Install an opening for solar charging and emergency propane heat

Install an opening for solar charging and emergency propane heat

I just wanted to share with you a solution I came up with to solve a problem of having to keep the door open while I was charging my solar generator. 

I have a screened covered porch, so as long as the weather is above freezing I can just leave my solar generator on the porch. My solar generator is a Bluetti AC200Max. The AC200Max has a lithium Iron Phosphate battery. And as you know, you can’t charge a Lithium iron phosphate battery if the battery is below 32 degrees Fahrenheit. I also had my solar generator on a cart that was a little difficult to wheel out to the porch and back in again. So I would typically just leave the door open and run the PV cables out through the door. Soon, I realized that I needed a better way. 

 

Portable Bluetti 350 watt Solar Pantl

So I decided to just put a hole in my house. I’m sure there is a better name for what I did, but I basically just made a hole in my house to run the cables through it. 

 

Outside

 

Inside

This worked great!

 

This actually solved another problem I was wondering about. During an emergency or power outage I may want to use my emergency propane heater. I have a Mr. Heater Buddy Propane heater and a 20lb propane tank. It’s not safe to have larger 20 lb propane tanks or larger in the house while using them. So this opening solved two problems.

 

It is safe to use these small 1 pound propane tanks that screw directly into the Buddy heater indoors.

 

You can watch the video which shows more information on how I made the opening in the house.

Weatherproof Outlet Cover – https://amzn.to/3m85i02

Inside Wall Plate –  https://amzn.to/41zgt2e

Auger Drill Bit – https://amzn.to/3Zj24G0 

Hole Saw – https://amzn.to/3SH7SWY 

Other Stuff in the video

Mr Buddy Propane Heater – https://amzn.to/3ENyiRl 

Bluetti AC200MAX – https://amzn.to/3ia1dH0 

Bluetti B230 Battery – https://amzn.to/3jEztej 

Bluetti PV350 Solar Panel – https://amzn.to/3GrNTY6 

Drywall Saw – https://amzn.to/3ENGwcj 

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I cover a variety of preparedness and self sufficiency topics such as DIY Solar Generators, Living Off Grid, Generators, Vegetable Gardening and growing your own food, Water and Food Storage, Water Catchment, Emergency Lighting, Product Reviews and other topics I’m interested in.

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