With the advent of solar panels and the advancement in the technology implemented in them has enabled the industries to produce portable solar panels. The latest products in the portable category are foldable solar mats and solar blankets.
Portable solar mats and blankets are suitable for camping, hiking, and off-road vehicles like 4wd, perception lighting camping Kits, 12-volt fridges, TVs, and other camping equipment. These portable solar devices also come handy during power failures and can be used as an emergency kit for homes.
So next time when you’re planning to go camping, hiking or looking to buy portable solar panels, consider these features. This article will help you chose the most suitable solar panels depending upon the requirement of weight, power, and performance.
Weight and Compactness
This is perhaps the deciding factor of the solar panel whether it’s portable or not. Considering weight is very important if you’re purchasing it for camping and long-distance hike. Weight doesn’t matter when you’re staying off-grid or keeping it in an RV. But, a 15-pound solar kit may seem heavy to put it inside a backpack.
It is also important to consider the size of the system. For instance, a 7 Watt portable solar panel measures 6.5 x 9.5 x 1 inches and it weighs only 1 pound. It will be suitable for charging small electronics like phones and other small gadgets. An 80 Watt solar panels, used on RVs and ATVs measures 32.5 x 19.9 x 2.8 inches and weighs 20 pounds.
Storage
Solar panels are available in different forms and manufactured by different brands. The latest product in the market is the solar mats and blankets. Hard Korr’s range of portable and camping solar panels offers the best mats and blankets that are incorporated with the latest Crocskin® solar cell armor.
Wattage
Firstly, ask yourself a question – “What are you going to charge?” or “What are you going to power up using the portable solar panels?”, only then you can decide the wattage requirement of the solar panel needed. The wattage could be as low as 5 watts and as high as 1500 watts. The cost of the solar panel depends upon the power output so it’s important to choose wisely while purchasing a portable solar panel.
Accessories
Pay close attention to how and where the solar panels will be used. If you’re going to charge electronics, you might also have to buy additional accessories like USB cables or socket-plug.
So next time when you go to camping or want to have a portable solar panel system, do consider the abovementioned factors.
