Uploaded June 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 days ago
Your AC's compressor slams your power system with a startup surge so violent it can trip breakers and overload your entire backup setup — and most people have no idea how bad theirs really is until they measure it.
In this episode I answer your top questions: I show the real before-and-after inrush numbers on my condenser, break down the soft start that tamed it, and get into the Wattcycle V2 inverter upgrade, mixing plug-in solar with an existing Enphase system, 50A vs 100A pass-through, and the LiFePO4 state-of-charge drift that makes your battery monitor "lie" to you. Regardless if you're prepping to run AC off backup power this summer or building out your battery bank, there's something here before you spend a dollar.
Watch my full video about when I installed the soft start on my whole home air conditioner: youtu.be/JT9Sw57CZXE?si=4HqG3FH7H7boS8DK
Buy a MicroAir Easy Start: amzn.to/4g2cTHk
Watch my review of the WattCycle 12K Inverter: youtu.be/hofoZklTnyI
Buy the WattCycle 12K Inverter: wattcycle.com/products/12kw-split-phase-solar-inverter-48v?ref=fspaohfd
Be sure and use the code: TRICK
Watch all of my plug-in solar videos: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-2uuHDasQcpYK6Gwr3jWb_oNBDt4IKwK
Watch my Tower Of Power Video: youtu.be/ar4289F7M6s
Watch all of my Question & Answer videos: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-2uuHDasQcoD59X1P7eHg6erZe6eAKTJ
NEED HELP? Ask me a question and get a personal in depth response: ko-fi.com/s/8d8df1880c
OR
Sit down for a personal 1-On-1 hour long video consultation with me and I’ll provide answers and insights to anything you want to ask me about from this channel: ko-fi.com/s/dd139831a7
All donations get 100% re-invested in the channel:
buymeacoffee.com/theresatrickforthat
🔍 Looking for something specific? Search across hundreds of my videos — way better than YouTube search: https://tatftsearchapp.netlify.app/
Chapters:
0:00 Question #1
1:32 Question #2
2:27 Question #3
4:18 Question #4
9:10 Question #5
#SolarPower #BatteryBackup #OffGrid #DIYSolar #SolarAC #LiFePO4 #PortablePowerStation #EnergyIndependence #SoftStart #TheresATrickForThat
Affiliate Disclosure
As an Amazon associate I earn from qualifying purchases at no cost to you! Thanks for your support!
Disclaimer: Due to factors beyond the control of There’s a Trick for That, I cannot guarantee against improper use or unauthorized modifications of this information. There’s a Trick for That assumes no liability for property damage or injury incurred as a result of any of the information contained in this video. Use this information at your own risk. There’s a Trick for That recommends safe practices when working on machines and or with tools seen or implied in this video. Due to factors beyond the control of There’s a Trick for That, no information contained in this video shall create any expressed or implied warranty or guarantee of any particular result. Any injury, damage, or loss that may result from improper use of these tools, equipment, or from the information contained in this video is the sole responsibility of the user and not There’s a Trick for That.
Your AC's compressor slams your power system with a startup surge so violent it can trip breakers and overload your entire backup setup — and most people have no idea how bad theirs really is until they measure it.
In this episode I answer your top questions: I show the real before-and-after inrush numbers on my condenser, break down the soft start that tamed it, and get into the Wattcycle V2 inverter upgrade, mixing plug-in solar with an existing Enphase system, 50A vs 100A pass-through, and the LiFePO4 state-of-charge drift that makes your battery monitor "lie" to you. Regardless if you're prepping to run AC off backup power this summer or building out your battery bank, there's something here before you spend a dollar.
Watch my full video about when I installed the soft start on my whole home air conditioner: youtu.be/JT9Sw57CZXE?si=4HqG3FH7H7boS8DK
Buy a MicroAir Easy Start: amzn.to/4g2cTHk
Watch my review of the WattCycle 12K Inverter: youtu.be/hofoZklTnyI
Buy the WattCycle 12K Inverter: wattcycle.com/products/12kw-split-phase-solar-inverter-48v?ref=fspaohfd
Be sure and use the code: TRICK
Watch all of my plug-in solar videos: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-2uuHDasQcpYK6Gwr3jWb_oNBDt4IKwK
Watch my Tower Of Power Video: youtu.be/ar4289F7M6s
Watch all of my Question & Answer videos: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-2uuHDasQcoD59X1P7eHg6erZe6eAKTJ
NEED HELP? Ask me a question and get a personal in depth response: ko-fi.com/s/8d8df1880c
OR
Sit down for a personal 1-On-1 hour long video consultation with me and I’ll provide answers and insights to anything you want to ask me about from this channel: ko-fi.com/s/dd139831a7
All donations get 100% re-invested in the channel:
buymeacoffee.com/theresatrickforthat
🔍 Looking for something specific? Search across hundreds of my videos — way better than YouTube search: https://tatftsearchapp.netlify.app/
Chapters:
0:00 Question #1
1:32 Question #2
2:27 Question #3
4:18 Question #4
9:10 Question #5
#SolarPower #BatteryBackup #OffGrid #DIYSolar #SolarAC #LiFePO4 #PortablePowerStation #EnergyIndependence #SoftStart #TheresATrickForThat
Affiliate Disclosure
As an Amazon associate I earn from qualifying purchases at no cost to you! Thanks for your support!
Disclaimer: Due to factors beyond the control of There’s a Trick for That, I cannot guarantee against improper use or unauthorized modifications of this information. There’s a Trick for That assumes no liability for property damage or injury incurred as a result of any of the information contained in this video. Use this information at your own risk. There’s a Trick for That recommends safe practices when working on machines and or with tools seen or implied in this video. Due to factors beyond the control of There’s a Trick for That, no information contained in this video shall create any expressed or implied warranty or guarantee of any particular result. Any injury, damage, or loss that may result from improper use of these tools, equipment, or from the information contained in this video is the sole responsibility of the user and not There’s a Trick for That.
![The 60V Solar Limit Is Finally SOLVED [CHEAP FIX]](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/qCgUGNSbtc0/mqdefault.jpg "The 60V Solar Limit Is Finally SOLVED [CHEAP FIX]
The 60V solar limit found on many portable power stations has made it unnecessarily difficult to connect affordable glass solar panels. But these Callsun 275W panels may finally solve that problem. I connected two panels in series, measured approximately 51.1V open circuit, and saw roughly 478W of solar input during 105°F weather.
The pair provides 550W of rated solar for approximately $495.99 before any available discount, while several portable-power-station-branded alternatives cost significantly more for less rated capacity. I also test their partial-shade performance, real-world output, dimensions, weight, construction, and compatibility with high-amperage portable power stations.
Buy CallSun 275W Bi-Facial power station optimized solar panels: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0H557MJJC?ref=t_ac_view_request_product_image&campaignId=amzn1.campaign.1AIO7OUEH743X&linkCode=tr1&tag=jeffrey93-20&linkId=amzn1.campaign.1AIO7OUEH743X_1785542121908
OR buy the 2 pack: https://amzn.to/4xW6TWy
Visit CallSun’s Main Website: https://callsunsolar.com/?ref=THERESATRICKFORTHAT
Buy the best performing smaller 200w solar panels from CallSun: https://amzn.to/4wCaCYy
Watch my full review of them: https://youtu.be/_lHq0dginok
Watch my full testing with snow on the ground: https://youtu.be/WQhVHqbskUU
Buy 450W bi-facial CallSun solar panels: https://amzn.to/4w6qkLR
OR buy a pallet of 36 of these panels! FREE shipping & NO Tax! https://callsunsolar.com/products/450w-n-type-solar-panel?ref=THERESATRICKFORTHAT&variant=55469569573032
Use code: THERESATRICKFOR and save a whopping $600 off your pallet order!
Watch my full review and testing video of them here: https://youtu.be/crXHXBqQigU
Buy my favorite solar panel stands: https://minutemansolar.com/product/portable-solar-panel-stand-legs/?ref=y6yfs
Watch my full review video of them here: https://youtu.be/-F7PPfeRTM8
Buy the Bluetti Elite 300: https://tidd.ly/4speryd
Code: TATFT8OFF (8% off for the Elite300 series)
OR buy on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4evVeax
Watch all my portable power station testing videos: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL-2uuHDasQcr0pa4IMBj4kcjxSdNlGpr1
Buy MC4 cables: https://amzn.to/4f3jK2E
Buy MC4 to XT60i connector cables: https://amzn.to/4h91jed
Buy MC4 disconnect tools: https://amzn.to/3S7kGtZ
NEED HELP? Ask me a question and get a personal in depth response: https://ko-fi.com/s/8d8df1880c
OR
Sit down for a personal 1-On-1 hour long video consultation with me and I’ll provide answers and insights to anything you want to ask me about from this channel: https://ko-fi.com/s/dd139831a7
All donations get 100% re-invested in the channel:
https://buymeacoffee.com/theresatrickforthat
🔍 Looking for something specific? Search across hundreds of my videos — way better than YouTube search: https://search.theresatrickforthat.com/
Chapters:
0:00 Best solar panels for portable power stations!
1:08 Unboxing the CallSun 275W Bi-Facial High Amperage Solar Panels
1:47 Specs & Features
4:49 Testing VOC
5:18 CRAZY amount of power!
6:06 These panels are PERFECT for your portable power stations!
7:06 Artificial Shade Tests
9:53 Natural Shade Tests
10:46 Pricing breakdown – CRAZY GOOD!
#PortablePowerStation #SolarPanels #OffGridSolar #DIYsolar #Callsun
Affiliate Disclosure
As an Amazon associate I earn from qualifying purchases at no cost to you! Thanks for your support!
Disclaimer: Due to factors beyond the control of There’s a Trick for That, I cannot guarantee against improper use or unauthorized modifications of this information. There’s a Trick for That assumes no liability for property damage or injury incurred as a result of any of the information contained in this video. Use this information at your own risk. There’s a Trick for That recommends safe practices when working on machines and or with tools seen or implied in this video. Due to factors beyond the control of There’s a Trick for That, no information contained in this video shall create any expressed or implied warranty or guarantee of any particular result. Any injury, damage, or loss that may result from improper use of these tools, equipment, or from the information contained in this video is the sole responsibility of the user and not There’s a Trick for That.")
