Page 3 of 4

Re: Kodiak Inergy,battery +

Posted: January 27th, 2018, 2:52 pm
by A Rooney
It's been a while since I updated I have used my Kodiak everyday since June without issue ....since early November I stopped running the electric fridge and now use a 50 qt Yeti cooler this size will also fit in front of the stove in my premier without blocking traffic.I find the cooler keeps things at 31_35 range for a week with 20 ibs of ice...The Kodiak runs everything else with plenty of energy to spare.I have a small toatronic antenna but find the amplifier to be key,I need to try it on the road as my guess is the built-in winegard amp makes very little difference in reception.Rooney

Re: Kodiak Inergy,battery +

Posted: February 2nd, 2018, 8:09 am
by A Rooney
A couple items to add,....I now use 3 solar panels 160 watt ea,actually 2 but they replaced one that arrived with broken glass,the broken one seems to generate power fine and..so 3 . I connected a 30 amp breaker between the panels and the Kodiak and find that during mid morning the breaker will trip.Which is to say the Kodiak charges very quickly..I also bought a Instapot mini which draws 700 watts....but find that during a typical 40 minute program that 700 watts is only briefly at the start to buildup pressure in the cooker.This is an item like the Kodiak I would like to adapt to Chinook/travel.I like the quickness the convience of programs as well as the minimizing of cooking smells.I utilize it while the sun's up,and find it runs via the applied solar,and the battery itself still reads full after use .Rooney

Re: Kodiak Inergy,battery +

Posted: February 2nd, 2018, 10:30 am
by Blue~Go
Hi Rooney,
A Rooney wrote:I now use 3 solar panels 160 watt ea,actually 2 but they replaced one that arrived with broken glass,the broken one seems to generate power fine and..so 3 .
I'm curious where you are fitting three 160 watt panels. At least the ones I've seen are around 26" x 58". Or are you using them on the ground? If so, where do you keep them when you are traveling?

A Rooney wrote:I connected a 30 amp breaker between the panels and the Kodiak and find that during mid morning the breaker will trip.Which is to say the Kodiak charges very quickly.
I don't completely follow this, but I'd like to understand it. So (as I'm reading it) you have a 30 amp breaker .... either between the panels and the charge controller, or between the charge controller and the battery (Kodiak unit). So it will trip when battery(ies) take more than 30 amps from the controller/panels. But... why does that indicate its fully charged? As I understand it, lithium batteries will accept charge even faster than AGM's (which are already fast), but that doesn't necessarily mean they are charged (in my case it would mean they were NOT charged, and thus were gulping whatever I could throw at them). Thus, it's more about the voltage, not how many amps are going in.

I just helped a friend put in a lithium system (but in a more traditional battery format) and they will happily gulp down the 50 amps his panels can provide (he has 800 watts, so it's just limited by his 50 amp controller). But they will do that throughout the charging cycle, not just when they are full. In his case, the mfgr specifies that they are charged at 14.2 volts, and the BMS will shut down charging after they reach that for however long he has poked into the specifications. (Unlike lead acid, there really isn't any absorption period where they slowly go from 85% to 100%; rather they just keep on slowly rising in voltage until they reach the full point). So they may start out at say, 13.5 volts, and then they will take whatever number of amps you throw at them until they rise to 14.2 volts and the BMS says "okay, we're done." But that doesn't occur at any set number of amps; it's all about the voltage (because the lithiums just charge at full speed ahead until they are full).

I'm always interested in charging systems, so this caught my eye and I'd like to understand it better.
BG

Re: Kodiak Inergy,battery +

Posted: February 2nd, 2018, 10:44 am
by Scott
Thanks for the updates, Rooney. Interesting to hear that you prefer the Yeti over your electric fridge. I'd like to hear more. I'm with you on the pressure cooker. I use a Presto stainless steel stove top unit. Very efficient, fast, tender meat, and performs as a regular pot if needed. Your electric unit looks slick, too. Nice to hear your system is performing well. 8-)

Re: Kodiak Inergy,battery +

Posted: February 2nd, 2018, 11:07 am
by Blue~Go
Isn't it cool how many options there are "nowadays"? Especially if one is willing to think outside the box (or adjust needs outside the box).

Re: Kodiak Inergy,battery +

Posted: February 2nd, 2018, 2:16 pm
by A Rooney
sorry for the confusion,I intended to just update with some of my experience with the Kodiak,and also threw in some strategies to other aspects connected to using same.At present (previous stated) I am using it off grid cabin in the Southwest.BUT...with the intention of porting it over to Chinook use.As other place stated I spent some time updating my electrical system with a single panel (1) at present ...charge controller battery monitor etc... Which was working fine and dandy But I was drawn to the Kodiak as it added Extra caoacity,Included an inverter (saving me from wiring in to existing system and was portable.In addition I was drawn to Lithium by it's ability to take in lots of amps quickly unlike lead acid absorption rate slowdown.The 3 panels I use Are Not on the Chinook and I mentioned them only as I am Trying out the Kodiak first in the cabin before adapting it to the Chinook.In that was not clear I apologise.I don't know if my strategies to enhance the Chinook exp.has Any value to Any other member here but I am posting my experiences and others may use it or ignore it as they feel it pertains to their interests.I tried to run a mini fridge via the Kodiak but found that during extended cloudy days (exception not rule here)I would run out by the 3rd day or so ...So I bought the Yeti and extra agm battery to connect to The Kodiak,and another solar panel.....So far I have not used the extra agm battery...The extra panel turned into 2 because they gifted me the panel that arrived broken.These are standard not portable panels. I glass .I added that breaker between the panels and the Kodiak for 2 reasons 1) the Kodiak input connector is limited as to the amps it will accept.and 2)I had doubts about that panel with broken glass and wanted an extra layer of protection? I am not electrically trained so I just wing it.Why did I post that?To illustrate my amazment that lithium would take in 30 amps at a time.My fixed panel on my premier same type wattage typically charges my lead acid batteries at 1-4 amps in the same light depending on how far they are discharged.Those are recollection s not hard data...but illustrate as you mention the Lithium difference.sometime in the next 6 months I want to do a draw down test to see how my capacity had diminished over time.The Yeti is great...but of course it is not Summer.It fits in a space in the Chinook with hindrance to my use pattern.I mention the Instapot because I like the idea of adapting it to cook stuff in the RV while I am on the road....I have a propane stove in the cabin also...but I like the programming of the appliance.Rooney

Re: Kodiak Inergy,battery +

Posted: February 2nd, 2018, 2:23 pm
by A Rooney
Oops didn't proof read..that should be the Yeti DoesNot hinder my use pattern....The 50 qt model fits on the floor in front of stove between fridge and dinner .it does block the cabinet door below stove top but I use that for storing items I don't regularly need to access.Rooney

Re: Kodiak Inergy,battery +

Posted: February 2nd, 2018, 3:10 pm
by Blue~Go
Okay, I gotcha now. I might have known but forgotten you were testing things out in a off-grid cabin. I can't speak for anyone else, but I always find experiments and reports interesting.

Re: Kodiak Inergy,battery +

Posted: February 2nd, 2018, 9:15 pm
by Scott
Blue~Go wrote:I can't speak for anyone else, but I always find experiments and reports interesting.
Totally agree. It's fortunate to be able to learn from the unique successes/errors of brave folks, even if it's just for entertainment value.

I'll take luck over skill every time, but handed knowledge isn't too bad either.

Re: Kodiak Inergy,battery +

Posted: March 4th, 2018, 7:54 pm
by Sbell
I just got my Inergy kit and have already blown both my front and back car plug fuses in my Prius v (full size wagon). It is the peak amphrage that is the problem.

Any suggestions other than to rewire my car battery? I still have warranty on my car.

My Inergy came without any green energy meter lights lit up - so about half full.

Today I was able to luckaly charge it via AC wall outlet for an hour and half. Finally got first green meter light on. :D. The sad thing is that the charger box and part of the cord to it was very hot by then. So hot that part of the cable was soft and pliable.


Anyone know of where to get better quality - thicker ans heavier duty charging cables for the wall charger?

Any suggestions on how to slow down or better yet pause the display screen on the generator kit?


Thanks in advance,