DIY portable power packs [[split from bluetti FS listing]]

Van Living Forum

Help Support Van Living Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.

tx2sturgis

Moderator
Staff member
Moderator
Supporting Member
Joined
May 4, 2017
Messages
7,800
Reaction score
1,441
Location
Texas
I moved this content into a new thread, if anyone has built (or wants to build) a DIY power station, power pack, portable battery pack, etc...and you want to share your info, pics, etc, or ask questions, this is the thread for that!


-------------------------------------------------------------------------------



I have built a few DIY low-tech portable power 'stations' if you can call them that.

I wonder if a simple lead-acid battery and a very low tech charge controller, along with a basic solar panel would possibly solve the problem? The battery and charge controller can be installed in a metal enclosure, and possibly a USB charger. A basic 'dumb' phone can be placed inside the enclosure during charging.

A 12v to 120v inverter will always have some radiated RF and EMF but with it being inside a metal faraday cage, the radiated fields should be very low.

One of them I built I still have, and I built it with a lantern on top for those evenings around the picnic table or campsite, and with a couple of 12v ports for charging a phone, laptop, etc.

For those reading this and not familiar, RF and EMF are bothersome to some people, and as a ham operator we are now required to do a basic RF exposure survey of our own ham station and equipment. (this can be a simple online formula or more involved)

Near field RF and EMF can be an issue for some people at certain levels of exposure. There are also non-electric lighting options in the case of a power outage at night....various propane lanterns and Aladdin lamps come to mind.
 
Last edited:
Thank you, that helps.

I have built a few DIY low-tech portable power 'stations' if you can call them that.

I wonder if a simple lead-acid battery and a very low tech charge controller, along with a basic solar panel would possibly solve the problem? The battery and charge controller can be installed in a metal enclosure, and possibly a USB charger. A basic 'dumb' phone can be placed inside the enclosure during charging.

A 12v to 120v inverter will always have some radiated RF and EMF but with it being inside a metal faraday cage, the radiated fields should be very low.

One of them I built I still have, and I built it with a lantern on top for those evenings around the picnic table or campsite, and with a couple of 12v ports for charging a phone, laptop, etc.

For those reading this and not familiar, RF and EMF are bothersome to some people, and as a ham operator we are now required to do a basic RF exposure survey of our own ham station and equipment. (this can be a simple online formula or more involved)

Near field RF and EMF can be an issue for some people at certain levels of exposure. There are also non-electric lighting options in the case of a power outage at night....various propane lanterns and Aladdin lamps come to mind.

I dont mean to derail the article, but I just wanted to add my own 2 cents.

Carry on and maybe someone in the NM area can make use of the item you have.
Hi tx2sturgis,
I am interested in hearing more about:
I have built a few DIY low-tech portable power 'stations' if you can call them that.

I wonder if a simple lead-acid battery and a very low tech charge controller, along with a basic solar panel would possibly solve the problem? The battery and charge controller can be installed in a metal enclosure, and possibly a USB charger. A basic 'dumb' phone can be placed inside the enclosure during charging. (Can you still get a basic dumb phone? I think, you can only get 5G smart phones these days?)

A 12v to 120v inverter will always have some radiated RF and EMF but with it being inside a metal faraday cage, the radiated fields should be very low.

One of them I built I still have, and I built it with a lantern on top for those evenings around the picnic table or campsite, and with a couple of 12v ports for charging a phone, laptop, etc.

So, I am considering getting a very low tech basic laptop. Just to do a few things: read a thick book, watch some MP4 videos I enjoy and some basic text stuff. So, if the grid goes does down, could this device, power a simple laptop?
If so, how do you feel about showing us, how to build this device?
Could it power 12v things?
This are the things, I want to use it for:
Read a book from a simple laptop, save some rich text documents and make videos using VSDC Free Screen Recorder (this was a free download).
Could it power up a laptop, so I could watch and read etc.

Thanks,
Sunshine17
 
An example of the smaller one I built in a plastic ammo box, using a small charge controller and 40w solar panel, and an inexpensive motorcycle battery.

This will easily power a typical laptop and cell phone being used as a hotspot continuously if the panel is in full sun, and for several hours after the sun goes down you will still have power to keep the laptop operating.

Of course, the next day the battery needs to receive a full charge for a few hours before operating the laptop again.

This unit is not suitable for a fridge or any type of cooking appliance but it will allow you to charge and use a couple of electronic devices away from your main rig.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_20180524_142655.jpg
    IMG_20180524_142655.jpg
    64.3 KB · Views: 0
  • IMG_20180524_142714.jpg
    IMG_20180524_142714.jpg
    60.7 KB · Views: 0
  • IMG_20180524_142745.jpg
    IMG_20180524_142745.jpg
    69.3 KB · Views: 0
  • IMG_20180524_142801.jpg
    IMG_20180524_142801.jpg
    68.2 KB · Views: 0
  • IMG_20180609_102538.jpg
    IMG_20180609_102538.jpg
    63.2 KB · Views: 0
  • IMG_20180609_134656.jpg
    IMG_20180609_134656.jpg
    54.5 KB · Views: 0
Yep! but stay tuned...I have others in the 'que'....

And yes, the reason for this thread is to help show how easy and inexpensive it can be to build a simple, no-frills power supply and...cough cough..'solar generator' for anyone with a few simple tools and who doesn't mind spending an hour or so wiring a few off-the-shelf parts together.

It might even be kinda fun to have a few parts gathered up and demonstrate how to cobble-up your own portable power pack out there at Pirate Camp!
 
I’m waiting for someone to buy a used Prius to tow behind their well insulated small RV not only for transportation but to power their RV’s AC, electric heat and charge their Prius battery with solar help to cover their basic needs and save fuel while parked. Solar and small house battery bank would keep RV basic systems going while using raised off-road Prius for resupply trips.
 
I’m waiting for someone to buy a used Prius to tow behind their well insulated small RV not only for transportation but to power their RV’s AC, electric heat and charge their Prius battery with solar help to cover their basic needs and save fuel while parked. Solar and small house battery bank would keep RV basic systems going while using raised off-road Prius for resupply trips.
This guy used the frame and battery pack from a wrecked EV to make a towable battery bank used to extend the range of his electric car. It also stores his home solar and supplements his house power.



He made a second one with a teardrop trailer on top of the battery bank.
 
An example of the smaller one I built in a plastic ammo box, using a small charge controller and 40w solar panel, and an inexpensive motorcycle battery.

This will easily power a typical laptop and cell phone being used as a hotspot continuously if the panel is in full sun, and for several hours after the sun goes down you will still have power to keep the laptop operating.

Of course, the next day the battery needs to receive a full charge for a few hours before operating the laptop again.

This unit is not suitable for a fridge or any type of cooking appliance but it will allow you to charge and use a couple of electronic devices away from your main rig.
Yes, I would like to learn how to create this?
Are you willing to go through the steps?
Also, I am looking into buying a Laptop.
I want to get one that doesn't require a lot of power.
Should I do that 1st or we can just proceed, if you are willing to teach?
Thanks,
Sunshine17
 
Yes, I would like to learn how to create this?
Are you willing to go through the steps?
Also, I am looking into buying a Laptop.
I want to get one that doesn't require a lot of power.
Should I do that 1st or we can just proceed, if you are willing to teach?
Thanks,
Sunshine17
A tablet will use less power than a laptop.
 
And another one I built, DIY...a surplus metal box (painted yellow!) another motorcycle battery, a simple solar panel and charge controller.

This one has the power ports on the inside, and the front flips down for access. On the top is a handle, and two LED lights.

This one is 100% weatherproof...its has been kept outside for years and it still works fine.

Again, same situation, its just to be able to charge phones, laptops, tablets, etc, while away from your main rig but this one is also handy sitting near the camper or on a picnic table for area lighting.

I always thought about fabricating a fold-over pivot for the area light (thats a malibu low voltage landscape fixture) but never got that done. Keeping it simple and rugged was the goal here, it's not pretty and it's not compact. But it works for me!
 

Attachments

  • moto_20181225_114507.jpg
    moto_20181225_114507.jpg
    49.6 KB · Views: 0
  • moto_20181225_114450.jpg
    moto_20181225_114450.jpg
    59.2 KB · Views: 0
  • IMG_20190730_225615595.jpg
    IMG_20190730_225615595.jpg
    58.8 KB · Views: 0
  • moto_20181224_192611.jpg
    moto_20181224_192611.jpg
    48.2 KB · Views: 0
  • moto_20181224_192632.jpg
    moto_20181224_192632.jpg
    71.1 KB · Views: 0
  • moto_20181224_192700.jpg
    moto_20181224_192700.jpg
    17.4 KB · Views: 0
  • moto_20181224_193314.jpg
    moto_20181224_193314.jpg
    39.1 KB · Views: 0
Last edited:
Yes, I would like to learn how to create this?

This type of portable power unit is fairly easy to build, depending on your level of DIY abilities. They use simple components and dont have many 'frills' but they are useful in certain situations.

If you are comfortable with hands-on projects, using hand tools, a power drill, can deal with wiring, and can use a multimeter and test light, then you probably have the skills to build your own.

If you dont have those skills it might be a bit beyond what you want to tackle...so an off-the-shelf unit might be the answer, if we can find one that is rated for very low RF and EMF emissions.

Now days, most consumer electronic devices are prone to sending out a lot of 'noise' in the RF spectrum. It's just the 'nature of the beast'...so to speak.
 
This type of portable power unit is fairly easy to build, depending on your level of DIY abilities. They use simple components and dont have many 'frills' but they are useful in certain situations.

If you are comfortable with hands-on projects, using hand tools, a power drill, can deal with wiring, and can use a multimeter and test light, then you probably have the skills to build your own.

If you dont have those skills it might be a bit beyond what you want to tackle...so an off-the-shelf unit might be the answer, if we can find one that is rated for very low RF and EMF emissions.

Now days, most consumer electronic devices are prone to sending out a lot of 'noise' in the RF spectrum. It's just the 'nature of the beast'...so to speak.
Thank you and I am leaning towards finding an off the shelf unit? A laptop won't work for me. I need a key board, a mouse and the ability to plug it into a landline cable to access the internet.
I only want to upload some MP4 video's and use a rich text Document.
I will turn the wifi/Bluetooth off and the camera. I am still looking for a simple laptop?

That is pretty neat, what you created: DYI. :)
Sunshine17
 
Last edited:
Step-by-step instructions, that going to be part of the class?

Detailed list of parts? Is that available for sale?

Marketing has stirred up some interest. I am hoping the products are real and that someday we can get the details needed to do this simply DIY project.
 
Top