Last spring, I installed and tested an inexpensive 40 amp MPPT solar charge controller sold online by BougeRV. So far, it’s been working well. Recently I was contacted by the actual manufacturer of the controller. A company called SRNE. They asked if I’d want to look at a different model of their RV solar charge … Read more
Luckily, I’ve had a chance to try out and review several portable lithium power stations throughout the last couple of years. I’ve tested various Jackery, Himcen, Bluetti, and Lion Energy offerings. In the comment section of these videos, I’d often hear about another lithium power station maker called EcoFlow. Several people even asked if I … Read more
Over the last 11 years of full-time RVing, our off-grid power system has evolved and changed quite often. Early on, I slowly increased our power input and output options and storage capacity as I could afford it. Then as my LYRV YouTube channel grew, I was offered product samples for review by various companies. Many … Read more
In this video, I take a cheap battery monitor w/shunt I had kicking around and repurposed it to show amps and volts coming off a 600-watt solar panel array. I wired it up to be able to be easily connected in line with the solar panel output cable. The main reason for this meter is … Read more
As a special gift to one of my viewers in the southwest this winter, I’ve decided to giveaway a little starter kit for off-grid camping. The kit includes a 100 amp-hour lithium battery, a 180-watt solar panel, and a 30 amp solar charge controller. All you need to do is provide your own wire, connectors, … Read more
In this video, I demo and review a 100 amp-hour 12V lithium battery from Aolithium. The battery looks well made and utilizes quality components like grade “A” CALB brand lithium cells. But what intrigued me was the inclusion of Bluetooth data connectivity. A feature not often seen in a battery that sells in the same … Read more
In this video, I demo a 180W solar panel from a company called BougeRV. I have reviewed their 170W panels in the past, but this is the newer, more powerful panel. Overall, it looks like an OK panel build-wise and puts out close to the max-rated watts in my tests. I tested charging a 12V … Read more
Over the years, I’ve reviewed several portable lithium battery power stations, often referred to as solar generators. For example, the Jackery 1000 and Himcen 740P. I found both were well built but lacked the inverter power to handle higher wattage AC loads. So when Bluetti contacted me asking for a review of their AC200P model, … Read more
In this video, I go through the current state of my RV boondocking power systems. Over the last year or so, I’ve added more solar panels, a 40 amp DC-DC charger, and a new 40 amp MPPT solar charge controller. With all these recent additions, a major reorganization to the existing system and wiring was … Read more
Last spring, I reviewed a couple of items from an online seller called BougeRV. I had a look at their 170W solar panels and AC/DC portable fridge freezer. Though both are not the best quality out there, they weren’t too bad considering the price. Since then, the company has been asking me to review something … Read more
Introduction In this post, I’m reviewing the compact but powerful HIMCEN H740P 740 Watt Hour portable power station. The H740P will be out for sale soon and boasts several unique features compared to similar power boxes on the market. Disclaimer: The product review samples were provided free of charge. However, I’m not affiliated with the HIMCEN … Read more
This video shows you a cool new campsite decoration I made using a solar-powered water fountain. Then to jazz it up a bit, I added pretty rocks and stones I’ve been collecting from a nearby ocean beach. The goal is to attract birds to the bath. But even if they don’t show up, I think … Read more
In this video, I demo and review a compact and lightweight complete solar system from Lensun Solar Energy. The kit includes a 200-watt semiflexible solar panel array that folds up into a super portable 16″x16″ square. It also consists of a waterproof EPever 15A MPPT controller, various hookup cables, a canvas carrying bag, and an … Read more
This video demonstrates and reviews the newly released Jackery 1000 portable power station and the companion SolarSaga folding 100W solar panel. This Jackery box comes with a built-in 1000 watt pure sine wave AC inverter powered by a 1002 watt-hour lithium battery pack. There is also a selection of DC outputs to choose from, maxing … Read more
In this video, I review a 170-watt solar panel from a company called BougeRV. First, I check over the build quality and inform you of the dimensions, weight, and rated output voltage and amperage. We also have a quick look at the shipping packaging. Next, I set up a testbed using one of my Lion … Read more