With the rising cost of electricity, solar panels have become essential for people living in RVs and tents. In addition, portable solar panels have risen in demand in the market because they are effective in saving electricity in the long run. This is why small solar panels are being bought by RV users.
Read this guide on buying the best small solar panel for sale in 2022.
Things To Know Before Buying Small Solar Panels
I believe there are six things you should know before buying small solar panels in 2022. These six things that will help you buy the right products are:
1. Types Of Solar Panels
There are three main types of small solar panels. They are:
- Monocrystalline Solar Panels: These solar panels are made up of a single type of crystal, hence the term monocrystalline. Each solar panel cell is made with a single silicon crystal. These solar panels are by far the most efficient and expensive.
- Polycrystalline Solar Panels: As the name suggests, polycrystalline solar panels mean “many crystals.” As you might have guessed, the cells of these panels are made by melding multiple fragments of silicon crystal fragments. These panels might not be as efficient as monocrystalline panels, but they are cheaper.
- Thin Film Solar Panels: Thin film panels have very thin panels since fewer silicon crystals are used to make them. While their efficacy is the lowest compared to the other two types, they are the most portable.
2. Solar Panels Have A Wattage
Since you are looking for small solar panels, you must know the amount of electricity you need. Then, depending on your requirement, you can look for solar panels that provide the same or more output.
While it is difficult to measure how much electricity you need is difficult, you can start by checking the usage of all the electrical appliances you will be powering up. Then, if you check out the electrical ratings, you can figure out how much output you need from solar panels.
3. How Do You Plan To Use The Solar Panels?
Now comes a very important question – how do you plan to use your small solar panels for lights? Since solar panels can convert and store electricity in them, you can use them to power up many devices.
Therefore, there can be various applications of solar panels. However, one of the most cases of use is powering appliances in an RV. Your RV might have a lot of electrical appliances inside it. Therefore, depending on your usage, you can opt for foldable solar panels or mounted solar panels.
4. Number Of Solar Panels Required
Owing to the previous point, the usage of solar panels will dictate how many solar panels are actually needed. Here, you need to understand that solar panels can only be charged using solar energy – sunlight. Therefore, if a day goes by when the skies are cloudy, you will face many problems.
In addition, the capacity of the solar panels indicates how many hours of direct sunlight it needs. For example, a 100w solar panel with a 1000wh power generator will take approximately 10 hours of direct sunlight to charge fully.
If you think practically, that’s a lot of time. Therefore, it would be best if you could install two solar panels simultaneously. This will ensure that you can have backup electricity when required.
5. Charge Controllers Might Be Necessary
Different electrical appliances require different intensities of electricity to run. Therefore, you might require a charge controller for small solar panels 12v since too much charge can damage your devices.
Most solar panels don’t come with a charge controller. Therefore, you have to externally buy one controller to ensure the safety of your electrical devices.
6. How To Set Up A Small Solar Panel
Finally, you need to know how to set up a small solar panel. If you wish to do so, follow the steps below:
- Connect your solar panel with its solar charging cable. This cable ensures that all solar energy gets converted into electricity and is transmitted to the generator for storage.
- Select the place where you want to install your solar panel. Some of the ideal places for setting them up are the roof of your RV or using a panel stand.
- Switch on your solar generator. Do so early in the morning to ensure that sunlight is absorbed as much as possible and nothing goes to waste. Switch it off after the sun gets down.
Best Small Solar Panels For Sale
The best small solar panels that you can buy in 2022 are:
1. Bluetti PV200 200w Solar Panel
The Bluetti PV200 200w solar panel provides solar charging of 200w. This makes it ideal for camping outside in tents and for use in an RV. In addition, it’s lightweight and resistant to water!
2. Renogy 100w Foldable Solar Suitcase
If you want the best foldable small solar panel, nothing comes close to this small 12v solar panel by Renogy. It’s a monocrystalline solar panel with a 100wwatt wattage. Weighing only 26 lbs, it can be easily attached to an RV without fear of falling off. In addition, it comes with a charge controller and a suitcase.
3. GoSun Solar Panel 30
If you are looking for the lightest portable solar panels, then this 30w GoSun solar panel is the featherweight king. However, if you have decided to camp outside in tents, then this 2.75 lb small solar panel will be your best friend. In addition, it also provides direct USB charging too.
FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions):
The answers to some of the questions people ask before buying small solar panels are:
Ans – Since small solar panels are mostly portable, they typically cost anywhere between $3 and $5 per watt. Therefore, 200w solar panels will cost around $600 to $1000.
Ans – You can learn how to clean small solar panels by:
• First, apply water over the solar panel to remove all dust and dirt.
• Next, wash the panels with soap and water.
• Finally, apply a plastic covering over it, like Novus or Plexus Plastic Cleaners.
Ans – Yes, small home solar panels are with the price. But, while they might lie on the expensive side of things, the electricity they generate using sunlight will save your bills a lot in the long run.
Ans – Typically, small solar panels last for a long time. Most users have said that they last for more than ten years at the least. Ideally, it should last around 15 years if maintained properly.
Let There Be Portable Light
Small solar panels will give users a lot of benefits if you use the right ones. To save electricity, I would recommend buying foldable portable solar panels like the Bluetti PV200 and the Renogy 100w foldable solar panel.
However, this depends on your electricity requirements, and how you plan to use the solar panels. Know what you will be using it for to make the best buying decision right now.
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Debamalya Mukherjee
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Debamalya is a professional content writer from Kolkata, India. Constantly improving himself in this industry for more than three years, he has amassed immense knowledge regarding his niches of writing tech and gaming articles. He loves spending time with his cats, along with playing every new PC action game as soon as possible.
Debamalya is a professional content writer from Kolkata, India. Constantly improving himself in this industry for more than three years, he has amassed immense knowledge regarding his niches of writing tech and gaming articles. He loves spending time with his cats, along with playing every new PC action game as soon as possible.
