Portable Solar Power REVEALED
Author: Jim Martin
The same photovoltaic systems that convert solar energy into electricity are becoming available as portable systems that you can carry wherever you want. The fixed solar systems have already dramatically transformed the whole idea of power generation, compared to the conventional fossil fuel generators. We now have access to systems that are silent, ecologically friendly, free from pollution and also free from emission gases. Being able to take them wherever you want means we are entering into an era of liberty and freedom that is without precedent.
Convenience for the user as well as protection of the environment are both key characteristics of portable solar systems. They do not require fuel, pollute the air, need maintenance or make any noise. Large or small, they can be carried or transported using appropriate vehicles.
Portable solar power with storage batteries can therefore provide for all electrical requirements whether users are camping out in African game reserves or providing help to distant third world countries. Base camps can therefore be provided with all modern conveniences and information technology.
Portable solar power systems include all the components required for efficient power generation. Contemporary design and technology means that the panels, wiring, charge controllers and battery inverters are all packed into these compact units. At any time when the sun is shining, they can be switched on to generate instantly usable 120 volt A.C. power from solar radiation. With their battery backup systems, portable photovoltaic solar power systems have many benefits including of course electrical power in remote areas where there is no connection to the electrical grid.
Three major components for portable solar power systems mean that the design is both simple and effective. The photovoltaic panels generate electricity from the sun, and then run this through a charge controller into battery storage, to finally have the inverter use the power from the batteries to provide one hundred and twenty volts A.C. current in standard sign waveform whenever required. The batteries also store any surplus current that is produced so this can be used later for example when the sun is not shining or at night.
With advances in design technology, smaller or compact portable generators for solar power can be used in locations as diverse as recreational vehicles or boats, as well as on construction sites where electrical grid power has not yet been provided. They can be carried in small trucks or cars to remote locations, to farms or ranches where they can be used to power external equipment or internal appliances.
Protons from sunlight are absorbed by the solar cells in portable solar generators just as they are in fixed solar generators. This provides the energy to generate power. Thus apart from the fact that fixed power generators cannot be moved and portable power generators can accompany the user wherever they want to go, in terms of solar power generation the principle is identical.
The day may well come when traditional diesel or propane power generators are no longer used and the world at large will turn to portable solar power generators for both business and home use. The current trend shows that conventional, polluting power generators will soon be overtaken by cleaner, more efficient systems such as solar power generators.
Portable power systems have a number of important advantages. To make best use of these requires simply knowledge of how to set up the system, and where to acquire the parts inexpensively. In addition, it is possible to obtain batteries for free, as well as information for how to wire the system and which safety precautions must be observed. This knowledge can allow you to install your solar power system effectively and quickly so as to reap the benefits of clean, renewable and inexpensive power generation.
Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/home-improvement-articles/portable-solar-power-revealed-821222.html
About the Author
Jim Martin is a researcher, inventor, home energy consultant and author of the #1 best-selling e-book, "Earth 4 Electricity- Renewable Energy Made Easy". To Learn More about Jim Martin´s Unique Step By Step Solar and Wind Power System Visit: Earth 4 Electricity. For further information visit: Solar Power
The following is expensive, but high quality. It’s still is only useful for relatively low power devices, so you could not run most laptops off of it continuously.
is there any small portable solar system in the market now?
I’m sorry…i can’t answer your question cause i have no idea about solar chargers…lol
But i’d like to take this opportunity to make a suggestion :p
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MkRKY6K47vA
You know, to get a headstart on 4/20 & whatnot…hehehehe
Hey Socal, it’s always good to hear someone is interested in going solar. In your situation, you don’t have a lot of options, but it is possible to do it. What you need is called a microsine inverter. For several years Trace Engineering built one called the MS100, also referred to as the OK4U inverter. It is very small, can convert up to 100 watts of solar power into household AC and basically dump it right into your homes existing wiring. They stopped making them a few years ago, but I have seen them at resale websites like Ebay and Alt E Store on line. In fact, lots of them are sold already attached to a properly sized panel. They are not cheap, you might spend close to $1000 to get a slightly used set with the inverter already installed on the panel that puts out 100 watts or so.
There is another company called Enphase making them in Europe. They work just like the Trace unit, except they are set up for 240 VAC, like most of Europe is. Some installers are putting them into homes here in the US and have had good luck with them. They have a 15 year warranty, and most of the panels for sale today have warranties that run much longer than that. You can search for Enphase inverters online, or look for a used Trace unit at a resale website.
A couple words of caution. First, if you’ve not had any experience with solar electric panels, or PV, they have to be completely exposed to the sun. If you have a small shaded area, like from a rail on your balcony, the entire panels output is compromised. We learned this the hard way when we converted our home over to solar power years ago. It’s all working fine now. So that panel has to be on the outside of any rails, planters, laundry and so on to work. Secondly, these microsine inverters are designed to tie to the existing grid power, which means they have to have an AC signal to operate. If the power goes out in your building, the panel and inverter will shut down too, so you won’t have backup power from your panel during a power outage.
Another option is to build up a small panel/inverter/battery system like we did years ago. You can start with one small panel, say 50 watts or so, a couple golf cart batteries and a small inverter from the autoparts store. Go to Home Power Magazines website at Homepower.com and use their search engine to look for an article called, “Starting with the small system first.” It was an article that featured the system we originally put into our home 10 years ago. You might have to subscribe to use their search engine.
I suggest doing some research online and shopping around a bit before you make any decisions. You might decide not to get involved at all, and that’s fine, but at least you will be well informed. I’ll include some places to search for more info below. Good luck, and take care, Rudydoo
How would I kludge together a portable solar collector for my pc?
My PC’s battery doesn’t last very long, Theoretically, I should be able to rig something lightweight I could add to the bag that I could unfold and use to collect solar energy and feed it to the pc. The converter states an output of 14 V and 4740 mA. I’m an old bit-fiddler (I remember booting systems with switches), but electricity and electronics is not my strong suit. Any ideas on how to rig this – or at least some good start points for research? Thanks in advance.
Is it possible to use a portable solar device to put electricity into my house via plugs?
I live in an apartment that has a small South facing porch, in Southern California. I’d like to use solar to decrease my monthly electric bill. Without buying a rooftop system (it’s not my roof, it must be portable), what can I get to plug into my existing sockets, to decrease my monthly electricity bill? (I already buy carbon credits and have special plugs to reduce drain from energy vampires).
well, first off when you find the solar panels you want, make sure they have ample amperage, and voltage…not likely to provide the wattage you’ll need, but it would at least extend battery life. find how many you need to provide proper voltage and connect them in a series circuit (parallel circuits mean voltage is constant) once they are connected, attach a multimeter to verify the numbers.
I’m pretty sure that solar panels will provide DC voltage, so this should work without a converter or anything. I hope this is helpful, have a great day!
Who are the local installers and affectionados and suppliers in milton fl area of solar electricity systems?
The fla rebates are ok but need to get better. For a portable or small system, where can i see one working and how to get one???
Portable solar chargers for laptop and LED lighting..Anyone have experience?
Can you just get the panel and then recharge multiple batteries?
I am needing a system that can provide enough power to juice my laptop for 2 hours of working life per day as well as a set of LED lights that I can use to provide lighting for a tent for 4 or 5 hours.
I would also like a backup battery pack that i can use on days where it is not sunny.
Does anyone have any experience with this technology?
I am looking at http://www.siliconsolar.com/portable-solar-power-systems.html
or here http://www.wholesalesolar.com/solar-panels.html
or here http://www.siliconsolar.com/portable-solar-power-system-p-10.html
Thanks
I’m sorry no one has answered your question! Try google.com. Good luck!