[RE-wrenches] Portable power station for surge loads

[David Quattro]

I like Mr. Coale’s timer idea.  Also there are electric cooktops that have
their own built-in battery.  I don’t know if any mfr makes a 120v version,
but it seems like it would be a good solution.


On Sat, Mar 21, 2026 at 9:02 AM David Coale via RE-wrenches <
re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote:

> You could put a timer on the power station so that it charges at night
> when there are minimal loads and runs the induction cooktop during the day.
>
> David
>
> On Fri, Mar 20, 2026 at 10:23 PM William Miller via RE-wrenches <
> re-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org> wrote:
>
>> Friends:
>>
>>
>>
>> A long-time client has an ADU 755 conduit feet from the main house.  They
>> started off-grid but they are now grid connected.
>>
>>
>>
>> In 1999 we pulled a 120 volt feeder of #1 aluminum to the ADU.  This
>> provides about 10 amps at 5% voltage drop.
>>
>>
>>
>> This client wants to abandon a propane cook-top in the ADU in favor of an
>> induction cook-top (indoor air pollution as a consideration).  A sample two
>> burner induction cook-top is 1800 watts--too much power draw for this
>> feeder.
>>
>>
>>
>> I was wondering if a portable power station rated at enough power to run
>> the induction cook-top might solve this problem.  The 10 amp power feed can
>> charge the power station at (hopefully) an acceptable amperage over an
>> extended time period and the power station can provide enough surge power
>> to run the cook-top intermittently.
>>
>>
>>
>> I see the Bluetti AC500, for example, can be adjusted to draw no more
>> than 10 amps when plugged into AC.  Unfortunately this charge rate, when
>> running at the full 10 amps, allows little overhead for other loads.  I
>> presume this 10 amps draw is only 10 amps when the internal battery is
>> fully discharged.  Maybe other units can charge at a lower rate.
>>
>>
>>
>> Have any of you tried this?  Any input is appreciated.
>>
>>
>>
>> William
>>
>>
>>
>> William Miller
>>
>> Miller Solar
>>
>> www.millersolar.com
>>
>> CA License C-10 77398
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> List sponsored by Redwood Alliance
>>
>> Pay optional member dues here: http://re-wrenches.org
>>
>> List Address: RE-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org
>>
>> Change listserver email address & settings:
>> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org
>>
>> There are two list archives for searching. When one doesn't work, try the
>> other:
>> https://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/
>> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org
>>
>> List rules & etiquette:
>> http://www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm
>>
>> Check out or update participant bios:
>> http://www.members.re-wrenches.org
>>
>> _______________________________________________
> List sponsored by Redwood Alliance
>
> Pay optional member dues here: http://re-wrenches.org
>
> List Address: RE-wrenches at lists.re-wrenches.org
>
> Change listserver email address & settings:
> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/options.cgi/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org
>
> There are two list archives for searching. When one doesn't work, try the
> other:
> https://www.mail-archive.com/re-wrenches@lists.re-wrenches.org/
> http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org
>
> List rules & etiquette:
> http://www.re-wrenches.org/etiquette.htm
>
> Check out or update participant bios:
> http://www.members.re-wrenches.org
>
>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://lists.re-wrenches.org/pipermail/re-wrenches-re-wrenches.org/attachments/20260321/086b0f4d/attachment.htm>