Portable Power Stations

Mirai said:
I would probably not bother. By the time a LiPo battery wears out, say > 1,000 cycles, the inverter will be old tech and you will likely have better batteries and inverter in one package with warranty to boot.
Click to expand...
So go for the cheapest with highest power and cycles with best warranty available within the 500Wh range I am looking at.

Gizzu has a 296Wh and 518Wh unit. 296Wh one functions as Ups as well (reviews on Takealot), not sure about the 518Wh unit's Ups functionality and I don't really see sellers.

Kloppers had the Ellies/Sunsynk Nova Cube for R4999 a few days ago, but no more - it can't function as an Ups though. Not a train smash, as for occasional use to extend a laptop battery / bit of TV / whatever else and portability.
 
Nowadays all you really need is fibre and wifi running during loadshedding
Its only a few hours so have your laptop or tablet fully charged prior to that
Added bonus is some lighting around the lounge, bathroom and kitchen.
Many cheap options out there, I personally love the lumaglo rechargables as I plug them into a USB charger in the mains and turn them on, nothing happens, but when loadshedding kicks in these puppies wake up and go non stop super bright for entire loadshedding interval, when ESKOM returns they switch off and recharge again.
I have 4 of them, from Checkers

1636484475966.png
 
Pineapple Smurf said:
Nowadays all you really need is fibre and wifi running during loadshedding
Its only a few hours so have your laptop or tablet fully charged prior to that
Added bonus is some lighting around the lounge, bathroom and kitchen.
Many cheap options out there, I personally love the lumaglo rechargables as I plug them into a USB charger in the mains and turn them on, nothing happens, but when loadshedding kicks in these puppies wake up and go non stop super bright for entire loadshedding interval, when ESKOM returns they switch off and recharge again.
I have 4 of them, from Checkers

View attachment 1187610
Click to expand...
WiFi sorted with a Ratel 430m. Lights where possible the Lightworx Battery Backups LED, a few Magneto Rechargeable Lanterns, one or two power banks, proper gas stove.

So this would be extra, for a bit of flexibility, without going big.
 
Mirai said:
Your fiber provider has to have a battery backup though. That's key.
Click to expand...
Yes, I told a friend this yesterday before going out and spending money, told him to test the ONT and router on 12v car battery during loadshedding we had, we were almost 2hrs into it and I told him to hurry and test now. So he did and voila the internet was running. The family was ecstatic and now he will get something small to just keep the internet alive at home.
 
Pineapple Smurf said:
Nowadays all you really need is fibre and wifi running during loadshedding
Click to expand...
Nah, that's all you really need.

I need to be able to light up the house at the flick of a switch, I need to be able to turn on the tv and watch a movie, I need to be able to flush the toilet and hear the cistern fill (water pump), and I need to be able to deny I'm still living in a third world dump of a country.

I also need to be able to manage when they try to switch the power back on and something goes pop, again.
 
joshuatree said:
Description

Portable generator solar power station UPS used rechargeable lithium-ion batteries.

Contains pure sine wave, which provides cleaner power than a modified sine wave, no harmful to your 110V/220V devices.
-Independent charging and discharging circuit modules allow you to power or charge your devices while simultaneously recharging the Lipower UPS AC power bank.

Large Capacity 300000mah/1110Wh Lithium Battery & Total Output of 1000 Watts.

1000 Watt Portable Generator Power Station, CPAP Battery Pack, Home Camping Emergency Power Supply Charged by Solar Panel/Wall Outlet/Car with 220V/110V AC Power Inverter, 4 DC 12V Ports, USB Ports.

Product type: Portable Solar generator
Model Number: G1000
Built in Battery: 1100Wh(300000mah/3.7V) High quality A+ battery cell
Input Charging: AC110V-220V 50/60Hz
Solar Panel input: DC12.6-18V (100-150W)
Car Charging: DC12V
DC Output: 4 x DC12V/3A, 4 x USB 5V/2.1A, 1 x 12V Cigarette Lighter
AC output: 2 x AC110V 60Hz /220V 50Hz
DC max output: 120W
Output wave: Pure Sine Wave
Operation temperature: -20°C~-60°C
Lifecycle: over 1000 times

-----------------
R12.392 @ Takealot right now

Compare that to the Jackery Explorer 1000

jackery.co.za

Jackery Explorer 1000 Portable Power Station

Jackery Explorer 1000 provides power-to-go in a compact, lightweight design featuring multiple connections to charge your gear, devices and more. Use it indoors in your home or office as a back-up power supply, or take the Explorer 1000 with you on camping holidays, overland trips, hiking...
jackery.co.za jackery.co.za
Click to expand...
I would not buy any of these that only comes with a 6 month warranty.
 

Ellies Pocket Power Station (Orange)

The Pocket Power Station is capable of running devices in <br>those environments where mains power is non-existent or <br>being fitted to those power systems that might be <br>vulnerable to power outages as a back-up or <br>uninterrupted power supply. <ul> <li>Shockproof shell can provide mains...
www.loot.co.za

Ellies has a new rebranded SunSynk unit with 220v output.
 
This unit from Rentech looks good, nice specs and price:

www.powerprovider.co.za

Rentech PPS750 Portable Power Station - 500W / 786Wh

The new lightweight and compact Rentech PPS750 Portable Power Station - 500W / 786Wh with pure Sine Wave inverter is perfect as back-up power
www.powerprovider.co.za www.powerprovider.co.za

R8,499.

https://www.sa4x4.co.za/rentechs-pps750-lithium-ion-portable-power-supply-launches-in-south-africa/

The PPS750 portable power station has a 786Wh Lithium-Ion battery capacity with a 500W pure sine wave inverter, capable of dealing 2500W surge power, making it ideal for use with sensitive electronics such as laptops, lights, fridges, drones, cell phones and even TV’s!

Technical specifications and product Information

786Wh Lithium Ion Battery
500W pure sine wave inverter
2500W Surge Power
3X USB Ports
2X 12V DC Port
1X 12V Carport
2x AC ports and includes SA adapter plug
LCD Display
Net Weight: 7,5kg
Dimensions (L X W X H): 349 x 160 x 285mm
AC wall charging (7-10 hours) and from 120W solar panel (6-7 hours) solar panels sold separately
Weather and waterproof
Built-in solar charge controller
LED Light: Built in flashlight with emergency flash and SOS signal
18-month warranty

-----------

Doesn't function as an UPS though.
 
joshuatree said:
This unit from Rentech looks good, nice specs and price:

www.powerprovider.co.za

Rentech PPS750 Portable Power Station - 500W / 786Wh

The new lightweight and compact Rentech PPS750 Portable Power Station - 500W / 786Wh with pure Sine Wave inverter is perfect as back-up power
www.powerprovider.co.za www.powerprovider.co.za

R8,499.

https://www.sa4x4.co.za/rentechs-pps750-lithium-ion-portable-power-supply-launches-in-south-africa/

The PPS750 portable power station has a 786Wh Lithium-Ion battery capacity with a 500W pure sine wave inverter, capable of dealing 2500W surge power, making it ideal for use with sensitive electronics such as laptops, lights, fridges, drones, cell phones and even TV’s!

Technical specifications and product Information

786Wh Lithium Ion Battery
500W pure sine wave inverter
2500W Surge Power
3X USB Ports
2X 12V DC Port
1X 12V Carport
2x AC ports and includes SA adapter plug
LCD Display
Net Weight: 7,5kg
Dimensions (L X W X H): 349 x 160 x 285mm
AC wall charging (7-10 hours) and from 120W solar panel (6-7 hours) solar panels sold separately
Weather and waterproof
Built-in solar charge controller
LED Light: Built in flashlight with emergency flash and SOS signal
18-month warranty

-----------

Doesn't function as an UPS though.
Click to expand...
Who's got time for that when we have to deal with Eskom rolling blackouts?

No UPS kinda makes it pointless and forces you to swap power cords 3 times a day (assuming its finished charging after the first round).
 
Rentech is a subsidiary of Auto X that manufactures Willard and Sabat batteries and brings in Varta batteries according to video. I like this more than the Flexopower brand etc. due to AutoX/Rentech.


 
Last edited:
05:29 in video for comparison between the portable power stations, first part comparing solar foldups.

 
Was surprised to see 2 different brands/types of portable power stations on the floor at Mica Spiro's Corner, Durbanville yesterday.

One being the Rentech PPS 750 for R7.999. The one unit was on display, outside of the box- nice to see it in real life, have only seen the Jackery at Outdoor Warehouse and Cape Union Mart.

The other being a no name, box just saying what it is, for basically the same price as the Rentech, but not nearly the same Wh.
 
deweyzeph said:
The problem with all these cheap and nasty Chinese branded all-in-one setups is that they are hopelessly underpowered.
Click to expand...
Yep!

The problem is also, once you give them enough juice, they lose their portability. Batteries are heavy.
 

DP1000iL - 1000W | 2048wh Portable Power Station

DP1000iL - 1000W | 2048wh Portable Power Station Portable Power Stations 1000W Pure Sine Wave Inverter, 2000W Surge. 2048Wh, LiFePO4 Lithium Battery (2500+ cycles). This portable power station features one of the largest capacity batteries on the market plus a 1000w inverter capable of powering...
www.ecohub.co.za www.ecohub.co.za

this has lots of capacity but I dont see any mention of the warranty period.
 
TheChamp said:
Just trying to get the portability aspect, where exactly are you going with the thing?
Click to expand...
These things are usually designed for campers. Charging a phone and running a small fridge or something.

It's the marketing that's misleading.
 
https://www.cnet.com/home/energy-and-utilities/leave-the-generator-take-the-power-station/

A new breed of large portable batteries that are encrusted with household outlets and USB ports are touted as the next generation of electric generators -- even though they don't generate electricity at all. Call them "power stations." Here's why they're getting attention from people who want power away from the grid, whether planned or not, without the fuel, emissions and pull cord of a gas generator. If you can make the charge time work in your intended use scenario, these might be your modern alternative to a compact generator.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top
Sign up to the MyBroadband newsletter
X