"Since we last visited this post we have bought one of these HF batteries and just for the record....it's a brute! We are using it in our portable solar generator and this thing is holding up great. We just can't knock it down. Still ramps…"
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james b. cooper's Discussions
Question about fusing & Square D QO breaker box
Started Sep 21, 2012 0 Replies 0 Likes
I'm still learning here & now that it has cooled off outside, I plant to start putting together my system of HF & the new 145 watt panels.I saw a user's video (B. Kelly I think) in which he…Continue
Anybody bought the Harbor Freight AGM batteries yet?
Started this discussion. Last reply by Renewable Ray Mar 25. 11 Replies 1 Like
My local Harbor Freight has just gotten in the Thunderbolt Solar AGM batteries 12 volt, 35 AH, for $74.99 product #68680. I started to buy one & use the 20% off coupon, but decided to wait as…Continue
DIY Cheap Solar Fridge
Started this discussion. Last reply by W.R. Wahlquist Jun 19, 2012. 4 Replies 0 Likes
Found an interesting article about a guy building a cheap solar powered refrigerator using a Peltier junction for $35. I know they have ice chests like this already as I have one.It's just cool to…Continue
Newbie Questions About Lights in Home
Started this discussion. Last reply by Doug Carrier Apr 23, 2012. 9 Replies 0 Likes
I'm still reading & learning here..in fact my HF kit is still in the box, I'm the scaredy cat here until I learn more. I have watched YouTube videos on the kits..a guy on there posted a vid of…Continue
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Renewable Ray replied to james b. cooper's discussion Anybody bought the Harbor Freight AGM batteries yet?
james b. cooper posted a discussion? About fusing & Square D QO breaker box
I'm still learning here & now that it has cooled off outside, I plant to start putting together my system of HF & the new 145 watt panels.I saw a user's video (B. Kelly I think) in which he used a neat Square D QO612L100 breaker box with 6 breakers as a combiner box. I am assuming that each breaker would handle separate sets of panels--that is with (2) 145 watt panels and (2) HF kits, I could use (4) 10 amp breakers with the Square D box, right?I like his idea of this type of box as a…See More
William Walter Francis III liked james b. cooper's discussion Anybody bought the Harbor Freight AGM batteries yet?Myles Traphagen replied to james b. cooper's discussion Anybody bought the Harbor Freight AGM batteries yet?"The ambient temperature and the resultant time of the duty cycle on the fridge are very important variables in determining amp draw. 480 watts seems like a lot for a fridge. Are you sure it's not 48 watts?"
"So how do I figure how long the batteries will last at that 4 amp draw?"
hoopty_yo replied to james b. cooper's discussion Anybody bought the Harbor Freight AGM batteries yet?"If the numbers came from the Kill-A-Watt, then it's amps @ 120 volts. 4A x 120 volts = 480 watts. It will still want 40 amps from the batteries at 12 volts to make the conversion. 40A x 12 volts = 480 watts. Plus efficiency loss for…"
"I have one. That's where the amp draw numbers came from. When my freezer is running, the amp part of the Kill o watt reads 1.13, the fridge 2.78. So if the amp draw (minutes at 5 amps) is 2304 per the battery specs, I took that to mean 2304…"
Jesse M replied to james b. cooper's discussion Anybody bought the Harbor Freight AGM batteries yet?"I recommend you buy a Kill-A-Watt meter. It plugs into the receptacle, then you plug the appliance into it. It will give you a reading of the power usage over time. That is the numbers you really need to work toward."
"I'm trying to understand batteries better. Looks like the Duracell might be good?
My fridge draws 2.78 amps. My freezer draws 1.13. Both are for when they are running of course. So that's about 4 amps. Based on the below specs for the…"
Jesse M replied to james b. cooper's discussion Anybody bought the Harbor Freight AGM batteries yet?"Sam's Club sells a Duracell® AGM Golf Car Battery - Group Size GC2AGM for $159.73. This does not include core charge and taxes. It is only available in some states. It is rates at 190 ah. I bought my 4 Optima…"
Renewable Ray replied to james b. cooper's discussion Anybody bought the Harbor Freight AGM batteries yet?"Good point Myles, I sorta forgot that Harbor Freight is in an "CYA" situation here selling a battery like this out of retail locations. He basically needed to be a battery that some guys kid will be dragging around the store before it even…"
Myles Traphagen replied to james b. cooper's discussion Anybody bought the Harbor Freight AGM batteries yet?"Optima yellow top AGM batteries go for $200 and they are 55 AH. The HF battery is a good price for an AGM. You can't really compare AGM to 6 volt golf cart batteries that are four times the weight and amp hours. AGM batts have their place. For…"
Renewable Ray replied to james b. cooper's discussion Anybody bought the Harbor Freight AGM batteries yet?"I give Harbor Freight "E" for effort, but $75 for 35 amp hours is real expensive."
james b. cooper posted a discussionAnybody bought the HF AGM batteries yet?
My local Harbor Freight has just gotten in the Thunderbolt Solar AGM batteries 12 volt, 35 AH, for $74.99 product #68680. I started to buy one & use the 20% off coupon, but decided to wait as they have plenty in stock. Just wondering what you guys think or am I better off to spend that money on a deep cycle batt at Walmart?My HF is just now re-laying their shelves for the "thunderbolt" series of solar stuff. They got in the 5 Watt solar panel with power pack, and had empty space for new…See More
W.R. Wahlquist replied to james b. cooper's discussion DIY Cheap Solar Fridge" Check with motor home, trailer dealers they used to be 12/110/LP and a take out can't be worth much."
james b. cooper replied to james b. cooper's discussion DIY Cheap Solar Fridge"I don't know why my I-Pad posted the picture an all of that post above--it was supposed to just have been the link itself..oh well...I'd sure like to find one of those old bernz-o-matic ammonia ones. Used to have one at lake house that ran…"
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