In this video, I give you a look at the new BougeRV Sunflow 60 amp MPPT solar controller installed into my fifth-wheel trailer off-grid power system. The 60 amp controller will be a perfect match for my 940 watts of rooftop solar and eliminate the need for and complexity of running two 40 amp controllers … Read more
We’re enjoying ourselves on the boat again, cruising the BC coast, and I thought it was a good time to update you on this season’s solar panel setup. We made a nice upgrade this year with a pair of 195-watt Renogy ShadowFlux panels mounted on the rail. They have performed very well, especially in terms … Read more
This month, I’m testing a new Renogy solar panel called the ShadowFlux. It’s designed for better shade tolerance with 16 bus bars and 28 bypass diodes, plus it offers higher conversion efficiency, longer lifespan, and improved performance in hot conditions. I’m really interested in how it’ll work on my boat, with the mast and rigging … Read more
I’m back with a first look at Bluetti’s new Charger 2 DC-to-DC charger. If you remember, I reviewed their Charger 1 last winter, did a couple of videos on it, and we ran it all summer on the boat with great success. I was able to draw up to 500 watts from the engine alternator … Read more
In this video, I demonstrate my new hydraulic wire crimper. I needed to buy a new crimper because my old one couldn’t crimp the 4/0 lugs needed for a new off-grid power system project I’m working on. I chose one from a company called AMZCNC. It came with a large selection of dies, ranging from … Read more
In this video, I take a look at and demo a 450W folding portable solar panel from ZOUPW. The panel is very similar in design to the Renogy 400W I’ve been using for the last couple of years. In my mid-January test, it delivered up to 360 watts to my Bluetti Elite 100 power station, … Read more
In this video, I provide an update on the latest iteration of the boat’s off-grid power system. The most significant change has been the addition of a second house bank of lithium. I replaced the aging lead acid bank, which consisted of four Trojan 6V gold cart batteries, with a 460Ah Vatrer LiFePo4 battery. This, … Read more
Here is a look at the smallest Bluetti power station in their product lineup. The AC2A weighs only 7.9 lbs and has dimensions of 9.8inｘ6.1inｘ6.8in. Even though it is small, it still has a battery capacity of 204 watt-hours and can output up to 300 watts of continuous AC power and handle a surge of … Read more
In this video, a look at the latest incarnation of our boat’s primary house battery bank system. When we bought the 34″ tri-cabin trawler named “Vestri” last summer, it came with two battery banks. The engine starter bank consists of two 12VDC AGM batteries wired in series and a house bank with four 6VDC golf … Read more
A look at a new CIGS (Copper Indium Gallium Selenide) 360-degree flexible thin-filmed solar panel from BougeRV. The panel features new technology that allows it to be rolled up! Being super thin and lightweight makes it perfect for mounting on curved surfaces found on many RVs and boats. In this video, I mount it on … Read more
Our off-grid power system has constantly grown and evolved over the last 13 years of RVing with our Keystone Cougar fifth-wheel trailer. Each snowbird season, I tinker with and improve the system. We love boondocking in the USA’s southwestern desert. Having the extra power to run all our RV appliances and electronics without shore power … Read more
This video shows footage from the Eco-Dynamic booth in the big tent at the 2024 Quartzsite RV show. They were displaying a new solar awning product for RVs. New thin rollable solar panels are incorporated into the awning, providing up to 1000 watts of power. I also provide my thoughts and observations of this interesting … Read more
When we bought our CHB trawler “Vestri” in June 2023, its off-grid power system was relatively limited. It consisted of two 100W solar panels, a 15 amp solar charger, and 4 Trojan 6V batteries. Good enough for some boaters, but we are heavy power users, having been spoiled by our extensive off-grid system in our … Read more
In this video, I show you my roughed-in version of a project I’ve been puttering around with lately. I’m utilizing various spare off-grid electronic components and batteries to build a toolbox power station for my pickup truck bed. The primary purpose is powering my multiple dash cams in parking mode for surveillance and storing extra … 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