Are you considering spending time off the grid this summer? If so, you’re not alone. And if you own one of the country’s 750k registered RVs, caravans, or campervans, you already know that the most important thing you can have before you hit the road is a reliable way to harness solar power.
Whether you’re just planning on taking the car camping by the shore for a few days, or you’re contemplating a full-blown road trip, as a minimum, you need a few watts of solar power for a fridge, a phone, and maybe a few other personal devices. If you’re travelling in a motorhome with all the amenities though, your power demands could include several kilowatts of full-plumbed, climate-controlled conveniences that a lot of homes would be envious of.
Regardless of where you stand in this solar-powered showdown, you can be confident that there’s a solution that’s just right for you. Identifying which one’s right is the real trick, though. Let’s take a look at how much some of these solutions have evolved, and you might be surprised by what’s available to hit the road with this year.
Solar Panel Innovations for Campers
When it comes to utilizing cutting-edge solar power solutions, campers and RV owners are consistently at the top of the list. That’s because, let’s face it, when you’re potentially hundreds of kilometres away from a conventional power source, you need solutions that work. That’s why innovative solar panels for car camping or caravanning are the way to go to never have to worry about whether you’ll have the power to keep all your accessories running. And you can buy leading, heavy-duty solar solutions that are adaptable for a full range of off-the-grid applications that wouldn’t have just been impractical a few years ago: many would have been impossible.
- Off-roaders and caravanners. Whether you’re headed to the bush or the beach, a folding panel solution sets up easily wherever you are and can move just as quickly as you can.
- Compact campers and backpackers. If you’re heading out on foot and hiking through the mountains, these pocket-sized, ultra-compact solutions are ideal for phones, GPSs, or other handheld devices.
- RVs and boondockers. If you’re looking for a permanent, terrestrial or marine-based install with high-quality panels, cables, and regulators, there are turnkey solutions built to deliver all the power you need.
Today’s innovative generation of outdoor solar panel solutions is designed to go wherever you go, and to reliably provide all the power that you expect. You don’t have to depend on modified, heavy-weight framed panels and complex wiring anymore. You can get precisely what you need for every occasion now, and you don’t have to sacrifice any efficiency along the way.
Suitcase Camping Panels
Heavy-duty 3, 4, and 12-panel portable camping solar panels have become a staple of modern, off-the-grid solutions. These suitcase- and blanket-style panels are capable of producing up to 200W (11.11A max output) and are made using Grade-A, copper-backed monocrystalline silicone cells attached to a 1640D ballistic nylon canvas backing.
With fold-up dimensions similar to the average-sized garment bag, these solar panels for camping slide conveniently behind a car seat or in any recessed space, can be hung up or pegged down the moment you arrive at your camping spot, and quickly taken down and relocated in an instant. Suitcase camping panels also feature:
- IP64-rated protection against splashing and rain;
- 20.38% cell efficiency;
- Up to 20 rear contact points per cell to reduce recombination losses;
- 6-stage inline solar regulators, and Anderson plug connectors and cables; and,
- Full compatibility with all types of lithium, AGM, Gel, or wet cell batteries.
Suitcase solar camping panels give you the ability to find, and stay on the ideal absorption angle at all times. And with their flexible Crockskin® cell coatings, these panel solutions can be expected to give you 30 years of durable, impact-resistant service.
Backpack Camping Panels
Let’s be honest: not everyone wants, or needs, kilowatts of outdoor solar panels or power. Maybe you just want to make sure your vehicle’s 12V or 24V batteries are topped off, or you only need enough power to charge your phone or a laptop while you’re relaxing?
That’s not a problem though, because you can buy camping solar panel solutions to trickle charge your batteries when they’re not in use, as well as a handy solar charger for all of your USB-powered devices. These lightweight 15W solar panels are built using the same high-quality materials and standards that portable panel solutions are, just smaller.
Flexible, ultra-thin trickle charger panels measure 270mm x 450mm, and can be used on any vehicle, especially if they aren’t being used. A 12V solar panel produces 830mA max current, while a 24V panel maxes out at 420mA, however, both charger solutions feature:
- IP65-rated protection against exposure to water and rain;
- A built-in diode to prevent batteries from discharging at night;
- A solar charge controller to prevent overcharging;
- SAE to bullet charger cables; and,
- Full compatibility with all types of lithium, AGM, Gel, or wet cell batteries.
Measuring just 290mm x 200mm x 28mm, and weight .5kg, a 2.5A camping solar charger for USBs consists of:
- Dual, high-speed USB charging ports
- Built-in controls to protect devices from overcharging; and,
- An integrated storage pocket to protect phones while they’re charging.
These backpack-sized camping solar panels are the pinnacle of efficient solar miniaturization. However, if you’re less concerned about panel size than panel power, then a fixed solution is what you need.
Fixed Camping Panels
If you’re spending more than just casual time off the grid, then you need a more permanent solution. A fixed, 170W (9.55A max output) solar camping panel solution that can be mounted on your RV’s, caravan’s, or motorhome’s roof is going to be the perfect installation for you. These are also Grade-A monocrystalline solar cells, but they’re mounted in an anodized aluminium frame and protected by an impact resistant, 3.2mm low-iron glass cover that’s designed to withstand chipping and damage from hail or stones.
Optimally sized at 1320mm x 664mm x 17mm, these low-profile solar panels for RV campers weigh less than 10kg each, and feature:
- Waterproof MC4 connectors;
- 20.31% cell efficiency; and,
- Maximum system voltage of 1000V
If you expect to be off the grid for a while and don’t want the headache of setting up panels every time you move, fixed panels are the best alternative. And regardless of whether you mount 1 on your ute, or 6 or 8 on your caravan, you’ll always have the power available that you need.
The Final Word
At the end of the day, as much as we enjoy heading out and enjoying nature, simple conveniences like a few lights or a camping fridge have always been hard to leave behind. Campers and caravanners have been using solar panels for a long time to keep those conveniences working, but today’s solar panels offer power-producing options that couldn’t have been imagined only a few years ago.
Before you head out this year, take the time to consider if your current solar setup is falling short; and if it is, investing in new solar panels for a car camping solution may be what you need. There are options available for every contingency, and you’ll find one that suits your needs perfectly.
