I just watched your video! I have seen probably over 500 videos on RU-vid, including hobotech regarding solar generators. Here are some key points I loved about your video. 1. Very easy to understand the features and benefits, for any age and gender. 2. You didn’t get into all the details sometimes we don’t care about, not everyone is a super technical person. 3. Video production was great, good lighting and voice. 4. You gave a great value presentation, why it’s worth looking into to save some $ 5. Great add on suggestions that will be helpful in a real life usages. Thank you for making this short but ver informative video! Two thumbs up 👍 👍
This is great news. I'm 76 yrs old. Have a minivan, and I'm getting back to tent camping. I don't plan on traveling more than 400 miles from home to camp, which is fine for me. I'm very excited about this video, and I very much appreciate your research and the way you make it easier to understand. Thank you!!😊😊😊
You could also add a 20 AMP or higher DC to DC chargers which would charge your battery using your van alternator as your driving. Renogy makes several different models.
Omg I love this. I have a Bluetti. It took me weeks of watching videos trying to figure these things out. You are the first person to explain the difference between a battery and a power station. I was so intimidated by this technology. I almost feel like I could put this battery into operation. Thank you for explaining. I’m going to look for that previous video.
I'm using a single Power Queen 100AH LiFePo4 battery in my small home built solar system. I recently upgraded from multiple sealed lead/acid batteries. I am very pleased with its performance so far. Nice video! Greetings from Jamaica.
I have 2 of these. I really like the battery. I also have a Jackery 1000. This holds more wattage than the Jackery. I charge it up at home and bring it on weekend camping trips. We have a 12V fridge that you can plug right into it. The Jackery is only rated for 500 charges and discharges where lithium Iron Phosphate of the Dr. Prepare should go over 2000. Most things camping like my 12 v fridge and charging up cell phones are DC power. I actually bring along my Jackery and this, cause I can charge the Jackery off the cig lighter driving places, and I haven't needed solar panels for 3-4 day outings. I pair the battery with a multiport cigarette usb charger and the family can charge bunches of devices off with this battery. If the Jackery runs out of juice, this is my backup for the fridge. Works great!
Building me out a rig right now and "batteries vs power station" has been on my mind. I might do a little of both. Thanks for the info. Excellent presentation by the way! God bless!
Helpful, knowledgable, witty, and no horrible music to distract from your message! I also think you have a smooth voice with good tone & we can hear your honesty and straightforwardness. You've earned another subscriber!
Best pleasant voice and no organized noise (music). I was wondering if this battery could be used as a vehicle battery, ten years in the hot Florida sun. A no brainier. 73
Hi Kelly, your video just showed up on my feed this morning. Great review on the battery. I’ll probably go for one once my AGM battery dies. To answer your question, my electrical system is a DIY system that consists of: Battery DC-DC charge controller Battery Monitor System 1000 Watt inverter Fuse panel Wiring and USB outlets throughout the van I bought two 110 Watt solar panels and a solar charger, but haven’t installed them yet. So far, the DC-DC charger has exceeded my expectations and has kept the battery fully charged. I haven’t touched the battery in over 2 years. You’re absolutely right about getting more power for the same price when you build your own. One thing I would highly recommend is to consult with an electrician when setting up a DIY system. Subscribed!
I designed a similar set up with less than $300. I got the redodo battery for $220, a redodo ac to dc connector that has all my devices connectors, and it charges my laptop with a dc adaptor and usb C. I paid $45 for it. I have a 30a solar charger and an old 100w solar panel from another project for home. and I also have a wall charger just in case. Recently, I bought a pecron 1200 watts with 50 am battery just for camping, and I paid like $260. for it. So I will use my 100 amp battery set up for longer time camping while charging my Pecron at the same time. I do not think I need another inverter than the Pecron. I have a 1000 watts pure sine lying around, but I do not think I need it for short time trips. I will see how this set up works for my camping needs. I have pretend tested it at home, with rainy and very little shiny days and I get up to 4/5 days with moderate use. I do not let my batteries go below 20%. I do not use fuels to cook, but I have a couple of good dc and two ac devices with low wattage usage for cooking. Good information! We do not have to break the bank to have some fun and to have your electrical needs met.
100ah are 219.-229 now as of 9/2023 .. power queen or redodo both are amazing batteries with excellent support.. i go with 200ah redodo batteries. 12v .. I built a 3kw powmr system with 5kwh of battery and 1kw of solar panels.. all for under 2200.00 it can power standard RV ac units as well as the fridge and a couple outlets.
You can go to Battery Hook up and buy yiur own cells to build yiur own I have a self built 3.3kw power station i built for somewhere between $500 and$700
Thank you for these amazing budget friendly work arounds. I wish I saw this a day ago, I just purchased my Pecron E600LFP w/ 200 watt solar panels. I hate that I spent the same amount as you, with only half the watt hours 😩 All of this is good to know moving forward! Safe & happy travels ☺️✌🏽
Very helpful, Kelly! Thanks! So far, I just have a 300W power station. I haven’t yet gotten a refrigerator/freezer, so haven’t determined how much power I’ll need AND haven’t yet decided whether to build my own or just buy a bigger power station… How brave AM I…? 🤣 THAT battery looks much better than many I’ve seen, and like you, I appreciate the UL rating, 10 year warranty and the Renogy cells inside. I really like the hot and cold charging protection! A LOT of cool features for the price. I too enjoy watching HoboTech! Will Prowse has some great videos about this topic as well. Thanks for sharing!
Hey PioneerGrandma! Yeah, previously I hardly used any power, then I got starlink and a freezer. So now, I'm in the process of building out a 4800wh system, and yes, my bravery is definitely in question!! Stay tuned, I'll have some videos coming out about that, and you can follow along and buy what I bought (or not, depending on how it turns it, lol!) Thanks for watching!
Thankyou Kelly. So much appreciated. I will take note and go shopping soon. I would like to make rice and coffee but then again I could use my Coleman. Liked that you mentioned the charging of a laptop vs ipad.
I'm still planning my system, I want something easy doesn't take too much room. Realizing that I need more power then I thought I would. Being in Canada it gets really cold not full-time in the van need to be able to have a system that won't get affected if there's no heat on 24/7. Never saw this very informative thank you, just subscribed to your channel
I think prismatic batteries are the best bang for your buck. They hold 100 ah per 3.2v battery. And are about $60 each atm. You will need 4 to make 12.8v. So, about $240x2=480 for 800ah. If you're handy, that is. Some assembly is required lol but it's fairly easy to do.
OMG those are awesome!! It's about time someone invented something like this! I prefer to run everything on 12 VDC, anyway. Inverters are inefficient and waste power. Just leave an inverter turned on with nothing plugged into the inverter, and it'll still drain the battery completely.
I've got a Toyota Tarago (Estima) hybrid and just discovered I can just hook up an inverter and use any appliance all day and night and the system will charge itself 😮... Happy days 😃... Thanks for the informative video 👍
I have this exact battery in the cap of my pickup truck. I have been running it since April 26 and it has worked great. It has been running my 12v refrigerator/freezer. This battery is truly IP65. It has been rained on a few times and keeps running. The hub works but once you plug in two or more things it really slows down charging.
Oh cool! Thanks for commenting as someone who’s used it for longer. Yeah, I think the hub is the weak link- I wonder if they’ve done any improvements to it since you bought yours? Thanks for commenting!
Amazing🎉 1st time watching your channel and subscribed immediately. That Dr Prepare battery - amazing I want one but don't need one; so tempting. Thank you for your very informative video - loved it from the UK.
Hi, you video just popped up this morning. I enjoyed the information and your delivery. I subscribed, I don't usually subscribe on first video, but this was an exceptional video. Thank you. I will be investigating the battery s you reviewed. I currently have multiple Jackery E240s. Thank you for a safer, more feature rich, alternative! As I build out my systems. I will be watching your other videos. i am sire they will also be the similar high quality as this one. I am considering: 1) pull behind 25ish ft RV trailer 2) truck camper pulling my Prius 3) van self converted I will be checking your video library to help decide. I appreciate you valuable input. Happy travels...
Very interesting battery with the hub. However the limitations you listed make it inferior to all the battery power stations that are available. Yes they can be expensive but when they are on sale they are superior to having multiple gadgets to handle your needs. For example ecoflow river 2 pro I was able to get for $314 last month during prime days. Those sales are gone but I imagine labor day and black Friday they will return. Ecoflow and bluetti have been competing. If you regularly review their website you can eventually catch a great deal.
Here is my take on a campervan electric system:- 8 years ago when I built my (3rd) van I found there was only one item that needed any reasonable amount of power, my coldbox. I keep butter and milk cool and that's it, so I run that only when the engine is running. The rest is USB charging, so that is easily powered by the van battery. When my van battery was up for renewal I fitted the larger one at only €10 extra, but had 50% extra capacity. So my electrical system involves no extra equipment at all. So I save €100s, maybe even €1000s in equipment and my losses are only 1/2lb of butter or 1/2 litre milk per year, living 30-60 nights/year in the van. I always carry a jump starter anyway for emergencies and it's only use to date has been helping someone else. The maths is easy, costs saved €100s per year, losses maybe €2 per year and less to go wrong, or catch fire.
@@minivancampergal1554 Think of it as an investment. Think about it amortized... ...so many decades of use per fedbux invested. . Fact is, considering their usable life, they are just about free.
Greetings from Scotland! This excellent... These wizz, bang, wallop, battery packs from Jackery and others are nice. But when you are looking for more Wh's, we are into silly bucks country. Particularly in the UK. I'm not sure if these type of batteries are available to buy in the UK. But you have got me thinking. Thank you for sharing.
Hey Kelly, That's a nice setup. It's nice to have choices. you could go this route or opt for a full blown power station. I thought sure you were going to hook the keyboard up and sing a new jingle. LOL. Steve.
You do get 12V to 20V 60W USB-C DC converter that goes into the cigarette lighter socket.. BTW, the socket on the left side takes 45A, and the cigarette tighter contact only safely delivers 8A. So trying to pull 300W via a the CL contact will not work.
Not really You can build your own box that will plug into any battery. So if yiur battery fails you can just switch it out. If the battery fails in a power station you have an expensive paperweight
I appreciate your review. I’ve been following your adventures and now subscribed. I have a tiny camper with 100w solar and the main power usage is to run a 12v fridge similar to yours. My lead-acid battery is the weak point and I’ve been looking at other options. I was considering AGM or GEL for cost but this looks like a good option. And based on the Renogy brand gives a good feeling about quality.
The battery does have the button on top where you can see the lights. You could also buy an inexpensive battery monitor that you could wire up that would have a screen.
Your charge controller will tell you when the battery is charged, but I do believe you need more exact readings of the charge remaining. My experience with 12 volt gauges is that the wires are too small to use with larger batteries - they melt! Enjoy your videos!
I am building a sprinter van camper, 10KW Battery system to run a echoflow wave 2 and a incinerator toilet. I’m opting to have 800wh solar with a 3KW Honda Generator for Back up power, the Generator should cost $2.50usd Daily to suite my needs.
@dell, 2003, we received a devastating diagnosis. Within a week -- while selling everything -- we acquired a 1996 Ford CF8000 and converted it to our concept of an ExpeditionVehicle. . Our photovoltaic: * six 305-Watt panels, a total of 1,830-Watts. These top our ancient bank of eight Lifeline Concord AGM 105ah. . Over two decades full-time live-aboard. Engineering our rig, we realized we could eliminate much of the issues of a factory RecreateVehicle by eliminating: * plumbing * built-in electric * the 'Entertainment Center' with wine-chillers and electric fireplace. . We boondock exclusively. . On skoolie and other home-built forums, we suggest: * acquire a suitable candidate * toss in some car-camping gear * go have fun. Allow the conversion to evolve organically. . Build then use risks forcing the adventure to fit the rig.
@@minivancampergal1554 forgot to mention that the benefits of this battery come at a premium. Other reputable LiFePO4 batteries of the same capacity are usually $100 cheaper. However I think the hub feature is worth that $100 premium since other batteries require an inverter for similar output features. Even though the hub is missing high voltage AC output, it's still worth the extra premium for thata convenience. It is especially worth it for me since my main purpose for this battery will be to power a 12V fridge and nothing else.
similar to the box on the top of the battery ive seen YT reviews with what's called a DC Control Box by a Chinese co. called Licitti. You may get a few more watts (45) PD and 50 Amps input output but it has some nice features like a multi colored meter.
It also has the inverter and better charge controller built into the unit. Also, it is sized differently and I think you might be able to fit two of the new "mini" 100ah batteries into the battery compartment, doubling your capacity. It is probably a better deal overall. You should check out their website. They have several boxes that haven't made it to YT yet. I've ordered one of their products called a DC Control Box that I think will work well with the power stations I build. It's like a big remote control.
Nice to know about this option--thanks! Question: Could I plug a solar panel directly into the hub, or would I need to get a charge controller? (On the website I see that the hub only supports 100W, but I'm wondering whether it has a charge controller for that, or I'd need to supply one.) Thanks! Also, I'm guessing I'd need to supply some sort of meter, in order to know how much charge is left in the battery?
I’ve been living in and out of my vehicles for 30 yrs, I watch tons of newbie’s playing this dance. I like the fact that she is going to the “problem” let’s get back to what we are talking about. Car- power . What is the “big problem” - BATTERY! Why can’t we just put a large lithium battery in place of the old lead acid? Every time you start your car the generator is charging the battery. No need for inverters these days go 100% 12volt dc. Run everything off that battery just need a volt meter keeping track of the volts left in the battery.
@mark, 2003, after a half-century of make-do camping in lesser rigs, we built our ExpeditionVehicle. . Over two decades full-time live-aboard. We run everything on 12vdc. . Our inverters are 750-Watt from auto-parts stores. Cheap, reliable, easy-to-use, easy-to-acquire, easy-to-replace.
I am still planning, so this came at the right time for me.. 😀 I love this "plug and play" easiness. And like you said, soon the hub will be upgraded and you can get more use out of the battery. Only thing is, I'm over in Europe, are they available here? 🤔
Appreciated your videos! But are you aware that this is Chinese company selling this? Something to think about. Was hoping for a USA made product. Enjoy your trips!!
I see Dr.Prepare offers similar batteries (12v 100ah) but without the hub -- do you know if I could buy the model with the hub, and then add on 3 of the other 12v 100ah models into parallel so I could expand the capacity of the overall system and save some money? The other model I am lookin at is $250 for the same 12v 100ah capacity, while the one with the hub shows at $399, so it would save quite a bit instead of getting 3 more of the same hub model to add on. Any input would be awesome!
Hi! Hm, I'm not 100% sure, but I think you could do that! You'd still be limited by how much wattage the hub allows you to draw, but if you're just using small devices, I think it would just treat the connected batteries all as one! Might be a really great money saving idea!
Nice presentation. One question: I hear a noise in the background, is that from the car, or does the battery come with a cooling system or a fan? To me, sound matters, so I hope this battery is silent 🙂
Great review and presentation. If I didn't already have four of these I would've bought based on your review. My main use case is to use them to recharge larger power stations in winter power outages when solar is scarce, and to run a 12V DC fridge. I have a 20A and 40A charger for them, and I still need to get a solar controller as you can charge up to 600W from the posts plus 100W from the power module via Anderson.
