Generator help

[kalakoa]

For me, the best trick was putting the fridge on a timer so it doesn't run all night while I'm asleep and not opening the door.

[punikahakaiferret]

I hope to be able to get my little 500w power station running again even tho I know it won't do anything to help my whole-house solar system situation, otherwise it is a paperweight or doorstop. But it would be nice to use it for small-kine stuff. Looking into any hacks and tips, so those are welcome; thank you randomq!
And not sure if the unit is lithium or not, gotta try and find the specs. It is Paxcess/Rockwell brand, bought around 4 or so years ago. AFAIC, that company is sh*t. I was talked into buying it from a friend, who at the time thought they were great. They have since bought a Jackery....

As for my whole-house solar, I am pretty upset at how quickly my 4 AGM batteries have crapped out, but apparently it happens...some are really awesome and others, well, not-so-much, and I have no recourse and there is nothing I can do about them other than to try and keep them going until next Wednesday when my new LiFePo4 is installed.

I love the simple off-grid life until it isn't simple! Ugh.

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Kalakoa, that's what my solar guy just suggested today when I got hold of him with questions about bypassing the batteries and just using the panels. Gonna try that for now. Just gotta make it to Wednesday...

Thanks for the tip!

[randomq]

Also, do everything power intensive mid-morning, and leaving plenty of time for your batteries to charge up during peak sun hours after.

[punikahakaiferret]

Mahalo randomq, have definitely been trying to do that, and have even started unplugging the fridge at night. That alone made a HUGE difference last night, batteries never dropped into the "danger zone". Will be keeping that up until Wednesday. Luckily, don't have much in the way of highly perishable food. Eat a lot of fresh.

Been quite a learning experience (that I guess I should have learned several years ago!) Didn't think this was going to happen so quickly; those batteries crapping out. Hope this thread can be useful to others...the sort of thing I've always used PW for...advice, opinions, info.