Good video. My first source of energy in a blackout is several Portable Power Stations (PPS) (Goal Zero, EcoFlow, etc). I have additional Lithium batteries that I can tether to my PPSs via 12v plugs. Depending on my PNW weather, I would recharge with portable Solar Panels or Gas Generator. I can power everything I have with PPSs for about 48 hours, and I can rotate PPS from powering to recharging as well. I would not want to run a gas genny very often, if at all since it would (1) make noise and draw unwanted attention to my house in the burbs, and like you mentioned (2) burn through my stored gas more quickly. Take care
Hi Teri! I have a video where I give an overview of the system. You can watch that. I also have a basic schematic of the system on my website TheTechiePrepper.com. I have had a lot of requests lately for a simple tutorial on a small solar system to power items such as a freezer or small appliances. I think I'll make a video this week on it. Keep an eye out for it.
Good information. I have a 7 cu ft. chest freezer. I think it draws about 55 watts when compressor is running. With my gas generator, my strategy would be to power the freezer for an hour or so to get it down near zero, then let it rest for maybe 4 hours (?) until it reached about 30 degrees. It only loses about 6 degrees per hour unpowered from what I've seen. Wondering what would be more efficient with one of these solar generators. Just leaving it on, or letting the freezer warm up to 30F and then turning it on again?
That is a good question that would depend on several variables (outside temp, density of food, etc.). I'm sure if you ran the test three times, you would get three slightly different results. I would bet that leaving it on would be most efficient. It takes more energy to change the temp of mass over a large temperature/time span. That is why people recommend leaving your AC/Heat on all the time vs. turning it on and off manually. Now you've got me wanting to test it! :-)
@@thetechieprepper Maybe you can explain this...When I connect my power consumption monitor to my 7 cu ft chest freezer...when the compressor comes on, it displays that it is using around +/- 60w. I contacted GE to get the specs on it, and they said my freezer is a 195.5 w freezer, and surge requirements could be 2 to 3 times that. My question is...how can it be rated at 195.5w when it only pulls 60w (??) (confused) Is 195.5w what it would pull if starting from empty and warm?? Is that like a "peak" wattage draw? (I'm a dummy on all things electrical).
