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Lore | 12-20-2006 02:46 AM
Portable Power Supplies - Any Good? Hi All, I'm interested in opinions regarding the portable power packs advertised in local hardware catalogues. We've had enough power outages in the Pacific Northwest to warrant action. I am not looking to spend thousands. What I want here in the city is something that will let me treat neighboring seniors to hot meals and hot drinks / boiled water when the power's down for a few days. You get the idea. I don't want to buy junk, and maybe there isn't a reasonable solution on such a small scale, but I'd like to explore the knowledge on this board. If the topic is already explored, then please point me in the right direction. TIA!

Curtman | 12-20-2006 02:56 AM
Re: Portable Power Supplies - Any Good? Costco had a nice 7000 watt Honda for 900.00 bones US a few weeks ago. I almost picked one up but am I have a little junior and it is working fine. I can live pretty good without the grid.

R MacDonald | 12-20-2006 02:56 AM
Re: Portable Power Supplies - Any Good? Quote:
Originally Posted by Lore (Post 450232) Hi All, I'm interested in opinions regarding the portable power packs advertised in local hardware catalogues. We've had enough power outages in the Pacific Northwest to warrant action. I am not looking to spend thousands. What I want here in the city is something that will let me treat neighboring seniors to hot meals and hot drinks / boiled water when the power's down for a few days. You get the idea. I don't want to buy junk, and maybe there isn't a reasonable solution on such a small scale, but I'd like to explore the knowledge on this board. If the topic is already explored, then please point me in the right direction. TIA!
If you're referring to a portable battery unit, it's best to build it yourself. That way you can choose the right batteries, the right charger, and most important, the right inverter. I've seen too many of those chinky-dinkies come with cheap low amp batteries, and dirty power inverters. If you don't mind using a hand truck, a good homebrew system would consist of two 6V golfcart batteries wired in parallel, a good true sine wave inverter, and a digital charger with a maintenance function. As for generators, go for the best quality inverter model... I like Hondas.

hoarder | 12-20-2006 06:36 AM
Re: Portable Power Supplies - Any Good? Quote:
Originally Posted by R MacDonald (Post 450237) two 6V golfcart batteries wired in parallel,
Two six volt batteries hooked in paralel would give you six volts. WTF is a "power pack"? Is lore referring to generators or a battery bank? Ditto on Honda. A word to the wise: Many so-called Honda generators are really just Honda engines with someone else's generator bolted to it. Make sure the whole package is Honda. Cabelas has the EU2000i and EU3000i inverter gens on sale now, $200 off.

Halophyte | 12-20-2006 08:17 AM
Re: Portable Power Supplies - Any Good? The portable battery packs are just a 12 volt SLA battery (12 amp hr ?) with a built in charger or wall charger. They'll keep a small radio and lamp working for several hours. In a power outage they can't recharge. Get a VW solar panel charger, they cost about 15 to 20 bux on Ebay, stick it on a southern window. Plug the panel in the porta power's 12 volt outlet to solar charge it. Better yet. Buy an inverter, a 400 watt unit should work just fine. Buy a 12 volt marine battery (75 amp hr) and small battery charger (5 - 10 amp) with a trickle/maintanance charge output. This set up should provide enough "portable power" for a few days and work automatically. .

perl | 12-20-2006 12:22 PM
Re: Portable Power Supplies - Any Good? If you want hot food and drinks just use a propane camp stove (OUTDOORS of course). Stock up on some propane and you are good to go. As for power a generator is the way to go. Saw a little Honda E2000 I think and it was so dang quiet I couldn't believe it. Nice unit.

hoarder | 12-20-2006 12:26 PM
Re: Portable Power Supplies - Any Good? Quote:
Originally Posted by perl (Post 450601) If you want hot food and drinks just use a propane camp stove (OUTDOORS of course).
They're OK to use indoors, just make sure there are no gas leaks at the tank connection or hose.

Lore | 12-20-2006 02:03 PM
Re: Portable Power Supplies - Any Good? Thanks All, I was wondering about these goofy little things, or something similar: http://www.canadiantirepower.ca/en/p...8W3B1&region=9 I need to think more about this, with all the solutions you've contributed. I was thinking originally of food prep, but I also need electricity to run small appliances for a matter of hours (e.g., space heaters for cold seniors). I agree that the ideal battery configuration would probably be home-built, but want to find something that can be carried fairly easily across uneven terrain. Interesting how often the Honda brand comes up. Thanks again, and MCTA (Merry Christmas To All)!

R MacDonald | 12-20-2006 03:25 PM
Re: Portable Power Supplies - Any Good? Oops... Okay Series.... Sorry I was getting tired.

R MacDonald | 12-20-2006 03:26 PM
Re: Portable Power Supplies - Any Good? Quote:
Originally Posted by hoarder (Post 450346) Two six volt batteries hooked in paralel would give you six volts. WTF is a "power pack"? Is lore referring to generators or a battery bank? Ditto on Honda. A word to the wise: Many so-called Honda generators are really just Honda engines with someone else's generator bolted to it. Make sure the whole package is Honda. Cabelas has the EU2000i and EU3000i inverter gens on sale now, $200 off.
I have an EU2000i.... Love it! :banana:

hoarder | 12-20-2006 04:15 PM
Re: Portable Power Supplies - Any Good? Quote:
Originally Posted by R MacDonald (Post 450764) I have an EU2000i.... Love it! :banana:
Those sure are quiet. What's the biggest load you have ever carried with it? Will it carry a washing machine or a small window AC? Unfortunately if you move up to the EU3000i you have the extra cost and weight of a starter and battery which hardly seem necessary

R MacDonald | 12-20-2006 04:37 PM
Re: Portable Power Supplies - Any Good? Quote:
Originally Posted by hoarder (Post 450813) Those sure are quiet. What's the biggest load you have ever carried with it? Will it carry a washing machine or a small window AC? Unfortunately if you move up to the EU3000i you have the extra cost and weight of a starter and battery which hardly seem necessary
If you buy a second 2Ki you can hook them together for more ooomph... http://www.hayesequipment.com/images/newEUkit_med.jpg

damoc | 12-20-2006 07:36 PM
Re: Portable Power Supplies - Any Good? Quote:
Originally Posted by Lore (Post 450691) Thanks All, I was wondering about these goofy little things, or something similar: http://www.canadiantirepower.ca/en/p...8W3B1&region=9 I need to think more about this, with all the solutions you've contributed. I was thinking originally of food prep, but I also need electricity to run small appliances for a matter of hours (e.g., space heaters for cold seniors). I agree that the ideal battery configuration would probably be home-built, but want to find something that can be carried fairly easily across uneven terrain. Interesting how often the Honda brand comes up. Thanks again, and MCTA (Merry Christmas To All)!
what you linked to in your post is just barely enough to run a small space heater maybee?and that depends on weather it is a peak 1800 or continuos rating and it does not give you the amp/hour rating or are you to buy batteries to suit your needs? so you have no way of knowing for how long it could run said heater.for example that battery also in your link has a amp/hour rating of 100 so to run a small 1500 watt space heater one 12 volt battery is going to need to supply 125 amps 1500/12=125 (which it can do for a short period of time) so100/125 =.8hours or 48 minutes this totally ignores many things like inverter losses and the possibility/probability of boiling your battery and producing to much hydrogen which can cause explosion. each extra battery you wish to include in your setup 12 volt in parralel (I guess your device has space for 2) reduces the current load for each I dont realy know for sure but I think a safe continuos load for each battery is about 30 amps which would mean 4 batteries minimum and probably less than 3 hours run time (be sure to check that with a battery expert) it may be a lot less I notice they specify a 100 hour rate? which would mean only 1 amp? and 125 batteries.That is probably just their testing specs though.

elroy | 12-21-2006 02:31 AM
Re: Portable Power Supplies - Any Good? One or two batteries is not enough to heat up anything. And these little generators won't heat up very much. Best bet is either propane and a stove/grill or the generator and a microwave. Heating and cooling both take a lot of power.

Unclad Lad | 12-23-2006 12:57 AM
Re: Portable Power Supplies - Any Good? Quote:
but I also need electricity to run small appliances for a matter of hours (e.g., space heaters for cold seniors).
Then electric heat is a poor choice. Look at one of the catalytic heaters. Use the electricity to power some LED lights, and maybe a radio.

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