© Courtesy of CNET Solar power is now more affordable than ever. Getty Images:I started testing portable power stations for CNET in 2018, and at the time there weren't many affordable options at retail. Those that did exist were large and unwieldy and lacked lifestyle features; just one or two power outlets and maybe some USB-A ports. Prices were also high, with high-end units offering 1 kW of power costing more than $2,000.
Switch today and you have many more choices. The ceiling of these retail power plants eventually exceeded 3 kW with many features. Wireless charging, multiple power output options, modular designs and solar panel inputs are now the order of the day. These changes come at a time when mobility, mobility and flexibility are paramount.
Development of solar cells and accumulators
The modern use of solar energy to power our daily lives began nearly 150 years ago when William Grylls Adams and Richard Evans Day discovered in 1876 that the solid material selenium produced electricity only when exposed to light. The creation of the first silicon solar cell capable of producing enough electricity to power modern devices came 75 years later. It took another 75 years for solar power to become available in massive power plant efforts and portable personal devices.
While parts of the world have focused on individual-level electrical independence, there has also been a large increase in access to the use and storage of solar energy as part of more sustainable energy plans for residential households. Perhaps most famously, Tesla's Powerwall paved the way for manufacturers to focus on a new retail vertical for whole-home energy solutions, including solar panels and the energy storage component, concentrated power ( also known as battery). In 2021, together with Tesla, Enphase Energy and LG Chem accounted for approximately 85% of the sales of the largest format battery storage solutions.
IN POINT
However, the dream of having great power and making a living online comes with some big caveats. To begin with, the cost. A whole home system can cost you anywhere from $10,000 to a staggering six figures, depending on your specs. Here in the US, we also have a wide range of solar efficiency based on geographic location, which affects the cost of the project and your ability (or inability) to get the solar energy you need from above. Maintenance can also be an issue due to not only ongoing maintenance, but also end-of-life cycles, especially for storage batteries, which can cost a large amount of change to replace.
However, there has been a shift in the solar and battery landscape that gives us more immediate options and will ultimately lead to a better selection of products for the entire personal and portable front end. I'm going to introduce you to some new products that show exactly how differently manufacturers are addressing these needs and what that means for us as consumers. Some changes are drastic, but others are as simple as replacing the fuel source.
© Provided by CNET The Lycan 5000 is essentially new technology in an older form. You can replace this fossil fuel generator with this battery electric version. Steve Conaway/CNETRenogy Lycan 5000
Most of us are familiar with gasoline generators that are used as a backup at home or to provide electricity to remote areas. The Renogy Lycan 5000 is basically a battery-powered version of that old standby, or you can think of it as a very large portable power source (it has wheels, after all) with distinct advantages.
For starters, the Lycan offers a default rated output of 4.8 kWh with a continuous output of 3500 W and a peak output of up to 7000 W. These features are ideal for short-term power outages or even an off-site project. Tiny House Accessibility options are available if you're planning long-term backups or larger offline projects. Power can be expanded to 19.2 kWh by installing Renogy 48V 50Ah smart lithium phosphate batteries .
© Provided by CNET Internal battery review provided by Renogy's Lycan 5000. Steve Conaway/CNETIf you're going to install it as a regular backup generator (hopefully by a licensed electrician), you'll use a transfer switch to switch between the Lycan and your home charging hub. This transfer switch will give you access to a total of 30A through six single-pole circuits . If you're not familiar with what this feature means, it means you won't be able to use the Lycan to power any of your devices or devices that require 240V, and that could be the biggest, maybe the only one. , here. .
The same is true if you want to use the Lycan as a standalone generator where you have access to two different AC outlet points. One is a standard 120V residential outlet rated at 20A and you can grab a power cord to connect your various devices. You'll also find a 30 amp round "RV Plug" (or TT-30R) that plugs into your transfer switch, directly into the RV or one of the many other patch cord applications you can find.
Last but not least, solar panels are an integral part of any battery system, especially in off-grid applications. The Lycan's solar power capabilities are significantly more comparable to a system designed for heavier or more durable use than your average portable power plant. The Lycan will allow up to 4,400 watts of solar charging power. With most, it probably takes you less than 2 hours to charge from 0 to 80%, which really isn't too bad. This is of course at a standard of 4.8 kWh (roughly multiplied by four times the maximum power). Plus, maximizing your solar profits with Renogy's product line will run you anywhere from 10 to 48 panels for $3,600 to $4,800.
Overall, this is a good first step in introducing new technology in a distinct way that physically and mechanically relates to existing technology in use today.
© Provided by CNET Bluetti Home Backup Battery - AC500 unit with an additional B300S battery at just over 3kWh. Steve Conaway/CNETBluetooth AC500 and B300S
If we take the same basic idea as the Lycan 5000, but push it a little further into new technology form factors, we can end up with something like a combination of Bluetti's AC500 and B300S .
At first glance, it appears to be just a powerful mobile setup. But its modularity and flexibility make it a great option if you're looking for a complete home system that can do more. Here are the key features: The AC500 itself has no usable power and no battery, serving primarily as a brain and I/O hub. The B300S has a power of 3072 Wh with a continuous output of 5000 W, with a peak power of 10000 W. We can already see some advantages of this system over something like the Lycan if you want higher overall power.
You also have the option to increase the total power of this combination. You can add up to five additional B300S units for a total of 18,432 Wh. This unit also allows up to 3,000W of solar charging, both slightly lower specs than the Lycan. There are three 120V residential outlets, one 120V/30A TT-30R, one 120V/30A L-14-30R (locking generator outlet) and one NEMA 14-50R 120V/50A (four-way outlet). electric furnaces or motors). charger - and no, 120V is not a typo).
Perhaps the biggest differentiator here is Bluetti's split-phase feature. Split stage is also available on some other units, allowing the user to access 240 V power and not be limited to only 120 V options. A second AC500/B300S is required to do this. Use a junction box to connect the two systems together and configure the system for 120V and 240V. An added bonus is that with two separate AC500 batteries, you double the total power from 18.4 kWh to 36.8 kWh.
© Powered by Zendure's SuperBase V and 6.5 kWh extender battery (certain airflows). Steve Conaway/CNETZendure Super Base V:
Similarly, we have the Zendure SuperBase V. You have two model options in this family: the 4600 or the 6400. Although the physical forms are the same, the main difference is in the battery chemistry and side effects. The 4600 is a LiFePO4 battery while the 6400 is a solid state battery. The obvious difference is in overall capacity. The semi-solid model has 6,438 Wh compared to the smaller 4,608 Wh LiFePO4 version. The 6400 weighs 9 pounds more, but can operate at much lower temperatures than the 4600.
While we're on the subject of weight, it's good to note that if you're carrying the first setup above, the SuperBase V and one of the expansion batteries, you're looking at a payload of about 250 pounds. . We haven't "scientifically" arrived at massive storage capacities at backpack-friendly weights, so that's something to consider if you think you'll need to carry these things from time to time. The addition of castors is one of the benefits of the Zendure system to offset the potentially game-changing (if not back-breaking) weight. If you can keep the wheels moving steadily for 3 seconds, you can enjoy a tolerable assist effort of 3 km/h (1.86 mph).
© Provided by CNET Zendure Mobile Charger Accessory for EVs . Steve Conaway/CNETUp to four external batteries of the same capacity (B6400/4600) can be connected for a total capacity of 32.1 kWh for the semi-solid model and 23 kWh for the LiFePO4 version. Plus, you can add Zendure's home panel transfer switch to double the power, adding a second stack to the max (64.2kWh and 46kWh respectively) - a lot of power. Zendure has also doubled down on the electric lifestyle by including two EV charging ports on its connector panel and the ability to plug the SuperBase V unit directly into your EV for charging. It also includes an adapter so you can recharge your SuperBase V at a commercial electric vehicle charging station.
Many systems, including Lycan and Bluetti or Zendure batteries, offer a component that is likely to be key to the future of home energy storage: modularity. Early home energy storage units were large, one-size-fits-all rooms, which can be problematic in several ways, primarily in terms of cost and maintenance. The cost issue relates to initial costs. Installing a single 10 to 20 kWh battery unit can be expensive and out of reach for many people. Plug-and-play modular battery boxes can offer a much lower entry price. You can start by buying as much space as you can afford, then add more over time.
For maintenance, the problem is similar. If one of your battery units fails, you may be responsible for replacing all of the backup power at once. When working with several battery units, the probability of several simultaneous failures is much smaller, so the cost of replacing a smaller part of the storage capacity will be much more acceptable.
© Provided by CNET EcoFlow The self-contained power unit includes a power hub, a 2 kW battery, a smart distribution panel and a power device panel. Steve Conaway/CNETEcoFlow feeding set
EcoFlow's range of power kits takes a different approach to power management. These different system configurations are more specifically aimed at smaller homes and RVs. You can still use the basic Get Set device as a Bluetti or Zendure battery; Connect the Power Hub to a standalone battery and you'll have a regular residential AC outlet and a DC output terminal.
If you're looking for a more static setup, you can upgrade to an integrated kit that adds a smart AC/DC distribution panel. This panel is basically your charging hub (circuit/electrical box) that you will find in almost any home and you will have access to two 30A 120VAC circuits, four 20A 120VAC circuits and twelve 20A -30V DC circuits. We don't see 240 VAC hubs in this product line, but target machines and small home use cases generally stick to 120 VAC or 48 VDC configurations.
© Courtesy of CNET A closer look at EcoFlow's power hub and smart distribution panel Steve Conaway/CNETI heard you say. "It's not enough. I'd like to have a great bike and have people know about it." ? Then you might want to consider the Independence device. This kit adds a great touch screen to the Power Kit panel that you can install for everyone. Maybe you'll feel like you're in one of those awesome sci-fi movies where an entire building or spaceship can be controlled from a single screen. You'll have readouts of power consumption and charge levels, and you'll control much of your electrical system with the ability to turn the ceiling-mounted disco ball on or off with the flick of a switch.
The Power Kit range is optimized to minimize installation space, again aimed primarily at the tiny house or van enthusiast. In terms of battery and charging capabilities, EcoFlow offers a 2kW or 5kW LFP battery compatible with this range and has three battery access ports, so you can design your own setup from 2kW to 15kW. kW There are also three solar charging ports for a total of 1600 W. AC charging is also available for the system, as well as alternative charging if you choose a cellular service box. It's also worth noting that EcoFlow advertises this range as "user installable," which is likely to appeal to many mobile or small home users.
Box sale
So here we are in a time and place where solar energy systems are not just for rich or large industrial applications. Manufacturers are learning that affordability, flexibility and modularity drive sales and benefit everyone. Prices will become more rational over time, but alternative energy solutions have never been more accessible to us than they are today.
These companies aren't the only ones, so follow some of our best affiliate lists to stay up-to-date on solar and battery deals. Start with our list of the best portable power plants, then move on to the best solar generators and the best portable solar panels. If you're looking for an alternative energy solution that doesn't fit into your existing fixed whole-house setup, I've given you at least four places to start your search.
