Just about everyone who owns a home or goes RV camping knows what a portable generator is. These gas- or diesel-powered generators turn fuel into electricity for use during natural disasters or time spent in the woods during trips. What not everyone realizes is that portable solar generators are an equally viable solution that can offer a wealth of benefits over their gas-powered alternatives.
What Is a Solar Generator?
A solar generator is like a mini-power station. Each module contains everything required to take the power generated by the sun and collected by solar panels, store it, and turn it into usable electricity. A portable solar generator keeps it all in a small enough space that it can be carried or towed around to different areas of the home and yard or to new campsites.
There are three important components in every powered portable solar system:
- A charge controller.
- A lithium-ion battery.
- A power inverter.
How Charge Controllers Work
Charge controllers are essential for any solar-powered system that features a battery. They monitor the electrical current coming in from the attached panels and make sure it does not exceed the rated input capacity of the battery. Charge controllers also alter the amount of voltage being fed to the battery from the panels, depending on the battery's state of charge, to maximize efficiency.
How Lithium-Ion Batteries Work
Lithium-ion phosphate (LifePo4) batteries are the most advanced form of solar power storage. They have a greater capacity by weight and size than any other type of commercially available battery, can be charged faster, and can be discharged down to 10% of their rated capacity without reducing their lifespans. Lithium-ion batteries can also be stored and used indoors, which means that, unlike their gas-using alternatives, solar generators don't need to be kept outside.
How Inverters Work
The power stored in any battery is in DC, or direct current, form. Household appliances and devices use AC power. The inverter converts DC to AC power so that users can simply plug things into the solar generator and begin using them immediately with no intermediary steps.
Are Solar Generators Worth the Investment?
While it's true that solar power stations require a greater up-front investment than gas generators, they make up for the difference over time. Solar generators don't need gas, don't produce carbon monoxide as a byproduct of operation, and will continue to produce power for as long as the sun is shining with no need for obtaining more fuel. Anyone interested in this new technology can learn more about solar generators online to find out why they're worth the money.
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