freely Roaming' because the audience is people who travel nomadically.

@jeffmcclain

7 ай бұрын

@@freelyroaming Man, you continue to ignore basic electronics and ohms law, but ok. This is your video and I'll respect that and go somewhere else. I was simply answering someone else's well placed question, and will warn folks that your answers are just blatantly wrong. A 100Ah battery doesn't just SHOVE that 100Ah into whatever you connect it to, it is merely a MAX rating. At 500W rated on a solar charger, a 50Ah battery would supply exactly the same power as a 100Ah does into one of these units (because the resistance is what sets current). The 100Ah isn't going to double that power. And the reason most of us get these power generators is because it converts and does all this for us. So, fine, for those of you that want, continue using a DC boost that costs more, adds complexity, limits your current and potentially can burn your house down (most of those cheap ones on Amazon can get to a Tcase of 85'C). But just know that IF you use the proper XT60i input to the solar plug (or whatever plug your charger has for it's solar input) and as long as you follow the voltage recommendations for that port (most even protect you if you are outside that range and just disable charging), you are going to be fine keeping with the simpler solution of just connecting up and not boosting it and wasting current on a HEATER as well as limiting your effective charge rate.

@freelyroaming

7 ай бұрын

@@jeffmcclain don't play dumb and pretend to be 'just answering' someone's question. Just like your tone in this response, you know as well as I do that you deleted your own rude and ignorant post from yesterday that I called you out on and this is just your way of looking around trying to find someone to defend your poorly made suggestion. It's obvious that it doesn't just push all of the available power. Neither will a 2500 watt solar panel. But without the proper components in the circuit it will blow an internal fuse at the very least. Ohm's Law does not just magically save you when the circuit does not protect against over current. It will in fact work against you. Not all charge controllers are created equal. You are telling people to trust unknown circuitry inside a black box and recommending for people to ignore the possibility that some poorly designed power stations will cause more current to pass thru than it should unimpeded which is ignorant and irresponsible. At best you will blow the internal fuse and at worst cause injury and death. It's foolish and dangerous. I can't stress enough the fact what you are telling people can hurt them for the sake of your own injured pride on this topic.12-24v boost converters are used everyday, everywhere. Especially the low current 6A unit I recoomended in this video. From a pure safety standpoint it is much safer than telling a layperson to mess with 2 100Ah 4S LiFePO4 batteries in series. Even if they are able to choose the proper cables, lugs, crimp and connect them safely and properly, you can have further implications in potentially damaging the batteries with over charging/discharging if the capacities are unbalanced. it is just a terrible idea altogether to recommend it without further explanation. I hope your employer/clients see these comments and finds the flaw in your argument that you would trust an entire category of unnamed components in products without prejudice because of what they "should" be able to do. This is entirely poor judgment for someone who proclaims to be a professional... Let me see, you think I should run 4 USB 5V cables in series instead of using a single USB-PD to charge my macbook? Much more efficient, right? 🤦‍♀

Great video. Thanks for sharing. 😊

My project is to use this hack combined with a dollar regulator to charge a 100mA battery during the time I'm out of my country house. I can have this extra energy fully charged once I arrive on Friday with my Delta 2 fully charged too. And I can keep a little fridge working too

Great video,I do thank you for the information.😊

Hi Dan, thank you for making this video. Quick question- I have a 24v day solar system with 4 100ah batteries. Already having 24v at my disposal, is there a device that protects a power station from over voltage during charging from a battery bank? I realize most power stations have built in protection but I want redundancy in protection. Thank you.

Brilliant. Thank you.

Very good review enjoyed it !

That was an impressive demonstration 😎 Two Thumbs-up!! 👍👍 I've been trying to figure out how to do that with my new Delta 2 and watched a few other videos with very poor results. Great job!

@lxboogersugarxl8431

Жыл бұрын

Roy, been looking for the same thing for the Delta 2. Did you go with anything? Great video @Freely Roaming.

@royrobinson4636

Жыл бұрын

@@lxboogersugarxl8431 ~ YES I did. 😎 Considering the limited "D/C input" and limited additional capacity available for the *Delta 2 ( @500-watts / with any combination of volts up to 60 volts), I decided to take a completely different approach by using the "A/C input" of the *Delta 2 which has a fantastic input spec for its size and capacity of 1,200-watts (120-volt x 10-amp = 1,200 watts). My theory (untested at the moment)) is to use a 12/24 D/C volt to 120 A/C volt inverter and connect multiple 12 or 24 volt LifePo4 batteries, using the inverters A/C outlet to recharge the *Delta 2 A/C input. For example one 12.8 volt x 100ah battery = 1,280 watts, exceeding the original capacity of the *Delta 2 with one $300 battery and the cost of the inverter (minus the power loss for the inverter). Now imagine the potential storage capacity of a larger battery bank stacked with either 12-volt or 24-volt LifePo4 batteries. Then add a solar power charge controller and recharge your battery bank during the day with any sized solar array that matches your daily usage. Remember, the D/C to A/C inverter only needs to be running when recharging the *Delta 2. The same inverter can also be used to supply power for other items in the home as needed. The right solar panel array should be designed to recharge your battery bank.

@lxboogersugarxl8431

Жыл бұрын

@@royrobinson4636 nice! It’s funny you mentioned that theory as I was looking at inverters today. It seems easier to keep it to AC charging even with the lose. The input any other way stepping up is too slow. I appreciate the input and insight. Just needs to make sure is pure sine wave. I actually snagged a fuel fuel genny over the holidays for backup to is. Works great!

@royrobinson4636

Жыл бұрын

@@lxboogersugarxl8431 ~ I retired 5 years early (7 years ago) as an engineer and own a ranch in a very rural area. "Self-reliance" has been my goal for the past 5-6 years, it's also become a lifestyle. A backup generator system with manual switchgear was one of my first goals. I use two (2) 2500-watt Champion dual-fuel inverter generators connected to the low-pressure side of my 250-gal bulk propane tank. I can run both in series or parallel or independently using a parallel box to feed my 240volt / 200 amp distribution panel. Both generators are de-rated to 1750 watts using propane and another minus 50+ watts for high altitude, together they can produce about 3400 watts, which is more than enough for my critical needs. Both are still light enough (40 lbs each) and quiet enough (53 dB) and are fitted with quick disconnects, making them portable enough to grab and toss in my truck with a couple of 20lb propane tanks and take that power anywhere. I use the *Delta 2 specifically for my home office and Starlink internet. I have both Residential and Starlink R/V systems. 🤠

@p.b.7861

10 ай бұрын

I also bought Delta2 (Ecoflow), and noted that the back of it is a male XT-60i which has a gold middle pin (data pin). Cannot buy Xt-60i female anywhere, so used regular xt-60 female with 48 volt DC LRS-600-48 Mean Well P.S. It works but the current is limited to 8 Amp only, so, the charge was 429 watts with 54.5V and 7.8A. Yes, you have to adjust the output voltage at P.S. to Max. Of 54.5V. 2 nd method I used the DC to DC booster set at 60V and 8 A the output is 481 Watts but when measured the MPPT inside Delta2 adjusted to 41.7V and 11.46A which surprised me because my XT-60 was not Ecoflow XT-60i to MC4 cable (yes, you have to pay extra, not come with Delta2). But still under 15 A maximum.

I LOVE this!!!! Thank you!!!!!! 🥰🥰

I have the Ecoflow River without the extra battery. I want to be able to extend it's battery life by tying into the pair of deep cycle lead acid batteries that I have. The voltage of two fully charged 12 V batts will exceed the River's charge limits I believe. What sort of current limiter should I use. I also wonder how much power I can take from my Nissan Leaf traction battery. DC-DC converter puts out 1000 watts @12v.power.

First video I've seen on your channel and love the content, covers the exact idea I've been thinking about for a while, haven't seen many others thinking outside the box like this. Got an interesting question, your using a 12v to 24v boost converter to charge the power station, now my idea is I have a wealth of power tool batteries I've been modifying to power other items like ebikes. I have several 18v and 40v batteries, now the 18v batteries I think output more around 20ish so would I be able to bypass the boost converter if my batteries are already outputting 18-24 volts? Also my ideal setup would be 3d printing 40v ryobi battery mount to my 300watt power station and be able to power the station directly from the 40v battery instead of going thru an extra charge cycle on the internal battery, than I can hot swap in my other 40V batteries as needed. Does any of this make sense? :P I guess the more important question is which is the most efficient way of doing this.

Great video for capacity. New to this kind of stuff and I have 2 questions,I have two 800 cold cranking amp lead acid semi truck batteries could I hook those to charge my bluetti and if so should I wire them at 12v or 24v. And also could i hook up a small 140 watt solar Pannel to the batteries with out a charge controler. Thanks

Nice videos. How to find your other vids? I thought I saw one where you did a battery load test at the beginning.

Very cool! Never thought of this before! :-)

Genius!! Thanks!

Thanks for the info. Appreciate it. :)

Thanks for the video. Pardon my asking, I'm new with these solar generators. Can I connect my LifePO4 battery to charge a solar generator that has maybe a Lithium-Ion or Lithium NMC batteries?

@Freely Roaming, Thanks for your video's. My van is set up with a isolateably 1k watt inverter, is it worth going to a DC to DC charger to charger a 100ah lithium battery or use a Arduit 30a charger like yours with the inverter? I have 2 pv panels for 360w I would like to add some day, just starting out. Thanks.

Nice, would like to check d cable on these booster can take d wattage above the limit to charge d power stations? Won’t they get hot or burn d cables?

Good idea thanks

If you want to make a lot of money, build a "capacity booster" that will auto-sense both input and output, allowing you to connect to any source (12/24/36/48) and safely charge any power station, regardless of what it draws. You could include a heat sensor and cooling fan. (Some boost converters come with a fan attached.)

@Oblivionsurveyor

Жыл бұрын

They already make auto detecting chargers, I use four them to charge my LifePO4, 12v or 24v. If you really want to make some money, make a 120amp all in one unit. Only one on the market and it has Brazilian plugs. I have to rig four chargers together to achieve my charge rate goal on generator power. I have reduced Generator Charging from Over 24 hours to 3 hours. I wonder how much energy i save..... lol

@Stuff_happens

Жыл бұрын

They make voltage regulators, for what it’s worth. They are used where shore power or generator power lags or fluctuates. It outputs constant 120 or 220 AC.

@Stuff_happens

Жыл бұрын

@@Oblivionsurveyor why 120? Is it just an open market at that capacity? Pretty sure you could come up with something.

Please forgive the lack of knowledge, this is all very new to me. It appears you are using 4ea. 12 AWG wires from the battery into the XT60 connector, is there a specific purpose for that connection rather than just 2 wires? I really appreciate this video, a genius hack!

? Does the length of a pigtail make any difference on charging or delivery/"flow" rate? ? Does each use the same gauge wire or are all of them different - and can a wire be too heavy?

So without the cheap 12 to 24v converter you can do the same as 12v to 12v using the barrel to cigarette lighter female and connect a cigarette male to battery clamps end and connect to the battery, correct? Slower but still moves the watts over.

I just did this hack..thank you so much this idea

@freelyroaming

Жыл бұрын

Happy to help

You and everyone else that's into that power station stuff

Could you direct connect to the ecoflow? I think it's mppt can go down to 10.5v?

Thanks very informative

Nice presentation however I am not sure how to hook up to either to my power stations. Rockpals Freeman 600 & Oukitel CN505. Neither has an XT60 input but both have PD 60W USB-C Two Way) . Any & all assistance will be greatly appreciated. Thanks

Can you charge the solar generator or the lifepo4 battery from the charger plugged into an inverter hooked to your car battery while running instead of plugged into the wall ? If the inverter is large enough of course.

Great video. Question can you use the 12/24v converter from a lead acid battery that is charged from the vehicle's alternator via a DC to DC charger and charge the Eco flow? Or must you use a Lithium battery as the source to charge the Eco flow?

@s.mendez7160

7 ай бұрын

The source does not matter.

Oh really simple solution

Another wonderful hack. Thanks for all your ideas. Question: can this step-up booster also be used to boost a 12-volt solar panel or a 12-volt power supply? I realize it may be slower but will it work? I'm always looking for alternative ways to charge. Thanks.

@freelyroaming

Жыл бұрын

Thanks. Yes you can use it with a power supply but I would avoid using it with a solar panel as the voltage is not stable

Hi there. Thanks for great vid. How would it work with 24v 100Ah battery? Would it damage power station (vtoman 1800 for example?) . Would it need any adapters ? Would appreciate your response.

The performance you are getting from that tiny boost converter you can get she same by just wiring a xt60i connector that has its activation pin linked to the negative then connect it straight to the battery no converter needed it will charge at the current limit of the mppt

@freelyroaming

2 ай бұрын

Unless explicitly stated, power stations do not support XT60i connectors and will not have the ability to read the data stream. The third pin will do nothing. None of the ones I showed here do. That means they will not charge from the native battery voltage. Generic MPPT charge controllers will simply ignore the lower than sufficient voltage and do nothing. However, all charge controllers will charge from 24vdc as it mimics a solar panel which they are all designed to be used with. The point here is to find a way that works with the widest range of power stations out there. Not only the ones that might work with it.

This was well presented and clearly explained. I think this is a good solution to use in an RV with a fixed LiFePO4 battery. Your solution provides 1280KwH of additional storage. The accessory battery is not cheap ($340). The accessories add another $25-40. External charger perhaps $50 for a total of $430. Correct me if my addition is off. Negatives - Moving a large battery around is awkward - no handle/no case. Maximum output wattage is still limited to the power supply circuits of your power station. Albeit half the capacity, a new EcoFlow 600 is $479. If you just need a moderate increase in storage a larger second unit would seem to be a better solution. Is the boost converter necessary with some units? The specs on my EcoFlow River 2 indicate it will accept 12-20 volts input for charging. It comes with a cigarette plug adapter to charge from your car which is12 volts. If this is correct, couldn’t I just hook the battery to the 12 volt charging plug? Does it already have internal circuitry to limit the current and adjust the voltage? I’d like to see this solution adapted to use with batteries we all might already have on hand (i.e. power tools, drones, external battery chargers for cell phones). It may be a small boost but often that’s all you need.

@freelyroaming

3 ай бұрын

The cost comparison needs to be made with first party battery add ons like this 6kwh ecofow delta option. amzn.to/3UEKkoU This is over 5-10x the price at per Wh level. Generic LiFePo4 packs are always going to be the cheapest option for the amount of capacity that you get. Power tool batteries are far more expensive per Wh and the battery chemistry does not give it the cycle life as compared to these. it would be much more costly over time to use them. Boost converter serves as the equalizer to make this work with more types of power stations. While not needed for some, it can serve as a safety feature for all as it adds a cheap and easily replaceable current limiting feature. You can certainly buy smaller lifepo4 batteries to make it more portable and lower the cost significantly especially when compared to other options you mentioned. The prices have continued to fall. 100Ah lifepo4 packs are now easily below $200 and 50ah ones can be found for less than 100. amzn.to/49hjCqZ They are small and weigh as little as 12 lbs. That's half the weight of a case of beer which I know for a fact that people have no problems carry with them when they go camping 😉

Are you plugging the battery with converter into solar charging input on the power supplies?

Thumbs up and subscribed! I have a Bluetti ac200 max. Do you think I can make my diy expansion battery with eve prismatic cells/bms? There's a lot of loss with the step up/down converter plus more crap to break/carry/lose .

@freelyroaming

Жыл бұрын

You can use a diy battery pack if it's got a BMS. But I like having a boost converter especially with Bluettis since they need higher solar input voltage. Also it acts as a current limiter.

Nice video, I like it. Can you comment on the low capacity power station discharging faster like using a heater or high power consumption device than it can be charged by the lifepo4 battery pack?

@freelyroaming

Жыл бұрын

Most of the time you won't be able to charge a power station faster than you can discharge it. So even though you could charge it with a spare battery, you will still run it empty first and will have to wait before running those high power devices again.

Any video on how to do this and add a solar panel to show all three units working together?

Stumbled upon your channel great content !! Is there away to charge the lifePo battery from vehicle starter battery or alternator and charge while driving ? Thank you 😊

@shawnmccormack5798

3 ай бұрын

Yes 12v lighter socket or direct wire to battery with fuse on pos. Side of course

If I get a 24v 100ah battery would I also need a stepper or can I straight use the battery?

Great video, thanks for making it. Can you charge the lifep04 battery with solar panels?

@freelyroaming

Жыл бұрын

Yes, as long as you are using a charger controller.

So whats stopping the battery from discharging too much? would it be possible to plug in car battery charger to power station outlet and charge external battery while station is being charged from ac or dc. I have ecoflow river pro lifepo4 that has extention plug to connect another river pro extension pack but i assume batterywould have to be same capacity as in river pro? I also have Energizer arc5 but that's not lifepo4

Great video! Just what I was looking for. Question. If I wanted to take it a step further and connected the 400w solar panels that are hooked up in my fifth wheel to charge my 200ah Lifepo4 battery and then connected the battery to my AllPowers R2500 with the method you described, would the panels then charge the RV battery and then the power station at the same time? I hope that my explanation makes sense :) THANKS!

@freelyroaming

Ай бұрын

Thanks. Yes as long as the battery you are using to replenish the power station has power, it will keep topping off the power station indefinitely.

This additional capacity could get thru several days of clouds then solar could recharge both batteries! Thanks for the info !:- )

@freelyroaming

Жыл бұрын

It would definitely extend the time you can be out. Depending on the solar panel you use, as long as it has an inline charge controller, you can definitely use it to top off the battery pack while it charges the power station.

@shanediesel4562

Жыл бұрын

@@freelyroaming Are you able to do a followup instruction to show how to solar charge the expansion battery? In this scenario, would you be able to use solar to first charge the expansion battery, which will simultaneously charge the powerstation, which will simultaneously charge your devices?

@mikael3201

Жыл бұрын

@@shanediesel4562 @Freely Roaming I would really like to see how to charge via solar panels too. I have two Ecoflow R600 pro that can be linked. It also had this special option too add an extra battery via a special plug, but it is not available any more :/ I charge them with my Ecoflow solar panels, though at bit slow.

Very informative video, though I do want to add a caveat. My 500 Wh and 750 Wh LFP power stations from Ecopower and Bluetti charge within 60-65 minutes. I am not sure about their 1 KWh models, but they might charge up quicker than the 3 hours it takes to charge the PowerUrus, but only some of the devices support such a high charging rate. Regardless of that, I am now going to buy the PowerUrus because that is a lot cheaper than buying the expansion units from Bluetti or Ecopower lol

@freelyroaming

Жыл бұрын

That kind of charging speed is possible but not common. I know of just ecoflow who is doing 1C charging rates. I assume this is new for Bluetti as they are 2 of the top tier brands competing with each other. Most AC power adapters charge at around 200W.

@BOOSTEDLASER

Жыл бұрын

@@freelyroaming HOW DO YOU CHARGE THE BATTERY?

@freelyroaming

Жыл бұрын

@@BOOSTEDLASER it is in the video 14:36

thank you

Hi I’m new to all this. I was just wondering what the difference if I just connected my power station into a inverter that connected to the battery. Wouldn’t that charge the power station as well or even quicker?

Would this battery setup work with a bluetti 200max?

What size terminal rings did you connect the 12 gauge wiring with to the battery.?? I have 3/8 terminals, but the gauge of the wire is 2 awg. so the arm of the 3/8 ring to the terminal is too big for the 12 awg wiring,, ??? Help

Nice way to Expand Eco Flow Delta EF3 Pro 1300 and River 2 Pro

Question: could I use this recharge configuration you are discussing here with a 4Patriot 1800 watt power station (2nd generation, not the new 2000 piggy back) Thank you

Question? Why is their double red and double black wires coming off the battery instead of just a single wire of each? And how are you connecting them in terms of "double" to one side of the wire on the xt60? Thank you

Is there a voltage relay that turns on at custom voltage, like 14v, wired before the boost converter? And what about a low voltage cutoff?

Great video, I was wondering if anyone has tried putting 2x12V in series so as to make it a 24V cluster.. I guess that should work and doesn't need a step up 12to24V converter since those things are getting pretty hot and couldn't leave them unattended...

@jeffmcclain

7 ай бұрын

Yup. This is how most of the power walls function.

@edegwaendurance3189

5 ай бұрын

But the concept is misplaced by using batteries in series. The idea around the boost converter is that it enables the system, charging from a variable voltage source (of 12v requirements), to increase power (watts) with reduced current (amps) due to boost voltage.

@freelyroaming

5 ай бұрын

Also an important safety precaution is having a current limiter in place. 2 batteries in series has the potentialif delivering current at dangerous levels.

If you connect a charger to the extra battery, will it work? So it charges when it can the battery which chargers the power bank?

Can i add more lifepo4 batteries to instead of 1? I have a bluetti eb3a

did you link the battery charger that you showed?

you hear you can use a 36 volt ebike battery to charge your power station. im just not sure how to add a XT 60 or 90 connector. i wonder if a Variable voltage power supply would work also?

Brilliant!

@freelyroaming

Жыл бұрын

Thanks!

Hey great video, thanks for sharing!! Quick question: You mentioned you got one of the power stations from Europe.. however I understand TSA/FAA regulations restricts to max of 100wH the stations we can take in the cabin bag, how do you traveled with that one??? Tks!

@freelyroaming

Жыл бұрын

I shipped my van to Europe and traveled in it for 4 years. It came back in my van by boat.

@malcruzg

Жыл бұрын

@@freelyroaming that explains it! Thanks!

Could I charge the battery straight from the power station? I have a bluetti eb3a that I want to extend its watt capacity.

What are you using to charge back up the spare 100Ah LifePO4 battery after it runs down?

@happyhamster1411

9 ай бұрын

I was wondering the same thing

@reneb7671

9 ай бұрын

This is what I'd like to know. Can it go both ways can I solar charge the battery with any of these stations?

@freelyroaming

9 ай бұрын

I guess none of you guys made it to 14:42 in this video?

Can you post a link to that battery charger you used to charge the PowerUrus battery?

Hi, great idea! The power station "art hill" I googled it and I could not find it. Where did you buy this? What's its website? Please reply.