6 Considerations To Make When Camping With Solar Panels

Nothing can quite beat the peace, solitude, and at-oneness-with-nature that camping provides, and if you’re someone who struggles with their mental health, connecting with the great outdoors in such a way can have a number of benefits.

Whether you choose to simply pitch a tent and sleep beneath the stars, rent a cabin for a cozier outdoor experience, or hop in your RV and stop where the mood takes you, you can get all the power you need to charge your mobile devices and plug in your devices, from portable solar panels – for a truly green camping trip!

To get the most out of camping with solar energy, follow the six tips listed below:

1. Figure out how much electricity you will need

It’s easy to underestimate how much power you use every day, and in fact, most people do underestimate their power needs. Luckily, it’s pretty simple to calculate your energy needs for a camping trip, you just need to calculate each of your devices wattage, and you can do this by multiplying the volts by the amps; you should see this labeled on the power supply of each device. To help guide you, here are the wattages of some common devices:

• Tablet – 8W
• Smartphone – 6W
• Mini fridge – 160W
• Box fan – 50W
• Coffee maker – 1000W
• Portable speaker – 80W

Once you’ve arrived at a figure, simply multiply it by the amount of time you expect to use each device for, each day. Think also about whether you might use any of the devices at the same time.

• Invest in the right portable panels

It’s always best to buy portable panels that will give you more electricity than you think you’ll actually need, which helps to limit the chances of you running short of power when there aren’t ideal solar energy generating conditions, such as on a cloudy day. 

• Consider buying a solar battery

If you don’t invest in a solar battery for your portable panels, you may face inconsistencies in your electricity supply, which can prove both inconvenient and tiresome. Make your choice from the range of lithium-ion batteries, as these are the safest and most efficient, and require the least maintenance.

• Get yourself a charge controller

These help stop a solar panel from overcharging a battery, and you’ll need to choose the right one according to the type of battery and solar panel combination you’re using. If you need further guidance on this, a quick call to a local solar energy system supplier should clear things up.

• Figure out if an inverter is required

An inverter isn’t needed for appliances that function using a direct current, or DC; you’ll find that a lot of RVs, campers, and trailers have these built-in. but, should you wish to plug everyday devices directly into the battery of your solar panel, you may need to buy an inverter to convert the 12-volt DC to 120 AC electrical energy.

• Think about where you will be camping

In an ideal world, your camping spot should have plenty of exposure to the suns rays in order for your panels to generate enough electricity, and even the orientation of your camp can be significant. Remember that solar panels should be positioned optimally for them to produce the most energy.

Camping with solar panels isn’t for everyone, but by following the tips above, there’s no reason why you can amp up your green experience by producing clean power for use in your tent, RV, wigwam, or cabin. If you would like to know more about camping with solar energy, chat to a local solar energy provider for more guidance and support.