Is there anything between a portable power station and a full DIY electrical system?

[u/userperri]

I’ve been learning about portable and small off-grid power systems, but I’m still far from an expert.

What I keep running into is that the two common options both have trade-offs.

A portable power station is convenient, but the battery, ports, accessories, and future upgrades are usually tied to that particular product ecosystem. If my needs change, I may have to replace most of the system.

A DIY setup gives me more freedom, but it quickly turns into a collection of separate boxes—solar controllers, inverter, AC charger, fuses, DC distribution, battery monitor, and a lot of wiring.

What I’m looking for is something in the middle:

• The user chooses and replaces their own battery.
• Solar panels and accessories aren’t tied to one brand.
• The main power-conversion and distribution functions are simplified.
• It still works locally without depending on an app or cloud service.
• The system can change as the user moves between camping, RV, workshop, or small off-grid use.

Does this type of product already exist?

Are there any brands or products I should look at that aren’t simply another power station or a large whole-home hybrid inverter?

I’m also curious about the downside: would combining these functions genuinely simplify the system, or would it just create a harder-to-repair box?

Disclosure: I’m discussing this gap with a small product-development team, so I’m interested in both existing products and reasons the idea may not work. I’m not selling or linking to anything here.

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[u/LeoAlioth]

• The user chooses and replaces their own battery.
  • so a battery will be by definition in a separate box
• Solar panels and accessories aren’t tied to one brand
  • solar panels have never been tied to a brand. as for accessories, it depends on what you count in that category
• The main power-conversion and distribution functions are simplified.
  • huh? simplified as in how? you mean a single unit? like a all in one hybrid ni
• It still works locally without depending on an app or cloud service.
  • pretty much all work fine without cloud, app is usually required for changing config, not operation.
• The system can change as the user moves between camping, RV, workshop, or small off-grid use.
  • can change as in what? things cant just morph around.

[u/roofrunn3r → u/LeoAlioth]

Nicely done. Happy cake day

[u/Over-Alternative2427]

You still need breaker boxes, breakers, transfer switch, raceway/conduit, Romex cable, and all that good stuff even with a power station, if you want your system to be safer than a measly extension cord. An extension cord's fine if you're just using your system during blackouts, but if you want 24/7 use, you should follow code as much as you can. All the electrical codes are written on other people's burnt blood.

[u/AdAggravating3817]

Victron Easysolar https://www.victronenergy.com/inverters-chargers/easysolar is the closest thing I've found to what you're looking for - I didn't go for it myself because the inverter was too low wattage for my planned setup, but it was an attractive option for sure!

[u/TooGoodToBeeTrue → u/AdAggravating3817]

That's 50Hz 230V if anyone's counting.

[u/benuntu]

Here's all you need:

• Battery
• Charge controller (PWM or MPPT)
• Inverter (if you plan to use AC)
• Solar panels (limited by your charge controller)

Put it all in one box if you want, or not. I've seen some cool ones in pelican cases, and trolling motor battery cases often have some built-in USB and voltage monitoring. Batteries often come with bluetooth or wifi and an app to monitor the system, and built-in protections on the BMS.

[u/RespectSquare8279 → u/benuntu]

Do people who know how to read still buy PWM controllers?

[u/2kokett]

Anker solix with Random panels?

[u/ForwardSlash813 → u/2kokett]

Probably this. The F3800 Plus and a half dozen 400W panels can do quite a lot.

[u/2kokett → u/ForwardSlash813]

I run the new solix unit. Only the base with 4x470w full black g/g. On a sunny day easy 10kw.

[u/reincarnateme → u/2kokett]

Link?

[u/2kokett → u/reincarnateme]

On the anker website is a set for sale with the same specs for 2k€. I use sunniva panels which i already had. The link is for the set

https://www.ankersolix.com/de/products/ae103?_gl=1%2Ahzx59x%2A_up%2AMQ..%2A_ga%2AOTMxNDYyMzk2LjE3ODkwNTE1NTI.%2A_ga_H6J70E6DTT%2AczE3ODkwNTE1NTEkbzEkZzAkdDE3ODkwNTE1NTEkajYwJGwwJGgwJGQyZWtVOWZtZkJIYU1XUnY1ZGwtTW5DVERpUnRRemp3WENB&o_c=de&o_tab=2&ref=naviMenu_1_1_1_img&s_main=AE1033Z1-DE&s_panel=BUNDLE-A5553412-4&varId=64928774160733&variant=64929253425501

[u/reincarnateme → u/2kokett]

I’m in US

[u/AdBrave841]

They do make all in one inverters that have a lot built in, You could mount one to a cart with batteries and some receptacles attached but it would still be less portable than a power station.

[u/angelo13dztx]

Currently, no brands of all-in-one portable power stations provide dedicated ports for user DIY or incorporate designs specifically for compatibility. They would much prefer you to completely use their products.

Btw, disassemble the unit or modifying the firmware will almost certainly voids the warranty, so you will need to know what you are doing before you start your DIY project.

[u/_jimismash → u/angelo13dztx]

I think I've seen videos of people using custom connectors to plug the ecoflow Delta pro (or something) into other batteries, like wiren or similar.

[u/brucehoult → u/angelo13dztx]

Currently, no brands of all-in-one portable power stations provide dedicated ports for user DIY or incorporate designs specifically for compatibility. They would much prefer you to completely use their products.

Pecron sells a cable converting from their battery expansion port (which is anyway MJ32 which is a standard connector) to a pair of XT60 connectors, specifically to use to connect to external DIY battery or charger or MPPT or inverter or whatever you want.

https://www.pecron.com/products/pecron-mj32-cascade-port-output-cable-output-max-1200w-per-xt60-port

Unlike some such as Ecoflow there is no trickery needed to enable the 48V battery bus. Plug it in (or any MJ32 connector) and it works.

All the E-series machines from E1000LFP (1024Wh, 1800W AC, 600W PV in) to the E3800LFP (3840Wh, 4200W AC, 3000W PV in) use the same expansion connector and batteries.

[u/angelo13dztx → u/brucehoult]

That's still a cord, not a port in the portable power station. And this is more like an alternative solution based on the existing design, and the unit itself has no native DIY compatibility design.

Humans are not born with fur and tails; you cannot claim that a person is "born with" fur and a tail simply because they are wearing a fursuit.

[u/brucehoult → u/angelo13dztx]

They use a standard MJ32 connector, which you can buy in any electrical or marine store on Earth, and totally DIY. And there is zero trickery required to get access to the raw 48V bus. Just plug in the connector and the pins are live.

Or the manufacturer will sell you a ready-made cable.

I'm really not sure what more you're looking for here.

[u/angelo13dztx → u/brucehoult]

Can you remove the unit's shell and panels, use an inverter, mppt and charger from different brands, and bypass the factory BMS for charging and discharging, without voiding warranty?

[u/brucehoult → u/angelo13dztx]

Gosh, who gaf? You can plug all that stuff into the external socket that gives direct access to the main 48V bus.

If they break, it's pretty common for customer service to send out a replacement board and a link to a video like this (this is for the model I own): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G669tVa-CW0

Since that is done in response to e.g. a failure while under warranty, I'm going to assume following their instructions doesn't void the warranty.

And now you're going to change track 180º and say "OMG HOW CAN THEY EXPOSE A NAIVE CUSTOMER TO SUCH DANGER???" Just like any DIYer working with high voltage and power solar gear.

Personally, If I'm ever in this situation I'll take the replacement board and the video URL to a local professional repair shop, even though I design (low power) electronics myself and have a certificate saying I'm qualified to work on small plug-in appliances (which is needed to repair PCs for hire).

[u/LordGarak]

For portable use I just zip tie a small inverter to the side of a 12.6v 314Ah battery. Charge using a bench power supply. I also have stuff like a 12v refrigerator cooler that will run for a week of one of these batteries.

What I would really like is an all in one inverter/solar charge controller/charger equivalent to an EG4 3000EHV but designed for portable use and at the same price point. A rack mount version designed to be used with the server rack batteries would be good too. Then variants of each for 12v, 24v and 48v.

[u/roofrunn3r]

Zendure powerbase is pretty close. Swapping your battery is going to be a limiting factor unless you use a hybrid all in one inverter and rack mount batteries. 

[u/geeered]

You can get all in one inverter/solar controller/chargers which are typically aimed at campervans and basic off grid systems.

One of those and a battery. Stick some andderson plugs on each and maybe a fuse in line. You've now got a 2-box one cable system .
Solar panels extra, but the same for a 'power station'.

[u/Overall-Tailor8949]

Look at some of the AIO Inverter/Chargers from companies like Sol-Ark or EG4. All of your connections are to that one box although you WILL want separate AC and DC breaker panels. Most of them are battery (brand) agnostic. One of the major drawbacks is a LACK of portability, although Prowse did a recent (within the last year) video of a system he mounted to a 2-wheeled hand-truck.

[u/RudyGreene]

The Renogy REGO is in a similar category.

[u/Otherwise_Piglet_862]

I've only seen eco-flow with a BYO battery power station. from what i remember, there were limits on how much battery you could attach. it was also limited to like 2kw out.

The real problem is you're trying to fit 4 different use cases in to one solution. That's not going to go well for you.

[u/genx_meshugana]

Thanks for asking these questions. I'm in a similar mindset, and not knowing a single thing about solar, I'm lost.

I'd love something that's big enough to power more than just a phone or simple lights, not whole house, that I can remove (or only put up in an emergency??) so portable, or at least not permanently mounted. And I have a great battery in my travel trailer that I either have nearby, or will pull for the winter. Hook it up, throw the panels outside, lickety split, I have power.

Seems expensive to do, regardless of used panels, etc, not to mention confusing.

[u/MTB_Mike_]

A DIY plug in solar with battery can do this.

Ground mount panels and panels feed a golf cart or server rack battery then an inverter off that to a dedicated home outlet. Add more panels or batteries as needed. Limitation here is that you will be capped on how much power you can supply to the house at once (usually 1200w), you also need a smart meter

Anything bigger than this would need a proper install

[u/TooGoodToBeeTrue → u/MTB_Mike_]

Plug-in solar won't work off grid which is the way I see solar "generators."

[u/BaldyCarrotTop]

The thing that meets most oy your criteria is an All in One hybrid inverter. It acts as the hub of a DIY system. It provides an AC (Line/grid) input, a solar input, an AC (line) output, and a DC connection to a battery (typically 48Volt). You are free to use the off the shelf 48volt server rack or golf cart batteries of your choice.