DIY Solar Panels World

Solar Energy Panels For Big “Toys”

Solar energy panels can be used in the smallest ways to improve our lives. There will always be those inconvenient problems that can be solved by using a solar panel in a creative way.

Do you have a boat, recreational vehicle (RV) or truck that you do not use often? If you have problems starting them from time to time, a solar charger is a cheap and effective solution.

With about $30, you can get a small solar charger to plug into your vehicle’s cigarette lighter jack. As you lay the photovoltaic panel on your dashboard, it trickle charges your battery. When you need to start your vehicle (or boat) the next time, it won’t fail you.

The beauty about solar chargers is they won’t overcharge your batteries. Therefore you won’t need extra components like a charge controller that adds to its cost. You can even let the solar charger remain plugged in while you’re driving. As a bonus, solar chargers tend to extend the lifespan of your battery by about 50%. So for a mere $30, you can squeeze $50 out of an accumulator that costs you $100. How’s that for good investment?

More than just dollars and cents, the peace of mind you have every time you need to start your old truck or seldom-used boat is worth its weight in gold!

Here’s an example of what I’m talking about…the Sunforce 1.8-Watt Solar Battery Maintainer:

“Sunforce 1.8-Watt Solar Battery Maintainer Twin Pack is comprised of two solar battery maintainers ideal for cars, SUVs, boats, ATVs and PWC batteries. The units are completely maintenance free and easy to install. The amorphous solar panels charge in all weather conditions, even on cloudy days. The panels plugs directly into your cigarette lighter. Complete kit for each unit includes 1.8-watt solar battery maintainer, 7.5 feet wire, 12V DC plug, suction cups for easy mounting and battery clamps. Temperature range from -40 to 176 degrees F.”

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1. Recreational Vehicle (RV) Solar Panels — Run Your Appliances With A 12VDC Panel Image via Wikipedia Many appliances for RVs, boats and camping use 12VDC supply. When you are outdoors having fun, these appliances provide you with all the convenience and comfort. Here’s a list of such 12VDC appliances: Hair Dryer Heated Travel Cup Heavy Duty Metal Fan...
2. DIY Solar Panels — Charge Controller Basics Image via Wikipedia If you’ve ever built DIY solar panels of a considerable size, you’ll probably come across this important component — the charge controller. The role of a charge controller is to regulate the charging voltage on the batteries. When sunlight gets brighter, solar...
3. Sizing Your Solar Energy Panels – Part 2 Image via Wikipedia After you know where most of your household energy goes to, you are now ready to plan for your system size. For grid-tied system (without batteries and charge controllers), you only need to make sure the inverter you use is large enough...
4. Sizing Your Solar Energy Panels – Part 3 Image via Wikipedia This is the third and final part of the “Sizing Your Solar Energy Panels” series. Have you done some calculations for your future solar power system yet? If you have been doing those mini exercises, you’ll most likely find a suitable solar...
5. Solar Energy Panels — Solar Trickle Chargers Image via Wikipedia Solar Trickle Chargers are small, low-current solar panels used for maintaining storage batteries for your vehicle or boat. Why will you need to maintain them? All batteries lose charge over a period of time because of self-discharge. By using a trickle-charger, you...
6. How To Power An Electric Fence Charger Using Solar Energy In order to build a solar electric fence, let’s first learn some basics of how an electric fence works. Then we’ll get to the design....
7. How To Make A Solar Powered Lawn Mower You can build your own solar powered lawn mower by putting a 12-volt solar panel on an electric lawn mower. The whole process is simpler than you imagine and I’ll show you how to do it here....