Solar generators are an excellent way to ensure you have electricity when you need it, whether you are hit by a tornado or living off-grid. It's common for people living in disaster-prone areas to have a generator to keep their power in emergencies.
There are a number of solar generators and solar power stations on the market. Thus, choosing the best one can be quite tough. Solar power isn't just for homes. In fact, you can use a portable solar generator to power appliances or charge phones in a boat, van, or RV or use it as a backup power source.
A lot of solar generators are easy to operate and portable. Thus, they offer a low emission power solution for people on the move or anyone who requires some emergency backup electricity. The electricity production from a solar generator is similar to other types of generators while being more environmentally friendly.
In this article, we will take a closer look at solar generators, how they work, the factors you need to consider when choosing a solar generator, and the best portable solar generators you can get. Continue reading to learn more.
What Is a Solar Generator?
The term solar generator typically refers to the combination of portable solar panels, inverter, battery, and battery charger into a single device that captures, stores, and distributes energy from the sun.
Solar generators are quite popular for RV trips, camping trips, boating, and as backup power for emergency situations.
As compared to a regular generator that's normally powered by diesel, propane, or gas and has an alternator, fuel tank, and engine, a solar generator doesn't have any moving parts. They basically consist of four elements. These include:
- Portable Solar Panels to capture energy from the sun
- Rechargeable Battery to store the energy captured by the solar panels
- Solar Charge Controller to manage the amount of energy that enters the battery
- Solar Inverter to convert sunlight into a usable form of electricity.
Therefore, a solar generator is essentially a portable battery with some photovoltaic panels attached to capture sunlight.
A portable solar generator works as an excellent power supply whether you are camping, traveling, or need power during a blackout. Depending on your situation, you might need a solar generator with multiple outlets, particularly in emergencies where you have several power-dependent appliances and devices.
Generally, solar generators feature USB ports, AC outlets, and 12-volt sockets to let you charge various devices. The best thing about multiple charging options is that you can get the power according to your needs. For instance, you can plug your mobile phone into the USB port to charge and then connect an extension cord to the AC outlet to power a set of lights.
In a lot of cases, you'll be able to purchase components such as solar panels and battery storage separately. However, you can even purchase them as a single all-in-one kit.
How Does a Solar Power Generator Work?
A solar battery generator works by generating electricity from sunlight and storing it in a batter for later use. Here's a more detailed breakdown of the whole process
- Solar panels convert energy from the sun to direct current electricity, which then moves through the charge controller.
- The charge controller modulates the electricity voltage before storing it. This ensures the right amount of current enters the battery.
- The battery stores the solar energy for later use.
- The inverter converts the stored power from the battery to the alternate current electricity that most devices and appliances require.
Benefits of Portable Solar Generators
Solar generators offer a number of benefits, including:
1. Low Maintenance
Gasoline generators are quite high maintenance. However, when you have a solar generator, you don't have to worry about replacing fuel switches, air filters, or spark plugs.
2. Free, Renewable Energy from the Sun
When you use a solar generator, you're basically using free energy from the sun instead of expensive, non-renewable fossil fuels. Thus, you can get this free energy from the sun for the whole life of your solar panels, which is typically approximately 20 to 30 years.
3. Clean and Quiet Operation
Apart from the obvious financial advantages of using a solar generator, choosing this renewable energy source over other fossil fuel systems has numerous environmental benefits. Gas-powered generators cause air and noise pollution, and while the latter is just annoying, the former causes climate change.
4. Portable
A solar generator is an excellent and lightweight option for meeting your power requirements. Small portable solar generators are popular when traveling in an RV, living off-grid, or boondocking.
You also don't have to keep extra fuel, so these lightweight generators have higher portability than a non-solar generator. They are perfect for use when you're camping, in an RV, or on the boat.
5. Eco-Friendly
Compared to traditional generators, solar energy is a renewable and low-emission source of energy. Conventional gas or diesel generators need a power supply – generally propane to run them.
Solar generators are more eco-friendly than internal combustion engine-based generators as they don't need fossil fuels that emit pollutants. Since they are no pollutants emitted from a solar generator, you can minimize your carbon footprint.
How to Choose a Solar Generator?
When choosing a solar generator, you need to make sure you pick a system that will supply you with the energy you need. Researching your options while keeping these factors in mind is going to help you pick the right system for your needs.
1. Rated Watts
The rated-watts measurement indicates the electricity the solar power generator can produce continuously. Read the wattage requirement of the devices you need to run on the solar generator. You can typically find the requirements of a particular device on the device itself. Just ensure the running wattage of the solar generator is higher than the total wattage of the devices and appliances.
2. Watt-Hours
The watt-hours of the battery ensure that it can power appliances for as long as you need. It tells you how much continuous power the generator can offer for an hour with a full battery charge. It also helps you determine how much power the generator can deliver before needing a recharge. For example, a 600-watt-hour solar generator can power a 50-watt device for approximately twelve hours or two 100-watt appliances for nearly three hours before the battery runs out.
Keep in mind that these figures are just estimates, and you might not be able to use their maximum capacity. For instance, the temperature can impact the battery's capacity. Multiply the total wattage of the devices you require to run with the time you have to run them for. You'll need a generator that has a watt-hours capacity higher than the result.
3. Inverter Type
Solar generators use inverters to convert DC electricity provided by the solar panels into AC power to AC electricity so that you can power or charge your devices. An inverter generating a modified sine wave is an economical option that works with multiple devices.
However, certain devices may not work well with this type of inverter or might not work at all. It can produce a hum in audio equipment and can perhaps cut down the life of other devices. Therefore, make sure the appliances and devices you connect to are compatible with them. A pure sine wave inverter might be a bit more expensive. However, it is going to be a good option for certain home devices and electronics.
4. Recharge Time
This indicator tells you how long a dead solar generator battery will take to charge completely. The instruction guide is going to provide an estimate of the charging time based on the charging speed of the generator and the input provided by the solar panels.
Keep in mind that this estimate depends on the highest input of solar energy that you won't always have. For example, cloudy weather conditions can slow down charging, and you'll need direct sunlight for the best results.
Now factor in your power needs and battery capacity. For example, if you're planning to get a solar generator to power mobile devices, TV, and portable TV for several days, make sure the capacity and charge rate is going to give you the power you need during that period.
Keep in mind that while several models can offer power during charging, this will slow down the charging speed, and you might be using energy more quickly than the battery can recharge.
Best Portable Solar Generator
Here are some of the best portable solar generators you can invest in.
1. BLUETTI AC300 + 1*B300 | Home Battery Backup
The BLUETTI AC300 is a solar generator kit that supplies sufficient power for an entire house. It provides 3000W of pure sinewave power, which is enough to power a window-mounted or wall-mounted AC, refrigerator, washing machine, and a lot of other appliances.
2. BLUETTI EP500 + 3*PV200 | Solar Generator Kit
The BLUETTI EP500 is a portable power station that provides energy storage facilities for off-grid homes. You can charge multiple devices simultaneously using this solar generator. The best thing about this kit is that it has wheels, so you can carry it as you move around.
3. BLUETTI AC200MAX + 1*B230 | Home Battery Backup
The BLUETTI AC200MAX has hi-tech features such as battery expansion and Bluetooth connectivity. This solar generator is one of the few solar generators in the market that comes with a full-color touchscreen that provides information about its charging and discharging activities.
Last Few Words
Solar power generators are a smart alternative to conventional gas-powered generators. Plus, they work quietly and are fume-free. Solar generators also don't produce any dangerous emissions, lower your carbon footprint and enable flexible outdoor and indoor operations.
We strongly suggest you check out our large collection of solar-powered generators at our shop here.
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