Amazon.com: Anker Portable Generator for Home Use, PowerHouse II 400, 300W/388.8Wh, 110V AC Outlet/60W USB-C Power Delivery Portable Power Station $299

Azrael_the_Cat

Feb 28, 2021 3:29 AM

5.2K Comments

Joined Feb 2006

Azrael_the_CatFeb 28, 2021 3:29 AM

5.2K Comments

Quote from _A2

:

Love Anker chargers and cables. Have been buying them for ~8 years now.

This is absolutely NOT a generator LOL. Title is garbage, and deceptive. Deal post title and product title. Get real, and stop being disingenuous.

You are very passionate with your opinion. You should write them a strongly worded letter.

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1

_A2

Feb 28, 2021 4:35 AM

2.3K Comments

Joined Nov 2004

_A2Feb 28, 2021 4:35 AM

2.3K Comments

Quote from gallymimus

:

You are very passionate with your opinion. You should write them a strongly worded letter.

Awww. It's enough for me to call it out, and gradually see the number of thumbs up decrease. But thanks Applause

.

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jkloisdafoiwdaf

Feb 28, 2021 3:06 PM

6.7K Comments

Joined May 2009

jkloisdafoiwdafFeb 28, 2021 3:06 PM

6.7K Comments

Quote from davidallen1

:

I can never find the gas fill hole for these solar GENERATORS.

wrong hole!

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Espresso_Yes_Now

Feb 28, 2021 5:32 PM

173 Comments

Joined Mar 2018

Espresso_Yes_NowFeb 28, 2021 5:32 PM

173 Comments

How long can this thing power my laptop so I can "work from home" at the beach ?

Dr. J

Feb 28, 2021 6:08 PM

39.5K Comments

Joined Nov 2005

Dr. JFeb 28, 2021 6:08 PM

39.5K Comments

Quote from Gene

:

Not a generator. Can't help but wonder what Anker is going for here calling it that.

Seems to be a common thing to tape a battery and inverter together and call it a "generator". The clear intent is to confuse the consumer.

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Dr. J

Feb 28, 2021 6:10 PM

39.5K Comments

Joined Nov 2005

Dr. JFeb 28, 2021 6:10 PM

39.5K Comments

Quote from KMan

:

A bit of an OT question, but I've been watching van conversion videos (perhaps because the cocooning aspect of the pandemic) and see that nearly all have solar panels that charge up battery banks, but which are then converted to AC using an inverter, as with this "generator", which is basically a charge controller, battery and inverter in one.

What I'm wondering is why bother with the extra complexity, expense and energy loss of inversion when basically anything you'd want to power in a van, RV or elsewhere where you're off the grid, is now available in DC versions, e.g. lighting, fridges, fans, TVs and other electronics, etc.? Anything high-power like an oven, heater or water heater can run off of propane.

Because most people don't want to buy duplicates of things.

wellcum

Feb 28, 2021 7:17 PM

1.2K Comments

Joined Jan 2007

wellcumFeb 28, 2021 7:17 PM

1.2K Comments

Quote from AmusedShoe533

:

And worst part of it, these can usually only be used and re-charged about 1000-1500 times before the battery goes bad, making the whole thing useless, versus just putting the parts together yourself inside a crate, as some youtuber has, and then being able to swap out/ upgrade any bad parts easily.

Lithium-Ion only last about 500 cycles

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MatKyne

Feb 28, 2021 8:26 PM

9 Comments

Joined Jun 2015

MatKyneFeb 28, 2021 8:26 PM

9 Comments

Quote from KMan

:

A bit of an OT question, but I've been watching van conversion videos (perhaps because the cocooning aspect of the pandemic) and see that nearly all have solar panels that charge up battery banks, but which are then converted to AC using an inverter, as with this "generator", which is basically a charge controller, battery and inverter in one.

What I'm wondering is why bother with the extra complexity, expense and energy loss of inversion when basically anything you'd want to power in a van, RV or elsewhere where you're off the grid, is now available in DC versions, e.g. lighting, fridges, fans, TVs and other electronics, etc.? Anything high-power like an oven, heater or water heater can run off of propane.

I know a fair bit about this. You are correct that most things can be run off of the standard voltages of 14-11 vdc or 5 vcd. Anything you are using for heat should use propane because batteries are terrible at producing heart for any amount of time. The things most often powered by 120 VAC are the microwave, the air conditioner and a laptop. The first two are obvious because they take a huge amount of power to work. If you have a 1000 Watt microwave running off of 120 VAC, it only draws about 8.4 Amps of current and can use smaller wires (14 or 12 gauge). If the same 1000 Watt microwave was running off of 12 VDC, It would require wires capable of handling about 84 Amps, which would be insane. (6 gage wire is rated for about 55 Amps). As for laptops, the voltage required changes per laptop and the best way to use them is with the included AC adapter. Lastly, specifically for vans/ RVs, AC can be provide by an inverter, but it is more often provide by an extension cord when connected to "shore power".

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timbertop

Feb 28, 2021 9:13 PM

3.9K Comments

Joined Nov 2011

timbertopFeb 28, 2021 9:13 PM

3.9K Comments

Quote from KMan

:

A bit of an OT question, but I've been watching van conversion videos (perhaps because the cocooning aspect of the pandemic) and see that nearly all have solar panels that charge up battery banks, but which are then converted to AC using an inverter, as with this "generator", which is basically a charge controller, battery and inverter in one.

What I'm wondering is why bother with the extra complexity, expense and energy loss of inversion when basically anything you'd want to power in a van, RV or elsewhere where you're off the grid, is now available in DC versions, e.g. lighting, fridges, fans, TVs and other electronics, etc.? Anything high-power like an oven, heater or water heater can run off of propane.

My head is spinning with all this techno jargon. Watts volts inversions conversions distortions sign waves chemicals batteries, DC AC. I want something clean and noiseless no bigger than a small suitcase that I can pull out of the closet and plug in to the house so I can go about my business. It's on TV. I believe its called a Zero Point Module.

4

bmnaik

Feb 28, 2021 9:55 PM

167 Comments

Joined Dec 2005

bmnaikFeb 28, 2021 9:55 PM

167 Comments

Quote from cruxion

:

Generally the argument I see is that the chemical reaction in the battery is generating the power and you refill it by charging it back up. Burning of gas is also a chemical reaction. I don't like labeling these as generators but that's how they get away with it.

Yes, we are both saying the same thing. Its unfortunate that such manufacturers are allowed to label them as "generators" and thus misleading the consumer

KMan

Mar 1, 2021 12:41 AM

7.5K Comments

Joined Nov 2006

KManMar 1, 2021 12:41 AM

7.5K Comments

Quote from MatKyne

:

I know a fair bit about this. You are correct that most things can be run off of the standard voltages of 14-11 vdc or 5 vcd. Anything you are using for heat should use propane because batteries are terrible at producing heart for any amount of time. The things most often powered by 120 VAC are the microwave, the air conditioner and a laptop. The first two are obvious because they take a huge amount of power to work. If you have a 1000 Watt microwave running off of 120 VAC, it only draws about 8.4 Amps of current and can use smaller wires (14 or 12 gauge). If the same 1000 Watt microwave was running off of 12 VDC, It would require wires capable of handling about 84 Amps, which would be insane. (6 gage wire is rated for about 55 Amps). As for laptops, the voltage required changes per laptop and the best way to use them is with the included AC adapter. Lastly, specifically for vans/ RVs, AC can be provide by an inverter, but it is more often provide by an extension cord when connected to "shore power".

Thanks, helpful info. For larger RVs I can see the need for microwave ovens, A/C, induction stoves, etc., and these require inverters. But many if not most van and smaller campers don't have these because they draw more power than their smaller solar panel setups can provide and they use up too much fuel if you power them off the alternator, and they're often parked outside of campsites that have hookups. It's a whole other camper "subculture" than more traditional RVs, for all sorts of reasons. So you don't need 120V for them, really.

As for laptops,, their batteries are all charged via DC, that's converted from AC via the proverbial power brick, but it's neither complicated nor expensive to replace these with DC versions that are smaller, more energy-efficient and reliable, that run off 12V and have either a fixed output that's correct for a given laptop, or have a variable output. Same thing for a TV. So it can be done, and I imagine some go this route. Even a desktop PC, which is probably not common in van campers, can be powered via DC only, although you'd need a specialized power supply (the van's batteries would serve as the UPS).

I've been tinkering with DC lately, mostly lighting, so it's of moderate interest to me (trying van camper living is something I actually find intriguing, but if I ever did it we're talking years from now). I bought a few 12V DC light bulbs and a USB to 12V adapter to try to add a "mood light" to a small room using solar-charged batteries, and recently lit a dark stairway using a similar setup. I'm surprised at how bright these things are, and how little power they draw.

Basically, my view is if you can power something well and cost-effectively with only DC from source to load, it's worth considering. There are conversion costs in going from AC to DC, of course, but over time the greater efficiency of staying within DC only could pay for it. But I haven't done the math so maybe I'm wrong and we'll always power most things with AC.

1

KMan

Mar 1, 2021 12:50 AM

7.5K Comments

Joined Nov 2006

KManMar 1, 2021 12:50 AM

7.5K Comments

Quote from Dr. J

:

Because most people don't want to buy duplicates of things.

That's not it. People kitting out a new camper setup are usually buying all new appliances, light fixtures, etc., so they have a choice. As I and the other person discussed above, there are few things that really need to be powered by AC in a smaller camper, and most are probably a bit much for such rigs, like a microwave, blow dryer, AC stove, etc. The powered devices you do want in a smaller setup can nearly all be powered by either DC, propane or the car's engine and alternator, e.g. lighting, electronics, heater, hot water, stove, fridge, etc.

I think that if you can do without an inverter, it's preferable. I mean the huge ones that are the size of a toaster oven or bigger. One less expense, complexity and thing that can go wrong. You can always buy a portable car inverter for the one or two items you need one for, if you can't do without.

Last edited by KMan February 28, 2021 at 04:53 PM.

KMan

Mar 1, 2021 12:56 AM

7.5K Comments

Joined Nov 2006

KManMar 1, 2021 12:56 AM

7.5K Comments

Quote from timbertop

:

My head is spinning with all this techno jargon. Watts volts inversions conversions distortions sign waves chemicals batteries, DC AC. I want something clean and noiseless no bigger than a small suitcase that I can pull out of the closet and plug in to the house so I can go about my business. It's on TV. I believe its called a Zero Point Module.

Clean and noiseless? What you want is something called "wall power". Look into it. Peace

spoozy

Mar 1, 2021 1:01 AM

122 Comments

Joined Oct 2015

spoozyMar 1, 2021 1:01 AM

122 Comments

Our community has rated this post as helpful. If you agree, why not thank

Quote from _A2

:

Love Anker chargers and cables. Have been buying them for ~8 years now.

This is absolutely NOT a generator LOL. Title is garbage, and deceptive. Deal post title and product title. Get real, and stop being disingenuous.

I've got a garbage Anker bluetooth keyboard that keeps disconnecting, despite all the rave reviews on its Amazon page. Anker's best asset is its army of shills. Watch 'em downvote this comment.

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1

Dr. J

Mar 1, 2021 1:44 AM

39.5K Comments

Joined Nov 2005

Dr. JMar 1, 2021 1:44 AM

39.5K Comments

Quote from KMan

:

That's not it. People kitting out a new camper setup are usually buying all new appliances, light fixtures, etc., so they have a choice. As I and the other person discussed above, there are few things that really need to be powered by AC in a smaller camper, and most are probably a bit much for such rigs, like a microwave, blow dryer, AC stove, etc. The powered devices you do want in a smaller setup can nearly all be powered by either DC, propane or the car's engine and alternator, e.g. lighting, electronics, heater, hot water, stove, fridge, etc.

I think that if you can do without an inverter, it's preferable. I mean the huge ones that are the size of a toaster oven or bigger. One less expense, complexity and thing that can go wrong. You can always buy a portable car inverter for the one or two items you need one for, if you can't do without.

If this is used for "when the power's out" then no, people don't want duplicates. If you want to charge your cell phone on a camping trip, then something like this might be OK save for the weight.

Amazon.com: Anker Portable Generator for Home Use, PowerHouse II 400, 300W/388.8Wh, 110V AC Outlet/60W USB-C Power Delivery Portable Power Station $299

$299

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