[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":1628},["ShallowReactive",2],{"content:\u002Fdiy-home-upgrades\u002Fdiy-halloween-hologram-projector":3,"category:\u002Fdiy-home-upgrades\u002Fdiy-halloween-hologram-projector":6,"read-next:\u002Fhome-automation\u002Fsensors-and-devices\u002Fcrenova-xpe660-led-projector-review,\u002Fhome-automation\u002Fsensors-and-devices\u002Foupes-portable-power-station-generator-vs-jackery,\u002Fhome-automation\u002Fsensors-and-devices\u002Fteckin-outdoor-smart-plug-ss31,\u002Fdiy-home-upgrades\u002Fgarage-door-insulation":504},{"id":4,"title":5,"bmcUsername":6,"body":7,"cover":493,"date":494,"description":495,"draft":496,"extension":497,"features":6,"githubRepo":6,"headline":6,"highlight":6,"icon":6,"meta":498,"navigation":499,"npmPackage":6,"order":6,"path":500,"seo":501,"stem":502,"__hash__":503},"content\u002Fdiy-home-upgrades\u002Fdiy-halloween-hologram-projector.md","How to Make a Halloween Hologram With a Projector and Tulle",null,{"type":8,"value":9,"toc":476},"minimark",[10,14,17,21,26,39,121,125,128,135,140,147,151,154,157,160,179,183,190,193,231,234,237,241,248,268,272,275,278,289,300,307,310,314,321,335,338,342,345,365,368,372,375,402,409,413,416,465,468,472],[11,12,13],"p",{},"The year before this project, I projected animated faces onto real pumpkins in my yard with a budget projector, and the trick-or-treaters loved it. The next year I wanted to step it up with floating ghosts that look like they're hanging in mid-air. I built a hologram screen from gray tulle fabric and scrap wood from my garage, then spent a few nights testing it in the yard. This guide covers the build, where to put the projector so the illusion holds up, and what I learned about projector brightness after the first projector I tried wasn't bright enough.",[11,15,16],{},"Here's the finished setup on Halloween night: three projectors running at once, with 3D pumpkins in front, ghosts floating on the tulle screen in the middle of the yard, and creatures of the night projected onto the house behind them.",[18,19],"u-video",{"src":20},"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fembed\u002FvqEg3OYYPf4",[22,23,25],"h2",{"id":24},"what-you-need-for-a-diy-halloween-hologram","What You Need for a DIY Halloween Hologram",[27,28,29],"aside",{},[30,31,32],"blockquote",{},[11,33,34,38],{},[35,36,37],"strong",{},"Affiliate disclosure:"," As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This article contains affiliate links at no extra cost to you. A few products I used are no longer sold, so I link the closest current replacement and say which one it is.",[40,41,42,55,61,73,85,95,111],"ul",{},[43,44,45,48,49,54],"li",{},[35,46,47],{},"Sheer tulle fabric"," — I used gray ",[50,51],"sponsored-link",{"href":52,"text":53},"https:\u002F\u002Flink.amazon\u002FB05i0ntYk","tulle fabric",". More on why gray below.",[43,56,57,60],{},[35,58,59],{},"Scrap wood"," for a frame, plus a staple gun, wood glue, and nails",[43,62,63,66,67,72],{},[35,64,65],{},"A projector with at least ~500 ANSI lumens"," for outdoor use. I tested two: an Apeman LC350 and a Crenova XPE660 (both discontinued). Current replacements are listed in the ",[68,69,71],"a",{"href":70},"#best-projectors-for-halloween-hologram-effects","projector section",".",[43,74,75,78,79,84],{},[35,76,77],{},"Hologram animations"," — I used ",[80,81],"external-link",{"href":82,"text":83},"https:\u002F\u002Fatmosfx.com\u002F","AtmosFX"," digital decorations, which are designed to play on transparent material",[43,86,87,90,91],{},[35,88,89],{},"A USB flash drive"," to play the videos directly from the projector, like this ",[50,92],{"href":93,"text":94},"https:\u002F\u002Flink.amazon\u002FB0fA3cyTs","SanDisk USB drive",[43,96,97,100,101,105,106,110],{},[35,98,99],{},"A portable power station"," if there's no outlet near your projector spot. The ",[68,102,104],{"href":103},"\u002Fhome-automation\u002Fsensors-and-devices\u002Foupes-portable-power-station-generator-vs-jackery","Oupes power station"," I used is hard to find now. The ",[50,107],{"href":108,"text":109},"https:\u002F\u002Flink.amazon\u002FB0eGuFzcR","BLUETTI Elite 30 V2"," is the current small option.",[43,112,113,120],{},[35,114,115,116],{},"A ",[50,117],{"href":118,"text":119},"https:\u002F\u002Famzn.to\u002F3FSetHw","Joby GorillaPod"," or another flexible mount to aim a small projector where there's no flat surface",[22,122,124],{"id":123},"why-tulle-works-as-a-hologram-screen","Why Tulle Works as a Hologram Screen",[11,126,127],{},"The floating-hologram effect needs a screen that's nearly invisible in the dark but still catches enough light from the projector to show an image. Very sheer fabric like tulle does both. In a lit room it looks like a giant sheet of netting. Once the lights go off or the sun sets, the fabric disappears and only the projected image is visible.",[11,129,130,131,134],{},"AtmosFX sells a purpose-made version of this called ",[35,132,133],{},"Hollusion"," projection material. It's designed for exactly this effect. Tulle is the craft-store alternative. It comes on large rolls, it's cheap, and you can cut it to whatever frame size you build.",[136,137,139],"h3",{"id":138},"white-gray-or-black-tulle","White, Gray, or Black Tulle?",[11,141,142,143,146],{},"I used ",[35,144,145],{},"gray tulle",". It was transparent enough to vanish in the dark but still reflected the projected image well. Most online tutorials recommend black tulle, which hides even better but reflects less light, so you need a brighter projector. White reflects the most light but is the easiest to see when nothing is playing. Gray was a good compromise for my yard.",[22,148,150],{"id":149},"testing-the-tulle-before-building-anything","Testing the Tulle Before Building Anything",[11,152,153],{},"Before cutting any wood, I hung the tulle loosely in my garage and pointed the projector at it to see if the idea would work at all.",[18,155],{"src":156},"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fembed\u002F3cat0KNhVRo",[11,158,159],{},"Two things were obvious right away:",[161,162,163,169],"ol",{},[43,164,165,168],{},[35,166,167],{},"Wrinkles ruin it."," Wherever the fabric sagged, the image smeared. Pulling it taut made a big difference, which is why you need a frame.",[43,170,171,174,175,72],{},[35,172,173],{},"The wall behind the screen gives the trick away."," Light passes through the tulle and lands on whatever is behind it. More on that in the ",[68,176,178],{"href":177},"#where-to-put-the-projector-avoiding-backscatter","projector placement section",[22,180,182],{"id":181},"how-to-build-a-tulle-hologram-screen-frame","How to Build a Tulle Hologram Screen Frame",[11,184,185,186,189],{},"My frame is about ",[35,187,188],{},"28 inches by 5 feet",", made from scrap wood I had in the garage.",[18,191],{"src":192},"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fembed\u002Fm0JjSonukCk",[161,194,195,201,207,213,219,225],{},[43,196,197,200],{},[35,198,199],{},"Cut the tulle roughly to size."," Leave extra on every side so you have something to grip while stretching it.",[43,202,203,206],{},[35,204,205],{},"Staple one long edge to a wood strip first."," With one side fixed, it's much easier to pull the rest of the fabric tight.",[43,208,209,212],{},[35,210,211],{},"Set the width before gluing."," Lay the cross piece across without fastening it, so the frame doesn't change size while you tension the fabric.",[43,214,215,218],{},[35,216,217],{},"Glue and nail the corners",", keeping them as square as you can. Use less wood glue than I did.",[43,220,221,224],{},[35,222,223],{},"Staple the last side while pulling the tulle tight",", then flip the frame and staple the back for extra hold.",[43,226,227,230],{},[35,228,229],{},"Trim the excess tulle"," and let the glue dry.",[11,232,233],{},"Once it was stretched on the frame, the image was much sharper than in the loose-fabric test, with no wrinkles. In the dark, the frame mostly faded away. To finish the illusion, paint the frame matte black or dark blue so it disappears completely at night.",[11,235,236],{},"For the yard, I staked the frame into the lawn so the wind couldn't tip it over.",[22,238,240],{"id":239},"where-to-put-the-projector-avoiding-backscatter","Where to Put the Projector: Avoiding Backscatter",[11,242,243,244,247],{},"This is the part that makes or breaks the effect. I set the projector about ",[35,245,246],{},"4–5 feet behind the screen"," (give or take a foot) and projected through the tulle toward the street.",[40,249,250,256,262],{},[43,251,252,255],{},[35,253,254],{},"Viewers should be on the opposite side from the projector."," From the projector side, you see glare from the projector lens shining through the fabric, and it looks bad. From the far side, the image looks like it's floating.",[43,257,258,261],{},[35,259,260],{},"Make sure nothing behind the screen catches the light."," Much of the light passes straight through the tulle. If it lands on a wall, garage door, or bush, you'll see a second copy of the image there and the floating illusion is gone. Angle the projector so the light that passes through hits open sky or empty yard.",[43,263,264,267],{},[35,265,266],{},"Test from where trick-or-treaters will stand."," Walk to the sidewalk and look back at the screen. Fix the angle from there, not from beside the projector.",[22,269,271],{"id":270},"how-bright-does-a-halloween-projector-need-to-be","How Bright Does a Halloween Projector Need to Be?",[11,273,274],{},"This is the most important thing I learned, and the reason I'd skip most of the \"best Halloween projector\" lists.",[18,276],{"src":277},"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fembed\u002F-6IY1LhcZ10",[11,279,280,281,284,285,288],{},"I started the yard test with the ",[35,282,283],{},"Apeman LC350",", the same projector that worked well for the pumpkins. On the tulle screen at about 7:30pm, it was too dim. The Apeman only ever listed its brightness in ",[35,286,287],{},"lux",", never in ANSI lumens, so there was no honest way to compare it to anything.",[11,290,291,292,295,296,299],{},"Then I switched to the ",[35,293,294],{},"Crenova XPE660",", which is rated at ",[35,297,298],{},"550 ANSI lumens",". The difference was obvious right away. The ghosts were bright enough to see from the street, even with streetlights nearby.",[11,301,302,303,306],{},"The lesson: ",[35,304,305],{},"compare projectors by ANSI lumens only."," Budget projector listings often show lux or inflated \"lumen\" numbers in the thousands. Those numbers can't be compared to an ANSI rating. Based on my test, 550 ANSI lumens was enough for a hologram on tulle in a suburban yard at night. A projector that only shows a lux rating, or doesn't list ANSI lumens at all, probably isn't bright enough.",[11,308,309],{},"Projecting onto solid pumpkins or a house wall needs less brightness than tulle. Most of the light reflects back toward viewers instead of passing through the fabric. That's why the Apeman was fine for pumpkins but too dim for the hologram.",[22,311,313],{"id":312},"projecting-3d-singing-pumpkins","Projecting 3D Singing Pumpkins",[11,315,316,317,320],{},"The pumpkins are still my favorite part of the display. Instead of carving faces, you project animated faces onto ",[35,318,319],{},"uncarved"," pumpkins. The rounded surface makes the faces look 3D, and they sing, talk, and make faces at trick-or-treaters.",[40,322,323,326,329,332],{},[43,324,325],{},"Use uncarved pumpkins, real or fake, so the projected face isn't broken up by carved holes",[43,327,328],{},"Group them close together so a single projected image covers all of them. AtmosFX's pumpkin animations are designed for this.",[43,330,331],{},"Aim the projector as straight-on as you can. A steep angle stretches the faces.",[43,333,334],{},"Ideally put a speaker near the pumpkins so the singing sounds like it comes from them, not from the projector across the yard (depending on projector placement)",[11,336,337],{},"A budget projector is enough here. My Apeman LC350 handled the pumpkins two years in a row.",[22,339,341],{"id":340},"layering-three-projectors-for-depth","Layering Three Projectors for Depth",[11,343,344],{},"On Halloween night I ran all three projectors at once, each at a different distance from the street:",[161,346,347,353,359],{},[43,348,349,352],{},[35,350,351],{},"Foreground:"," 3D singing pumpkins (Apeman LC350)",[43,354,355,358],{},[35,356,357],{},"Middle:"," ghosts floating on the tulle screen (Crenova XPE660)",[43,360,361,364],{},[35,362,363],{},"Background:"," a full moon and creatures of the night projected onto the house",[11,366,367],{},"Putting the effects at different depths made the whole yard feel like a scene instead of a single decoration. The neighbors and trick-or-treaters loved it.",[22,369,371],{"id":370},"best-projectors-for-halloween-hologram-effects","Best Projectors for Halloween Hologram Effects",[11,373,374],{},"Both projectors I used are discontinued. Here's what I'd buy today instead:",[40,376,377,392],{},[43,378,379,382,383,387,388,391],{},[35,380,381],{},"Hologram screen (replaces the Crenova XPE660):"," the ",[50,384],{"href":385,"text":386},"https:\u002F\u002Flink.amazon\u002FB0dSi2YT6","Yaber K2s"," is rated at ",[35,389,390],{},"800 ANSI lumens"," with native 1080p. That's brighter than the 550 ANSI lumen Crenova that already worked on my tulle screen, so it's a real upgrade, not a sideways move.",[43,393,394,382,397,401],{},[35,395,396],{},"Pumpkins and walls on a budget (replaces the Apeman LC350):",[50,398],{"href":399,"text":400},"https:\u002F\u002Flink.amazon\u002FB01hiu9Fz","Happrun projector"," has autofocus and plays video from a USB drive. Its listing claims 2000 ANSI lumens. I haven't measured it, and that's a high claim for a budget projector, so treat it as a pumpkin and wall projector, not your main hologram projector.",[11,403,404,405,72],{},"I also reviewed the Crenova in more detail, including daytime and dark-room tests: ",[68,406,408],{"href":407},"\u002Fhome-automation\u002Fsensors-and-devices\u002Fcrenova-xpe660-led-projector-review","Crenova XPE660 projector review",[22,410,412],{"id":411},"powering-projectors-in-the-yard","Powering Projectors in the Yard",[11,414,415],{},"I ran the hologram projector from a portable power station so I could move it anywhere in the yard without running extension cords. The Yaber K2s draws roughly 130–140 watts, and power stations lose some energy converting battery power to AC (about 15% is a reasonable estimate). That works out to approximately:",[417,418,419,435],"table",{},[420,421,422],"thead",{},[423,424,425,429,432],"tr",{},[426,427,428],"th",{},"Power station",[426,430,431],{},"Capacity",[426,433,434],{},"Approx. runtime at ~140 W",[436,437,438,451],"tbody",{},[423,439,440,445,448],{},[441,442,443],"td",{},[50,444],{"href":108,"text":109},[441,446,447],{},"288 Wh",[441,449,450],{},"~1.5–2 hours",[423,452,453,459,462],{},[441,454,455],{},[50,456],{"href":457,"text":458},"https:\u002F\u002Flink.amazon\u002FB09VM6AKH","BLUETTI Elite 100 V2",[441,460,461],{},"1024 Wh",[441,463,464],{},"~6 hours",[11,466,467],{},"The Elite 30 V2 covers a typical trick-or-treat window for one projector. If you want the display running all evening, or want to add a speaker or a second projector, the Elite 100 V2 has the extra capacity.",[469,470],"faq-section",{":items":471},"[{\"label\":\"What fabric works best for a Halloween hologram?\",\"content\":\"Very sheer fabric like tulle works well and is cheap. AtmosFX Hollusion is a purpose-made alternative. The fabric has to be stretched tight on a frame, because wrinkles blur the image.\"},{\"label\":\"Should I use white, gray, or black tulle for a hologram?\",\"content\":\"I used gray tulle. It disappeared in the dark but still reflected the projected image well. Black tulle hides better but reflects less light, so it needs a brighter projector. White reflects the most light but is the most visible when nothing is playing.\"},{\"label\":\"How bright does a projector need to be for a Halloween hologram outside?\",\"content\":\"In my yard test, a 550 ANSI lumen projector was bright enough for a hologram on tulle to be seen from the street despite streetlights, while a budget projector rated only in lux was too dim. Compare projectors by ANSI lumens, not lux or unlabeled lumen numbers.\"},{\"label\":\"How far behind the screen should the projector be?\",\"content\":\"My projector was about 4 to 5 feet behind a 28 inch by 5 foot tulle screen. The right distance depends on your projector and how big you want the image, but make sure the light passing through the screen does not land on a wall or garage door behind it.\"},{\"label\":\"Which side of the hologram screen should viewers be on?\",\"content\":\"The side opposite the projector. From the projector side, glare from the projector lens shines through the fabric and ruins the illusion.\"},{\"label\":\"How long will a portable power station run a projector?\",\"content\":\"At about 140 watts, a 288 Wh power station like the BLUETTI Elite 30 V2 runs a projector for roughly 1.5 to 2 hours, and a 1024 Wh unit like the Elite 100 V2 runs it for about 6 hours, after accounting for inverter losses.\"}]",[473,474],"read-next",{":items":475},"[\"\u002Fhome-automation\u002Fsensors-and-devices\u002Fcrenova-xpe660-led-projector-review\",\"\u002Fhome-automation\u002Fsensors-and-devices\u002Foupes-portable-power-station-generator-vs-jackery\",\"\u002Fhome-automation\u002Fsensors-and-devices\u002Fteckin-outdoor-smart-plug-ss31\",\"\u002Fdiy-home-upgrades\u002Fgarage-door-insulation\"]",{"title":477,"searchDepth":478,"depth":478,"links":479},"",2,[480,481,485,486,487,488,489,490,491,492],{"id":24,"depth":478,"text":25},{"id":123,"depth":478,"text":124,"children":482},[483],{"id":138,"depth":484,"text":139},3,{"id":149,"depth":478,"text":150},{"id":181,"depth":478,"text":182},{"id":239,"depth":478,"text":240},{"id":270,"depth":478,"text":271},{"id":312,"depth":478,"text":313},{"id":340,"depth":478,"text":341},{"id":370,"depth":478,"text":371},{"id":411,"depth":478,"text":412},"\u002Fimages\u002Fposts\u002Fdiy-halloween-hologram-projector\u002Fdiy-halloween-hologram-projector-cover.webp","2026-10-03","Build a floating ghost hologram for your yard with tulle, scrap wood, and a projector. Real night tests show how bright your projector needs to be, plus 3D pumpkins.",false,"md",{},true,"\u002Fdiy-home-upgrades\u002Fdiy-halloween-hologram-projector",{"title":5,"description":495},"diy-home-upgrades\u002Fdiy-halloween-hologram-projector","eq7NvISXIyZKMGQiUuQC122YDRjYr0OCvIjzNoF4K7Y",[505,624,1081,1217],{"id":506,"title":507,"bmcUsername":6,"body":508,"cover":617,"date":618,"description":619,"draft":496,"extension":497,"features":6,"githubRepo":6,"headline":6,"highlight":6,"icon":6,"meta":620,"navigation":499,"npmPackage":6,"order":6,"path":407,"seo":621,"stem":622,"__hash__":623},"content\u002Fhome-automation\u002Fsensors-and-devices\u002Fcrenova-xpe660-led-projector-review.md","Review of Crenova's XPE660 1080P HD LED projector",{"type":8,"value":509,"toc":610},[510,523,527,535,543,546,550,569,573,576,584,587,591,594,597,600,604],[30,511,512],{},[11,513,514,517,518,520,521,72],{},[35,515,516],{},"Update:"," The Crenova projectors in this review are no longer sold. The ",[50,519],{"href":385,"text":386}," (800 ANSI lumens, native 1080p) is a brighter current alternative. To see how the Crenova did projecting outdoor Halloween holograms, read ",[68,522,5],{"href":500},[22,524,526],{"id":525},"crenova-and-projectors","Crenova and projectors",[11,528,529,530,534],{},"Crenova has a wide and deep selection of home theater products. When I was looking for a budget projector to do Halloween projected effects I ran across their ",[50,531],{"href":532,"text":533},"https:\u002F\u002Famzn.to\u002F342N3OF","1080p-native model"," which did an impressive job last Halloween season (when the world was normal and we still had holidays).",[11,536,537,538,542],{},"Since then, I noticed they released the ",[50,539],{"href":540,"text":541},"https:\u002F\u002Famzn.to\u002F2FwZ2d5","Crenova XPE600 projector"," which is less expensive, has a newer design, but makes a sacrifice in native resolution at 1280x800. This resolution was fine for what I was planning on using it for as long as everything else like focus, brightness, and sound were solid. So I reviewed it in detail in both sunny day conditions, dark room, and night to see how clearly the projected video could be seen.",[18,544],{"src":545},"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fembed\u002FT9V-3EUypUw",[22,547,549],{"id":548},"crenova-xpe600-specifications","Crenova XPE600 specifications",[40,551,552,555,558,561,564,566],{},[43,553,554],{},"1280x800 resolution",[43,556,557],{},"VGA (x1) and HDMI interface (x2) and USB (x2)",[43,559,560],{},"LED illuminated",[43,562,563],{},"140 watt power consumption",[43,565,298],{},[43,567,568],{},"6000:1 contrast ratio",[22,570,572],{"id":571},"installation-and-setup","Installation and Setup",[11,574,575],{},"The Crenova projector setup is simple. Just plug in the power cord, remove the lens cap, toggle on the back power switch and you are ready to go. The remote control will require two AAA batteries.",[11,577,578,579,583],{},"To project content from something like an ",[50,580],{"href":581,"text":582},"https:\u002F\u002Famzn.to\u002F3kSNr8s","Amazon FireTV stick"," you plug the HDMI cord from the FireTV into one of the HDMI ports on the projector and the USB cord into one of the USB ports to supply power. The Crenova projector will autodetect the new video source and will project it on your screen or wall. From there, you can use the FireTV remote to navigate the menus.",[11,585,586],{},"The one negative is there isn't a threaded tripod attachment to mount the projector to. You need to find a convenient platform or table to put it on at least 61 inches away from where you want to project.",[22,588,590],{"id":589},"video-and-audio-quality-and-performance","Video and Audio Quality and Performance",[11,592,593],{},"The audio quality was not bad, but it wasn't home theater quality. For a cinematic experience you'd want to use external speakers. The XPE660's speakers sound about as good as other projectors in this range. They are loud enough to hear and not muffled.",[11,595,596],{},"The video quality, however, was very impressive for 1280x800. Text appeared very crisp and clear. I could get a good focus on the projected image. The projector does not output enough lumens to use outside during the day, but at night it looked fantastic. The projector would work great for movie night by the pool.",[11,598,599],{},"This is not a short-throw projector so you need a good bit of distance to fill a 120\" projector screen. I needed to place the projector about 154-156 inches away from the screen.",[22,601,603],{"id":602},"final-thoughts","Final Thoughts",[11,605,606,607,609],{},"The ",[50,608],{"href":540,"text":541}," would make a good budget projector for someone not needing native 1080p. Even at 1280x800 it was easy to read menus in the Alexa navigation and the video looked good. It isn't loud and is more compact than other options so it won't completely take over your room, but you do need a bit of distance between the projector and the screen to get a nice large projected image.",{"title":477,"searchDepth":478,"depth":478,"links":611},[612,613,614,615,616],{"id":525,"depth":478,"text":526},{"id":548,"depth":478,"text":549},{"id":571,"depth":478,"text":572},{"id":589,"depth":478,"text":590},{"id":602,"depth":478,"text":603},"\u002Fimages\u002Fposts\u002Fcrenova-xpe660-led-projector-review\u002Fcrenova-xpe-660-review.jpg","2020-08-18","Crenova recently released a 1080p (upscaled from 1280x800) projector which makes a great companion for projecting streamed content from smart devices like an Amazon FireTV stick. In budget projectors brightness and sharpness are usually sacrificed. Let's see how it holds up in this review.",{},{"title":507,"description":619},"home-automation\u002Fsensors-and-devices\u002Fcrenova-xpe660-led-projector-review","nhzMgfAUCi-lZfGdsL3I9XKrqbXbhMDYucp3Lxy0Phk",{"id":625,"title":626,"bmcUsername":6,"body":627,"cover":1074,"date":1075,"description":1076,"draft":496,"extension":497,"features":6,"githubRepo":6,"headline":6,"highlight":6,"icon":6,"meta":1077,"navigation":499,"npmPackage":6,"order":6,"path":103,"seo":1078,"stem":1079,"__hash__":1080},"content\u002Fhome-automation\u002Fsensors-and-devices\u002Foupes-portable-power-station-generator-vs-jackery.md","Oupes 600w Portable Power Station Generator Review",{"type":8,"value":628,"toc":1063},[629,647,650,653,662,666,669,672,675,689,692,696,699,707,710,714,722,725,733,738,746,754,757,760,764,767,770,773,799,803,806,809,813,826,940,947,950,954,957,1032,1043,1049,1051,1060],[30,630,631],{},[11,632,633,635,636,638,639,641,642,646],{},[35,634,516],{}," The Oupes 600W power station is hard to find now. The ",[50,637],{"href":108,"text":109}," is the closest current option, with the same 600W output and LiFePO4 battery in a lighter package, but about half the capacity (288Wh). For longer runtimes, the ",[50,640],{"href":457,"text":458}," has 1024Wh. See ",[68,643,645],{"href":644},"#current-alternatives-bluetti-elite-30-v2-and-elite-100-v2","the current alternatives"," below.",[11,648,649],{},"I've wanted a portable battery-powered inverter, power station, for years now in case we encounter a hurricane-caused blackout or other extended power outage in my area of Florida. With it, I could keep cell phones and computers charged in an emergency to keep aware of what is going on. However, the price and technology have held me back until this point. Older models were based around heavy unreliable lead-acid batteries and were quite expensive. Additionally, since the batteries only last for so long I wanted to be able to recharge or extend the runtime using a solar panel which used to be expensive as well.",[11,651,652],{},"Oupes has released a portable power station based on lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries which are much lighter and retain their charge in storage better than lead-acid batteries. It can also support charging from multiple sources; AC, car, solar. Its inverter has native USB ports and AC adapters so I can charge my cell phones and computers in an emergency like I wanted. That combined with prices for solar panels dropping meant it was a great time to try out a portable power station.",[27,654,655],{},[30,656,657],{},[11,658,659,661],{},[35,660,37],{}," As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. This article contains affiliate links to products I personally purchased and used — at no extra cost to you.",[22,663,665],{"id":664},"features-of-the-600w-oupes-battery-generator-power-station","Features of the 600w Oupes battery generator \u002F power station",[11,667,668],{},"In the unboxing video below the Oupes power station features are fully tested including powering phones, an iPad, tire compression, 42\" TV, and charging over AC, solar, and car cigarette adapter.",[18,670],{"src":671},"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fembed\u002FvJP2yv5ZpaY",[11,673,674],{},"Oupes front charging ports (outlets)",[40,676,677,680,683,686],{},[43,678,679],{},"2x USB-A",[43,681,682],{},"1x USB-C",[43,684,685],{},"2x AC outlets",[43,687,688],{},"12v marine connector",[11,690,691],{},"One of the nicest differentiators the Oupes power station has over competitors like Jackery or Goal Zero is the easy to read color LCD display that shows power draw, battery percent remaining, remaining runtime, and active outlets. In addition, the LiFePO4 is newer, allegedly safer, battery technology.",[22,693,695],{"id":694},"charging","Charging",[11,697,698],{},"Included chargers",[40,700,701,704],{},[43,702,703],{},"1x AC adapter to DC7909 connector",[43,705,706],{},"1x car charger (cigarette) to DC 7909 connector",[11,708,709],{},"When charging the power station itself you can use the included DC7909 barrel-style connector on the side which accepts 12-30v at 100w max or it can charge at 60w through the USB-C.",[136,711,713],{"id":712},"solar-generator-charging","Solar Generator Charging",[11,715,716,717,721],{},"Most solar panels have a pair of + and - ",[718,719,720],"em",{},"MC4 connectors"," coming from them. In order to connect a solar panel to recharge the Oupes battery you need to connect the MC4 to the DC7909 barrel connector.",[11,723,724],{},"There are two ways of doing this:",[11,726,727,728,732],{},"Option 1: Use a ",[50,729],{"href":730,"text":731},"https:\u002F\u002Famzn.to\u002F3wVzCLb","MC4 to Female Cigarette Socket"," and connect it to the male cigarette adapter provided with the Oupes unit",[11,734,735],{},[718,736,737],{},"or",[11,739,740,741,745],{},"Option 2: Use a ",[50,742],{"href":743,"text":744},"https:\u002F\u002Famzn.to\u002F3rr1Ooe","MC4 to direct DC 7909 plug"," to plug directly into the Oupes without the adapter",[11,747,748,749,753],{},"I tried using battery clamps on a 30 watt panel and found it was only putting in about 5 input watts according to the display on the front of the Oupes power station. I'd recommend using a larger, ",[50,750],{"href":751,"text":752},"https:\u002F\u002Famzn.to\u002F3BraXSm","100 watt solar panel",", for faster charging with one of these adapters attached.",[11,755,756],{},"It would probably take about 2 days to fully charge the 595wH battery using a 100 watt solar panel from empty.",[11,758,759],{},"However, instead of letting it drain to empty before charging, you can extend the runtime by keeping the solar attached to it, charging, while using the power station's battery to power your devices.",[22,761,763],{"id":762},"runtime","Runtime",[11,765,766],{},"The Oupes' inverter inside the power station can output 600 watts and it has a capacity of 595 watt hours. What does that mean in real-world scenarios though?",[11,768,769],{},"Idling, I found 2 iPhones, an iPad Pro, and Macbook Pro were using about 35 watts of power which would result in a 9.2 hour runtime. My AC-powered tire air compressor drew 118 watts and a 3.6 hour runtime. Last, my 42\" FireTV set drew 87 watts resulting in a 5.4 hour runtime. That is all really impressive.",[11,771,772],{},"Here are examples from the manual:",[40,774,775,778,781,784,787,790,793,796],{},[43,776,777],{},"8 laptop recharges (assuming 60Wh laptop battery)",[43,779,780],{},"42 phone charges (3,110mAh\u002Fcharge)",[43,782,783],{},"17 tablet recharges",[43,785,786],{},"50 hours of running a 10 watt LED bulb",[43,788,789],{},"8 drone charges",[43,791,792],{},"10 hours running a 50watt mini-fridge",[43,794,795],{},"17, (30wh) cordless drill recharges",[43,797,798],{},"CPAP machine (40w model) 12.6 hours",[22,800,802],{"id":801},"portability","Portability",[11,804,805],{},"The Oupes power station has a strong carry handle at the top. The LiFePO4 battery is lighter than lead acid so the entire unit only weighed in at about 15.6lbs though the manual says 8.6kg.",[11,807,808],{},"It would be good for camping since it is carryable and not too heavy, but it only has an IP21 waterproof rating which means it is rated for condensation, but not rain, splashing, or dunking in water.",[22,810,812],{"id":811},"competitors-like-jackery-and-goalzero","Competitors like Jackery and GoalZero",[11,814,815,816,820,821,825],{},"Two close competitors to the Oupes power station would be the ",[50,817],{"href":818,"text":819},"https:\u002F\u002Famzn.to\u002F3xPrptc","Jackery Explorer 500"," and the ",[50,822],{"href":823,"text":824},"https:\u002F\u002Famzn.to\u002F36OHeo5","GoalZero Yeti 400",". These seem to be closest in specs and price to the Oupes 600 watt generator.",[417,827,828,859],{},[420,829,830],{},[423,831,832,835,838,841,844,847,850,853,856],{},[426,833,834],{},"Model",[426,836,837],{},"Max output",[426,839,840],{},"Capacity (Wh)",[426,842,843],{},"USB-C",[426,845,846],{},"USB-A",[426,848,849],{},"AC Ports",[426,851,852],{},"Solar?",[426,854,855],{},"Battery Type",[426,857,858],{},"Weight",[436,860,861,889,915],{},[423,862,863,866,869,872,875,878,880,883,886],{},[441,864,865],{},"Oupes 600",[441,867,868],{},"600 watts",[441,870,871],{},"595 Wh",[441,873,874],{},"1",[441,876,877],{},"2",[441,879,877],{},[441,881,882],{},"Yes",[441,884,885],{},"Lithium Iron Phosphate",[441,887,888],{},"15.6lb",[423,890,891,893,896,899,902,905,907,909,912],{},[441,892,819],{},[441,894,895],{},"500 watts",[441,897,898],{},"518 Wh",[441,900,901],{},"0",[441,903,904],{},"3",[441,906,874],{},[441,908,882],{},[441,910,911],{},"Lithium",[441,913,914],{},"13.3lb",[423,916,917,920,923,926,928,930,932,934,937],{},[441,918,919],{},"Goal Zero Yeti 400",[441,921,922],{},"300 watts",[441,924,925],{},"396 Wh",[441,927,901],{},[441,929,877],{},[441,931,877],{},[441,933,882],{},[441,935,936],{},"Lead acid",[441,938,939],{},"29lb",[11,941,942,943,946],{},"So for about the same price the Oupes has better output and capacity and includes a much easier to read ",[718,944,945],{},"color"," LCD screen than Jackery or Goal Zero. The Jackery is 2.3 pounds lighter which can be an advantage when camping, but it does have less output and storage capacity.",[11,948,949],{},"The Oupes has the latest advancements over the others which are admittedly older designs. I prefer the newer advancements.",[22,951,953],{"id":952},"current-alternatives-bluetti-elite-30-v2-and-elite-100-v2","Current Alternatives: BLUETTI Elite 30 V2 and Elite 100 V2",[11,955,956],{},"Since this review, the Oupes 600W has become hard to find. These two BLUETTI models are the current options I'd look at, depending on how much runtime you need:",[417,958,959,976],{},[420,960,961],{},[423,962,963,965,967,969,971,974],{},[426,964,834],{},[426,966,837],{},[426,968,840],{},[426,970,855],{},[426,972,973],{},"Max solar input",[426,975,858],{},[436,977,978,994,1012],{},[423,979,980,983,985,987,989,992],{},[441,981,982],{},"Oupes 600 (reviewed)",[441,984,868],{},[441,986,871],{},[441,988,885],{},[441,990,991],{},"100 watts",[441,993,888],{},[423,995,996,1000,1002,1004,1006,1009],{},[441,997,998],{},[50,999],{"href":108,"text":109},[441,1001,868],{},[441,1003,447],{},[441,1005,885],{},[441,1007,1008],{},"200 watts",[441,1010,1011],{},"9.5lb",[423,1013,1014,1018,1021,1024,1026,1029],{},[441,1015,1016],{},[50,1017],{"href":457,"text":458},[441,1019,1020],{},"1,800 watts",[441,1022,1023],{},"1,024 Wh",[441,1025,885],{},[441,1027,1028],{},"1,000 watts",[441,1030,1031],{},"25lb",[11,1033,606,1034,1037,1038,1042],{},[35,1035,1036],{},"Elite 30 V2"," matches the Oupes's 600W output and LiFePO4 chemistry, weighs about 6 pounds less, and accepts twice the solar input. The tradeoff is capacity: at 288Wh it has a little under half the Oupes's battery, so expect roughly half the runtimes from the ",[68,1039,1041],{"href":1040},"#runtime","runtime section"," above. For example, the 42\" TV would run about 2.5 hours instead of 5.4. It's a good fit for charging phones and laptops or running a single device for a few hours.",[11,1044,606,1045,1048],{},[35,1046,1047],{},"Elite 100 V2"," is the better option for longer runtimes and hurricane-season backup. With 1,024Wh it has about 1.7 times the Oupes's capacity, so the same TV would run roughly 9 hours. Its 1,800W output can also handle higher-draw devices the Oupes couldn't, and its 1,000W solar input means a solar setup can actually keep up with what you're using.",[22,1050,603],{"id":602},[11,1052,1053,1054,1056,1057,1059],{},"I hope this review of the Oupes portable power station and solar generator provided some meaning behind the technical specs. The Oupes itself is hard to find now, so if you're shopping for one today, please consider using my affiliate links for the ",[50,1055],{"href":108,"text":109}," for a similar output in a lighter package, or the ",[50,1058],{"href":457,"text":458}," for longer runtimes. Thanks!",[473,1061],{":items":1062},"[\"\u002Fdiy-home-upgrades\u002Fsolar\u002Fsolar-panel-installation\",\"\u002Fdiy-home-upgrades\u002Fsolar\u002Fsolar-powered-mini-split-installation\"]",{"title":477,"searchDepth":478,"depth":478,"links":1064},[1065,1066,1069,1070,1071,1072,1073],{"id":664,"depth":478,"text":665},{"id":694,"depth":478,"text":695,"children":1067},[1068],{"id":712,"depth":484,"text":713},{"id":762,"depth":478,"text":763},{"id":801,"depth":478,"text":802},{"id":811,"depth":478,"text":812},{"id":952,"depth":478,"text":953},{"id":602,"depth":478,"text":603},"\u002Fimages\u002Fposts\u002Foupes-portable-power-station-generator-vs-jackery\u002Foupes-battery-power-station-600watt.jpg","2021-07-21","I've been researching battery-powered power stations or generators as hurricane-season approaches and this review goes over the features of the Oupes 600w, 595wh, inverter power versus similar models from Jackery and GoalZero.",{},{"title":626,"description":1076},"home-automation\u002Fsensors-and-devices\u002Foupes-portable-power-station-generator-vs-jackery","RP7n0eImeDWEmBFnWHOS5BwHZa4CmW7AgpqM_CxBAkE",{"id":1082,"title":1083,"bmcUsername":6,"body":1084,"cover":1209,"date":1210,"description":1211,"draft":496,"extension":497,"features":6,"githubRepo":6,"headline":6,"highlight":6,"icon":6,"meta":1212,"navigation":499,"npmPackage":6,"order":6,"path":1213,"seo":1214,"stem":1215,"__hash__":1216},"content\u002Fhome-automation\u002Fsensors-and-devices\u002Fteckin-outdoor-smart-plug-ss31.md","Teckin SS31 wifi smart plug installation with Alexa",{"type":8,"value":1085,"toc":1200},[1086,1098,1101,1110,1114,1117,1120,1124,1132,1136,1139,1163,1166,1170,1173,1176,1180,1183,1186,1189,1193],[30,1087,1088],{},[11,1089,1090,1092,1093,1097],{},[35,1091,516],{}," The Teckin SS31 is no longer sold. Today I'd use the ",[50,1094],{"href":1095,"text":1096},"https:\u002F\u002Flink.amazon\u002FB09kAPYeq","Kasa Outdoor Smart Plug (EP40) from TP-Link",". It has the same two independently controlled outlets, a better IP64 weather rating, and sunrise\u002Fsunset scheduling, so it can replace a photocell timer outright.",[11,1099,1100],{},"Traditionally I've used a photocell timer plug for controlling my holiday Christmas lights. These plugs have a light sensor that turn on for a desired amount of time after it detects darkness. Teckin recently released the SS31 outdoor smart plug, outdoor smart outlet, that allows for greater control through scheduling and remote control with Alexa or the SmartLife app.",[30,1102,1103],{},[11,1104,1105,1106,1109],{},"The Teckin outdoor smart plug includes two outlets you can independently control and has an IP44 ",[718,1107,1108],{},"waterproof"," rating",[22,1111,1113],{"id":1112},"installation-experience","Installation Experience",[11,1115,1116],{},"I review and demonstrate installation instructions for the outdoor Teckin smart plug in this video below or continue reading on for more.",[18,1118],{"src":1119},"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fembed\u002F6KQaPjbKrIo",[136,1121,1123],{"id":1122},"whats-included","What's included",[40,1125,1126,1129],{},[43,1127,1128],{},"SS31 2 outlet outdoor smart plug",[43,1130,1131],{},"Instruction manual",[136,1133,1135],{"id":1134},"wifi-pairing","WiFi Pairing",[11,1137,1138],{},"WiFi pairing was very fast compared to other smart devices I've looked at recently.",[161,1140,1141,1144,1147,1150,1153,1156],{},[43,1142,1143],{},"Download the SmartLife app onto your iPhone from the app store",[43,1145,1146],{},"Click the + sign to add a device in the upper right corner.",[43,1148,1149],{},"Select \"Electrician\" on the sidebar and then \"Socket (Wi-Fi)\" on the right list.",[43,1151,1152],{},"Enter pairing mode by holding down the power button the the Teckin plug for 5 seconds.",[43,1154,1155],{},"The light will start flashing on the smart plug.",[43,1157,1158,1159,1162],{},"Click the ",[718,1160,1161],{},"Confirm flashing"," button in the SmartLife app.",[11,1164,1165],{},"The app quickly located and configured the plug.",[136,1167,1169],{"id":1168},"ip44-waterproof-rating","IP44 Waterproof Rating",[11,1171,1172],{},"IP stands for ingress protection and IP44 means this plug is rated to prevent ingress of objects over 1mm or splashing water at any angle. This would make it acceptable for most outdoor use under some basic cover.",[11,1174,1175],{},"You would not want to use this smart plug where it could get submerged or receive heavy blasts of water. In the video above I tested this out by spraying the outlet with a hose for some time and it lived up to its claims.",[136,1177,1179],{"id":1178},"features-and-performance","Features and Performance",[11,1181,1182],{},"I like that I can control the switched outlets independently which gives me more control than my current photocell timer. The SmartLife app let me create schedules on a 24 hour clock. This allows more control than a photocell timer and let's you vary the schedule on a per day basis if desired. There was no input lag when manually switching the outlets on and off from the app.",[11,1184,1185],{},"Alexa automatically discovered the outlet and switches based on their names in the SmartLife app. Voice control through Alexa worked without issue.",[11,1187,1188],{},"As far as Wi-Fi strength, the device is separated by a concrete stucco wall and some interior walls from the Wi-Fi access point, but still had a fairly strong Wi-Fi signal.",[136,1190,1192],{"id":1191},"summary","Summary",[11,1194,1195,1196,1199],{},"The Teckin SS31 outdoor smart plug was very close to the price point of a standard photocell outdoor timer and was a good pick if you wanted independent control and scheduling of two outlets. Since it's no longer sold, the ",[50,1197],{"href":1095,"text":1198},"Kasa EP40 Outdoor Smart Plug"," is what I'd buy today. It keeps the two independent outlets, improves the weather rating from IP44 to IP64 (dust-tight and protected from water spray), and adds sunrise\u002Fsunset schedules, which removes the main reason to keep a photocell timer at all.",{"title":477,"searchDepth":478,"depth":478,"links":1201},[1202],{"id":1112,"depth":478,"text":1113,"children":1203},[1204,1205,1206,1207,1208],{"id":1122,"depth":484,"text":1123},{"id":1134,"depth":484,"text":1135},{"id":1168,"depth":484,"text":1169},{"id":1178,"depth":484,"text":1179},{"id":1191,"depth":484,"text":1192},"\u002Fimages\u002Fposts\u002Fteckin-outdoor-smart-plug-ss31\u002Fteckin-ss31-smart plug-outlet.png","2020-03-30","If you are looking to upgrade your photocell timer plug to a smart outdoor plug this Teckin smart plug review is for you.",{},"\u002Fhome-automation\u002Fsensors-and-devices\u002Fteckin-outdoor-smart-plug-ss31",{"title":1083,"description":1211},"home-automation\u002Fsensors-and-devices\u002Fteckin-outdoor-smart-plug-ss31","6nqjAdcWI5ENiem4xaKXeb2qcEH-NHxEWiecSXTt0kU",{"id":1218,"title":1219,"bmcUsername":6,"body":1220,"cover":1620,"date":1621,"description":1622,"draft":496,"extension":497,"features":6,"githubRepo":6,"headline":6,"highlight":6,"icon":6,"meta":1623,"navigation":499,"npmPackage":6,"order":6,"path":1624,"seo":1625,"stem":1626,"__hash__":1627},"content\u002Fdiy-home-upgrades\u002Fgarage-door-insulation.md","DIY Garage Door Insulation: Does EPS Foam Actually Work? (FLIR Proof)",{"type":8,"value":1221,"toc":1607},[1222,1225,1242,1245,1248,1252,1255,1272,1275,1282,1285,1287,1291,1294,1320,1323,1330,1332,1336,1343,1346,1349,1351,1355,1358,1363,1380,1383,1389,1395,1398,1400,1404,1407,1415,1418,1432,1435,1441,1448,1451,1457,1463,1466,1470,1473,1483,1486,1492,1498,1500,1504,1507,1518,1524,1530,1533,1535,1539,1547,1554,1556,1560,1592,1594,1598,1601,1604],[11,1223,1224],{},"In South Florida, an uninsulated metal garage door might as well be a wall-sized radiator. After installing a solar-powered mini-split AC to make my garage gym usable year-round, I quickly realized the door itself was fighting me. On a hot day, the uninsulated metal panels were radiating enough heat that the mini-split was spending most of its capacity just countering what the door was dumping in. The fix turned out to be simpler and cheaper than I expected — and in hindsight, it should have been the first thing I did.",[27,1226,1227],{},[11,1228,1229],{},[718,1230,1231,1232,1236,1237,1241],{},"This is the third article in my South Florida garage cooling series. If you're starting from scratch, the ",[68,1233,1235],{"href":1234},"\u002Fdiy-home-upgrades\u002Fsolar\u002Fsolar-panel-installation","solar panel installation"," and ",[68,1238,1240],{"href":1239},"\u002Fdiy-home-upgrades\u002Fsolar\u002Fsolar-powered-mini-split-installation","solar-powered mini-split install"," articles cover the full setup this insulation project supports. If you haven't done anything to your garage yet, this is the best first step — it's the least expensive, highest-impact passive upgrade you can make before investing in cooling equipment.",[18,1243],{"src":1244},"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.youtube.com\u002Fembed\u002FMhkVUL_psBQ",[1246,1247],"hr",{},[22,1249,1251],{"id":1250},"garage-door-insulation-vs-replacing-the-door-is-it-worth-it","Garage Door Insulation vs. Replacing the Door — Is It Worth It?",[11,1253,1254],{},"Before buying foam panels, the obvious question is whether you should just replace the door with a pre-insulated one. Here's the honest math:",[40,1256,1257,1263],{},[43,1258,1259,1262],{},[35,1260,1261],{},"A new insulated garage door"," (installed) runs roughly $800–$2,000+ depending on size, style, and installer",[43,1264,1265,1268,1269],{},[35,1266,1267],{},"The Insulfoam EPS kit"," from Lowe's runs about $69 per package — a standard two-car garage door takes two kits, so ",[35,1270,1271],{},"$138 total",[11,1273,1274],{},"The gap is significant enough that insulating the existing door almost always wins unless your door is already due for replacement for other reasons (damage, age, failing hardware). For a door in serviceable condition, $138 and an afternoon is the clear answer.",[11,1276,1277,1278,1281],{},"The insulated door replacement also makes sense if you want a higher R-value. A quality insulated garage door can reach R-16 to R-18. The EPS foam kit gets you to ",[35,1279,1280],{},"R-4.8"," — meaningful, but not the same ceiling. For Florida's climate where the primary concern is blocking radiant heat rather than maintaining a heated interior, R-4.8 proved more than sufficient in practice.",[11,1283,1284],{},"The $138 was well spent either way — I get the benefits now, and when the door eventually needs replacing, I'll have no hesitation investing in a pre-insulated door knowing firsthand how much of a difference it makes.",[1246,1286],{},[22,1288,1290],{"id":1289},"what-is-eps-foam-and-why-does-it-work-here","What Is EPS Foam and Why Does It Work Here?",[11,1292,1293],{},"EPS stands for expanded polystyrene — the same rigid foam material used in coolers and packaging. For garage door insulation, it has a few properties that make it a better fit than fiberglass batts:",[40,1295,1296,1302,1308,1314],{},[43,1297,1298,1301],{},[35,1299,1300],{},"Lightweight"," — critical for a door on springs",[43,1303,1304,1307],{},[35,1305,1306],{},"Moisture resistant"," — fiberglass batts absorb humidity and lose effectiveness over time; EPS doesn't",[43,1309,1310,1313],{},[35,1311,1312],{},"Rigid friction fit"," — the panels snap into the door's existing rail channels without adhesive or fasteners",[43,1315,1316,1319],{},[35,1317,1318],{},"Reflective vinyl backing"," — the finished side faces into the garage, reflects some light, and looks significantly cleaner than raw foam or exposed metal",[11,1321,1322],{},"When researching options, I came across others who had used batt insulation in their garage doors and ran into issues with weight adding up quickly and the batts sagging over time as the door cycled. Neither sounded appealing, which is what pointed me toward EPS foam as the cleaner solution.",[11,1324,1325,1326,1329],{},"The kit I used is the ",[35,1327,1328],{},"Insulfoam (Henry) Garage Door Insulation Kit"," rated at R-4.8, with 1.25-inch panels. The panels come kerfed on one side to allow them to bend into place without cracking. Each kit is sized for a single-car garage door — for a two-car door, simply buy two kits.",[1246,1331],{},[22,1333,1335],{"id":1334},"garage-door-insulation-fire-rating-what-you-should-know","Garage Door Insulation Fire Rating — What You Should Know",[11,1337,1338,1339,1342],{},"The Insulfoam kit carries a ",[35,1340,1341],{},"Class A fire rating",", which is the highest classification for surface burning characteristics. It's worth understanding what that means and what it doesn't.",[11,1344,1345],{},"Class A means the material has been tested and shown to have low flame spread and smoke development relative to other materials — it does not mean the material is fireproof or fire resistant. EPS foam will burn if exposed to sufficient heat or flame.",[11,1347,1348],{},"Building codes around garage insulation materials vary by municipality, and some areas may have specific requirements about exposed foam insulation in attached garages. Check with your local building department if you have any questions about code compliance for your specific situation before installing.",[1246,1350],{},[22,1352,1354],{"id":1353},"how-to-install-garage-door-insulation-panels","How to Install Garage Door Insulation Panels",[11,1356,1357],{},"The install is genuinely straightforward. No tools are required beyond a way to cut the panels — a utility knife and straightedge produces cleaner edges with less mess, but I used a table saw and got some rough edges on the early cuts before getting a feel for how the foam behaves on the blade. The edge quality improved noticeably as I went. I'd still reach for the table saw — I don't have the patience for scoring and snapping two kits worth of panels, despite the enormous mess.",[11,1359,1360],{},[35,1361,1362],{},"Process:",[161,1364,1365,1368,1371,1374,1377],{},[43,1366,1367],{},"Measure each panel opening on the garage door — they're not all identical, especially around the horizontal support straps",[43,1369,1370],{},"Cut the foam panels to width on the table saw or score-and-snap with a utility knife",[43,1372,1373],{},"For panels adjacent to support straps, cut a notch to fit around the strap hardware",[43,1375,1376],{},"Friction-fit each panel into the door channel — the kerfed face sits against the door, vinyl side faces the garage interior. No glue or construction adhesive needed or recommended.",[43,1378,1379],{},"Work panel by panel across the door, then move to the next row",[11,1381,1382],{},"The panels stay in place through friction alone. Skip the adhesive — many common adhesives are incompatible with EPS\u002Fstyrofoam and will degrade the panel, and keeping them friction-fit means you can swap out an individual panel if one gets damaged without disturbing the rest.",[11,1384,1385,1388],{},[35,1386,1387],{},"Florida and hurricane-zone note:"," Florida garage doors typically include horizontal reinforcing bars that run through the panel openings — a requirement for wind load ratings. These bars divide the panel opening into smaller pockets. Rather than cutting panels to fit exactly within each pocket, cut them slightly larger than the opening so the foam can be bowed and slid into the pocket, then allowed to spring back against the edges for a tight friction fit. The kerfed face of the EPS panel works in your favor here — the built-in flex lets you compress and insert without cracking the foam. No adhesive is needed; the oversized cut provides enough tension to hold the panel securely in place.",[11,1390,1391,1394],{},[35,1392,1393],{},"Cutting tip:"," A utility knife generates far less debris and is worth considering if mess is a concern. If you use a table saw, expect a significant cleanup — even with a vacuum connected, foam balls go everywhere due to static buildup. A few things that can help: work in humid conditions to reduce static, use a zero-clearance insert to improve vacuum pickup, clean the filter frequently, and consider an anti-static vacuum hose. Keep the area well ventilated and wear respiratory protection — cutting EPS offgasses noticeably.",[11,1396,1397],{},"I used all panels from both kits with small offcuts remaining. The install took roughly an afternoon.",[1246,1399],{},[22,1401,1403],{"id":1402},"does-garage-door-insulation-actually-work-flir-results","Does Garage Door Insulation Actually Work? (FLIR Results)",[11,1405,1406],{},"Yes — and the FLIR thermal camera footage in the video above is the clearest proof I could offer.",[11,1408,1409,1410],{},"Before the insulated foam panels were installed:\n",[1411,1412],"img",{"alt":1413,"src":1414},"FLIR thermal image of uninsulated garage door showing high surface temperatures","\u002Fimages\u002Fposts\u002Fgarage-door-insulation\u002Fbefore-uninsulated-garage-door.webp",[11,1416,1417],{},"With the first two panels installed in the upper-right section of the door, the thermal camera showed:",[40,1419,1420,1426],{},[43,1421,1422,1425],{},[35,1423,1424],{},"Uninsulated panels:"," 87–92°F surface temperature",[43,1427,1428,1431],{},[35,1429,1430],{},"Insulated panels (adjacent):"," 75–80°F surface temperature",[11,1433,1434],{},"The difference is visible immediately. The first four insulated panels in the upper-right show up in purple (cooler) while the adjacent uninsulated panels remain orange (hotter):",[11,1436,1437],{},[1411,1438],{"alt":1439,"src":1440},"FLIR thermal image showing first 4 insulated panels in purple (cooler) against uninsulated panels in orange (hotter)","\u002Fimages\u002Fposts\u002Fgarage-door-insulation\u002Finprogress-garage-door-insulation.webp",[11,1442,1443,1444,1447],{},"That's a ",[35,1445,1446],{},"10°F difference in surface temperature"," between panels measured side by side in the same conditions. As more panels were added, the effect compounded — the mini-split load noticeably dropped as coverage increased.",[11,1449,1450],{},"By the time the final panel was installed my metaphorical giant toaster had been replaced by a styrofoam cooler. The FLIR image shows the door surface almost entirely in cooler color ranges, with heat bleeding only through the seams between door panels — an unavoidable gap you can't insulate without preventing the door from opening.",[11,1452,1453,1456],{},[35,1454,1455],{},"What the FLIR also revealed:"," The perimeter weather seal at the top and sides of the door was reading significantly hotter than the insulated panels — meaning the rubber seal was degraded and allowing heat in around the edges. The insulation panels can only do so much if the perimeter seal is compromised so I had the seals replaced in a later service appointment.",[11,1458,1459],{},[1411,1460],{"alt":1461,"src":1462},"FLIR thermal image of fully insulated garage door with bright orange heat leaking through degraded perimeter weather seal","\u002Fimages\u002Fposts\u002Fgarage-door-insulation\u002Fgarage-door-weather-seal-before.webp",[11,1464,1465],{},"In FLIR thermal images, white and yellow indicate the hottest surfaces, orange is moderately hot, and purples and blacks are the coolest. The bright orange and white band above the door in the image above is the degraded weather seal — hot outside air bleeding in around the perimeter rather than through the door panels themselves.",[136,1467,1469],{"id":1468},"after-garage-door-weather-seal-replacement","After: Garage Door Weather Seal Replacement",[11,1471,1472],{},"My local garage door company quoted $9 per foot to replace the trim and weather seal, so I had it done during a maintenance visit where I was also upgrading the door rollers — easier than keeping it on the to-do list indefinitely. The job involved carefully prying off the old trim without damaging the surrounding paint, cutting the new trim to size, tacking it in place with a staple gun, and finishing with caulk.",[11,1474,1475,1476,1480],{},"The new trim comes with weather stripping pre-attached:\n",[1411,1477],{"alt":1478,"src":1479},"Exterior shot of new trim and weather stripping on garage door","\u002Fimages\u002Fposts\u002Fgarage-door-insulation\u002Fnew-weather-strip-seal.webp",[718,1481,1482],{},"Yes, its due for a wash",[11,1484,1485],{},"After replacing the seals, the area above the garage door shows significantly less heat infiltration. The previously bright orange band is now mostly purple, confirming the new weather stripping is doing its job blocking hot outside air from leaking in around the perimeter.",[11,1487,1488],{},[1411,1489],{"alt":1490,"src":1491},"FLIR thermal image after weather seal replacement showing reduced heat infiltration above garage door","\u002Fimages\u002Fposts\u002Fgarage-door-insulation\u002Fgarage-door-weather-seal-after.webp",[11,1493,1494],{},[1411,1495],{"alt":1496,"src":1497},"FLIR thermal image of left side of garage door after weather seal replacement showing improved seal performance","\u002Fimages\u002Fposts\u002Fgarage-door-insulation\u002Fgarage-door-weather-seal-after-left.webp",[1246,1499],{},[22,1501,1503],{"id":1502},"will-adding-insulation-make-your-garage-door-too-heavy","Will Adding Insulation Make Your Garage Door Too Heavy?",[11,1505,1506],{},"This question kept me from undertaking the project for years. I didn't want to look for trouble and risk breaking the garage door spring or some other unforeseen thing versus leaving it alone.",[11,1508,1509,1510,1513,1514,1517],{},"Each Insulfoam kit adds approximately ",[35,1511,1512],{},"7 lbs"," to the door. Two kits = ",[35,1515,1516],{},"14 lbs of added weight"," on a door that likely weighs 150–200 lbs depending on size and material. That's roughly a 7–10% weight increase.",[11,1519,1520,1523],{},[35,1521,1522],{},"Technically",", garage door spring systems are calibrated to the door's weight, and a meaningful weight addition can affect balance — an unbalanced door puts more strain on the opener motor and spring hardware. If you're adding significant weight, having a garage door technician check and adjust spring tension is the by-the-book recommendation.",[11,1525,1526,1529],{},[35,1527,1528],{},"In practice",", I ran the door for several months after installation without adjusting the spring and didn't notice a meaningful difference in operation. My garage door spring did eventually fail — but the failure appeared to be age-related rather than insulation-related. When the spring was replaced, the technician tensioned the new spring accounting for the full door weight including the insulation panels.",[11,1531,1532],{},"If your door is already operating near the upper limit of its spring tension or is several years old, it's worth having the spring checked when adding any meaningful weight. When in doubt, consult a garage door professional before and after installation — garage door springs are under extreme tension and should only be adjusted or replaced by a trained professional.",[1246,1534],{},[22,1536,1538],{"id":1537},"real-world-results-garage-temperature-before-and-after","Real-World Results: Garage Temperature Before and After",[11,1540,1541,1542,1546],{},"In peak summer, the 12,000 BTU mini-split was previously holding the garage at around 77°F when outside temperatures exceeded 94°F. With the insulated door, the heat load the unit has to overcome is meaningfully reduced — the door is no longer a significant radiant heat source working against it. Some of the ",[80,1543],{"href":1544,"text":1545},"https:\u002F\u002Fwww.pioneerminisplit.com\u002Fpages\u002Fhvac-calculator","online BTU sizing calculators"," I ran across for mini-split ACs suggested 12,000 BTU might not be enough to deal with a two car garage in Florida, but in practice insulating the garage door and addressing air leaks allowed me to use the smaller AC unit.",[11,1548,1549,1550,1553],{},"In the cooler Florida months (December through March), with the insulation in place, the mini-split is able to bring the garage temperature into the ",[35,1551,1552],{},"upper 60s°F"," with a 70°F set point — even when outside temperatures are mild but the metal door would otherwise be radiating stored heat. That level of cooling performance wasn't achievable before the insulation was added, and it's made the garage gym genuinely usable year-round rather than just survivable in summer.",[1246,1555],{},[22,1557,1559],{"id":1558},"garage-door-insulation-tips-what-id-do-differently","Garage Door Insulation Tips: What I'd Do Differently",[40,1561,1562,1568,1574,1580,1586],{},[43,1563,1564,1567],{},[35,1565,1566],{},"Utility knife vs. table saw"," — use a utility knife if mess is a concern; the table saw is faster and produces precise cuts once you get a feel for the foam, but be prepared for statically charged foam balls to go everywhere. See the cutting tips in the installation section for mitigation strategies.",[43,1569,1570,1573],{},[35,1571,1572],{},"Measure each panel opening individually."," The openings aren't perfectly uniform, especially around the horizontal support straps — treating them as identical will give you gaps.",[43,1575,1576,1579],{},[35,1577,1578],{},"The notch cuts around support straps take the most time."," Budget extra time for those panels rather than treating every cut as equal.",[43,1581,1582,1585],{},[35,1583,1584],{},"The vinyl backing brightens the garage."," An unexpected benefit — the white reflective surface on the inside of the door adds noticeably more light reflection into the space.",[43,1587,1588,1591],{},[35,1589,1590],{},"Check your weather seal while you're at it."," The FLIR camera made the perimeter seal problem obvious — if you have a thermal camera, use it after install to identify any remaining hot spots.",[1246,1593],{},[22,1595,1597],{"id":1596},"the-bottom-line","The Bottom Line",[11,1599,1600],{},"For $138 and an afternoon of work, EPS foam garage door insulation is one of the highest-ROI home improvement projects for anyone dealing with a heat-loaded garage in a hot climate. The FLIR results are hard to argue with — a 10°F surface temperature reduction across the entire door translates directly to less heat load on your AC and a more comfortable space.",[11,1602,1603],{},"It's not a replacement for proper HVAC or a modern insulated door if you're starting from scratch — but for an existing garage door in serviceable condition, it's the right first move before anything else. Depending on your climate, you may find that insulation combined with a good shop fan is enough to make the space comfortable without adding active cooling at all. One thing insulation won't do is reduce humidity — and depending on your climate and season, that may or may not matter. In South Florida it's often the bigger comfort factor. For me, now using both, the space feels like an extension of the house and is pleasant to use as a workshop and home gym.",[473,1605],{":items":1606},"[\"\u002Fdiy-home-upgrades\u002Fsolar\u002Fsolar-powered-mini-split-installation\",\"\u002Fdiy-home-upgrades\u002Fsolar\u002Fsolar-panel-installation\"]",{"title":477,"searchDepth":478,"depth":478,"links":1608},[1609,1610,1611,1612,1613,1616,1617,1618,1619],{"id":1250,"depth":478,"text":1251},{"id":1289,"depth":478,"text":1290},{"id":1334,"depth":478,"text":1335},{"id":1353,"depth":478,"text":1354},{"id":1402,"depth":478,"text":1403,"children":1614},[1615],{"id":1468,"depth":484,"text":1469},{"id":1502,"depth":478,"text":1503},{"id":1537,"depth":478,"text":1538},{"id":1558,"depth":478,"text":1559},{"id":1596,"depth":478,"text":1597},"\u002Fimages\u002Fposts\u002Fgarage-door-insulation\u002Fgarage-door-insulation-cover.webp","2026-03-31","Added a $138 EPS foam insulation kit to my Florida garage door and tested it with a FLIR thermal camera. Real before-and-after results, weight and spring considerations, and how it changed my mini-split's performance year-round.",{},"\u002Fdiy-home-upgrades\u002Fgarage-door-insulation",{"title":1219,"description":1622},"diy-home-upgrades\u002Fgarage-door-insulation","Nqwz2CdaBOQZPVJ6QKsrMKVHYWxRD0SOvyqX_3w4ne4",1791035295573]