Hand-Truck 48V System

Portable 5kWh build, about $2,020

A 48V solar power system on a hand truck: one 5,000W all-in-one inverter and one 5.12kWh server rack battery, wired together in about 25 minutes. Roll it into a garage, an RV, a job site or a closet, plug in solar or shore power, and run 120V loads from its outlet box.

Every part, setting and wire size is on this page, plus a planner that checks your solar panels and adds every Amazon part to your cart at once.

Affiliate links below

Budget Friendly Handtruck Solar System

Turn off the battery, make every connection, then add solar and turn it on in order. The parts list is short, and the wiring is two battery cables, two AC cords and one solar cable.

Plan your build · Cost · Inverter · Battery · Hand truck · Parts · Checklist · Build it · Settings · Solar · Troubleshooting

Download the 4-page build sheet (PDF): wiring diagram, parts with prices, settings, startup order, string table, fault codes and a maintenance log.

What It Does

5,000W inverter, 5,000W continuous AC
5,120Wh LiFePO4 battery
5,500W solar input, 120–450V, 500V max
Up to 40A AC charging, about 2,200W
120V output, 10,000VA peak
Took me 25 minutes to build
Mobile or stationary

What It Costs

Part	Price
SunGold Power 5000W inverter	$768
ECO-WORTHY Cubix 100 battery	$890
Harbor Freight 800 lb hand truck	$69 on sale ($79)
Two custom 2 AWG battery cables: red 2 ft, black 2 ft	About $97
Outlet box	$90
6 AWG THHN kit	$36
AC input cord	$13
10 AWG MC4 extension cable	$32
PV disconnect, DC1000V 30A	$28
Total	About $2,023

Prices checked November 13, 2026. They change, so use the buttons below for the current price. Solar panels and tools are extra; the three tools on this page add $74 if you need them.

Build It or Buy a Solar Generator?

	This build	Anker S2000	Anker F3000	Anker S5000
Price	About $2,023	$700 WINS	$1,700	$2,949
Battery	5,120Wh WINS	2,010Wh	3,072Wh	5,024Wh
Per kWh	$395	$348 WINS	$553	$587
AC output	5,000W, 120V WINS	1,500W, 120V	3,600W, 120V	4,500W, 120/240V
Solar input	5,500W WINS	400W	2,400W	3,000W
If a part fails	Replace the inverter, battery or a cable on its own WINS	One sealed unit	One sealed unit	One sealed unit
Categories won	4 of 6	2 of 6	0 of 6	0 of 6
Buy it	Add to Cart	Check Price	Check Price	Check Price

The S2000 costs less per kWh but tops out at 1,500W and 400W of solar. This build runs bigger loads and takes more solar than any of them, and you can replace the inverter or battery on your own. The S5000 is the pick if you need 240V. Prices from my Anker page.

Plan Your Build

Pick your panels and loads. The planner checks the string voltage against the inverter, shows runtime, and builds your Amazon cart.

1. Solar panels Panel

Watts Voc (label) Vmp (label) Voc temp coef, %/°C

Panels in series Coldest morning, °F Hottest afternoon, °F

2. Your loads Average load, watts

AC output I already own the tools

3. Your parts

Total

Solar panels are not included. See the panel section below.

Add Amazon Parts to Cart Build the 2 Battery Cables Hand Truck at Harbor Freight

Amazon opens a page to confirm the items, then adds them to your cart. Prices checked November 13, 2026.

Plan Cost Parts Checklist Build Settings Solar Fixes

Add to Cart

The Inverter

This build uses the SunGoldPower 5000W all-in-one. The inverter, the solar charge controller and the battery charger are in the same box.

SGPWOSAY 5000W Inverter

5,000W at 120V, 5,500W of solar input and up to 100A of battery charging. 28.7 lb. About $768.

The 48V Battery

The ECO-WORTHY Cubix 100: one 48V, 100Ah server rack battery (5,120Wh) with a communication port that plugs into the inverter. This build uses one.

Load and battery life. The system runs up to 5,000W continuous, the inverter’s rating. The Cubix 100 recommends 50A (Current Connected spec page), about 2,200W of AC after inverter losses. Keep steady loads under about 2,200W for long battery life, and start big motors one at a time.

Ecoworthy Cubix 100

5,120Wh, 100A continuous, 6,000 cycles to 80%. UL 9540 listed. 103 lb. About $890.

Hand Truck From Harbor Freight

Harbor Freight’s 800 lb capacity hand truck. The Cubix 100 stands upright on the nose plate with its terminals on top and a ratchet strap around it. The inverter bolts straight to the frame above it, and the outlet box mounts on the back of the frame. Everything together weighs about 132 lb plus the truck, so tip it back and roll it rather than lifting it.

Hand Truck From Harbor Freight

800 lb capacity, about $69 on sale ($79 regular). The inverter bolts straight to the frame.

Everything Else You Will Need

Battery cables, cords, solar wiring parts and tools. The ferrule kit is for the AC and PV wires that go into the screw terminals on the inverter. The planner below adds every Amazon part to your cart in one click.

Custom Battery Cables

Order two in 2 AWG, 2 ft each: red (battery + to BAT+) and black (battery − to BAT−). The breaker is built into the Cubix 100, so there is no separate DC breaker. Battery end: 5/16 in (M8) lug. Inverter end: 1/4 in (M6) lug. Measure on your own hand truck first.

AC Input Cord

AC Output Cord

Outlet Box to Attach Loads

Breakers and outlets in one box. About $90.

10 AWG MC4 Extension Cable

Connect any solar panels to this system with this cable

Solar Disconnect Switch

Cable Cutters

Cuts the AC cords and the 6 AWG THHN for the outlet box.

Multi-Size Wire Stripper

Strips 10 to 24 AWG: the AC cords and the 10 AWG PV wire.

Ferrule Crimping Kit

Hex ratchet crimper and 1,200 ferrules (28-5 AWG) for every stranded wire going into a screw terminal

Tie Down Strap

Local Hardware Store

Screws/Bolts to Mount Everything

Local Hardware Store

Put It All Together

How the inverter and Cubix 100 battery mount on the hand truck

Download the 4-page build sheet (PDF): print it and keep it with the system.

Wiring This System Takes Minutes

Turn the battery and its built-in breaker off first. Use two 2 AWG cables, 2 ft each: red from battery + to BAT+, black from battery − to BAT−. The SunGold uses ring lugs on bolt studs: lug over the stud, washer, nut, tighten. Tug each cable. If it turns or moves, tighten again.

The appliance cord goes to AC IN and the outlet box goes to AC OUT. Black goes to L, white to N and green to ground. Crimp a ferrule on every stranded wire first. The solar cable lands on PV+ and PV− through the PV disconnect, with the disconnect off.

Crimp Ferrules on Stranded Wire

The AC terminals on this inverter are screw clamps. When a screw lands on bare stranded wire it spreads the strands apart, some miss the clamp, and the connection can loosen and heat up over time. A ferrule turns the strands into one solid pin the clamp can grip. Use one on every stranded wire that goes into a screw terminal: the AC input cord, the AC output wires, the 6 AWG THHN to the outlet box and the two PV wires at the PV input. The kit is in Step 04 above.

Strip to the barrel length. Pick the ferrule that matches your wire gauge (the kit lid lists the sizes). Strip the insulation back to the length of the ferrule’s metal barrel without nicking or cutting any strands.

Twist and insert. Give the strands a light twist so none stick out, then push the wire in until the insulation seats inside the plastic collar. The copper should end flush with the end of the barrel.

Crimp it. Set the barrel in the crimper’s hex die and squeeze until the ratchet releases. The hex crimp packs every strand into one solid pin.

Land it in the terminal. Push the crimped ferrule all the way into the inverter’s AC terminal and tighten the screw. Tug on the wire. If it moves, tighten again.

Connect Loads With an Outlet Box

Instead of adding a load panel, breakers, Romex and outlets, use this box. It has its own breakers and NEMA 5-20 outlets. Connect it to the inverter’s AC OUT with 6 AWG THHN from any hardware store, or buy the THHN kit here.

Outlet Box to Attach Loads

Breakers and outlets in one box. About $90.

Settings to Change After First Startup

Start it in this order: battery breaker on, Cubix 100 on, inverter rocker switch on, set the menu items below, then the PV disconnect and the AC input. Turn loads on one at a time. Shut down in reverse.

You do not need a communication cable. Set the inverter by voltage instead. These are starting values for a 51.2V, 16-cell lithium battery like the Cubix 100.

Item	What it is	Set it to
08	Battery type. Default is GEL.	USER
09	Boost (bulk) charge voltage.	56.0V
11	Float charge voltage.	54.0V
16	Equalization. Default is on, at 58V.	DIS. Never equalize a lithium battery.
12	Low voltage cutoff. The inverter turns its output off here.	48.0V
14	Low battery alarm.	50.0V
15	Discharge limit voltage.	46.0V
35	Voltage where the output comes back on after a cutoff.	52.0V (default)
28	Charging current from the wall.	20A or less on a household outlet. 20A of charging pulls about 10A from the wall.
63	Neutral to ground bond. Default is off.	ENA. See the next section.

Optional: if you plug in the communication cable, set 08 to LFP16, 32 to 485 and 33 to PYL. The battery then reports its own limits to the inverter.

Turn On the Neutral to Ground Bond

In a house, neutral and ground are tied together at the main panel. That bond is what lets a breaker trip when a hot wire touches a metal case.

This system runs on its own, so it needs its own bond. The inverter can make it, but the setting ships turned off.

Open the inverter menu and go to item 63, N-G automatically connect.
Change it from DIS to ENA.
Plug an outlet tester into the outlet box while running on battery. It should read correct, not open ground.

With item 63 on, the inverter switches the bond automatically. Also run the green ground wires as shown in the wiring cards above.

Run 12V Loads With a 48V to 12V Converter

These golf cart converters have a 48V input, and a 12V output. The 12V output in the picture above is connected to a 12V fuse block to add loads. You can find a converter for any size you wish.

48V to 12V Converter

48V in, 12V out. Feeds a 12V fuse block.

Add an MC4 Extension Set to Connect Solar Panels

This is the proper configuration for connection

Recommended Solar Panel Array

The biggest difference from a 12V system is the solar string voltage. This inverter needs at least 120V at the PV input to charge, so the panels go in series.

Put at least 5 panels in series. 5 to 8 is the range I recommend for 400W panels. With the SunGold 590W panels from my standard panels page, use 4 to 8:

Panels	Array	Vmp	Voc at 77°F	Voc at −22°F
4	2,360W	178V	209V	242V
5	2,950W	222V	262V	302V
6	3,540W	266V	314V	362V
7	4,130W	311V	366V	423V
8	4,720W	355V	419V	483V

One string only: the inverter has one PV input rated 22A and takes up to 5,500W. Never exceed 500V at the PV input on the coldest morning. The planner at the top checks any panel.

Check Your String Voltage on the Forum

The DIY Solar Forum has a free System check under the Equipment tab. It tells you if your exact panels work with this inverter.

Open the forum, click Equipment, then System check.
Step 1: search for your panel and press Use. If its numbers are missing, open Edit figures and type the Voc and Vmp from the panel label.
Set Panels in a row (series) to the number you plan to wire, and enter your coldest morning temperature.
Step 3: search SPH5048P and press Use.
Read All checks. Cold-morning voltage has to stay under 500V. Hot-afternoon voltage has to stay over 120V. Both need a green check.

Charge From Small or Low-Voltage Panels

36V/48V Rover Boost 10A MPPT Solar Charge Controller

Add an MC4 Extension Set to Connect Solar Panels

This is the proper configuration for connection

I charge my golf cart’s 48V battery from a 50W solar panel with a boost MPPT charge controller. It raises a low-voltage panel up to the battery voltage.

It fits RV and van roofs with room for only a panel or two. If you have space, higher-voltage panels in series are the cheaper route: get the string above 120V and the inverter charges from them directly.

Charge From a Vehicle Alternator

You need a dedicated, externally regulated 48V alternator. A stock vehicle charging system is not built to charge a large, deeply discharged battery. Overland and van build shops install these. I do not have a specific model to recommend yet.

Regulated 48V Alternator

If It Does Not Start

What you see	What to do
Blank screen	Turn on the battery breaker and the inverter rocker switch, then press any button.
Fault 03, battery not connected	Check the battery cables and the battery breaker.
Fault 58, BMS communication	This only shows if you use the communication cable. Check the cable and menu items 32 and 33, or set item 08 to USER.
Fault 14, inverter overload	Turn off loads until you are under 5,000W, then restart.
Fault 17, inverter short circuit	Unplug the loads, find the shorted wire or appliance, then power up again.
Fault 09, PV over-voltage	Open the solar disconnect. The string is over 500V. Remove panels from it.
Fault 01 or 04, battery under-voltage	Charge the battery from solar or the AC input.
Fault 19 or 20, over-temperature	Let it cool. It restarts on its own. Give it more open space.

The fault codes come from the inverter manual.

Questions Before You Build

Can it run 240V loads?

No. The SunGold 5000W puts out 120V only. A well pump, dryer or range that needs 240V needs a split-phase inverter, like the ones in my off-grid system builder.

What is the biggest load it can run?

5,000W continuous, the SunGold inverter's rating. For long battery life keep steady loads under about 2,200W, the battery's recommended 50A. The inverter surges to 10,000VA for motor starts.

Can I charge it from a wall outlet or a generator?

Yes, through the AC input cord. On a household outlet set menu 28 to 20A, which charges at about 1,100W and pulls about 10A from the wall: empty to full in about 4.7 hours. On a generator, set 28 to 40A for about 2,200W, about 2.3 hours. Use a generator rated above that.

Can I use it in an RV or van?

Yes. Strap the hand truck down so it cannot move. Plug the AC input cord into shore power to pass power through and charge the battery. With menu 63 set to ENA, the inverter switches the neutral-ground bond on its own when shore power comes and goes.

Can I use a different 48V battery?

Any 51.2V, 16-cell server rack battery works with the voltage settings on this page. Check that its continuous current rating covers the loads you plan to run. Size the cables to it, and add a DC breaker if the battery does not have one built in.

Where can it sit?

Indoors or under cover, somewhere dry. The inverter runs from 14°F to 131°F and needs 8 in (200 mm) clear at its left and right vents. Keep it out of rain.

How heavy is it?

About 132 lb of gear (103 lb battery, 28.7 lb inverter) plus the hand truck. Tip it back and roll it.

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Van or RV

Boat

Cabin or Shed

Whole House

Hand-Truck 48V System

Budget Friendly Handtruck Solar System

What It Does

What It Costs

Build It or Buy a Solar Generator?

Plan Your Build

The Inverter

SGPWOSAY 5000W Inverter

The 48V Battery

Ecoworthy Cubix 100

Hand Truck From Harbor Freight

Hand Truck From Harbor Freight

Everything Else You Will Need

Custom Battery Cables

AC Input Cord

AC Output Cord

Outlet Box to Attach Loads

10 AWG MC4 Extension Cable

Solar Disconnect Switch

Cable Cutters

Multi-Size Wire Stripper

Ferrule Crimping Kit

Tie Down Strap

Screws/Bolts to Mount Everything

Shopping Checklist

Order online

Harbor Freight or hardware store

Put It All Together

Wiring This System Takes Minutes

Crimp Ferrules on Stranded Wire

Connect Loads With an Outlet Box

Outlet Box to Attach Loads

Settings to Change After First Startup

Turn On the Neutral to Ground Bond

Run 12V Loads With a 48V to 12V Converter

48V to 12V Converter

Add an MC4 Extension Set to Connect Solar Panels

Recommended Solar Panel Array

Check Your String Voltage on the Forum

Charge From Small or Low-Voltage Panels

36V/48V Rover Boost 10A MPPT Solar Charge Controller

Add an MC4 Extension Set to Connect Solar Panels

Charge From a Vehicle Alternator

Regulated 48V Alternator

If It Does Not Start

Questions Before You Build

My Latest Videos