Solar Kart Parts List (affiliate links): *48V Version 2* Large Tool Kart: amzn.to/3Zcu8vN Sever Rack Batteries: www.mobile-solarpower.com/server-rack-lifepo4.html 6000XP Inverter/MPPT: www.currentconnected.com/product/eg4-6000xp-inverter/?ref=wp Battery Cable: amzn.to/3wM2PeB Solar Disconnect: amzn.to/3VdG27j NEMA 14-50 male and female: amzn.to/3B16b2m NEMA 14-50 to 120V load adapter: amzn.to/3Znq0dE *12V Solar Kart* Small Tool Kart: amzn.to/3CGciJR 300Ah Wattcycle Battery: www.wattcycle.com/products/wattcycle-12v-300ah-mini-lifepo4-battery?ref=aaezwkkc 12V Inverter: www.mobile-solarpower.com/inverters.html EcoFlow Website: bit.ly/4fOICJ4 EcoFlow Amazon: bit.ly/3YN6q9c Jackery (better output for the money vs ecoflow): bit.ly/3USRXHz Amazon US Store: amzn.to/40N4qjW 0:00 We need new systems! 0:25 Tool Karts! 1:10 Building Version 1 3:07 I hate it! 3:45 Version 2! Much Better 5:33 Total Cost 5:57 DIY VS Ecoflow Ultra Price 6:33 Sizing Discussion 7:26 12V Solar Kart! 8:23 Conclusion ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ *Does off-grid solar confuse you?* Check out my DIY friendly website for solar system blueprints and product recommendations, and so much more! www.mobile-solarpower.com *Join our DIY solar community* #1 largest solar forum on the internet for beginners and professionals alike: www.diysolarforum.com *Check out my free book* Best-selling and beginner-friendly guide to 12V off-grid solar! www.mobile-solarpower.com/the-book.html *My Favorite Online Stores for DIY Solar Products:* *Current Connected* My favorite USA Distributor! EG4, SOK, Victron, Mr.Cool Heatpumps and High Quality Components. Fantastic customer support: currentconnected.com/?ref=wp *Signature Solar* One-stop shop for various solar products: www.signaturesolar.com/?ref=h-cvbzfahsek *WattCycle* My favorite 12V budget battery!: www.wattcycle.com/?ref=aaezwkkc *Epoch Batteries* My favorite high-quality 12V battery: www.epochbatteries.com/products/12v-460ah-lifepo4-battery-ip67-heated-bluetooth-victron-comms?rfsn=7352625.50494d *Watts247* Need international shipping for large batteries and big inverters? Check them out! watts247.com/?wpam_id=3 *Rich Solar* Budget 12V Inverters and MPPT: richsolar.com/?ref=h-cvbzfahsek *Battery Hookup* Cheap used lithium cell deals: bit.ly/2mIxSqt 5% off code: diysolar *Contact Information:* I am NOT available for personal solar system consult! If you wish to contact me, this is my direct email: williamprowsediysolar@gmail.com Join the forum at diysolarforum.com/ if you wish to hang out with myself and others and talk about solar *FTC Disclosure Statement and Disclaimers:* Every video includes paid promotion or sponsorship. Some links on this youtube channel may be affiliate links. We may get paid if you buy something or take an action after clicking one of these. My videos are for educational purposes only. Information is subject to change/update at any time. Electricity is DANGEROUS and can kill. Be smart and use common sense :) DIY Solar Power with Will Prowse is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, An affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com
The server rack batteries link also shows a metal server rack with 6 batteries (about 30kWh) for $7800, which is pretty compelling (but the inverter is sold separately).
The bottom shelf of the cart can be strengthened in two ways, 1. Add a fifth wheel in the center, often it is possible to find an exact match to the existing wheels or simply buy five new ones. 2. And a sheet of 3/4" plywood between the wheels and the plastic shelf such that the bottom shelf rides atop the plywood. What these two additions do is greatly increase the load capacity of the bottom shelf. I've done this in other applications and it works. Of course it changes nothing in the load capacity of the cart's vertical supports and upper shelf, but that is not where more of the weight of your application is being placed.
If you put a plywood board on the bottom, you may circumvent the weight limit. I believe that the plastic is what is rated, as you can see that the batteries are bowing the bottom of the cart. I think that would fix it!
@@elbowjeans Agreed (see my earlier comment). Just to clarify, the plywood is under the cart, not inside the plastic shelf. So the four wheels must be removed first. Then fit the cart atop the plywood, mark and drill out the holes to re-attach the wheels. Then bolt the wheels + plywood + cart bottom shelf all back together. Finally, adding a fifth wheel in the center will greatly improve the strength of the bottom shelf.
I love how Will gets excited over things like finding a big rolling cart. It cracks me up because I would do the same thing! "Oooh, check this out; I bet I could...... " (Yeah, that's definitely me) Will Prowse is the man!!
Built a 5000W cart 15 months ago. Planning to put photos on the forum hoping to receive improvement advice and criticism. But it's been Working flawlessly. Thanks for the help.
Last year I went with the harbor freight tool cart, put 4 12v 100A batteries on it with an inverter and MPPT with the best part being that the wife did not complain when the power went out and I could sleep without running a generator. I now have two carts that I can use for the cabin, camping, and field day ham radio hobby. Happy Thanksgiving and thanks for the video...
3:58 turn the cart upside down and mount the inverter that way before standing it back up and sliding in the batteries from the skinny side of the cart. Then there is no lifting or unnecessarily large and time consuming bolts to tighten. My two cents :)
Or slide some scrap wood under it to hold it up to the top shelf Or use the long bolts, but replace them with short bolts one at a time once its in place (time consuming but cleaner finish)
Ive always fitted over all the prepper and homestead channels promoting all the expensive solar generators foe 3k ot whatever that only putnout 1500 to 2k watts when you can build your own for half the price or twice the capacity..love ypur channel...keep up the real work
Will, the charts are plastic and the shelves can hold the weight you have on them but they will sag over time. You can prevent this by placing a sheet of 1/2" or 3/4" plywood on the bottom shelf. That will keep the shelf from sagging and causing the cart to fail.
@@wrongmouse1658It's the casters that will fail. They'll fold over. Been there done that. I fully agree with the plywood to distribute the weight. I used 1/2" plywood
@@FauxQue-yk8dt Now we're into design philosophy. Just placing a sheet of plywood on the bottom shelf won't do anything, it would be a waste of time. Bolting the ¾’ plywood to the casters would do something. My idea was to bolt the two pieces of 2X4 to the casters (the long way), not just placing them once on top. Doing both would be the over-engineering way go. Or If you want, you could just use 1” plywood bolted to the caster, would be best. The 2X4’s I have in stock, and the ½” in stock. I would have to buy the ¾” or 1” plywood. Hardie board is just another form of plaster board with no structural strength, good for fire and high moisture locations. Personally, I would have built the ‘Solar Kart’ from scratch. What fun is it to just buy something?
Thanks Will. This is exactly the kind of setup I need for my small cabin. Since I’m a complete!!!!! Beginner it would be great if you could do a step by step video for solar dummies. I guess when you’re as smart as you are it may be hard to imagine that even the most basic steps are a challenge for non electrical guys. Love what you’re doing this is awesome!
Will this be left in an unattended cabin that falls below freezing? If so, remember those batteries hate the cold and ones with internal heaters suck a lot of juice.
I didn't think the 6000xp was designed to operate in a horizontal configuration. This is a great idea, I could remove my RV generator and replace it with this configuration! Thanks!
@@nismor3490 Yes- they are built so that path of the rising heat has a path to escape. If I remember correctly you can lay them back up to 45 degrees but don't quote me.
I've built two portable systems with rolling tool boxes. Both are 24v, one is 2560Wh and the other 5120Wh. . The smaller system is in a 25 gallon box with separate inverter, mppt charger, shunt and two 12v batteries with raspi running Victron software for monitoring (version 1). The 5120Wh is in a 50 gallon box with an all in one unit and two 24v batteries with raspi running Solar Assistant for monitoring (version 2). These guys kept my refrigerator and two freezers running during our power outage back in Sep. Keep these videos and new ideas coming.
If you can find the exact wheels on the larger cart you could add a 5th wheel in the center of the bottom shelf. That would make going over weight (and having the bottom shelf sag) a non issue.
A better solution would be to just reinforce the bottom shelf with a sheet of 3/4" ply. The big problem with the weight rating, though, is the cheap wheels could buckle and collapse. So reinforced bottom shelf plus upgraded wheels to really make it solid.
A great idea. Less complex is to decide how many batteries, size of the inverter, and other accessories you want. Draw it out on paper and have a friend weld a cart you need. That way you are not fighting the "Oh I need one more inch space here". Figure it out and make it.
Drop the equipment off to the friend that you're having weld your cart. Welders are a different breed and they're very creative and resourceful. He might have ideas that your mind has not thought of LOL
I'm a musician, and to haul amplifiers around, we use heavy-duty road cases with casters. Find a good used one. We pack everything in those,and they take a beating.
Any type of music/computer rack with casters will be better than those utility carts. They have a ton of sizes and many accessories for wire management.
@@tyler0487 Seems like he should mount those rackmount server batteries in... a rack. I know it seems foreign to a lot of people, but 19" racks are cheap and ubiquitous. And indestructible. You could put the rest of the stuff on rack shelves, if it doesn't already come with rackmount hardware. A 1/2 height or 1/3 height rack (or a custom cutoff rack, which we do at work) would not be imposing in size. And you could put industrial strength casters on it. Really like the project otherwise.
Yes we know I can flip the cart over and mount inverter 😂 I had carriage bolts and batteries were loaded. Easy 0:00 We need new systems! 0:25 Tool Karts! 1:10 Building Version 1 3:07 I hate it! 3:45 Version 2! Much Better 5:33 Total Cost 5:57 DIY VS Ecoflow Ultra Price 6:33 Sizing Discussion 7:26 12V Solar Kart! 8:23 Conclusion
Mount the inverter on the front or back vertical side of the tool card, vertically like on a wall. I mean on the side 25.5 "x 39 "- for example under the cup holder.
Or get a 19" rack rolling transit case. They're common in concert audio and military applications. Then you can properly mount everything, and also not worry about that rectangle becoming a collapsing parallelogram when you roll over a bump and the bottom decides it's done moving.
Solar Generators are the way! More & more ideas need to be shared. We are a small fabrication shop but I personally wanna push the design of all ideas moble solar Cart, Generator, Hand truck, ect. Life down here in New Orleans is know for power outages😂
I'm in Gentilly and think I'll be building one of these to roll out during "the season" or you know.. just because Entergy exists lol. I have 2 fish tanks and fridge/freezer to keep going.
I have been following your channel from not long after you started it and I do enjoy your videos and in keeping with alternative energy, I would really like to see you do a few reviews on solar trackers and wind turbines. I noted that you said that it is very windy where you are and as I live in an area that is very windy as well it would be great to see a pro like you test a few wind turbines. I personally like the VAWT as they can catch the wind from any direction and they are normally a bit more quiet than the horizontal wind turbines.
In high heat environments, expect the bottom shelf to sag over time even if it doesn't catastrophically fail. I may or may not have pushed similar GF polymer to the limits many times over the years. 😅 Edit: High heat as in equatorial regions, southwestern/southeastern States, and places like greenhouses/sealed utility rooms. Uncontrolled storage units and garages/outbuildings can also cause issues.
I grew up going to a camp that primarily runs on diesel with some ancient lead acid 12v batteries that ran ran some small lights and a fridge at night . Their so much good stuff now they could easily run a battery system for the whole camp and cycle the generator or solar ti charge them up. The technology and costs is so much better than it used to be
I wish i could clone your brain when it comes to your extensive knowledge with this. Keep up the great work. Learning so much from you and your content.
I made one a couple of months ago. It’s a 12v system and I used your advice with on how to keep the batteries warm by using the Rv tank heater on some metal. I also installed a fuze box and some lights on a pole that’s mounted on the cart and they swivel. The only thing I wish I would have done is changed the wheels out for some that could roll over gravel, grass, and dirt. The wheels on these carts work great in a shop.
Great idea Will. Now add big "off-road" rubber tiers and as you mentioned, Cabin power station, like no other Yes, Will please do a second updated version of this please! Thanks
Good video ! i've been using the smaller rolling cart for work ( service truck ) for about 20 years. They are Great little carts. Best $100.00 i ever spent !
I’ve been wanting to do something like this, but with some Ridgid rolling modular toolboxes for running corded power tools and recharging cordless tool batteries on a jobsite. The trick is it remaining light enough to get up and down stairs.
Will: Love your build and where you took the cart idea. I think you'll run into struggle with the plastic cart once things warm up and/or weight on plastic over time will deform the structure of the cart. Suggestion: Bolt on a few pieces of angle iron on the bottom, under the battery shelf, for added stability. I think the rigidity of the inverter across the top shelf will serve as the same function for it. Still, I do think the plastic wheels will deform or develop flat spots on them for the same reason above, load and warmth over extended time. To overcome that, maybe consider upgrading the wheels to some designed for the weight ... or ... when not needing to move around, elevate the cart on struts/blocks to remove the weight on the wheels.
I have a perfect use for this, this reminds me to finish a project haha. I have a mini setup with 2 Victron inverters and some 48v rack batteries so I can get 220 power for some equipment where only 110 is available. It doesn’t get used a lot but when needed this would be perfect for me
Nice work! I modified a couple of these carts to hold more weight over time. Reenforce the shelves with 1/2 or 3/4 in plywood. I updated the casters with higher rated weight. I found these carts casters don't match up well with after market casters, prepare to drill new holes and update the Bolts and nuts. Shoot add a piece of plywood to the front of the cart, bolt on a service panel with breakers.
Rubbermaid makes carts we use at our work that are plastic. They have a capacity of 500 per shelf 1000 cumulative. They also have the sound with the same capacity and large wheels
These are great to see. There is no proof of reliability or customer service related to technical or software problems. There is a guy who hooked up the EG batteries to an off grid cabin. He has had nothing but problems. I have solar panels on the roof that do not work at all. These ideas are great. Real world use is important.
I built a cart like this that's similar. Except I have 2 of the new 3000w MMP Solar split phase inverters mounted in a unique way. I will post to your forum when I finish building the batteries
Nice build(s). Wish I had neighbors like you. As it is, my neighbors think I'm some sort of lunatic screwing around with all these solar projects. When the power goes away, they'll likely all be fighting over who gets help first though... Thanks.
When you started my first thought was to create like a server rack look at one end where the batteries can slide in and place the inverter at the other end upright behind the batteries. Very interesting. I run 3 LL batteries on two EG4 3000, so I can either do 6000 watts at 120v or 3000 at 240v.
you could cut a piece of plywood to put in the bottom of the tray to distribute the weight better (I'm sure the plastic material is what's rated for 500lbs, but the casters are probably rated for much more).
What about a 1000LB rated wagon with a pull handle? They usually have big rugged wheels and you could just build something to hold the batteries in place and mount the inverter on the front of the battery scaffolding. Home depot has a large 1200lb rated metal gorilla cart for under 200 bucks. The bed is 45" x 23" since the batteries fit in 19" racks that's a pretty good width and at only 18" deep that leaves plenty of space for two stacks of 3 batteries facing inward and then mount the inverters at the front or back. It would be 30kWh of portable power that you could technically tow with a 4 wheeler.
This is just what I need for a critical loads w/240v (well pump). It's a great starter with just 2 batteries. Add to it down the road when budget allows
Always would be a good idea to use some fire proof, stiff material for under the batteries to distribute the load more directly to the wheels. Plastics loove to deform under load. Cheers!
Nice build. I think the first thing to consider is how much capacity and max output do you actually need for your particular situation. Once that is determined, have at it.
It seems like there is enough room to put the inverter in a vertical position on one end of the cart. That would make it very functional. Even if there needed to be a bit of modification to the cart.
Good solution with the cart. You could replace those little casters with larger, inflatable, wheels for better mobility and to absorb vibration away from the electronics
Great video. I've been thinking something similar like this but more of a wooden frame where I can use pneumatic tires or one of those garden wagons and build a top shelf to it with pneumatic tires. I want pneumatic tires because there are two steps I need to overcome to get in the house. I like the concept.
Just watched you rip apart the ecoflow battery, and talk about a new tool to cut them open. I saw the rotary that melted the case, and have been think8ng about it for a while. What I came up with to try, though I don't know the cost, used may be possible, is a medical saw designed to cut off casts. I do know they vibrate back and forth to avoid cutting skin, and depth is easily set. If they can be picked up for a reasonable price, it might work perfectly.
I did something similar, but mich lower power. ALL harbor freight solar and their lead batteries. Plus a little bit of home depot wood. It's nice to have portable power.
You could also mount the inverter vertically on the end of the car and if you really wanted to exceeded the weight, you could put one vertically on each end of the cart
Would love to see you combine. Eg4 3000 with a 48v 50ah battery to get something much more compact. Don't see many of those out there. You're limited to 2500w but that might be worth it to get something pretty small.
"Seems safe" The most common last words. But I agree, does seem to work in practice. Manufacturers typically conservatively rate stuff like that so that they don't get sued.
FYI 1/2" piece of HDPE plastic or plywood cut to the size of that lower shelf will help spread the weight out. I build mountain top solar repeaters for work and this helps when building in a yeti cooler with a thin layer of plastic.
Great project. Always enjoy watching your ideas. But either the camera u film on has a slight fisheye look or those center batteries are sagging a bit, there is a small curve along the top row. 😁 Awesome concept idea.
Next time you could install the inverter with the cart upside down to make it easier. With all the great stuff you build it would be easy to build a cart that has more weight capacity and whatever size you need. Keep up the good work!
You could always add a piece of wood or metal to the bottom shelf if the bolts come through for the casters. Longer hardware and then the battery load is directly on the casters instead of the plastic cart. Just use cardboard to make a template and then transfer it to your substrate of choice and boom, better weight distribution on the bottom for your cells.
That WattCycle 300ah mini is insane, especially the small size. Hopefully you do a review on it as i would love to see how it preforms and how they crammed so much into such a small package.
![Seungmin "그렇게, 천천히, 우리(As we are)" | [Stray Kids : SKZ-PLAYER]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/kAzmhLHePqU/mqdefault.jpg)
Solar Kart Parts List (affiliate links):
*48V Version 2*
Large Tool Kart: amzn.to/3Zcu8vN
Sever Rack Batteries: www.mobile-solarpower.com/server-rack-lifepo4.html
6000XP Inverter/MPPT: www.currentconnected.com/product/eg4-6000xp-inverter/?ref=wp
Battery Cable: amzn.to/3wM2PeB
Solar Disconnect: amzn.to/3VdG27j
NEMA 14-50 male and female: amzn.to/3B16b2m
NEMA 14-50 to 120V load adapter: amzn.to/3Znq0dE
*12V Solar Kart*
Small Tool Kart: amzn.to/3CGciJR
300Ah Wattcycle Battery: www.wattcycle.com/products/wattcycle-12v-300ah-mini-lifepo4-battery?ref=aaezwkkc
12V Inverter: www.mobile-solarpower.com/inverters.html
EcoFlow Website: bit.ly/4fOICJ4
EcoFlow Amazon: bit.ly/3YN6q9c
Jackery (better output for the money vs ecoflow): bit.ly/3USRXHz
Amazon US Store: amzn.to/40N4qjW
0:00 We need new systems!
0:25 Tool Karts!
1:10 Building Version 1
3:07 I hate it!
3:45 Version 2! Much Better
5:33 Total Cost
5:57 DIY VS Ecoflow Ultra Price
6:33 Sizing Discussion
7:26 12V Solar Kart!
8:23 Conclusion
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*Does off-grid solar confuse you?*
Check out my DIY friendly website for solar system blueprints and product recommendations, and so much more!
www.mobile-solarpower.com
*Join our DIY solar community*
#1 largest solar forum on the internet for beginners and professionals alike:
www.diysolarforum.com
*Check out my free book*
Best-selling and beginner-friendly guide to 12V off-grid solar!
www.mobile-solarpower.com/the-book.html
*My Favorite Online Stores for DIY Solar Products:*
*Current Connected*
My favorite USA Distributor! EG4, SOK, Victron, Mr.Cool Heatpumps and High Quality Components. Fantastic customer support:
currentconnected.com/?ref=wp
*Signature Solar*
One-stop shop for various solar products:
www.signaturesolar.com/?ref=h-cvbzfahsek
*WattCycle*
My favorite 12V budget battery!:
www.wattcycle.com/?ref=aaezwkkc
*Epoch Batteries*
My favorite high-quality 12V battery:
www.epochbatteries.com/products/12v-460ah-lifepo4-battery-ip67-heated-bluetooth-victron-comms?rfsn=7352625.50494d
*Watts247*
Need international shipping for large batteries and big inverters? Check them out!
watts247.com/?wpam_id=3
*Rich Solar*
Budget 12V Inverters and MPPT:
richsolar.com/?ref=h-cvbzfahsek
*Battery Hookup*
Cheap used lithium cell deals:
bit.ly/2mIxSqt
5% off code: diysolar
*Contact Information:*
I am NOT available for personal solar system consult! If you wish to contact me, this is my direct email: williamprowsediysolar@gmail.com
Join the forum at diysolarforum.com/ if you wish to hang out with myself and others and talk about solar
*FTC Disclosure Statement and Disclaimers:*
Every video includes paid promotion or sponsorship. Some links on this youtube channel may be affiliate links. We may get paid if you buy something or take an action after clicking one of these. My videos are for educational purposes only. Information is subject to change/update at any time. Electricity is DANGEROUS and can kill. Be smart and use common sense :) DIY Solar Power with Will Prowse is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program,
An affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com
a video on the imminent tariffs would be super useful
The server rack batteries link also shows a metal server rack with 6 batteries (about 30kWh) for $7800, which is pretty compelling (but the inverter is sold separately).
The bottom shelf of the cart can be strengthened in two ways, 1. Add a fifth wheel in the center, often it is possible to find an exact match to the existing wheels or simply buy five new ones. 2. And a sheet of 3/4" plywood between the wheels and the plastic shelf such that the bottom shelf rides atop the plywood. What these two additions do is greatly increase the load capacity of the bottom shelf. I've done this in other applications and it works. Of course it changes nothing in the load capacity of the cart's vertical supports and upper shelf, but that is not where more of the weight of your application is being placed.
If you put a plywood board on the bottom, you may circumvent the weight limit. I believe that the plastic is what is rated, as you can see that the batteries are bowing the bottom of the cart. I think that would fix it!
@@elbowjeans Agreed (see my earlier comment). Just to clarify, the plywood is under the cart, not inside the plastic shelf. So the four wheels must be removed first. Then fit the cart atop the plywood, mark and drill out the holes to re-attach the wheels. Then bolt the wheels + plywood + cart bottom shelf all back together. Finally, adding a fifth wheel in the center will greatly improve the strength of the bottom shelf.
my favorite quote ever. "It seems mostly safe!"
"There will be a Version 2, OK?". 😂
I loved his smirky expression after he said that. Made the whole thing both educational and funny 😊
That's our boy. Mostly safe, but staying dangerous.
I love how Will gets excited over things like finding a big rolling cart. It cracks me up because I would do the same thing! "Oooh, check this out; I bet I could...... " (Yeah, that's definitely me)
Will Prowse is the man!!
Bringing the DIY back to “DIY Solar power w/will prowse”.Great video Thanks Will!
Built a 5000W cart 15 months ago. Planning to put photos on the forum hoping to receive improvement advice and criticism. But it's been Working flawlessly. Thanks for the help.
Sorry, what forum please. Would love to see photos and diy this myself. Thanks.
@Jim-iq6bx diysolarforum this is Will's forum
@@LADETROITthank you
Last year I went with the harbor freight tool cart, put 4 12v 100A batteries on it with an inverter and MPPT with the best part being that the wife did not complain when the power went out and I could sleep without running a generator. I now have two carts that I can use for the cabin, camping, and field day ham radio hobby. Happy Thanksgiving and thanks for the video...
3:58 turn the cart upside down and mount the inverter that way before standing it back up and sliding in the batteries from the skinny side of the cart. Then there is no lifting or unnecessarily large and time consuming bolts to tighten. My two cents :)
Or slide some scrap wood under it to hold it up to the top shelf
Or use the long bolts, but replace them with short bolts one at a time once its in place (time consuming but cleaner finish)
Very Good idea !
Nice!
Most of the time DIY systems are way better than commercial solar generators. Will prowse you are so creative, thanks for the new design update❤.
Ive always fitted over all the prepper and homestead channels promoting all the expensive solar generators foe 3k ot whatever that only putnout 1500 to 2k watts when you can build your own for half the price or twice the capacity..love ypur channel...keep up the real work
The other channels can only "sell" what they understand, which is to say very little. Will gets it front to back, side to side, and top to bottom.
These are my favorite projects of yours. I still use my milk crate camping.
Will, the charts are plastic and the shelves can hold the weight you have on them but they will sag over time. You can prevent this by placing a sheet of 1/2" or 3/4" plywood on the bottom shelf. That will keep the shelf from sagging and causing the cart to fail.
My thought was to bolt some 2X4’s to the casters and set the battery’s on them.
@@wrongmouse1658It's the casters that will fail. They'll fold over. Been there done that. I fully agree with the plywood to distribute the weight. I used 1/2" plywood
Or hardie board instead of plywood
That’s off the charts.😊
@@FauxQue-yk8dt
Now we're into design philosophy.
Just placing a sheet of plywood on the bottom shelf won't do anything, it would be a waste of time.
Bolting the ¾’ plywood to the casters would do something.
My idea was to bolt the two pieces of 2X4 to the casters (the long way), not just placing them once on top.
Doing both would be the over-engineering way go.
Or
If you want, you could just use 1” plywood bolted to the caster, would be best.
The 2X4’s I have in stock, and the ½” in stock. I would have to buy the ¾” or 1” plywood.
Hardie board is just another form of plaster board with no structural strength, good for fire and high moisture locations.
Personally, I would have built the ‘Solar Kart’ from scratch. What fun is it to just buy something?
Great project! I love the experimentation that you do. Keep them coming Will.
Thanks Will. This is exactly the kind of setup I need for my small cabin. Since I’m a complete!!!!! Beginner it would be great if you could do a step by step video for solar dummies. I guess when you’re as smart as you are it may be hard to imagine that even the most basic steps are a challenge for non electrical guys. Love what you’re doing this is awesome!
Will this be left in an unattended cabin that falls below freezing? If so, remember those batteries hate the cold and ones with internal heaters suck a lot of juice.
No this is a B&B and is mostly occupied.
I didn't think the 6000xp was designed to operate in a horizontal configuration. This is a great idea, I could remove my RV generator and replace it with this configuration! Thanks!
Is it a thing that the inverters are not supposed to be horizontal?
@@nismor3490 Yes- they are built so that path of the rising heat has a path to escape. If I remember correctly you can lay them back up to 45 degrees but don't quote me.
They're not dependent on convective air flow so it's fine to have them horizontal
Also just look at it lol. The fans pump air horizontally. It's not like the voltronic ones. And even on those that didn't matter either
@@dalltexno that's not true
I built a diy 12 volt system similar this about 5 years ago on a Harbor Freight cart. Worked great. Thanks for the videos.
I've built two portable systems with rolling tool boxes. Both are 24v, one is 2560Wh and the other 5120Wh. . The smaller system is in a 25 gallon box with separate inverter, mppt charger, shunt and two 12v batteries with raspi running Victron software for monitoring (version 1). The 5120Wh is in a 50 gallon box with an all in one unit and two 24v batteries with raspi running Solar Assistant for monitoring (version 2). These guys kept my refrigerator and two freezers running during our power outage back in Sep. Keep these videos and new ideas coming.
Brilliant. Now need a welding cart for 3 phase, 240v for some us, pleeeeease.
You just read my mind! What a great idea for an all-house backup system!
If you can find the exact wheels on the larger cart you could add a 5th wheel in the center of the bottom shelf. That would make going over weight (and having the bottom shelf sag) a non issue.
A better solution would be to just reinforce the bottom shelf with a sheet of 3/4" ply.
The big problem with the weight rating, though, is the cheap wheels could buckle and collapse. So reinforced bottom shelf plus upgraded wheels to really make it solid.
A great idea. Less complex is to decide how many batteries, size of the inverter, and other accessories you want. Draw it out on paper and have a friend weld a cart you need. That way you are not fighting the "Oh I need one more inch space here". Figure it out and make it.
Drop the equipment off to the friend that you're having weld your cart.
Welders are a different breed and they're very creative and resourceful.
He might have ideas that your mind has not thought of LOL
Using a 4 wheeled cart takes up more space but it's much more practical to get the full power and to expand it easily! Nice work Will 👍
I'm a musician, and to haul amplifiers around, we use heavy-duty road cases with casters. Find a good used one.
We pack everything in those,and they take a beating.
Any type of music/computer rack with casters will be better than those utility carts. They have a ton of sizes and many accessories for wire management.
@@tyler0487 Seems like he should mount those rackmount server batteries in... a rack. I know it seems foreign to a lot of people, but 19" racks are cheap and ubiquitous. And indestructible. You could put the rest of the stuff on rack shelves, if it doesn't already come with rackmount hardware. A 1/2 height or 1/3 height rack (or a custom cutoff rack, which we do at work) would not be imposing in size. And you could put industrial strength casters on it. Really like the project otherwise.
Awesome video. Can’t wait to see your 12V cart.
Always fun to watch your builds
Yes we know I can flip the cart over and mount inverter 😂 I had carriage bolts and batteries were loaded. Easy
0:00 We need new systems!
0:25 Tool Karts!
1:10 Building Version 1
3:07 I hate it!
3:45 Version 2! Much Better
5:33 Total Cost
5:57 DIY VS Ecoflow Ultra Price
6:33 Sizing Discussion
7:26 12V Solar Kart!
8:23 Conclusion
Mount the inverter on the front or back vertical side of the tool card, vertically like on a wall.
I mean on the side 25.5 "x 39 "- for example under the cup holder.
Or get a 19" rack rolling transit case. They're common in concert audio and military applications. Then you can properly mount everything, and also not worry about that rectangle becoming a collapsing parallelogram when you roll over a bump and the bottom decides it's done moving.
Solar Generators are the way! More & more ideas need to be shared. We are a small fabrication shop but I personally wanna push the design of all ideas moble solar Cart, Generator, Hand truck, ect. Life down here in New Orleans is know for power outages😂
I'm in Gentilly and think I'll be building one of these to roll out during "the season" or you know.. just because Entergy exists lol. I have 2 fish tanks and fridge/freezer to keep going.
I have been following your channel from not long after you started it and I do enjoy your videos and in keeping with alternative energy, I would really like to see you do a few reviews on solar trackers and wind turbines.
I noted that you said that it is very windy where you are and as I live in an area that is very windy as well it would be great to see a pro like you test a few wind turbines. I personally like the VAWT as they can catch the wind from any direction and they are normally a bit more quiet than the horizontal wind turbines.
Will, you're a mad electrical scientist. Love it!
LOL Seems mostly safe. Cracks me up when you say stuff like that, Will.
In high heat environments, expect the bottom shelf to sag over time even if it doesn't catastrophically fail.
I may or may not have pushed similar GF polymer to the limits many times over the years.
😅
Edit: High heat as in equatorial regions, southwestern/southeastern States, and places like greenhouses/sealed utility rooms. Uncontrolled storage units and garages/outbuildings can also cause issues.
True
Some said to line the bottom with a sheet of plywood.
I grew up going to a camp that primarily runs on diesel with some ancient lead acid 12v batteries that ran ran some small lights and a fridge at night . Their so much good stuff now they could easily run a battery system for the whole camp and cycle the generator or solar ti charge them up. The technology and costs is so much better than it used to be
Great timing since all the deals happen later this week!
I wish i could clone your brain when it comes to your extensive knowledge with this. Keep up the great work. Learning so much from you and your content.
I made one a couple of months ago. It’s a 12v system and I used your advice with on how to keep the batteries warm by using the Rv tank heater on some metal. I also installed a fuze box and some lights on a pole that’s mounted on the cart and they swivel. The only thing I wish I would have done is changed the wheels out for some that could roll over gravel, grass, and dirt. The wheels on these carts work great in a shop.
Great idea Will.
Now add big "off-road" rubber tiers and as you mentioned, Cabin power station, like no other
Yes, Will please do a second updated version of this please!
Thanks
Good video ! i've been using the smaller rolling cart for work ( service truck ) for about 20 years. They are Great little carts. Best $100.00 i ever spent !
I’ve been wanting to do something like this, but with some Ridgid rolling modular toolboxes for running corded power tools and recharging cordless tool batteries on a jobsite. The trick is it remaining light enough to get up and down stairs.
"It seems mostly safe" 🤣 That's my motto.
Kinda like "Safety Third"
Great job Will. Would work great for a backup during a power outage. If you had room to move to to room to room.
Metro wire shelving cart. 800 lbs per shelf. 2000 lbs per shelf unit. Caster wheels 400 lbs per wheel. Better air flow with wire shelfs.
The Costco wire shelves might work too. Buy another set of wheels and you have a second cart.
Cool build, I love building solar projects in my workshop
I like the idea here. Definately having the weight down low is a good choice.
the coffeecup holder is really useful :)
Nutting carts. Some of them have a wood frame. Heavy duty can haul well over 1,000 lbs. They can be found used at times.
Will: Love your build and where you took the cart idea. I think you'll run into struggle with the plastic cart once things warm up and/or weight on plastic over time will deform the structure of the cart. Suggestion: Bolt on a few pieces of angle iron on the bottom, under the battery shelf, for added stability. I think the rigidity of the inverter across the top shelf will serve as the same function for it. Still, I do think the plastic wheels will deform or develop flat spots on them for the same reason above, load and warmth over extended time. To overcome that, maybe consider upgrading the wheels to some designed for the weight ... or ... when not needing to move around, elevate the cart on struts/blocks to remove the weight on the wheels.
I have a perfect use for this, this reminds me to finish a project haha.
I have a mini setup with 2 Victron inverters and some 48v rack batteries so I can get 220 power for some equipment where only 110 is available.
It doesn’t get used a lot but when needed this would be perfect for me
I've been wishing for this video! Thank you.
John Daniel built a cart system not too long ago. Very well done.
Another great video Will.😊
Nice work! I modified a couple of these carts to hold more weight over time. Reenforce the shelves with 1/2 or 3/4 in plywood. I updated the casters with higher rated weight. I found these carts casters don't match up well with after market casters, prepare to drill new holes and update the Bolts and nuts. Shoot add a piece of plywood to the front of the cart, bolt on a service panel with breakers.
🇨🇦 EASY TO BUILD YOUR OWN CART THEN CAN FIT ANYTHING YOU WANT ,,,THANK YOU VERY GOOD IDEA FOR PORTABLE POWER
Rubbermaid makes carts we use at our work that are plastic. They have a capacity of 500 per shelf 1000 cumulative. They also have the sound with the same capacity and large wheels
These are great to see. There is no proof of reliability or customer service related to technical or software problems. There is a guy who hooked up the EG batteries to an off grid cabin. He has had nothing but problems. I have solar panels on the roof that do not work at all. These ideas are great. Real world use is important.
Damn this comes out right after I bought a large tool box on wheels. The small cart is a great idea
I built a cart like this that's similar. Except I have 2 of the new 3000w MMP Solar split phase inverters mounted in a unique way. I will post to your forum when I finish building the batteries
Nice build(s). Wish I had neighbors like you. As it is, my neighbors think I'm some sort of lunatic screwing around with all these solar projects. When the power goes away, they'll likely all be fighting over who gets help first though... Thanks.
Neighbors suck these days. And some people just can't accept the new solar and battery tech that's out is amazing.
When you started my first thought was to create like a server rack look at one end where the batteries can slide in and place the inverter at the other end upright behind the batteries. Very interesting. I run 3 LL batteries on two EG4 3000, so I can either do 6000 watts at 120v or 3000 at 240v.
Nice set up, do you daisy chain the batteries or use a bus bars? I have two batteries and looking to add another
You can always reinforce the shelf with 3/4" ply. Screw the casters into the Ply and mount the shelf onto the ply.
Build your own cart using parts and the electrician's erector set (Strut, Superstrut and Kindorf) add a set of Heavy-duty casters away you go.
you could cut a piece of plywood to put in the bottom of the tray to distribute the weight better (I'm sure the plastic material is what's rated for 500lbs, but the casters are probably rated for much more).
I recommend using the Signature Solar 3 server rack batteries enclosure and build on it.
I just posted my ecoflow delta pro ultra vs DIY, and then I saw you uploaded this video 😅
Good info Will. Happy Thanks Giving. Cheers
What about a 1000LB rated wagon with a pull handle? They usually have big rugged wheels and you could just build something to hold the batteries in place and mount the inverter on the front of the battery scaffolding. Home depot has a large 1200lb rated metal gorilla cart for under 200 bucks. The bed is 45" x 23" since the batteries fit in 19" racks that's a pretty good width and at only 18" deep that leaves plenty of space for two stacks of 3 batteries facing inward and then mount the inverters at the front or back. It would be 30kWh of portable power that you could technically tow with a 4 wheeler.
So much more room for activities!
Thanks. Happy Thanksgiving!
This is just what I need for a critical loads w/240v (well pump). It's a great starter with just 2 batteries. Add to it down the road when budget allows
Always would be a good idea to use some fire proof, stiff material for under the batteries to distribute the load more directly to the wheels. Plastics loove to deform under load. Cheers!
You are so awesome I love your videos keep it up dude you make me happy
Place a piece of 3/4" plywood on the cart shelves and add another pair of caster wheels in the middle to help support the weight.
Great channel, thanks for clear concise instructions 👍🙏💯
Nice project.
Nice build. I think the first thing to consider is how much capacity and max output do you actually need for your particular situation. Once that is determined, have at it.
It seems like there is enough room to put the inverter in a vertical position on one end of the cart. That would make it very functional. Even if there needed to be a bit of modification to the cart.
Good solution with the cart. You could replace those little casters with larger, inflatable, wheels for better mobility and to absorb vibration away from the electronics
Great video. I've been thinking something similar like this but more of a wooden frame where I can use pneumatic tires or one of those garden wagons and build a top shelf to it with pneumatic tires. I want pneumatic tires because there are two steps I need to overcome to get in the house. I like the concept.
Could have a couple of those retractable extension cords mounted underneath
Good work Thumbs up 👍
Thanks 🎉
Will, hope your cooking your turkey with power from the sun. Happy Thanksgiving
Just watched you rip apart the ecoflow battery, and talk about a new tool to cut them open. I saw the rotary that melted the case, and have been think8ng about it for a while. What I came up with to try, though I don't know the cost, used may be possible, is a medical saw designed to cut off casts. I do know they vibrate back and forth to avoid cutting skin, and depth is easily set. If they can be picked up for a reasonable price, it might work perfectly.
I did something similar, but mich lower power. ALL harbor freight solar and their lead batteries. Plus a little bit of home depot wood. It's nice to have portable power.
Everytime I see you building yet another setup, I want to build my own to power my security cameras, my network stuff and a bunch of lights 😂
It sounds like his hand truck cart would be perfect for that so what's stopping you from building one?
@MyCabinLife Batteries. Where I do live batteries are incredibly expensive and difficult to get.
My favorite thing is seeing your RUclips channel name in the contributions to police activity channel
You could also mount the inverter vertically on the end of the car and if you really wanted to exceeded the weight, you could put one vertically on each end of the cart
great idea-nice set up
Would love to see you combine. Eg4 3000 with a 48v 50ah battery to get something much more compact. Don't see many of those out there. You're limited to 2500w but that might be worth it to get something pretty small.
"Seems safe"
The most common last words. But I agree, does seem to work in practice. Manufacturers typically conservatively rate stuff like that so that they don't get sued.
FYI 1/2" piece of HDPE plastic or plywood cut to the size of that lower shelf will help spread the weight out. I build mountain top solar repeaters for work and this helps when building in a yeti cooler with a thin layer of plastic.
Thank you!!
Thanks Will. Like 2.7K+
Great project. Always enjoy watching your ideas. But either the camera u film on has a slight fisheye look or those center batteries are sagging a bit, there is a small curve along the top row. 😁 Awesome concept idea.
Thanks for sharing
Next time you could install the inverter with the cart upside down to make it easier. With all the great stuff you build it would be easy to build a cart that has more weight capacity and whatever size you need.
Keep up the good work!
Use a 12000XP double the capacity and almost 3 times the solar input.
Would you need to go to a 4/0 battery cable if using a 12000xp?
that is a killer amazon cart!!!
You could always add a piece of wood or metal to the bottom shelf if the bolts come through for the casters. Longer hardware and then the battery load is directly on the casters instead of the plastic cart. Just use cardboard to make a template and then transfer it to your substrate of choice and boom, better weight distribution on the bottom for your cells.
That WattCycle 300ah mini is insane, especially the small size. Hopefully you do a review on it as i would love to see how it preforms and how they crammed so much into such a small package.
12v vs. 48v