{"id":6732,"date":"2025-05-13T04:21:35","date_gmt":"2025-05-13T04:21:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/youtubomatic-test\/demoa26f6b3a\/2025\/05\/13\/shtf-cheap-emergency-solar-power-use-any-single-solar-panel-1-2\/"},"modified":"2025-05-13T04:21:35","modified_gmt":"2025-05-13T04:21:35","slug":"shtf-cheap-emergency-solar-power-use-any-single-solar-panel-1-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/youtubomatic-test\/demoa26f6b3a\/2025\/05\/13\/shtf-cheap-emergency-solar-power-use-any-single-solar-panel-1-2\/","title":{"rendered":"SHTF &#8211; Cheap Emergency Solar Power! Use Any SINGLE Solar Panel! 1\/2"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"youtubomatic-video-container\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" allow=\"autoplay\" width=\"580\" height=\"380\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/IFSVIkmaAtA?controls=1\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<p>In this video, I show you how to build a cheap emergency solar power system that will work with practically any solar panel. I will power USB and small 12-Volt appliances by harvesting power directly from the solar panel. This simple system uses only a couple of cheap parts and does not require an inverter, battery, or charge controller.  USB (5v) and 12V are the most common DC power sources used for small electronics. <\/p>\n<p>If you are on a homestead, this system can be deployed with a small car battery to power remote cameras, lights, radios and alarms.  <\/p>\n<p>A buck converter is very efficient at energy conversion. This particular DC to DC converter is unique to this task because of its wide-ranging input voltage of 20V-90V as many other converters are fixed to a set input voltage.<\/p>\n<p>If DIY sounds intimidating or you do not want to invest in the tools needed to DIY, check out portable USB Solar Chargers below.<\/p>\n<p>NOTE: Although 200 watts of solar power are relatively benign. Never connect more than ONE panel or combination of panels totaling more than 200 watts of power to a buck converter. If you are uneasy about connecting wires, look at getting a USB Solar Charger instead (see below). Always use common sense when dealing with electricity. See my website for more details.<\/p>\n<p>*** Schematic And Complete Parts List (01-22-2025) ***<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.natesdiysolar.com\/projects\/shtf-emergency-solar-power\/\" target=\"_blank\">https:\/\/www.natesdiysolar.com\/projects\/shtf-emergency-solar-power\/<\/a><\/p>\n<p>The Ultimate Buck: Directly from AliExpress (not affiliate link):<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aliexpress.us\/item\/3256805802656119.html?gatewayAdapt=glo2usa4itemAdapt<br\" target=\"_blank\">https:\/\/www.aliexpress.us\/item\/3256805802656119.html?gatewayAdapt=glo2usa4itemAdapt<br<\/a> \/><a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/UUH9kHPPX2Q\" target=\"_blank\">https:\/\/youtu.be\/UUH9kHPPX2Q<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Portable USB Solar Chargers<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/youtu.be\/gbXcJI6VRcI\" target=\"_blank\">https:\/\/youtu.be\/gbXcJI6VRcI<\/a><\/p>\n<p>0:00<br \/>0:03 &#8211; Intro<br \/>1:00 &#8211; The Parts<br \/>3:58 &#8211; Wire Buck Converter<br \/>4:39 &#8211; The 12V Appliances<br \/>5:12 &#8211; The USB Devices<br \/>5:40 &#8211; Something Cool<br \/>6:25 &#8211; Wire MC4 Connectors <br \/>7:30 &#8211; Test USB Devices<br \/>8:45 &#8211; Test 12V Appliances <br \/>10:36 &#8211; Make Coffee (clouds)<br \/>12:30 &#8211; Renogy 100W Panel Test<br \/>14:43 &#8211; Charge LiFePO4 Battery<br \/>18:18 &#8211; Something Cool #2<br \/>18:47 &#8211; Conclusion <\/p>\n<p>*** DC-DC (BUCK) Converter Options ***  <\/p>\n<p>NOTE: 07-14-2023 &#8211; These are quickly becoming sold out! Check my website for more options.<br \/>&#8211; If the item on Amazon does not match the link here then its sold out.<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.natesdiysolar.com\/projects\/shtf-emergency-solar-power\/\" target=\"_blank\">https:\/\/www.natesdiysolar.com\/projects\/shtf-emergency-solar-power\/<\/a><\/p>\n<p>XWST:  90 Volts PV (VOC) MAX<\/p>\n<p>20-90V in to 12V DC 10A 120W out<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/46E75Np\" target=\"_blank\">https:\/\/amzn.to\/46E75Np<\/a><br \/>20-90V in to 12V DC 16A 196W out<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3Px3IBQ\" target=\"_blank\">https:\/\/amzn.to\/3Px3IBQ<\/a><br \/>20-90V in to 12V DC 20A 240W out<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3NPFtxt\" target=\"_blank\">https:\/\/amzn.to\/3NPFtxt<\/a><\/p>\n<p>See my website for more details and options.<\/p>\n<p>*** USB Panel Options ***  <\/p>\n<p>Dual QC3.0 USB Car Charger Socket Panel Switch<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3JE7tkU\" target=\"_blank\">https:\/\/amzn.to\/3JE7tkU<\/a>  <br \/>(4 in 1) 12V USB Panel &#8211; 78W 3 Ports USB C 12V Outlet Dual PD 30W<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/431JmDP\" target=\"_blank\">https:\/\/amzn.to\/431JmDP<\/a><br \/>65W USB-C PD USB Module Only (Power Delivery for higher power devices)<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/46wdV7p\" target=\"_blank\">https:\/\/amzn.to\/46wdV7p<\/a> <\/p>\n<p>NOTE: 06-29-2023 &#8211; Wires are pretty thin on these USB panels. They will get warm at 12A <br \/>Some come with a 10A fuse that will smoke using 12V appliances.<\/p>\n<p>*** Cables and Connectors (affiliate links) ***<\/p>\n<p>10 Feet 10AWG Solar Ext. Cable With MC4 Connectors Installed<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/44iFQpt\" target=\"_blank\">https:\/\/amzn.to\/44iFQpt<\/a><br \/>10 Feet 12AWG XT60 Solar Panel Ext. Cable <br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3rdKRBG\" target=\"_blank\">https:\/\/amzn.to\/3rdKRBG<\/a><br \/>Pair of 9In 12AWG MC4 Pigtail <br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3Py8bEd\" target=\"_blank\">https:\/\/amzn.to\/3Py8bEd<\/a><\/p>\n<p>NOTE: The items listed below will work with the 16A\/192W buck converter, with the exception of the 300W heater. You may not be able to use them at the same time. I recommend getting the 20A converter to allow for some headroom and not overload.<\/p>\n<p>*** 12 Volt Appliances &#8211; Video  ***<br \/>\ud83d\udc40 my website for more options&#8230;<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.natesdiysolar.com\/projects\/shtf-emergency-solar-power\/\" target=\"_blank\">https:\/\/www.natesdiysolar.com\/projects\/shtf-emergency-solar-power\/<\/a><\/p>\n<p>*** Reputable Companies (affiliate links) ***<\/p>\n<p>AmpereTime\/LiTime: Great LiFePO4 Batteries<br \/>3% Coupon Code: NATESDIY<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.litime.com\/?ref=XBwnqBoJfUkkE4<br\" target=\"_blank\">https:\/\/www.litime.com\/?ref=XBwnqBoJfUkkE4<br<\/a> \/><br \/>Current Connected: Ready-to-Run Solar Kits and Victron Equipment<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/currentconnected.com\/?ref=lbh7znvv<br\" target=\"_blank\">https:\/\/currentconnected.com\/?ref=lbh7znvv<br<\/a> \/><br \/>SanTan Solar: New and Used Solar Panels:<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.santansolar.com\/?ref=84967534<br\" target=\"_blank\">https:\/\/www.santansolar.com\/?ref=84967534<br<\/a> \/><br \/>SFK: Quality DIY Battery Enclosures and Ready-to-Run Batteries:<br \/>6% Coupon Code: NATESDIY<br \/><a href=\"https:\/\/www.sunfunkits.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">https:\/\/www.sunfunkits.com\/<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Contact Information:<br \/>I am not available for personal solar system consult! <\/p>\n<p>Email: nate@natesdiysolar.com<br \/>Website: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.natesdiysolar.com\" target=\"_blank\">https:\/\/www.natesdiysolar.com<\/a><\/p>\n<p>FTC Disclosure Statement and Disclaimers:<\/p>\n<p>This video is NOT sponsored. Some product links are affiliate links, which means if you buy something, We&#8217;ll receive a small commission.<\/p>\n<p>Videos on this channel are for EDUCATIONAL purposes only. Electricity is dangerous and can kill. Please use common sense.<\/p>\n<p>Nate&#8217;s DYI Solar is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>In this video, I show you how to build a cheap emergency solar power system that will work with practically any solar panel. I will power USB and small 12-Volt appliances by harvesting power directly from the solar panel. This simple system uses only a couple of cheap parts and does not require an inverter, [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8553,"featured_media":6733,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[27796,27793,198,1587,27795,27792,178,22933,27791,27797,27799,182,117,3112,20722,177,50,32,34,27798,27794],"tags":[27787,27784,193,1573,27786,27783,172,22918,27782,27788,27790,176,60,3093,20707,171,23,5,7,27789,27785],"class_list":["post-6732","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-12v-solar-power-generator","category-best-solar-generator","category-diy-solar","category-diy-solar-generator","category-diy-solar-power-generator","category-emergency-back-up-solar-power-generator","category-emergency-preparedness","category-emergency-solar","category-emergency-solar-panel","category-how-to-make-a-solar-power-generator","category-off-grid-power-solar-generator","category-shtf","category-solar","category-solar-charger","category-solar-charger-power-bank","category-solar-generator","category-solar-panel","category-solar-panels","category-solar-power","category-the-best-diy-solar-power-generator-on-youtube","category-toolbox-solar-power-generator","tag-12v-solar-power-generator","tag-best-solar-generator","tag-diy-solar","tag-diy-solar-generator","tag-diy-solar-power-generator","tag-emergency-back-up-solar-power-generator","tag-emergency-preparedness","tag-emergency-solar","tag-emergency-solar-panel","tag-how-to-make-a-solar-power-generator","tag-off-grid-power-solar-generator","tag-shtf","tag-solar","tag-solar-charger","tag-solar-charger-power-bank","tag-solar-generator","tag-solar-panel","tag-solar-panels","tag-solar-power","tag-the-best-diy-solar-power-generator-on-youtube","tag-toolbox-solar-power-generator"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/youtubomatic-test\/demoa26f6b3a\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6732","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/youtubomatic-test\/demoa26f6b3a\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/youtubomatic-test\/demoa26f6b3a\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/youtubomatic-test\/demoa26f6b3a\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/8553"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/youtubomatic-test\/demoa26f6b3a\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6732"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/youtubomatic-test\/demoa26f6b3a\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6732\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/youtubomatic-test\/demoa26f6b3a\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6733"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/youtubomatic-test\/demoa26f6b3a\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6732"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/youtubomatic-test\/demoa26f6b3a\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6732"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wpinitiate.com\/youtubomatic-test\/demoa26f6b3a\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6732"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}