Don, so good to see you advancing and moving forward with your property. Just be safe and take good care of yourself. Thank you for this video and your time. Namaste. From a Vietnam Era Marine Corps veteran.
You are such an inspiration and motivator to able bodied seniors. I hope more choose this affordable off-grid lifestyle. Thank you for the informative review.
Have watched most of your videos however I refuse to watch any that do product reviews. Enough is enough. I don't tune in to watch any RUclips content creator promote another solar panel, a bike, a trike or whatever. From your side I don't blame you a bit as I would probably do the same for a free solar generator. All the best! Will tune in to your videos that aren't selling something. Negative 7 here this A.M. You are definitely in a sweet spot! Thank You.
Hi Jim. First of all thanks so very much for watching most of my videos. Also I totally respect that you may not want to watch any kind of product reviews. To be candid, I will watch vids with reviews if they are personal off grid friends of mine to help them with the youtube revenue, or if I am interested in the product. Otherwise I too give them a pass. The beauty of youtube is that we can skip through, not watch etc any video we want. So I do the same. Thanks again!
Great job! I've been searching through so many of these units it has become confusing, I really appreciate you actually setting this up and using it and EXPLAINING it, demonstrating what it can do. The price is good too compared to what others charge. Well done again, I've been wondering how things are over there in Donville, good to see you again. PS, love the hat
So glad this was helpful. Its really easy to get lost in the electrical technical weeds with this issue. The reality is that most units in this price range only allow X amount of solar input into the system. This is one of the best in that manner. Then once you know how much solar power can come in its simple. Find the unit within your budget that can crank out the most watts. This one with 4000 watts of output is tops in its class. Thanks for the comments on the hat. Cheers and great to see you here as always.
G'day Mate, Good to see y'all back again. Won't eat those really big kidney beans, dry things they are. Won't eat snail or grass hopper have tried both don't do anything for me. Last thing I ever tried is fish eyes, they're just water no taste at all, why bother. I'll try most things if they seem OK. Solar is a lot easier now than it was 10 year ago, sooo much more stuff available.
Thanks for this review Don. I have recently seen this brand and several folks have endorsed it. It seems to be a great one to have , especially for off grid living. And it was great to see you and to know that you are doing well. Happy New Year and I look forward to all your content in 2024!
Hey don, not sure HOW you missed this detail, but if you move your camera charger to the LEFT most socket, you will not lose ANY to overhang. Just an observation. I used to have that same charger, so I know the overhang favors the left side.
Wow.. nice to see you and making good quality content. Glad you took some time off the ranch and spent some quality time with friends and family. That thing is a beast. I have 2 Eco flow units.. a Delta and a Delta 2 with 2 spare batteries. otherwise I would invest into one of these.
Thanks for watching @OGT4ME. If I ever wire my big cabin for 240V I may look into linking 2 Ecoflow deltas. I have noted other off grid folks doing that.
Nice to see you Don -- glad you enjoyed the holidays! I tend to MacGyver things too, so I won't scold you for your method; am glad you didn't injure your back! Thanks for the great real-life off-grid use review!
You are looking GREAT young man. I can tell you are happy, healthy, and having a lot of fun. Moving to Arizona has been good for you. Thanks for sharing.
I'm guessing that you don't eat red meat, as you cooked a veggie burger for dinner. I agree with the one comment and run the gas generator once in a while plus add some stabilizer to the gas, it helps with the carburetor from gumming up and gives the gas longer shelf life. Happy belated New Year.
Hi Derek. I actually prefer these veggie burgers than real ones to be honest. But I also eat chicken and fish etc. Yep got to get that generator serviced. Think I need to take the spark plug out and put in a new one before I do anything.
Thank you for sharing I honestly didn't know this name brand existed I'll do a little more research thank you for your video and your review and keep safe as a fellow off gridder I appreciate you
That’s not necessarily true, and for those that did consume such a diet, they didn’t live that long anyway. There is no dispute that Japanese and people in the Mediterranean eat a my her better diet and live longer.
I'm getting ready to do the van life thing when I retire, so this is extremely useful information. Thanks. Foods I won't eat. Hmmm.. For me its a texture thing. smooshy sticky foods. Okra, overcooked peas, clams, and so on. I have lots of things I don't like, but will eat if that's what is on offer.
you made me curious about other solar options. My biggest concern is the battery fires I have heard of in cars. That plus the longevity concerns and disposal issues. Good to hear your voice again.
Carol I have never heard of a solar generator catching on fire. I would assume a large part of the auto fires is simply being used in a car? As far as longevity, these should last about 30 years. So I would be.. hmm age 98 when they are finished.
I hope your Holiday vacation was excellent. Too poor for solar but I do enjoy how you break down many items as to how to use them. The Oupes mega 5 looks like a good back up unit when power fails.
Rags you might try purchasing used solar panels. You can get them here in AZ in Tucson at a place called San Tan Solar. Very inexpensive used ones with lots of life left in them. All the best.
Good to see you Don! Happy New year! Very nice demo of the solar generator! I will scold you for lifting this by yourself onto the table. Be careful and please get a neighbor to help you when you need it! God bless you and keep you safe!
Great video very informative im sure the support team appreciates you for inserting a few tips into your video that alot of people would otherwise be filling the email of tech support with question after question😊
I like solar. I'm partial to the way I set up batteries + inverter + charge controller + panels. Individual components. The electronics tend to survive a very long time. But any one component going out doesn't mean replacing an all-in-one board. Solar panels 15 to 25 years. Batteries about 7 years average. I have a solar system on a cargo trailer. It's been operating over 14 years now. Time to get the 3rd set of batteries. Effective battery capacity is way down.
Great to have flexibility for sure. I saw several off grid folks having to replace even relatively new charge controllers etc. I went this route. But its great these days we have choices for sure. Thanks for watching.
What kind of batteries you are using? Lead acid, Li Ion or LiFePO4? These new LiFePO4 batteries should last 10 years to 80% of original capacity if you cycle them daily.
Hi Don .That looks like all of your power needs are well catered for with the new power bank .I like the fact that it has wheels for ease of moving it about. It`s also good that you can charge it with your generator although i don`t think sunshine will be a problem where you are .Is lamb one of the things that you don`t eat..
Good guess Graeme. I dont actually buy lamb but if its a group of friends and we are at a restaurant I will eat it. Thanks for watching as always mate.
8:58 @WillProwse of DIY Solar Power did a video about charging your batteries with a cheap generator. He said it can damage your unit because they don't produce quality electricity like what you would get from the grid. Anyway thanks for the video
Just a suggestion- you may want to start that predator generator once every week or two and ,letit run for 10 minutes, if they are not run for long periods the chance of maintenence and carb repairs are very likely. Then when you really need it it shoud start. Love your channel and your persistence !!
I have a predator that hasn’t been started for 3 years. Still has the same gas in it. I figured I better get it going again in case of emergency so I pulled the handle and it immediately started and ran until I turned it off. Neighbors who are mechanics were here thinking a Harbor Freight generator would never start after this long but they were shocked when it immediately started. Think I’ll change the gas and oil now.
Great seeing you again Don making a video, you have really gave me a lot to think about if and when I am able to get down to my property not far from Jess and Jim. My March 2024 plans have unfortunately been pushed back to June or after putting me there after monsoon season starts, which I am not too happy about.
Hi Don, From pennslyvania!! We didnt get to South Concho,arizona yet!! we are packing and preparing, we enjoyed your progress and video content. Save your batteries, use LP Gas?? We got snow here last night, So it slowed thingd up a bit. Im happy to see your doing well, Nice weather there Don. I did see Show low and Concho area did get snow recently, But that doesnt hang around verg long. we're anxious to come out, We need to finish up a few things first before we set sail on this long voyage. All the Best Don.💞👍
Hope things work out well for you folks. I do use LP for my Big Buddy Heater but simply refill the large BBQ tanks whenever they run out. One tank is about $18.00 to fill and they last me for a good long time. Wont be long and I wont need them at all as winter is short here.
Good day Sir! Good to see you again and Happy New Year! Useful product you have there. When it comes to food, I am an omnivore, but I will eat less meat and processed food this year. I am very excited to see how the house construction goes.
Wow Don your lucky they pic you to try that new unit very good all this new tec stuff im the oposite to you i love tec stuff hate physical work i cant do it any more
Just saw your video for the first time. I just finished doing a diy power station using a hand truck and the EG4 inverter and battery. Now I kinda wish I had the Oupes mega 5 instead. Do you know if it can be used as a UPS? Enjoyed your video very much, thank you .
Hi John. I am a bit unique as far as physiology I have gathered. My natural preferred temperature consistently runs about 10 deg warmer than the average person. So for the average person 90 deg is way over the top too warm. For me its simply fine. Its taken me many decades to figure all of this out. I am mentioning this because being too cold for me is definitely not fun. While temps in the 80s and low 90s are simply fine for working, sleeping etc. So I havent really paid much attention to getting AC.
Hi Don! I know you do not eat spicy 🌶️ foods! My favorite foods are spicy. lol. But I won’t eat octopus 🐙. Poor babies. ❤❤❤ That is really cool! I’ll give you $100 for that solar generator! 😉
Don, I think the cigarette lighter plug you showed at 5:44 is to charge from. I looked at the Oupes link in your video description. I’m thinking about getting one, too. Thanks for making the video.
Thanks Don. That link is helpful. He shows the Oupes Anderson 12v outlet as a way to connect to a 12v panel in the RV. Alternatively, you can connect a device to the Anderson outlet with its power cable, but I don’t think that the cigarette lighter plug would work there. To connect 12v devices he shows the cigarette lighter outlet on the Oupes.
I am curious about how the Oupes works with your third party solar. The company says it's not recommended. I just purchased one and I already have solar. Have you found anything about your solar array and the Oupes?
Hi late reply. The oupes works flawlessly with my panels. I actually emailed a rep with the company to ask if my setup would work with it. Love this generator!
Hey Don it was last year when I have seen you! Looking good in 24! Did I see a new dent in the right front fender on your car? Great video looking forward to your next one!
Last year a spastic Mule Deer literally bolted without warning from the trees and slammed into the car. It broke the windshield and then it landed in the middle of the street. Then jumped up and trotted away. Bruised but okay. I was only going about 30 mph.
Hi Don. I love your videos. Do you use the Titan and the Oupes in your cabin or just the Oupes now? Lots of power for a small cabin. Looking forward to more videos on your big house.
Hi Rockman. I prefer to have them both. That way if I am running more than 4000 watts. Which is not common. I can distribute the loads. For example I like to try and run a small space heater at night these days. Because my big buddy heater is sensitive and shuts off if it senses even the slightest carbon monoxide issues with all night usage. So I wake up cold. Mind you a space heater will drain either the titan or the oupes by morning. But then I have the spare unit that isnt drained for use in the morning. I wouldnt recommend draining the batteries long term. But for an occasional situation then its no problem with either unit. Hope that makes sense! More vids on the big house coming up!
@@affordabledesertliving3487 I am going to give you the best advice for this problem. Go to walmart or similar and get yourself an electric blanket. it used way less power since you don't have to heat the whole room, but instead just heat you when sleeping. I stayed in a shipping container in Yucca a couple years back for a week while helping a friend build and commision his DIY solar system. After the first night freezing my ass off, I was highly motivated to get the inverters hooked up so I could power the electric blanket. I used less than 200watts, and I have to actually turn in down throughout the night. I settled on a power setting of around 100-120 watts and was too warm almost. If you want to ask me any questions, let me know and i'll get you my phone number. Cheers mate!
Hi Mush. No AC here. Its usually down to 20-25C at night so no problem for me. An air conditioner on the oupes might indeed drain it. A mini split on the other hand would make a good companion to the system I think.
@@affordabledesertliving3487 Hey Don thanks for your answer, here in NS it hit 34 last week with a humidex of 39, I had to give up doing work and head inside with the AC. I was wondering how you manage in Arizona.
Hi Steve. I will indeed get a mini split at some point. The first one's I hope to have will power my big home I am working on. The little cabin is a low priority right now. I have only owned the Oupes for about a month but I would say based on my use of it I believe it could run a mini split, but you would be better off with the additional battery to keep things running during the night. Hope that helps. Cheers.
Its confusing for sure. My Titan generator does indeed have lithium ion batteries. The Oupes uses Lithium Iron. a different chemistry and structure all together. Check this out. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithium_iron_phosphate_battery
Love your channel ! Very inspiring and educational!! I must say it makes me a bit nervous seeing that exposed foam insulation? Is it not easy to ignite ? Not sure ? I know some types of foam is extremely flammable and quickly creates an inferno and toxic black smoke ?? Perhaps your foam is fire retardant ? Is there such an insulating foam ?? May want to test a small piece outside just to gauge its flammability? After all of your hard work i would hate to see you have a fire !
Thanks so much for caring. Open cell insulation while flammable takes a constant flame in direct contact with it for some time before it ignites etc. Electrical cooking devices are a low risk situation. What is not in view is not one but 2 fire extinguisher type items only a few feet away. Thanks again!
Nice to see you again... It's nice to have a back-up, but if I'm paying for it then my unit's batteries will be Li Fe. Soy bean/seed oils, sugar/high fructose corn syrup, enriched flours/pasta, polished short grain white rice = ☠🙅♂👎 I'll eat just about anything else if it's more on the natural side, not highly processed.
I don't have any figures right at hand but It takes a bit more power for "ghost wattage" than my Titan but its still very efficient. Easily runs all of my appliances, computer, monitor etc. all simultaneously.
Asking because we had one. Only got 69% efficiency. We returned it, and have the Pecron E2000LFP + 2 E3000 Batteries times 4 and are loving them. Also, have the Hysolis Apollo 5K times 2 with one battery each. Great setup!!! @@affordabledesertliving3487
It is charged to 63%, and it is not optimal for such low load, because AC inverter uses electricity by itself. In best case scenario (without AC loses and fully charged), you could run 63W load for a 80 hours. And 63W is not a light bulb, it is like 6 light bulbs. No one will use incandescent light bulbs in off grid setup. And he has 2kW of solar panels, so it gets fully charged every day.
@@affordabledesertliving3487 you betcha good buddy...think of you everytime I go through your old stomping grounds. Will you be at The First Annual Owner Builder Opt Out Conference for Cochise Feb 11th?
I'm a wussy and got a hotel instead of staying on my land as I haven't built anything yet and it may be freezing...but...soon...building is in the works and LOVE your videos. @@affordabledesertliving3487
Hi Rod. No I don't actually just a tall tower type fan that doesnt use much power. The little cabin stays remarkably cool because its so well insulated. Also remember I am at 4200' elevation. So its definitely not phoenix here!
Once you purchase all of the individual parts to create a solar generating system it becomes much more expensive than one thinks these days. This was a good deal I figure.
Actually I really love liver. So here goes. Here is what I wont eat. Anything thats super laced with hot sauce. Canned Octopus, canned squid, Filipino dish Balut. Thats it!
I'm wondering what I might need to get me going to run a few small heaters in a New Brunswick winter? I experienced 4 days of no hydro after a major wind storm just before Christmas and thank goodness 2 of those days it was around 50F on average before the temperatures realized what month it was a did a nosedive. It was 46F in my house when the power came back on. One more day or definitely 24 hours it could have been desperately serious for heating and frozen water pipes. I have a gas generator but the cost is through the roof with NBs horrendous gas prices. I'm going to see about finding my kerosene heaters safely stored from the 80s because I know they were very safe then. I'm just not sure what the cost of running them will be now.
Elspeth. Being from N.B. I can relate to all of this. Here is what I would do if my budget allowed in your situation. Used solar panels (you may have to shop online and get them shipped to you) check ebay. Solar panels like mine last a lot longer than their shelf life is projected to be. Then mini split. Ask my cousin Brian Davis on facebook about his. He lives in Lower Brighton. He is not solar but he does have 2 mini splits. They tend to sip electricity and only come on and work hard when its necessary. Also some solar panels are more light sensitive than others. That means that even if mine are covered in snow crazily enough they still produce power. They are Q-cell panels. Not cheap but again you can find them used online. Of course all of this costs a bit to set up. But once set up you can tell N.B. power to take a hike so to speak when it comes to heating. Hope that helps.
12 volt sips energy compared to two-plug 110.Alternatively, try Camco Olympian Wave-6 Catalytic Heater or wood stove. Solar power typically requires 32 amps to power up a unit and during storms, sunlight is in short supply. Put ten hours of research, as you're doing, and find what's best for you.
I for one figured you were in jail again from another bar fight in mexico
Absolutely priceless Tim! LOL
Oh my, that Clint Eastwood movie: The Mule - was made about our bud here wasn't it!???😂😂😂😂
😂
😂
Oh my…😂
Don, so good to see you advancing and moving forward with your property. Just be safe and take good care of yourself. Thank you for this video and your time. Namaste. From a Vietnam Era Marine Corps veteran.
Thanks so much for all of your encouragement Charlie!
You are such an inspiration and motivator to able bodied seniors. I hope more choose this affordable off-grid lifestyle. Thank you for the informative review.
Thats so kind and encouraging to hear. Many thanks for watching!
Have watched most of your videos however I refuse to watch any that do product reviews. Enough is enough. I don't tune in to watch any RUclips content creator promote another solar panel, a bike, a trike or whatever. From your side I don't blame you a bit as I would probably do the same for a free solar generator.
All the best! Will tune in to your videos that aren't selling something. Negative 7 here this A.M. You are definitely in a sweet spot! Thank You.
Hi Jim. First of all thanks so very much for watching most of my videos. Also I totally respect that you may not want to watch any kind of product reviews. To be candid, I will watch vids with reviews if they are personal off grid friends of mine to help them with the youtube revenue, or if I am interested in the product. Otherwise I too give them a pass. The beauty of youtube is that we can skip through, not watch etc any video we want. So I do the same. Thanks again!
Good to see you again!
Lake Havasu 🌞 Az
Thanks as always for being here.
Great job! I've been searching through so many of these units it has become confusing, I really appreciate you actually setting this up and using it and EXPLAINING it, demonstrating what it can do. The price is good too compared to what others charge. Well done again, I've been wondering how things are over there in Donville, good to see you again. PS, love the hat
So glad this was helpful. Its really easy to get lost in the electrical technical weeds with this issue. The reality is that most units in this price range only allow X amount of solar input into the system. This is one of the best in that manner. Then once you know how much solar power can come in its simple. Find the unit within your budget that can crank out the most watts. This one with 4000 watts of output is tops in its class. Thanks for the comments on the hat. Cheers and great to see you here as always.
This would make a great addition to my offgrid homestead. Thanks for sharing!
Love this rig Robert!
Excellent review. I am so glad to see some practical uses of these solar generators. I so enjoy your channel; your an awesome man!
Wow Manny what a lovely comment. Thanks so much and hope this was helpful.
G'day Mate, Good to see y'all back again.
Won't eat those really big kidney beans, dry things they are.
Won't eat snail or grass hopper have tried both don't do anything for me.
Last thing I ever tried is fish eyes, they're just water no taste at all, why bother.
I'll try most things if they seem OK.
Solar is a lot easier now than it was 10 year ago, sooo much more stuff available.
Never tried grasshopper but would probably eat it if it was really well cooked.
Had a lot going on and haven’t watched in a while. It’s nice to see you’re doing well.
Life can sure be crazy busy for sure Michael. Yep doing great here.
We enjoy watching you on your property. We love projects, also! We are in our late 70's.
So delighted you folks watch Suzanne!
Thanks for this review Don. I have recently seen this brand and several folks have endorsed it. It seems to be a great one to have , especially for off grid living. And it was great to see you and to know that you are doing well. Happy New Year and I look forward to all your content in 2024!
Thanks as always for watching Martha!
It is good to see your doing fine living out in the desert. This is a nice video. Thank you.
Many thanks. Lots to be thankful here at the little desert home.
Hey don, not sure HOW you missed this detail, but if you move your camera charger to the LEFT most socket, you will not lose ANY to overhang. Just an observation. I used to have that same charger, so I know the overhang favors the left side.
Well to be honest I surprise my own self with overlooking stuff. Many thanks! That is an excellent tip and I will use that! Thanks for sharing.
So glad you had a good holiday Don. Its great to see you again. Keep up the good work!!
Thanks so much Cousin Shirley! Lots to do here thats for sure!
Thank you! I love product reviews! Good job!
Wow.. nice to see you and making good quality content. Glad you took some time off the ranch and spent some quality time with friends and family. That thing is a beast. I have 2 Eco flow units.. a Delta and a Delta 2 with 2 spare batteries. otherwise I would invest into one of these.
Thanks for watching @OGT4ME. If I ever wire my big cabin for 240V I may look into linking 2 Ecoflow deltas. I have noted other off grid folks doing that.
@@affordabledesertliving3487 There are bigger and batter units than the Delta's, but your idea could work too.
@@affordabledesertliving3487 and I'm on my way down to Kingman to look for some land to buy.
@@OFFGRID_Trucker Since I am months out from wiring my big cabin I have a good amount of time to decide which I am thankful for.
Enjoyed watching your video very much.
Thanks so very much for watching Ed!
Nice to see you Don -- glad you enjoyed the holidays! I tend to MacGyver things too, so I won't scold you for your method; am glad you didn't injure your back! Thanks for the great real-life off-grid use review!
LOL thanks for not scolding me Michelle. Yep the back is fine and thanks for your lovely comments as always.
Great video Don. You are right up there with Will Prowse...
Wow David. Very kind but Will is in a different league. But I love that you were so affirming!
Happy New Year and welcome back!!
Many thanks and thanks for watching.
Welcome Back!!
Hope your Holiday was great!. Loved the info on the Opues, looking into that now.
We do not like cauliflower and Brussel sprouts ....
LOL some folks are not fans of those for sure. I actually am fine with Brussel sprouts and pretty much enjoy cauliflower.
You are looking GREAT young man. I can tell you are happy, healthy, and having a lot of fun. Moving to Arizona has been good for you. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks Ken. Super thankful here.
I'm guessing that you don't eat red meat, as you cooked a veggie burger for dinner. I agree with the one comment and run the gas generator once in a while plus add some stabilizer to the gas, it helps with the carburetor from gumming up and gives the gas longer shelf life. Happy belated New Year.
Hi Derek. I actually prefer these veggie burgers than real ones to be honest. But I also eat chicken and fish etc. Yep got to get that generator serviced. Think I need to take the spark plug out and put in a new one before I do anything.
Very impressive setup. Happy New Year.🎉
Happy New Year to you as well.
Nice review. Thank you for sharing. Like #482. Blessings 🙏🏼👍🏼
Thanks so much for watching David.
This is an awesome video, it shows how it works in simple terms and why you resort to using it. Thanks!
So glad this was useful. Many thanks.
Great video Don!
Thanks so much for watching Bob!
Thank you for sharing I honestly didn't know this name brand existed I'll do a little more research thank you for your video and your review and keep safe as a fellow off gridder I appreciate you
Thanks so much for the kind words neo. Glad this was helpful.
I eat 90% Beef, Butter, Bacon, Chicken and eggs. I will not eat any type of grain and avoid sugar.
Its so important to eat healthy for sure. I know I could change up the eating to be even better.
Not a good long term diet, but it’s your life.
@@timthompson8297 It's the natural human diet for 90% of human existence.
That’s not necessarily true, and for those that did consume such a diet, they didn’t live that long anyway. There is no dispute that Japanese and people in the Mediterranean eat a my her better diet and live longer.
@@mclysaght1 Clearly you’re not college educated or even well read.
Good to see you back!
Thanks so much for watching!
I'm getting ready to do the van life thing when I retire, so this is extremely useful information. Thanks. Foods I won't eat. Hmmm.. For me its a texture thing. smooshy sticky foods. Okra, overcooked peas, clams, and so on. I have lots of things I don't like, but will eat if that's what is on offer.
Glad this was helpful Dale. Interesting, I have friends who hate things because of texture. One friend calls Tapioca frog spawn LOL.
you made me curious about other solar options. My biggest concern is the battery fires I have heard of in cars. That plus the longevity concerns and disposal issues. Good to hear your voice again.
Carol I have never heard of a solar generator catching on fire. I would assume a large part of the auto fires is simply being used in a car? As far as longevity, these should last about 30 years. So I would be.. hmm age 98 when they are finished.
No Green Peas for me ... never. Enjoyed the video, thank you.
lol.. I'll take your peas if you take my broccoli.
I love both of those foods guys!
@@affordabledesertliving3487 lol.. I bet lots or people do. To answer your question.. I do NOT like seafood.
Yep!!!!! One makes up their own mind! (if they have one) keep em'coming 🥰
Thanks for all of the encouragement Ethel.
Hi don
I missed you glad to see you uploaded a new video...
Love the new power pack.
Looking forward to more updates - be good 🤠
How kind. Thanks so much for watching.
Hi Sparky, glad you are back, those glasses make you look 15 yrs younger, way to go
Wow that was kind. Thanks!
Thanks Don!
Your so welcome Mush.
I hope your Holiday vacation was excellent. Too poor for solar but I do enjoy how you break down many items as to how to use them. The Oupes mega 5 looks like a good back up unit when power fails.
Rags you might try purchasing used solar panels. You can get them here in AZ in Tucson at a place called San Tan Solar. Very inexpensive used ones with lots of life left in them. All the best.
Good to see you Don! Happy New year! Very nice demo of the solar generator! I will scold you for lifting this by yourself onto the table. Be careful and please get a neighbor to help you when you need it! God bless you and keep you safe!
Thanks Don. I love that you care enough to scold me. So appreciate you folks watching.
Great video very informative im sure the support team appreciates you for inserting a few tips into your video that alot of people would otherwise be filling the email of tech support with question after question😊
Thanks very much. Its a great unit and I hope it helped folks be aware that its out there.
I like solar.
I'm partial to the way I set up batteries + inverter + charge controller + panels. Individual components.
The electronics tend to survive a very long time. But any one component going out doesn't mean replacing an all-in-one board.
Solar panels 15 to 25 years.
Batteries about 7 years average.
I have a solar system on a cargo trailer. It's been operating over 14 years now. Time to get the 3rd set of batteries. Effective battery capacity is way down.
Stand alone LifePo4 batteries are getting pretty affordable nowadays,.. especially when you factor in 3500-4000 charge cycles
Great to have flexibility for sure. I saw several off grid folks having to replace even relatively new charge controllers etc. I went this route. But its great these days we have choices for sure. Thanks for watching.
What kind of batteries you are using? Lead acid, Li Ion or LiFePO4? These new LiFePO4 batteries should last 10 years to 80% of original capacity if you cycle them daily.
Thanks for the video. You asked which foods I will not eat. I will not eat coprophages.
Wow very flexible diet then. LOL.
Hi Don .That looks like all of your power needs are well catered for with the new power bank .I like the fact that it has wheels for ease of moving it about. It`s also good that you can charge it with your generator although i don`t think sunshine will be a problem where you are .Is lamb one of the things that you don`t eat..
Good guess Graeme. I dont actually buy lamb but if its a group of friends and we are at a restaurant I will eat it. Thanks for watching as always mate.
I don`t eat lamb .@@affordabledesertliving3487
8:58
@WillProwse of DIY Solar Power did a video about charging your batteries with a cheap generator. He said it can damage your unit because they don't produce quality electricity like what you would get from the grid.
Anyway thanks for the video
Great tip John. Good to know and glad you shared this.
Just a suggestion- you may want to start that predator generator once every week or two and ,letit run for 10 minutes, if they are not run for long periods the chance of maintenence and carb repairs are very likely. Then when you really need it it shoud start. Love your channel and your persistence !!
I have a predator that hasn’t been started for 3 years. Still has the same gas in it. I figured I better get it going again in case of emergency so I pulled the handle and it immediately started and ran until I turned it off. Neighbors who are mechanics were here thinking a Harbor Freight generator would never start after this long but they were shocked when it immediately started. Think I’ll change the gas and oil now.
Wow that is 9 and I/2 years at 100 percent! Plus what you get later at 80 percent!
Yes should be around and offering solar input for many years to come!
Great seeing you again Don making a video, you have really gave me a lot to think about if and when I am able to get down to my property not far from Jess and Jim. My March 2024 plans have unfortunately been pushed back to June or after putting me there after monsoon season starts, which I am not too happy about.
Well the more careful planning for an off grid move the better I figure. I hope it goes well for you.
Great video. This is the unit I'm considering. We'll put together video without all the confusing stuff. Also, stewed okra. No!
Enjoyed your video. We purchased one and are waiting for the solar panels to arrive.
Great choice Teresa. I love mine.
Great video Don.
Well done sir. Easy to understand.
Super. Glad it was.
Hi Don, From pennslyvania!!
We didnt get to South Concho,arizona yet!!
we are packing and preparing, we enjoyed your progress and video content.
Save your batteries, use LP Gas??
We got snow here last night, So it slowed thingd up a bit.
Im happy to see your doing well, Nice weather there Don.
I did see Show low and Concho area did get snow recently, But that doesnt hang around verg long.
we're anxious to come out, We need to finish up a few things first before we set sail on this long voyage.
All the Best Don.💞👍
Hope things work out well for you folks. I do use LP for my Big Buddy Heater but simply refill the large BBQ tanks whenever they run out. One tank is about $18.00 to fill and they last me for a good long time. Wont be long and I wont need them at all as winter is short here.
Thank you very much for sharing your video with us.
You are so welcome Ed. I hope it was helpful.
Great video
Thanks so much for watching!
Good day Sir! Good to see you again and Happy New Year! Useful product you have there. When it comes to food, I am an omnivore, but I will eat less meat and processed food this year. I am very excited to see how the house construction goes.
Thanks Morten! Got to get cracking on the home build in the next few days!
I will not eat liver or oysters yuk. Love watching your videos.
Thanks so much for the encouragement!
Wow Don your lucky they pic you to try that new unit very good all this new tec stuff im the oposite to you i love tec stuff hate physical work i cant do it any more
I admire that Kriss. Not a tech dude unless I absolutely have to be. All the best mate!
NICE
Just saw your video for the first time. I just finished doing a diy power station using a hand truck and the EG4 inverter and battery. Now I kinda wish I had the Oupes mega 5 instead. Do you know if it can be used as a UPS? Enjoyed your video very much, thank you .
I call it oops on purpose. Haha. Cause I'm a jokester with things like that.
Love the approach taken on this video!
Thanks so much. Love this unit.
It's so heavy, I hope you didn't hurt yourself pulling that up the stairs.
Nope I do my best to lift carefully. Cant afford to wreck the ol physique here. LOL.
Hey Don, nice video on power supply! Have you considered having a 5000 btu air conditioner?
Hi John. I am a bit unique as far as physiology I have gathered. My natural preferred temperature consistently runs about 10 deg warmer than the average person. So for the average person 90 deg is way over the top too warm. For me its simply fine. Its taken me many decades to figure all of this out. I am mentioning this because being too cold for me is definitely not fun. While temps in the 80s and low 90s are simply fine for working, sleeping etc. So I havent really paid much attention to getting AC.
Hey Don, great video. My guess would be rhubarb or persimmon.
Great guess Eric! I LOVE rhubarb. Persimmon I will eat but I wont go out of my way to find it.
Hi Don! I know you do not eat spicy 🌶️ foods! My favorite foods are spicy. lol. But I won’t eat octopus 🐙. Poor babies. ❤❤❤
That is really cool! I’ll give you $100 for that solar generator! 😉
I dont like canned Octopus Pam but I havent had fresh. I would probably eat it. Hope you guys are doing great!
Happy New Year Don
Thanks and Happy New Year as well.
Don, I think the cigarette lighter plug you showed at 5:44 is to charge from. I looked at the Oupes link in your video description. I’m thinking about getting one, too. Thanks for making the video.
It does indeed look like that but its for output for DC devices. This guy explains it better. ruclips.net/video/YlK7lWdyb_I/видео.html
Thanks Don. That link is helpful. He shows the Oupes Anderson 12v outlet as a way to connect to a 12v panel in the RV. Alternatively, you can connect a device to the Anderson outlet with its power cable, but I don’t think that the cigarette lighter plug would work there.
To connect 12v devices he shows the cigarette lighter outlet on the Oupes.
What happened to the new cabin build ?
I was on Christmas/New Years retired guy holiday. Stay tuned! Back on the construction site real soon!
Did you buy the added protection?
No I didnt Ken but that would be an excellent idea.
I am curious about how the Oupes works with your third party solar. The company says it's not recommended. I just purchased one and I already have solar. Have you found anything about your solar array and the Oupes?
Hi late reply. The oupes works flawlessly with my panels. I actually emailed a rep with the company to ask if my setup would work with it. Love this generator!
Hey Don it was last year when I have seen you! Looking good in 24! Did I see a new dent in the right front fender on your car? Great video looking forward to your next one!
Last year a spastic Mule Deer literally bolted without warning from the trees and slammed into the car. It broke the windshield and then it landed in the middle of the street. Then jumped up and trotted away. Bruised but okay. I was only going about 30 mph.
@@affordabledesertliving3487 WOW that's crazy so it was a hit and run!!
I Love my liver and sardines
I've watched some vids on natto and that sounds like I would have a hard time with
Yep liver and sardines are fine. Sardines especially on a hike with some cheese and apple. Havent tried natto. Hmm. Might be interesting.
❤
do you eat liver? ... I hate kale... good to see you back... happy new year Don... from Dab in South Dakota
HI Deb. I love liver. With onions. I will eat kale but not go out of my way to find it. Happy New Year!
Hi Don. I love your videos. Do you use the Titan and the Oupes in your cabin or just the Oupes now? Lots of power for a small cabin. Looking forward to more videos on your big house.
Hi Rockman. I prefer to have them both. That way if I am running more than 4000 watts. Which is not common. I can distribute the loads. For example I like to try and run a small space heater at night these days. Because my big buddy heater is sensitive and shuts off if it senses even the slightest carbon monoxide issues with all night usage. So I wake up cold. Mind you a space heater will drain either the titan or the oupes by morning. But then I have the spare unit that isnt drained for use in the morning. I wouldnt recommend draining the batteries long term. But for an occasional situation then its no problem with either unit. Hope that makes sense! More vids on the big house coming up!
@@affordabledesertliving3487 I am going to give you the best advice for this problem. Go to walmart or similar and get yourself an electric blanket. it used way less power since you don't have to heat the whole room, but instead just heat you when sleeping. I stayed in a shipping container in Yucca a couple years back for a week while helping a friend build and commision his DIY solar system. After the first night freezing my ass off, I was highly motivated to get the inverters hooked up so I could power the electric blanket. I used less than 200watts, and I have to actually turn in down throughout the night. I settled on a power setting of around 100-120 watts and was too warm almost.
If you want to ask me any questions, let me know and i'll get you my phone number. Cheers mate!
Hey Don, I see its 37 deg there today (July 17 24) Do you run an air conditioner to keep cool all day and night? Does it drain your Oupus? Thanks
Hi Mush. No AC here. Its usually down to 20-25C at night so no problem for me. An air conditioner on the oupes might indeed drain it. A mini split on the other hand would make a good companion to the system I think.
@@affordabledesertliving3487 Hey Don thanks for your answer, here in NS it hit 34 last week with a humidex of 39, I had to give up doing work and head inside with the AC. I was wondering how you manage in Arizona.
How do you get 2100W in? I can’t go over the 15a input limit without it surging and dropping
There is some thing wrong with the displayed numbers. At 64 watt output and 63% of capacity, it should run about 50 hours.!
Probably because it is a low load, and AC inverter is using power by itself when it is running.
Yes the display fluctuates depending on the power draw at any given moment etc.
hi don, Love your channel. do you plan on ever getting a mini split? And do you think that can handle it?
Hi Steve. I will indeed get a mini split at some point. The first one's I hope to have will power my big home I am working on. The little cabin is a low priority right now. I have only owned the Oupes for about a month but I would say based on my use of it I believe it could run a mini split, but you would be better off with the additional battery to keep things running during the night. Hope that helps. Cheers.
Sorry Don, it isn't an iron battery it's ion. 😊
Its confusing for sure. My Titan generator does indeed have lithium ion batteries. The Oupes uses Lithium Iron. a different chemistry and structure all together.
Check this out. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithium_iron_phosphate_battery
Sorry about that. I miss read it when I looked up LifePo4.
Love your channel ! Very inspiring and educational!! I must say it makes me a bit nervous seeing that exposed foam insulation? Is it not easy to ignite ? Not sure ? I know some types of foam is extremely flammable and quickly creates an inferno and toxic black smoke ?? Perhaps your foam is fire retardant ? Is there such an insulating foam ?? May want to test a small piece outside just to gauge its flammability? After all of your hard work i would hate to see you have a fire !
Thanks so much for caring. Open cell insulation while flammable takes a constant flame in direct contact with it for some time before it ignites etc. Electrical cooking devices are a low risk situation. What is not in view is not one but 2 fire extinguisher type items only a few feet away. Thanks again!
Did not know that ! You've got it covered!!
Sounds like the real 'Green Acres'.😂❤
Definitely remember that show as a kid.
Nice to see you again...
It's nice to have a back-up, but if I'm paying for it then my unit's batteries will be Li Fe.
Soy bean/seed oils, sugar/high fructose corn syrup, enriched flours/pasta, polished short grain white rice = ☠🙅♂👎 I'll eat just about anything else if it's more on the natural side, not highly processed.
Smart not to eat processed food Lane for sure.
What did you find the efficiency rate is on this Oupes Mega 5?
I don't have any figures right at hand but It takes a bit more power for "ghost wattage" than my Titan but its still very efficient. Easily runs all of my appliances, computer, monitor etc. all simultaneously.
Asking because we had one. Only got 69% efficiency. We returned it, and have the Pecron E2000LFP + 2 E3000 Batteries times 4 and are loving them. Also, have the Hysolis Apollo 5K times 2 with one battery each. Great setup!!! @@affordabledesertliving3487
27 hours at rate of 63 watts? $3000 seems like a lot of money to burn a light bulb for a day.
What am I missing?
Interesting analysis. In the meantime I am going to enjoy a nicely powered cabin and another dinner courtesy of the set up LOL. Cheers!
It is charged to 63%, and it is not optimal for such low load, because AC inverter uses electricity by itself. In best case scenario (without AC loses and fully charged), you could run 63W load for a 80 hours.
And 63W is not a light bulb, it is like 6 light bulbs. No one will use incandescent light bulbs in off grid setup.
And he has 2kW of solar panels, so it gets fully charged every day.
You have all kinds of panels, so why do you need a power station? Don’t you have batteries, a charge controller and an inverter?
Well Tim I do have all of those. They are all tucked nicely into the solar generator you see. Much easier to deal with.
🤩
Thanks for watching.
@@affordabledesertliving3487 you betcha good buddy...think of you everytime I go through your old stomping grounds. Will you be at The First Annual Owner Builder Opt Out Conference for Cochise Feb 11th?
@@DesertDog8989 yep should be there!
I'm a wussy and got a hotel instead of staying on my land as I haven't built anything yet and it may be freezing...but...soon...building is in the works and LOVE your videos. @@affordabledesertliving3487
Don do you have an air conditioner
Hi Rod. No I don't actually just a tall tower type fan that doesnt use much power. The little cabin stays remarkably cool because its so well insulated. Also remember I am at 4200' elevation. So its definitely not phoenix here!
Where made? China?
Yes like most solar generators these days these are made in China with 3 year warranty.
Holy crap, that’s expensive.
Once you purchase all of the individual parts to create a solar generating system it becomes much more expensive than one thinks these days. This was a good deal I figure.
Don alot of things dont need electric to run .,like a metal barrel to suck up water from a well ,5/21/24
Chicory. And that's about it
Thanks. I was thinking chicory might be good in tea? Not sure.
@@affordabledesertliving3487 very popular in tea. That's about the only way I can consume it. In its leafy form it nasty
My guess - Liver - a food you will not eat!
Actually I really love liver. So here goes. Here is what I wont eat. Anything thats super laced with hot sauce. Canned Octopus, canned squid, Filipino dish Balut. Thats it!
very good, for me niot eating meat chicken fish dairy
Thanks! Sounds pretty healthy.
Pork!
Yep not everyone is a fan. I wont go out of my way to eat it but if its set in front of me I will add some apple sauce and chomp away.
You do not like Brussel sprouts, peppers, egg plant, palm cores.
No way!!!
Every one loves palm cores
Nope I like all of those. Especially Egg Plant
I leave a comment. LALALALALALA.
Thanks for watching.
I'm wondering what I might need to get me going to run a few small heaters in a New Brunswick winter? I experienced 4 days of no hydro after a major wind storm just before Christmas and thank goodness 2 of those days it was around 50F on average before the temperatures realized what month it was a did a nosedive. It was 46F in my house when the power came back on. One more day or definitely 24 hours it could have been desperately serious for heating and frozen water pipes. I have a gas generator but the cost is through the roof with NBs horrendous gas prices. I'm going to see about finding my kerosene heaters safely stored from the 80s because I know they were very safe then. I'm just not sure what the cost of running them will be now.
Elspeth. Being from N.B. I can relate to all of this. Here is what I would do if my budget allowed in your situation. Used solar panels (you may have to shop online and get them shipped to you) check ebay. Solar panels like mine last a lot longer than their shelf life is projected to be. Then mini split. Ask my cousin Brian Davis on facebook about his. He lives in Lower Brighton. He is not solar but he does have 2 mini splits. They tend to sip electricity and only come on and work hard when its necessary. Also some solar panels are more light sensitive than others. That means that even if mine are covered in snow crazily enough they still produce power. They are Q-cell panels. Not cheap but again you can find them used online. Of course all of this costs a bit to set up. But once set up you can tell N.B. power to take a hike so to speak when it comes to heating. Hope that helps.
12 volt sips energy compared to two-plug 110.Alternatively, try Camco Olympian Wave-6 Catalytic Heater or wood stove. Solar power typically requires 32 amps to power up a unit and during storms, sunlight is in short supply. Put ten hours of research, as you're doing, and find what's best for you.
My guess is you will not eat pork, as anyone who knows what a gestation cage is could never eat pork.
Nope. I dont like canned squid and octopus and the Filipino dish Balut. Thats about it.