DIY "Green" UPS/battery backup generator - the comforts of home in your Ford Ranger!

[DIYAndy]

DIY "Green" UPS/battery backup generator - the comforts of home in your Ford Ranger!

Imagine grabbing a "cold one" from a fridge or having a microwave dinner prepared from the back of your Ford Ranger truck bed - bon appétit!

Warning - For your safety and protection you probably need a truck bed cover (Tonneau) to protect the DIY UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply)/Battery Backup-Generator from the elements. (I happen to know of a very low cost DIY truck bed cover design ) You can also use a heavy poly tarp to protect the backup generator.
You also need to make a portable secure enclosure so it can be easily lifted/transported/secured in the vehicle truck bed or lifted out and away and left at home as another alternative for emergency home battery backup. The key is to separate the light modules eg charger/inverter from the heavy 50# batteries from the portable enclosure and keep them protected.

There is no use in "re-inventing the wheel" so I will give a URL link on how it is done. (You can expand or reduce this system very easily according to need or watts)
https://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-Build-a-Battery-Backup-Generator/

You need to add to this system design a 12V 140 Amp Dual Battery Isolator - Voltage Sensitive Relay (VSR).
https://www.amazon.com/Dual-Battery-Isolator-KeyLine-Chargers/dp/B00WTAFR5W/ref=asc_df_B00WTAFR5W/?tag=hyprod20&linkCode=df0&hvadid=241914879076&hvpos=1o1&hvnetw=g&hvrand=16357893450110416009&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9014989&hvtargid=pla-467048321278&psc=1

This will allow your Ranger to automatically charge the UPS/Battery Backup Generator without running down your Ranger's main/starting battery. I would add, to the VSR, two fuses (on both + - leads - 200 amp ANL fuses) and a positive on/off cutoff switch near the main engine battery for protection, safety and lockout. Then run the 12 volt power cabling to the truck bed to the UPS/Battery Backup Generator. Also, you can use your household AC to charge the UPS/Battery Backup Generator BUT don't forget to unplug the AC from the charger module before driving away! - very bad things will happen. I do not recommend using an external solar charging on UPS/Battery Backup Generator because of the solar high cost and long charge time due to the 2.1 kWH high capacity, sealed, AGM, deep discharge, marine battery(s). Charging the UPS/battery backup generator with AC should only take over night. Charging from the Ranger alternator will also keep the sealed batteries at the proper charge level.

Cost - going "green" you will always pay a premium. A crude estimate for the 2.1 kWH UPS/Battery Backup Generator is ~ $1100 but this cost can be greatly reduced by carefully shopping around for parts. Using fossil fuel to power a gas generator/inverter generator at 2000 watts will cost you ~ $500 (Harbor Freight). Of course, you need lots of fossil fuel, periodic engine maintenance, low run time/duty cycle and put up with the noise. The generator 53# weight to lift it over the 36" tailgate is fairly easy but you need to keep it away from the Ranger for safe operation. The Harbor Freight 3500/4375 Watt Max Starting Extra Long Life Gas Powered Generator will only set you back only $400 (less with discounts) but asking the wife to lift this ~ 100 # generator in/out of the truck bed is committing suicide.

DIYAndy
End of Project 1/16/2020

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[DIYAndy]

For the non DIY ers, with money to spare or burn, try this ...
https://www.homedepot.com/p/EGO-56-...3MzLJqumzmh-IdzWQThoCojkQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Ego Nexus Power Station

Pros:
Green
Very light weight for transport ~ 50#
Pure "sine wave" AC output

Cons:
Need "all" 4 batteries for max power output
Expensive
Can't replenish/charge from your vehicle.
Can't use it while charging.
Can't add solar.
Marketing department failed basic math 101 - they cannot or will not show the true/real power output runtime of Ego Nexus Power Station because of total overall cost is extremely high. "Green" Lithium batteries are very expensive, compared to deep cycle lead acid, in this application.
https://www.bing.com/videos/search q=youtube+ego+power+station&view=detail&mid=13B960F1E00629F73A2D13B960F1E00629F73A2D&FORM=VIRE

 

[BHunted]

For the non DIY ers, with money to spare or burn, try this ...
https://www.homedepot.com/p/EGO-56-Volt-3000-Watt-Nexus-Power-Station-Portable-Generator-Powered-with-4-x-5-0-Ah-Batteries-PST3041/310012956

Ego Nexus Power Station

Pros:
Green
Very light weight for transport ~ 50#
Pure "sine wave" AC output

Cons:
Need "all" 4 batteries for max power output
Expensive
Can't replenish/charge from your vehicle.
Can't use it while charging.
Can't add solar.
Marketing department failed basic math 101 - they cannot or will not show the true/real power output runtime of Ego Nexus Power Station because of total overall cost is extremely high. "Green" Lithium batteries are very expensive, compared to deep cycle lead acid, in this application.
https://www.bing.com/videos/search q=youtube+ego+power+station&view=detail&mid=13B960F1E00629F73A2D13B960F1E00629F73A2D&FORM=VIRE

Links are ng....,

 

[DIYAndy]

Links are ng....,

I just re-fixed them

 

[Sashimi_Moto]

Seems like a YETI Goal zero 1000 or 1400 would be the (expensive) easy button here.

 

[DIYAndy]

Seems like a YETI Goal zero 1000 or 1400 would be the (expensive) easy button here.

YETI 1400 with only 240 watts ~ $1900 - This project, with Lead AGM Marine deep cycle batteries, is ~ 2.100 kWH for ~ $1100. Very expensive indeed for YETI with a 25 hr. charge time.

updated 2/7/20 14:26 - added a decimal point for better clarification.
So, in comparison, 0.240 kWH versus 2.100 kWH which is ~ 8.75 greater

 

[Mike in UT]

So, does this work to charge the house battery even with the "smart" alternator that is much more restricted in its operation than an old school one?

 

[DIYAndy]

So, does this work to charge the house battery even with the "smart" alternator that is much more restricted in its operation than an old school one?

If the Ranger "has a smart alternator" this renders it unsuccessful at charging a secondary battery system to a usable level BUT
a Ford service center can/could deactivate smart alternator function. Then the dual battery setup works as expected.

 

[Alex Bedrosian]

If the Ranger "has a smart alternator" this renders it unsuccessful at charging a secondary battery system to a usable level BUT
a Ford service center can/could deactivate smart alternator function. Then the dual battery setup works as expected.

You will need this (or something like it) for this ranger https://www.ebay.com/itm/REDARC-BCD...619536&hash=item288f2f8d5b:g:HdgAAOSwhJteU9af to do a dual battery set up due to the "smart alt." or most times while you are driving you will not be charging your second battery

REDARC BCDC1225D DUAL BATTERY ISOLATOR SYSTEM DC TO DC MPPT SOLAR AGM & LITHIUM

 

[Dr.Me]

For the non DIY ers, with money to spare or burn, try this ...
https://www.homedepot.com/p/EGO-56-...3MzLJqumzmh-IdzWQThoCojkQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

Ego Nexus Power Station

Pros:
Green
Very light weight for transport ~ 50#
Pure "sine wave" AC output

Cons:
Need "all" 4 batteries for max power output
Expensive
Can't replenish/charge from your vehicle.
Can't use it while charging.
Can't add solar.
Marketing department failed basic math 101 - they cannot or will not show the true/real power output runtime of Ego Nexus Power Station because of total overall cost is extremely high. "Green" Lithium batteries are very expensive, compared to deep cycle lead acid, in this application.
https://www.bing.com/videos/search q=youtube+ego+power+station&view=detail&mid=13B960F1E00629F73A2D13B960F1E00629F73A2D&FORM=VIRE

Should remove the "can't" in the Con's list and change it to "cost" the people buying those got money and space to waste

 

[DIYAndy]

Should remove the "can't" in the Con's list and change it to "cost" the people buying those got money and space to waste

After reviewing several costs in reguarding battery backup generators for the Ford Ranger, here is what I have come up with.

1. Lithium power is way too expensive to use but some vendors has a number of cycle charging of over 2000.
2. Deep discharge, marine AGM (lead acid) (this project) has a cycle charging of ~ 500 and will last for ten years. (after ten years, you lose all your money)
3. Gas powered inverter generator - best value for the money.

 

[FairFrank]

After reviewing several costs in reguarding battery backup generators for the Ford Ranger, here is what I have come up with.

1. Lithium power is way too expensive to use but some vendors has a number of cycle charging of over 2000.
2. Deep discharge, marine AGM (lead acid) (this project) has a cycle charging of ~ 500 and will last for ten years. (after ten years, you lose all your money)
3. Gas powered inverter generator - best value for the money.

Sorry for the up. I'm wondering is there any option to use solar power generators in this case(was inspired here)? Probably, somebody used it, what are the pros and cons?

 

[halligan1201]

YETI 1400 with only 240 watts ~ $1900 - This project, with Lead AGM Marine deep cycle batteries, is ~ 2.100 kWH for ~ $1100. Very expensive indeed for YETI with a 25 hr. charge time.

updated 2/7/20 14:26 - added a decimal point for better clarification.
So, in comparison, 0.240 kWH versus 2.100 kWH which is ~ 8.75 greater

Deep cycle don't maintain their output throughout a charge though; after 40% of their charge has been spent, their output drops off significantly, where lithium maintains a consistent output until almost fully depleted. In real world, this means it takes additional deep cycle batteries to equal the actual available energy. Still cheaper but not very efficient.

 

[Sardog]

I am planning a build similar to this using a Deep cycle battery, and a Solar setup that will be contained in a large ammo can (1500 round 7.62mm) that I have laying around for portability. Would be used to power small electronics and a powered cooler for camping. If it is successful I will include pictures.

 

[Msfitoy]

I just re-fixed them

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