Emulating Solar Charging with a Maintainer Powered by Ryobi 6AH Lithium

[dkoldman]

On another thread related to Solar Panels, I saw where a 180 watt solar, and a Go Power likely at 10ah was used to charge batteries.

I am wanting to test to compare...

A 300 watt Ryobi Inverter
3 fully charged Ryobi 6ah Lithium batteries
1 fully charged Ryobi 4ah Lithium battery
1 12V 800mA Automatic Battery Charger, Battery Maintainer, Trickle Charger, and Battery Desulfator

That is 22ah of available power, and all batteries can be fully recharged in 30-60 minutes.

This morning at 7:30AM CDT; I was finally able to get the House batteries down to a whopping low of 12.44 volts DC. So I connected my maintainer supplied by one of the 6AH batteries.

Voltage across both batteries jumped to 12.59vdc

I am open to any thoughts / ideas on viability of test.

Battery disconnect switch is still in Use mode and no Shorepower.

I have 3 more of the batteries that I use for Ryobi lawn equipment etc. If this effective, I am wondering about taking with me when planning to boondock. I have 4 chargers for the Ryobi batteries so if genny has to run for any reason (30 minutes or so), I could fully recharge the Ryobi batteries that may be depleted.

[Chateau_Nomad]

I'm missing your point ??? Are you just doing a proof of concept to possibly use the Ryobi batteries as emergency backup?

22Ah is not a lot of reserve power in terms of a motorhome... as shown by being able to recharge from your generator in 30 minutes.

Next, in terms of available amp hours, those batteries will certainly provide you the 22Ah, but you're using lithium packs designed for another purpose... effective cost of $25 per Ah, where a LiFePO4 battery purpose built for an RV is more like $6. I'm not certain I'd want to use the cycles of those batteries for that... other than the 22Ah you might get for emergency purposes.

OTH, a single $230 200watt panel in full sun would give you at least 22 amps.

[dkoldman]

Originally Posted by Chateau_Nomad

I'm missing your point ???

Not sure I have a point. I did not want to derail the OPs thread on new solar panels.

Are you just doing a proof of concept to possibly use the Ryobi batteries as emergency backup?

Yes proof of concept, but I wouldn't say emergency backup (I have generator, so I am never really worried about power for an emergency)

22Ah is not a lot of reserve power in terms of a motorhome... as shown by being able to recharge from your generator in 30 minutes.

Next, in terms of available amp hours, those batteries will certainly provide you the 22Ah, but you're using lithium packs designed for another purpose... effective cost of $25 per Ah, where a LiFePO4 battery purpose built for an RV is more like $6. I'm not certain I'd want to use the cycles of those batteries for that... other than the 22Ah you might get for emergency purposes.

OTH, a single $230 200watt panel in full sun would give you at least 22 amps.

Let me reclarify how we got here.
I read where an OP wanted Solar panels to top off his house battery. So that was the goal or requirement.

It was stated that 180watts and 10ah was likely all needed

Then I thought I have a 300w Ryobi inverter to run off my Ryobi Lithium batteries.

Then I got to thinking if my already purchased system could emulate as if I had a solar panel?

So I setup a real world test to reverse engineer an alternative to Solar that I don't have and have no plans to get.

I have no point because I don't know if it will work.

I used the Ryobi Lithium batteries weekly now (around the house & lawn), they are going on 2 years old. I have not spent any money to do this test.

But if it works the benefit would be, that whenever I am boondocking for an extended period of time, I could drop in one of the Ryobi batteries to maintain voltage better than it does now with some draw and no replenish source. I could do so under trees, in rain, or snow. Nothing to put on my roof, no wiring for solar nor solar controller.

Additionally, when genny is running, I always try to have full loads, so I have 4 batteries to charge up while the genny is on, likely for AC which will give me 22ah of extra capacity to charge up my batteries anywhere, anytime, and yes it could be for an emergency but that was not the goal.

[ducksface]

Youve built a large jumper box with an inverter.
It's been available at harbor freight for 30+ years.
You're just using it differently.
We used to carry one but it was easier to just add a 2000w inverter and an extra battery to Bad Casper(our zr2 blazer).

Turn a switch to isolate the battery and inverter, make coffee or run the microwave while other folk were gathering sticks for their silly campfire.

Charge isolated battery back to full using the alternator, run a 12v fan all night from it.
Repeat.
Just like solar, but an alternator
And
Not weather or time specific.

I think this;
Solar does not work 50% of the time.
And
The 50% it does work is weather dependant.

[dkoldman]

After 5 hours...

The House batteries are at 12.76 vdc
Disconnect Switch is still in Use mode
The Ryobi 6AH battery has 2 of the 4 green LEDs still on, so my guess is that the Ryobi battery has less than 50% capacity remaining. I will track to see how long before the Ryobi battery dies.
When batteries dies, I will slip in another fresh 6AH battery to keep it going.

[dkoldman]

Originally Posted by ducksface

Youve built a large jumper box with an inverter.
It's been available at harbor freight for 30+ years.
You're just using it differently.
We used to carry one but it was easier to just add a 2000w inverter and an extra battery to Bad Casper(our zr2 blazer).

Turn a switch to isolate the battery and inverter, make coffee or run the microwave while other folk were gathering sticks for their silly campfire.

Charge isolated battery back to full using the alternator, run a 12v fan all night from it.
Repeat.
Just like solar, but an alternator
And
Not weather or time specific.

I think this;
Solar does not work 50% of the time.
And
The 50% it does work is weather dependant.

I didn't know HF has been around so long? Wow

I agree the technology is there, but it is how I got here that is driving me. I don't have solar and the thus far the day I have not had a day where I said, gosh I really need solar.

But what makes this different for me was upon learning what is required for solar for those that primary need is to top off batteries. Granted, I am not storing my RV in a RV yard for 6 months relying on solar panel to keep the batteries fresh. But I do boondock a lot. If I can just slip in a new 6AH battery every 8 hours while I am boondock, that little boost will not be all bad. Nothing to go buy.

If I finish this round of observation, my next may be start turning stuff on to how long I can stretch the 300watt power against a TV, I would do the outside fridge but it is entirely too hot

[ducksface]

Harbor freight used to actually be harbor freight that was damaged.

You'd go to the store and it be full of nails of only one size this week
And
All of one kind of hammer the next.

A story:
I went to an estate sale of a company that did the same damaged freight stuff.
There was a dusty wall of something, no telling what, stacked 10ft high x 20 feet widex 4 feet deep. It was next to the stack of 3,000 old bifold doors that was next to 100,000 pegboard hooks.

Auctioneer is jabbering, taking up time with some bullcrap story(like this one)
I said do the wall
He said, what is it?
I said I don't know but I bid $5 lets move on.
He said sold.

I uncover one of the wrapped things.
It's an entire wall 350 pieces of vintage boat Plexiglas windshields of maybe 50 types.

The least one sold for on eBay was $150.
I split 50/50 witha guy who loaded them, identified, listed, shipped them.
Not my best auction deal, but pretty close.

[Chateau_Nomad]

While you guys are wiring up your dohickeys, I'm sitting in my chair under the awning with a cold one enjoying the cool breeze.

I forgot and left both MaxxAir fans on full blast yesterday in the motorhome. To my horror, when I went to lock up the motorhome after dinner, I discovered the batteries had been ran down to... 100%. Those darn solar panels!!

[dkoldman]

Originally Posted by Chateau_Nomad

While you guys are wiring up your dohickeys, I'm sitting in my chair under the awning with a cold one enjoying the cool breeze.

I forgot and left both MaxxAir fans on full blast yesterday in the motorhome. To my horror, when I went to lock up the motorhome after dinner, I discovered the batteries had been ran down to... 100%. Those darn solar panels!!

I am sitting in my lawn chair on top of my roomy 30' solar panel free roof with the cool breeze of the leaves from the shade of a Cedar Elm tree; I am throwing the empty beer cans at a RV next door hitting some large rectangular looking panels as targets; the cans roll off onto the awning where some oblivious RV owner is sitting under awning getting wasted.

The 6ah battery has made it beyond 8 hrs, I am going to switch to a fresh replacement. Looks like all I need is 3 of these batteries for a full 24 hr day.

Remember my goal was NOT to use as a power source to run appliances, but to fill the OPs stated goal of being able top off batteries. The maintainer seems to like 12.75vdc; but by tomorrow, I will know if that is it's peak. My AGS says they are fully charged.

If this holds, tomorrow I will keep in Use mode and turn the TV on and just leave on it to see how long before it drains down to 12.5vdc if it drains down at all. I think as long as I am not using 300watts, my voltage should maintain.

[16ACE27]

Originally Posted by dkoldman

I am sitting in my lawn chair on top of my roomy 30' solar panel free roof with the cool breeze of the leaves from the shade of a Cedar Elm tree; I am throwing the empty beer cans at a RV next door hitting some large rectangular looking panels as targets; the cans roll off onto the awning where some oblivious RV owner is sitting under awning getting wasted.

The 6ah battery has made it beyond 8 hrs, I am going to switch to a fresh replacement. Looks like all I need is 3 of these batteries for a full 24 hr day.

Remember my goal was NOT to use as a power source to run appliances, but to fill the OPs stated goal of being able top off batteries. The maintainer seems to like 12.75vdc; but by tomorrow, I will know if that is it's peak. My AGS says they are fully charged.

If this holds, tomorrow I will keep in Use mode and turn the TV on and just leave on it to see how long before it drains down to 12.5vdc if it drains down at all. I think as long as I am not using 300watts, my voltage should maintain.

Don't forget to plug in a true 60 watt light bulb overnight to simulate CPAP use.

[dkoldman]

Originally Posted by 16ACE27

Don't forget to plug in a true 60 watt light bulb overnight to simulate CPAP use.

Not sure I have a 60 watt bulb, but this made me think, if I did, I would have to turn the Inverter on.

So for the Design of Experiment #2 case, I have turned on the Inverter. Voltage dropped to 12.56vdc. So let me see how long the 2nd 6ah battery makes it and what happens to the voltage with Inverter on.

Note: If I was out camping in real world, I would be very close to starting up my genny because it kicks in at 12.5vdc. Actually if it was truly real world, the genny would be running right now anyway because I am showing 108 degrees real temperature ( not feel like temp)

One other thing that I have observed worth noting. When I swapped the 6ah lithium batteries, I am going to wait 30 min to and hour before starting the recharge of the 1st battery because I want to allow it some time to cool down before recharging it.

[dkoldman]

Originally Posted by ducksface

Not weather or time specific.

I think this;
Solar does not work 50% of the time.
And
The 50% it does work is weather dependant.

I just realized the significance of you statement.

Best case for Solar is 12 hrs a day, bad weather or trees may reduce that 6 hrs per day or less


I have already exceeded that with 8 hrs. Plus I can get my 8 hrs any time or anywhere I wish. Throw in that I can have 3 sets of 8hrs available on any given day is even better.

Still early on my testing, but this is interesting. I remember reading a thread where some carry a leaf blower with them, I thought and think that is nuts but, if I carry these Ryobi batteries, I might as well throw in the Ryobi blower

[dkoldman]

after 4 hrs on 2nd battery.

With Inverter On, it draws more current off of battery than the maintainer provides. I even went to no load off the output of Inverter but it still has a slight negative draw. The inverter is in hot area with temp 125 degrees plus so may the fan has to run constantly.

At any rate, I turned the inverter off to see if it still makes it to 8 hours.

What I am learning is that if I want to do this, while the 800mA maintainer may be good for the Yamaha motorcycle, I may need to get step up to 1.5amp or maybe even 2amp

I have a Schumacher electric with 2ah setting; I may try it.

[Beau388]

Originally Posted by dkoldman

I didn't know HF has been around so long? Wow

I bought my first industrial drill press (1.5 hp -16 speed 1" Jacobs chuck) from Harbor Freight Salvage for $115 including shipping in 1977. It came in two boxes as the head weighs 66 lbs. When you got on their mailing list, they often would call with a special deal. That the way I got my "steam cleaner". They advertised in "Popular Mechanics". The headquarters was in N Hollywood, CA. If you wired (Western Union Money Wire) the money, the shipping was free

[ducksface]

My Barnes drillpress.
The same model the Wright Brothers used to build their first flyer.

[dkoldman]

Originally Posted by Beau388

I bought my first industrial drill press (1.5 hp -16 speed 1" Jacobs chuck) from Harbor Freight Salvage for $115 including shipping in 1977. It came in two boxes as the head weighs 66 lbs. When you got on their mailing list, they often would call with a special deal. That the way I got my "steam cleaner". They advertised in "Popular Mechanics". The headquarters was in N Hollywood, CA. If you wired (Western Union Money Wire) the money, the shipping was free

In 1977, I think the only stores I knew of... Ace True Value, Western Auto, Wal Mart & Auto Zone.

When Harbor Freight first opened in Carrollton, they lured me in the store with free flashlights and micro fiber towels. I had so many, when I go visit relatives they wanted a flashlight

Covid help cure me of my HF addiction, they stopped with the freebies and I basically stopped going. I tried hard to buy their nice DA Polisher from them, but kept waiting to catch when it was on sale. I got an email from them one day that it was on sale, and I go down there an hour later and it was not on sale anymore

My best value purchase from HF was my 17' Haul Master Multi Use ladder and my Chicago Electric 1/2' Impact Wrench. I bought a very nice brand new set of SAE & Metric impact sockets online from a ebay seller that was desperate to sell.

[dkoldman]

Originally Posted by ducksface

My Barnes drillpress.
The same model the Wright Brothers used to build their first flyer.

How much does that thing weigh? If the Wright Bros carried on their first flights for mid air repairs, I hoped they had full corner and wing weighs before the flights

So is your habitat a Museum or what

[ducksface]

Originally Posted by dkoldman

So is your habitat a Museum or what

It's not Don Long's in Corona, CA(look it up)
But it has something to see anywhere you look.
Mine is just a shop.

I'll post a video some day.
A dozen or so members here have seen it.

And
I have a ton of hf stuff.

[dkoldman]

Originally Posted by ducksface

It's not Don Long's in Corona, CA(look it up)
But it has something to see anywhere you look.
Mine is just a shop.

I'll post a video some day.
A dozen or so members here have seen it.

And
I have a ton of hf stuff.

Excuse me if it is my after church cocktail talking, because Lord knows I hate to be accused of profiling. But you have the characteristics of a Car Enthusiast

https://www.nationalcollisionrepaire...ONS-GARAGE.pdf

I promise if I win one of those $1 Billion lotto's I am gonna fly a jet out to fly you to Dallas to just buy stuff for me. I can figure out what it is and why it is important later

[ducksface]

You just described Don Long's garage. I'm pretty sure he has a buyer-guy.

That guy collects everything.
I don't collect anything anymore.

He's very talented in restoration.
I'm not.

He has unending ability and is tireless.
Not me, I'm a 80% is good enough...naptime type guy.

He has excellent help and labor at his place.
I can't find unskilled help at $20ph.

He is a very very nice man who wouldn't say shit if he had a mouthful.
I am not.

I started out to follow his lead but I'm not a car guy anymore.
I try...but I just can't much care.

I'm liquidating the things I have that require 15minutes to explain why they're cool.
He's still not finished gathering those things.

When you come here, don't look at any one thing too long. There's a big chance it will follow you home.

My goal is different:
I want to give away my very last toy before I die.