What to do with power station / solar generator outside of an emergency?
Posted by wool@reddit | preppers | View on Reddit | 39 comments
After going through Helene, I augmented my gas generator with a 1kWh power station (Anker C1000 Solix) and smaller 256Wh model (Anker 521).
I'm curious about novel uses for these items outside of emergencies. Beyond using them as a UPS for computer equipment, does anyone have any suggestions?
bikumz@reddit
Dude, throw it in the car and you now have a great power bank. A lot of people think oh I can just charge devices using my car but I personably take lunch breaks in my vehicle and got tired of running to charge or having to turn the car back on every so often to resume charge. They are great for running speakers and lights during outside parties as well. I have also used mine to get my car charged using a trickle charger.
TheLostExpedition@reddit
I live off my power station. Haven't had an electric bill in over 2 years. Or you could put it to work in a shed. Or save it for the next disaster.
ninjadude1992@reddit
This sounds like a dream. Care to share about how many Kwh you use per day?
TheLostExpedition@reddit
I use 500 watts a day I'd it's charged. Amish house. Small TV, tablets and laptops. So 0.5kwh advertising 24hrs or less. It is the dream.
Individual_Run8841@reddit
Here is my personal SolarTale, maybe there is something in it for you to consider:
Around the time the Ukrainian Russian conflict becoming open warfare, with subsequently fast rising Energy Prices in Europe and also same uncertainty over Energy availability at all, i made the following Setup to make my self less dependent on utility services and to save some money on my Heating and Power Bill‘s, wich it subsequently did.
A small Solarsetup, I have the smallest Jackery Solargenerator 240 (the older one with Lithium batteries, their newer one have even better LiFePo) and two of their Waterproof 80 Watt Panels for it.
I place the panels on the Balkony of my one Room Appartement, wich luckily facing south/west
Very Easy to setup and to use…
To make the most of this somewhat expensive part of prepping equipment, I try to integrate it use into my normal life as often as the available Sunlight permits
The most efficient of it is, that it can provide Heat via Electricity wich for me at least work reasonably well, to archive this I use a USB Heating-Pillow, sitting on my Couch the Pillow in my back a small Blanket of my hip and legs, it’s quite cosy.
A normal Powerbank with 10000 mAH runs my Pillow on it lowest setting, wich gives about 35 Degrees Celsius for around 5-6 Hours.
(There are also USB Heating Vest’s, Blanket’s Socks and so on available…)
Using this little setup enables me to tune my Central Heating Radiators down, wich saved me already quiet some Money…
I use this setup also to charge all my small Device’s from; Phone, Tablet, Boombox, Flashlight‘so, Powerbank’s, Obulb Ambient Light‘s, Under cabinet Led Light, led fairy lights, the Accu‘s of my Powertools, AA and AAA Accu‘s and also my Mouse and Keyboard m…
I guess in around two years more time I will saved as much as I spend on the Investment in my little Solarsetup, so from beginning of year five I most likely start to really save money, wich is a very nice bonus of that part of my prepping…
(For prepping uses I also added a rechargeable UV Light Water Purifier called SteriPen and rechargeable Electric Lighter)
To bridge the cloudy, rainy and snowy Days of Autumn and Winter, when no Sun shines, I bought a handful additional Normal Powerbank’s at some sales, some of these have build in Led-Lights, some also function as Handwarmer, wich can also be used like a Small Hotwaterbottle…
(For Hot day, there are USB Fans available wich run off normal USB Powerbanks, some with build in Accu even with LED Lights and Powerbank function, wich makes them nicely versatile…)
Greetings from Berlin
With all that new electrical things, I bought as additional safety equipment one more Fire Extinguisher, Working Smoke detector I have already in my Appartement because here in Germany, they became a few years ago mandatory…
BaldyCarrotTop@reddit
Accu?
Individual_Run8841@reddit
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0B6ZJX77Q?ref_=ast_sto_dp&th=1&psc=1
Rare_Application_695@reddit
My dad uses hus to charge hus phone and laptop
boomerangchampion@reddit
I used mine to charge all sorts of things, laptops, my razor, drill batteries etc. The savings are miniscule but I might as well put it to work.
OldTimer4Shore@reddit
Having survived Hurricane Helene, I keep mine next to the router. Mountains are known for frequent outages due to trees falling on lines and people crashing into poles.
wool@reddit (OP)
Hi Neighbor!
I switched service to Verizon 5G so this is good thinking. Assuming the cell grid doesn't go down again.
OldTimer4Shore@reddit
Well, Howdy neighbor! We tried Starlink but too many trees. We have no towers for cell service but we are Verizon customers. If the internet lines go down there is no phone service. We were out for three weeks.
wool@reddit (OP)
Wow. We were out of Spectrum from September 27 until October 22 and I had to do something for my job.
Glad Starlink is working for you. I know many others who moved over there too.
OldTimer4Shore@reddit
Starlink did not work for us because it requires wide open skyview and wild mountainous areas often have too many trees for that. Appears we both were without phone for three weeks. During that time we had seen no photos or videos of the aftermath on TV. Saw and heard many tales first-hand, however. Our area is pretty torn up but we didn't suffer house damage. The battery packs and generators served us well. Without them those three weeks would have been way worse than it was. I became well-schooled in small engine repairs !
wool@reddit (OP)
Oops, I misread your message, sorry about that.
Yes, the trickle of information was an odd experience.
OldTimer4Shore@reddit
Indeed. Our local radio had no coverage and just kept playing their normal syndication programs. No use at all. We relied on word of mouth but were unable to travel away from the house due to downed trees blocking the trail out of the woods. I did alot of walking to check in with some elderly "neighbors" (huge trees were falling near me along the way!). We would shoot guns to signal each other for the following weeks. Three shots shots meant to go to a creek nearby and yell across to each other. The creek had grown into a monster and we were unable to yell over it. We resorted to throwing notes to each other in a baggie with rocks. This was a survival tactic that I had never considered. There were other areas of prepping that I thought I had covered but proved to not be so. I realized that you can never have enough heavy duty extension cords, of varying lengths, and a number of Y splitters. I also learned that bears are bewildered when you have to "go" outside! One prepper tip that I missed along the way was to have alot of baby wipes. Creeks will work to bath in but they can be chilly as all hang! So we now have a large stash of wipes and I also got a camping shower. If the creek and camping shower don't work, the wipes are a reliable backup. All in all, prepping was worth all the invested time and money and paid off in this 3 week emergency. We had water jugs, lanterns and flashlights, generator power, food, etc to get by until we could get out. I am grateful we did not have looters but I was prepped for that also.
juancarlospaco@reddit
Air compressor with big tanks, then use for power tools etc
8Deer-JaguarClaw@reddit
I take mine on car trips, especially if the destination is the beach or camping. I also use mine around the house to power certain things that need to operate far from an outlet (I have an older house that doesn't have as many outlets as newer homes).
Relative_Ad_750@reddit
I am really curious how you use a power station while on the beach. What do you power with it?
8Deer-JaguarClaw@reddit
Mostly fans and lights (if it's getting dark out). But also charging/recharging phones. You can also run a blender if you want to make drinks. :)
wool@reddit (OP)
That's a good idea, I have a similar situation where I'm restricted by outlet locations. I should have thought of that haha!
8Deer-JaguarClaw@reddit
I most often find myself using them to power fans out on my back deck or while I'm working on something in the yard. I've also powered my laser engraver and 3D printer on a few occasions when I wanted to use them outside.
Ready-Bass-1116@reddit
Float Charge, and use it periodically...
Immediate_Fix_13@reddit
Just take them around with you. I work while travelling, if I had something like that i'd use it to charge my laptop.
aspie_electrician@reddit
I use mine at work (construction site) to run my worklighr during the dark morning hours.
Mind you, mine is a small 88Whr unit
ericj5150@reddit
Test them out at least once a year. Do a once or twice a year practice where you turn off your power and use your emergency gear for a day, so A. You know how to use it. B. You make sure it works and C. Rotate fuel. Make sure if you have a propane generator you also have a propane BBQ and rotate the fuel. If you have a gas generator rotate the gas every 90 days and use it in your car, you may wish to rotate gas more often but it is more work. Modern gas deteriorates and old gas will mess up your generator. Any way you look at it the more familiar you are with your equipment the better off you will be.
The-Mond@reddit
I have a handful of power stations of the exact same model (all Walmart ONN brand bought on 70% clearance discount). The owner's manual recommends discharging and recharging them every month or two, so I like to keep an index card attached to each unit to record the approximate date (month/year) of each discharge and recharge cycle. Since they are all the same model, I have also labeled each box/packaging with a marker "Unit A", "Unit B", etc. - and also marked the bottom of each unit with a silver metallic sharpie to help keep track of them all. I'm also storing each unit in different rooms, pre-positioned to use on various small devices if/when a power outage occurs (one for the modem, one for the router, one for the TV, one for the lamp, etc.).
11systems11@reddit
Following. I got an EcoFlow 1000 a few years ago, and most recently got a 1kwh G-Power brand unit for free after Amazon delivered it and the tracking never updated, so I got a refund.
I've used both in the back yard to connect a laptop and projector for outdoor movie nights but I'm always looking for other creative ideas.
Rip1072@reddit
Tailgating, camping, working with elec tools outside the home, powering the blender to make margaritas, remote charge station for handheld equipment......
06210311200805012006@reddit
I use mine to offgrid power and recharge my lawn mower, hedge clippers, leaf blower, etc. I enjoy that they're not combustion engines. Partially due to enviro stuff (although I acknowledge the materials blindness of renewables). Mostly I just like not having yet another engine to maintain in my garage. The maint on electric garden tools is considerably less intensive. The one exception being my snowblower, which is a gigantic 2 stage tecumseh jobbie from the 80's. I have a 120 foot alley and it used to snow a lot here.
mbelcher@reddit
I have some lights strung up my shed and run them off of a smaller 300wh battery, and I've used a larger 1kwh battery to recharge tool batteries while out on a worksite without having to run the inverter in the truck.
DwarvenRedshirt@reddit
Unless it's rated as a UPS, it won't work for that purpose. I use mine with a portable fridge/freezer when I make multi-hour long drives to places where I'm buying something that needs to be kept cold (for example if I'm hundreds of miles away and drop by a Costco, since I don't have one near me).
wool@reddit (OP)
The C1000 definitely is, it switches over to battery within 20ms. It seems like that's my best use case because it will keep the power station charged for emergencies and give it a secondary use.
DwarvenRedshirt@reddit
Test it out on your computer. 20ms is on the high end. Might or might not matter for your PC's, but my UPS's are half of that.
tianavitoli@reddit
i take mine on trips.
just used it last night to watch the election, had two laptops going, plus could have charged my phone that i was using as a hotspot, but the s24 ultra has plenty of power for such things
kirksmith626@reddit
We've lost power a couple of times, with a pre Civil War home making sure we can de-water the two basements is a mandatory prep so they can be used with our two smaller solar batteries. in those events. Also, we have used them in the past to take water from the creek to our rain barrels and garden 265 barrel. The bigger ones can be working on moving the water and still be charging from the solar panels.
CombatConrad@reddit
I have an Anker 1kw. It’s just backup for when power goes out.
AdjacentPrepper@reddit
I've got a small one (600 Wh) for car camping.
Being able to run a fan all night is really nice in the TX summer.
armedsquatch@reddit
A few of my friends use them to power cpaps when camping.