Harbor Freight DIY Solar Generator

TaDay we are building a cheap Harbor Freight power station , for fishing , camping or just any ol emergancy

Golden Mate
batteries

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[ this is a list of the parts I bought off Amazon ]

Check out this page from fishinnstuff

with cables and wires the price is just over 500 dollars completed NOT including solar panels

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[FishinNStuff]

[ this is a list of the parts I bought off Amazon ]

Check out this page from fishinnstuff

[baneverything]

I`m dirt poor for life in Louisiana. I never dreamed I`d have solar powered air conditioning but for decades I did dream OF having it. Well, I saved my stimulus money and in July 2022 I bought the parts...a 2000 watt inverter, 60 amp MPPT solar charge controller, 20 amp plug-in charger, cables, fuses, testers, and a 300ah Ampere Time battery. I already had a few solar panels and got one more 200w one. My relatives called me several names for "wasting" my money instead of buying a leather couch, but guess which "crazy" guy had air conditioning in his 5th wheel camper when we had FIVE power outages during the extreme heat emergency this summer? LOL!

[YaBoySkinnyPee]

I have watched dozens of videos on solar stuff so I can turn my shed into an off-grid office when I work from home. Why is it that a fishing channel building a poor man's harbor freight battery is the absolute best tutorial I have ever come across? This is so helpful! Thank you!

[miguelestrada]

I've been working with electronics for over 23years. This guy did an amazing job.

[EbolaxMonkey]

Did an inverter on my son's van a while back... I was blown away by how fast this stuff adds up when you do it RIGHT. I'm a lifetime tradesman, and former stereo installer, but wasn't prepared for the cost of wire these days along with breakers, etc. Safety ain't cheap, and cheap ain't safe.

[daninbenson]

I work as a tech in military aerospace and I'm an ASE Master Certified Auto and Truck technician and I'm building my 2nd LiFePO4 battery/solar system for my RV with 6 batteries.
This video is awesome! I can learn the tech stuff from hundreds of videos but none are more entertaining that you plus you gave me at least 2 great ideas for the system I'm building now.
1) The cheap battery tray to keep the batteries from moving
2) Mounting my components on a board before installing- genius!
You might not be a tech guy but your are sure smart! And funny!
And some of the best video editing I've seen!
Thanks and please keep it up!

[davejones]

I work for Harbor Freight Tools. I appreciate all that you're doing. Positive or negative. I hate not knowing everything about our products.

[argirot]

The stackable tool box system and power station on wheels would work perfectly for a mobile amateur radio station. Thanks for the build video!

[judo]

I watched this twice and to me it’s an excellent way to make winter days pass quickly. I’m building 3 to give to my sons. Thanks enjoyed the video.

[seymourwrasse]

sine is pronounced sign. Here's your sign! If you don't tell someone you aren't an electrician, looking at this power supply, they will never know. It looks professionally built. I wish I had helpers that did 1/4 that good

[miketoti]

This is easily one of the most straightforward right to the point diy videos I've seen on this type of build. Everyone else likes to over complicate things and make it sound like you need a masters in engineering to do this. This is my new tutorial video of my next project in my overlanding rig build

[charliehiker]

I like the fact your friend is man enough to say "I like purple", so am I... it also has the benefit that other guys are somewhat reluctant to ask to borrow it... and those that do, return it pretty quick - lol.
Your video instructions/demo are clear, the little bonus things, the extra protective fuses, tool/parts/supply info, are really helpful.

[johngeers]

Finally... Someone who knows who to talk to me about remote power setups. I have had it all figured out, sort of, for years, but it never all came together as well as this little box and your way of relating it all. Thanks!

[virtone]

just some feedback and ideas:

- the solar controller draws very little power when idle, and by placing it on the other side of the switch, you have to have the box powered on to charge it with solar, which probably means the inverter and fan are also on, which draw FAR more power. Move that solar controller to the battery side of the switch.
- PWM is probably fine for your use. MPPT is for times when you either need to squeak every watt you can out of the panels, or when you have a lot of panels and missing out on 5% would be a lot of lost power.
- lithium batteries have a higher voltage, so your indicator is probably overly optimistic, being calibrated for lead acid. You might have difficulty finding one in that shape that's designed for lithium though
- your lithium battery has built-in protection from deep-discharge, so you probably can't damage it from over-discharge. it'll just stop providing power automatically.
- I would suggest you add a "ground bus" bar inside the box, to tie all your grounds together, so you don't have so many wires going to your battery's negative.
- good call on using the circuit breaker (its not a "fuse") on the inverter. it's easy to accidentally overload the inverter, and just being able to flip the breaker to reset it (rather than change a fuse) is convenient. the fuses in the inverter itself are only designed to protect the INVERTER from damage due to overload, and should not be relied on for accessory safety. Make sure your breaker is rated at least 10% below the rating on the fuses in the inverter. (the manual should tell you what value of breaker to use)
- also good call on using the powerpole for the solar connector. that SB50 is probably overkill for your panels, but it should work just fine. Those MC3 barrel connectors are a PAIN to connect and disconnect, and really aren't designed to be connected and disconnected with any frequency, whereas the SB50 is designed for lots of convenient use. Just attach the MC3's to the pigtail going to the SB50 and leave them connected.
- I think I would have cut a larger hole and put a 4-outlet panel on the outside for my 120vac. With that single external connection, odds are you are going to need to pack a small power strip for when you need to plug in multiple accessories at the same time..
- I worry a little about all the holes and the exposed fan, if you're intending to use this in a marine environment. But waterproofing that would be a lot more work. I know that a lot of my projects are difficult for me to decide if I want to go to all the added trouble to waterproof them. Some I do, most I don't. Some I don't, then have problems, and have to go back and try to add at least some additional waterproofing. It's much easier when you plan for it from the start.
- the inverter's wire gauge recommendations are for longer runs, like 10-20 feet. For short runs like this, you'd probably be fine going up a gauge or two and saving yourself some headache dealing with stiff wires. That's a relatively small inverter and will do just fine with 6 gauge at that short distance.
- I almost forgot - adding a "current meter" to your battery + wire is VERY handy, to see how many amps you're pulling (or recharging) on the battery. There are meters with a "donut" you just pass the big red wire through to get a current reading. Those meters usually can display voltage too, so you can use that instead of just the volt meter you have now.
- and I don't see how you are connecting the external charger. I'd consider adding another SB50 like you have for your solar, to make that an external connection as well so that you don't have to open the box to charge.

Nice build, thanks for the video!

[-eddie-]

One suggestion the air or vent holes in the top I would put screen mesh over those holes to keep critters out

[ericeinsmann]

This video has really inspired me! I went out and got this same tool box and I am in the process of installing a 2000w inverter, three 100ah batteries, solar controller, various switches, fuses, fans and ventilation.. And it's still going to be weatherproof.. At least that's how it works out in my head.. It's exciting!

[zznzuto]

Nice! The multi tools are a game changer. It's one of the best tools ever invented in my opinion

[irishgrl]

I’m a woman & I admit I was lost much of the time, but I watched this all the way through because 1) you are entertaining as hell, and 2) this sort of thing fascinates me! I don’t have anyone to help me with stuff like this & watching your video makes me wish I did! This would be so useful! 🙏 Congratz on a brilliant idea!

[pinetree]

I've watched your channel for a few years. But this is a standout build. On a scale of 1 to 10, this is a 14. I built my own about 6 months ago. It's mounted in the truck. But your mobile application has mine beat by miles. Congratulations. This build will be tough to beat.now couple this to your black lights, your boat lights and all the other stuff, and, well, it's nothing short of awesome.

[larrystover]

I made one of these before and used it to run my fish finder and also used it to go night fishing. Since your using lifepo4 battery components should be rated to use with type of battery. You absolutely did a good job with it.