Poor Man's Solar

Living off-grid or cutting energy costs doesn’t have to break the bank. My journey into solar power started with a simple goal: power my essential devices in genral and in emergency situations, e.g. Plug-In Festivals Icecube Dual fridge, a kettle, my computer, and e-bike batteries using a budget-friendly setup. After researching, I settled on the Anker SOLIX F2600 Portable Power Station and the Anker SOLIX PS400 Solar Panel. Here’s how it went.

The Setup

The Anker F2600 has a 2560Wh capacity and 2400W output, ideal for high-draw devices like my Icecube Dual fridge (200W), kettle (1800W), computer (150W), and e-bike battery charger (100W). The PS400 solar panel, with 400W output and 23% conversion efficiency, keeps the F2600 charged using sunlight. Both are portable, durable, and suited for outdoor use, with the PS400’s IP67 waterproof rating and adjustable angles (30°, 40°, 50°, 80°) for optimal sun capture.

I set up the PS400 in my garden, angled south for maximum sunlight. It connects to the F2600 via an MC4 to XT-60 cable. The F2600’s wheels and handle made it easy to position near my appliances, plugged into its the 12 V car socket output or the usb ports. I’m trying to not use the AC outlets.

The Experience

On sunny days, the PS400 generates around 300W, charging the F2600 to 80% in about 5.7 hours. The Anker app lets me monitor input/output and adjust settings via Wi-Fi. The fridge runs for ~12.5 hours, the kettle for ~1.4 hours, the computer for ~17 hours, and the e-bike charger for ~25 hours on a full F2600 charge. Cloudy days drop output significantly—sometimes to 0W—so I use AC charging during off-peak hours to save costs.

The setup isn’t perfect. The PS400 (16 kg) is a bit difficult to adjust, and the F2600 is quite noisy under heavy load. It sounds like a fighter jet. Still, it reliably powers my fridge, kettle, computer, and e-bike batteries for the whole day and night on a sunny day.

Cost and Amortization

I paid €1800 for the F2600 and PS400 combined. With electricity at €0.35/kWh (Austria/Germany average), the setup powers ~2300Wh (90% effiecney) daily via solar, saving ~€0.80/day or €292/year. Amortization takes ~6.2 years (€1800 ÷ €292). Grid backup on cloudy days extends this slightly, but the system’s versatility and outage protection add value beyond savings.

Final Thoughts

The Anker F2600 and PS400 combo is a solid “poor man’s solar” solution. It powers my fridge, kettle, computer, and e-bike batteries off-grid with enough sun. User-friendly and reliable, it’s ideal for our little house. Hope for sunny days :)