[RE-wrenches] Tiny House "all in one" hardware hunt

[Mick Abraham]

Hi, Wrenchies~ An off grid tiny home in my home county will only be
occupied two days per week. The sole occupant has lived there for many
moons. He knows about being spartan... except he legit needs to add more
loads which would overtax the original energy system. I wish he could go
"all modern" but as we know, cold temps are an issue with high tech
batteries. Bluetti is now selling a small "all in one" with a 900wH sodium
ion battery in the box. It may be more correct to call this a "solar
generator" instead of an AIO, esp. since the Bluetti box can't sell into
the grid.

Link to Bluetti Pioneer NA
<https://www.bluettipower.com/products/sodium-ion-battery-pioneer-na?_pos=1&_psq=na&_ss=e&_v=1.0&variant=47699009143003>


General feedback on Bluetti brand would be welcomed, Wrenchies. A few
consumers have posted reviews that are non-scientific & without much track
time. My presale questions to Bluetti generated a ticket number but no
human response. Will Prowse disses hard on sodium chemistry on his DIYsolar
youtube channel.

I know at least one of the List members has indicated that sodium is coming
along, but I fear the challenge of care and feeding unless there's a legit
sodium vendor with US warranty and correct guidance for care and feeding.
So far, I'm not inspired to roll my own around  sodium-ion.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"Plan B" is lithium iron phosphate in a well insulated box with a
thermostatically controlled heating mat ... plus oversized PV and battery
so the system can ride through storms while keeping the battery OK. No
generator; no automated space heating; other than the battery heating,
cabin loads while unoccupied would approach zero watt-hours. Client doesn't
want to add round the clock internet and he can't travel to the site every
day to babysit. Yep, things could go sideways without plenty of PV and
battery.

I briefly considered Victron electronics but another goal is compact size
for the indoor components ... and did I mention the budget is tight? "Ain't
nothing simple in this world." Here's a Phocos item that is almost an "all
in one" electronics bundle for tiny off grid:

Phocos Any-Grid PSW-B Series PSW-B Series PSW-B-0.5KW-120-12V 500Watt 12VDC
120VAC Pure Sine Wave Battery Inverter/Charger
<https://www.solarflexion.com/product-p/psw-b-0.5kw-120-12v.htm>

Built in MPPT charge controller with 600 watt clipping point? "Check."
Lithium compatible? "Check, but open loop only." Inverting plus charging if
the client will ever add a generator? "Check, but the AC wattage both ways
is ~ 500 watts." Built in digital display? "Check, but no amp-hour
percentage tracking". This Phocos 500 is also more money than the client
wants to spend (considering the Bluetti box includes the sodium battery for
only $350 more). Are there similar inverter/chargers with built in MPPT...
for less money compared to the Phocos... which are known reliable? Prolly
I'd need to add an LVD control for DC loads, too.

Any experience from the Wrenches with these Phocos inverters? Phocos has a
German pedigree & much track time in the USA; some of their charge
controllers disappointed me & clients, but that was long ago. I considered
Victron separate components but that direction would go too bulky and too
expensive at a fairly rapid clip.

"Only a few simple requests today, Mechanix. The Wrench List is the Bomb!"

Mick Abraham, Proprietor
www.abrahamsolar.com

Cell phone or for text messaging: 970-946-6584
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