I'm thinking of getting a portable solar generator for my wife, who loves to spend time working in our shed and yard. We already have electricity running to the shed, but I thought a generator would be a cool addition. Ideally, I want to know if it's feasible to get one that's powerful enough to charge a power drill.
5 Answers
I opted for a battery-powered drill myself, and it lasts all day without needing to fuss with solar generators. Also, most solar generators can easily charge battery tools, so it’s a good route if you go that way.
Any EcoFlow product should work just fine for charging power tools like drills! They have solid options that pack enough punch for that.
Just a heads-up: gifting someone a tool-related item might not be the best route unless you know their preferences! My wife has gotten me things that ended up unused after a few birthdays because they didn’t match what I actually needed.
Before making a purchase, you should definitely calculate the power consumption you’ll need. For example, a Ryobi 4Ah 18V battery uses around 72 watt-hours. If you have a 12V 100Ah battery, you can recharge that Ryobi battery about five times per day, factoring in some efficiency losses! Just remember to get enough solar panel capacity to recharge everything even on cloudy days. And hey, congrats on having a wife who’s into tools and solar!
If you already have grid power, why bother with solar just for charging a power brick? Seems unnecessary to me. You can charge the brick from the grid and then use that for your tools, which is much simpler!
Totally agree! Solar panels and extra capacity are key. You’ll want it to handle rainy days too. Plus, having a backup for other projects might be a win-win!