Use 12-Volt Solar Panels To Recharge Small Electronics On The Go

September 1st, 2010 by Steve Evans

One of the most popular types of portable solar panel systems is the 12 volt (12v) format.

But just how much energy does 12v give you? Not enough to warm up your house, but enough to run some of your portable devices, or recharge their rechargeable batteries.

These portable panels operate like large solar panels, but generate less electricity due to their smaller size. Like their larger cousins, they function best under direct full sun conditions. They still work on cloudy and even rainy days, however, they will take a much longer time to generate the electricity to power your device. Most will not operate with indoor lighting, but there are solar panels being developed that will be able to use indoor light. Some have already reached the consumer market.

Effective portable panel systems have built-in regulators, meaning they’ll mechanically set the quantity of energy they produce to the amount that the device requires. So be sure that the portable panels you buy have this feature, otherwise there’s a danger of overcharging (or “frying”) the contraption that you’re trying to recharge.

You still need to be careful when handling portable solar panels, it’s not like you can go swimming with them. If you fold or crease the solar cell itself, you’ll probably crack or disable it. So don’t fold the cell, or put the portable panels in the washing machine, or prod them with sharp objects. Your weight belt will survive that kind of treatment, but your portable solar panel won’t.

One more word of caution: the portable solar panel can’t reload normal batteries. It can only charge rechargeable batteries. This may be obvious to you, but you’d be surprised how many individuals try to reload normal batteries.

You will need supplementary connector equipment in order to use the portable panels, so plan for the extra expense. You’ll need connectors that fit with the recharging plugs on your portable devices. And if you plan to use your portable solar panels to trickle charge your car, boat or snowmobile battery, you might need a set of battery clips.

“Trickle charging” can maintain your vehicle’s battery completely charged. Here’s how it works: place the portable solar panel on a surface where it receives the most sun; then plug it into the cigarette lighter socket, or attach the clips to the vehicle’s battery. This can be a great help in really cold climates where temperatures drop below freezing, and you have to keep your car parked outside all day.

Portable solar panels are still relatively expensive compared to using grid electricity at home or in the office. But they make sense if you spend a lot of time camping, hiking or working from your car. And they’re great backup systems for times when the power goes out.