Sky Mean

No doubt you’ve seen people putting out their solar panels on your camping trips. Don’t be fooled into thinking they must have loads of money to be able to afford it either. Solar power is gaining in popularity and as the market heats up so too do the prices come down. So if you regularly go camping you should take another look at this renewable form of energy.

The main considerations of solar panels for camping are that they are portable, reliable and practical.

You wouldn’t have a hard time believing that it’s much more fun to travel in an RV when you have your own source of power with you. You will still find the odd camper who will tell you they don’t need it. Of course, if you only go to sites where there is a power hookup then you don’t need an alternative power source. A problem with this however, is that you usually need to book well in advance to get a hookup. If you have an RV with a solar panel then you can arrive at any camping site safe in the knowledge that you have available power whether they have a spare hookup or not. You can also explore quiet and remote places for a couple of days where others can’t go because of their dependency on an electrical supply.

When you decide that solar power is for you the next step is to calculate your exact power requirements and don’t forget to add in some reserves for cloudy days. You will also probably need to plan your trip in the sunnier months if your sole source of power is going to be solar.

When purchasing batteries for your solar panel make sure you choose panels that are going to keep them charged up in as short amount of time as possible. It’s no good to drain the batteries if your solar panels need a few days to recharge them. It’s crucial that you work out exactly how much power you need before you start deciding on a solar system. Work out how much power you need each day, add a bit extra for reserve power and go from there.

There a few manufacturers developing solar systems that cater specifically to RVs. Prices vary considerably so you should find something that suits your requirements and budgets. Try to limit the amount of electrical devices you take or get energy efficient versions of them. You are trying to get away from it all but some things you just can’t or shouldn’t do without.

You don’t have to have an RV to benefit from solar power while camping. Portable and lightweight systems are becoming more commonplace these days. There are foldable panels that spread out like a blanket to catch the sun’s rays. You can get small ones that are great for recharging your torch or phone or ones that are large and powerful enough to run a small TV. Hikers can even get a pack with panels built in that will keep their iPod or mobile phone charged.

Solar power is no longer only suitable for homes and offices. It’s possible to have an unlimited supply of energy wherever you happen to be. You will certainly have a lot more fun on your camping trips with a solar system. Why use noisy, smelly generators when you can use free power from the sun. In the US, solar power is growing in popularity and more and more households are now using them.

Next time you plan to go camping, make sure that you bring a dependable solar power system. Of course you still need to plan your trip carefully and choose the right time of year. If it’s cloudy weather you might find yourself without power until the sun comes out which is no fun. You can’t get much more greener than solar and you can stay away longer and in more places if you have your own power supply.

This article has been written by the author, Alex Blaken. Should you require any more Solar Power Systems please visit his Solar Systems resources!