Reducing Energy Consumption and Other Earth Friendly Tips

A Primer On Buying A Portable Solar Generator For Outdoor Adventures

The great outdoors is a fantastic place to disconnect and detach from the modern world. However, few people have the luxury of going entirely off-grid for days or weeks at a time. Instead, it's usually necessary to bring at least a few modern conveniences along on any camping trip, which means having access to a power source.

At a minimum, you probably want to keep your phone charged while you're out in the wild, but a simple battery bank may not be sufficient if you're planning a long trip. Portable solar generators can step in to fill this gap, helping to keep all your gear charged as long as you have access to the sun. This guide will help you choose the best one for your next expedition.

Portable Generator Basics

Most portable solar generators use a similar design consisting of a solar panel array and a battery unit. The battery unit supplies power to your devices, while the solar array helps keep the battery charged and ready. If you need even more portability, you can use the central battery unit to charge regular mobile battery packs, allowing you to leave your generator at camp while you explore.

When choosing the best generator for your needs, you'll need to consider how much power your devices draw and how long you need to operate them. A smaller generator can potentially keep one high-demand device (such as a laptop) going for a short time or recharge many small, mobile devices, such as smartphones or tablets.

In general, pay attention to the battery's rated watt-hours. If you know the wattage of your devices, you can use this information to determine roughly how long the battery can keep them running. For example, your cell phone will probably use around 6 watts while you're recharging it, or a little bit less to keep it topped up while running.

You'll also want to consider the rated wattage and recharge time of the solar panel array. Large panels typically provide faster recharge rates and more readily available power, but at the cost of more size and weight. If you don't anticipate draining your generator's battery too often, the slower recharge rate of a smaller panel may be worth it to save space in your camping packs.

Selecting Additional Features

Once you've found a generator that meets your basic power requirements, you may want to consider some additional features based on your specific needs. For example, waterproof panels and batteries can be helpful if you'll be spending much time near lakes or other bodies of water. These features are even more critical if your trip involves any boating.

Other features to look for include multiple charging options, such as the ability to charge from your car or a wall outlet. These features can let you power your generator more quickly when you have access to an appropriate source. By picking a generator with the right features for your needs, you can ensure you always have power, no matter how deep into the wilderness your adventures take you. To learn more about things like portable solar energy generators, contact a supplier.