Sun Power Your Life with Portable Solar Panels
The alternative energy market has matured a lot since its start in the 1970s. Nowhere is that more obvious than in the field of solar power. The first solar panels were fragile, inefficient and expensive. Since that time, they have continuously gotten smaller, cheaper and more productive.
While solar panels once had to be fixed in place, there are now a number of portable solar panels on the market. These panels come in a variety of sizes and power levels. Some of them come with their own power station; others are integrated into radios, backpacks or other devices.
Solar Charging Kits
These small, portable solar panels are designed to keep batteries topped off on boats, in RVs, or anywhere else you might go that happens to be off grid. Some only char
ge up 12V batteries, while others are designed to charge IPODs, cell phones and other small electronic devices.
Some of these kits are also designed for other uses. For instance, a portable solar panel setup is now on the market that is designed to keep an electric fence charged. The farmer can move the system from paddock to paddock, so only the ones that are holding livestock have to be charged. These panels allow farmers to rest easy, knowing that a power outage won’t result in coyotes getting some of their precious stock.
A solar charging kit will cost you between $100 and $300.
Solar Charging Stations
Like the charging kits, these panels can be used to charge batteries, but the range of potential applications is much greater. They come with a power station that has actual plugs, so tools and laptops can also be charged. The panels in these kits are larger and more powerful than those in the smaller kits.
A charging station will cost anywhere from $400 to $600.
Gadgets
No market is complete without a wide range of gadgets. The solar power industry may have developed more gadgets than any other industry in the world. Among them are the popular solar-powered radios that so many have stored away for emergencies. These radios come equipped with a small solar panel. Some of them can also charge cell phones.
The solar backpack is a recent and worthwhile introduction. These backpacks
have solar panels integrated into the back of the frame. They are also fully wired to support the charging of various electronic devices. Some are more powerful than others, and a few produce enough power to run a laptop and charge another device simultaneously.
This fall will see the introduction of the first solar-powered laptop. This computer, which is manufactured by Samsung, will have its own built-in solar panels. It will never need to be plugged into an outlet. No doubt many more will follow.