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Solar energy is the most abundant form of energy on the planet. The sun is the only infinite resource available to man for all intents and purposes. If we were to capture only a fraction of the energy from the sun that hits the earth’s surface, we could easily be completely energy independent and never have to worry about our energy needs. Besides being an unlimited resource, solar energy is a clean source of energy, there is no effluent, emissions or toxic particles emitted by the sun. We can capture solar energy very easily using solar panels which come in a variety of designs and purposes. There are two types of panels commonly used to harvest solar energy. The first is solar thermal which heats up water and can be used to heat water for showers and sinks. The second is known as photovoltaic technology or PV, which collects photon energy from the sun and converts it to electricity. Solar panels come in all different sizes including small portable sizes. A small panel can conveniently be used in conjunction with a 12 volt solar battery charger. This allows the average traveler to simply lay a portable panel out in the sun during the day and charge a battery that can be used in the evening to power a small piece of equipment whether it be an iPod, cell phone or small laptop computer. The following information will teach you everything you need to know about solar battery chargers.
Typically a small solar battery charger can be used to charge batteries for:
- Small vehicles
- Riding lawn mowers
- ATVs
- Motorcycles
- Jet Skis
Additonally a charger can be used for certain electronics like computers or stereos, but extra equipment and expertise is sometimes needed to make them function properly.
The great thing about a solar battery charger is that it can be used in remote applications where a power grid is not available. Or it can be used in emergency situations. For example, if you have a solar battery charger and your ATV won’t start out in the middle of nowhere, you have the chance to hook up the solar panel and charge the battery so you can get back to safety. Another great thing about solar battery chargers is the way they are designed.
Possibly the most important feature in any charger is the blocking diode. This diode ensures that the battery does not discharge itself through the night when the sun is not charging the battery. Essentially, without this diode, the circuit will run in reverse which will make the battery push energy into the solar panel rather than vice-versa. Any solar battery charger that does not have this is cheaply manufactured and should be avoided at all cost. In addition to the blocking diode, it is important to take into account how much power you need from the charger. Many solar battery chargers are designed to keep the battery fresh and fully charged so that you don’t ever need to take them off and recharge them. This is ideal for small vehicles that don’t have alternators that constantly recharges the battery as its used and is also great for small electric fences designed to keep animals away. These batteries need to be constantly charged if they are not hooked up to the grid which can be time consuming. A solar battery charger can be a simple solution to these issues. On the other hand you might be looking for a charger that can charge a battery fully from a completely dead position. A small solar charger will not be able to do this, so it is necessary to buy a 12 volt solar battery charger with a larger panel attached to it.
The 18 watt solar charger made by Coleman is such a charger. With 18 watts of maximum output, this panel will charge any battery in just a few hours of sunlight. Not only is the panel totally waterproof so it can be erected outdoors on a permanent basis, but it is made of amorphous silicon meaning it can capture a broader range of solar energy and produce electricity even on cloudy days. Another great product that is essentially designed to be foolproof is the Solar Smart Charger. It ensures that no matter how knowledgeable you are of electrical systems you can charge a battery using solar energy. Everyone who has hooked up a battery in the wrong polarity knows what a pain it can be to fix. Luckily, this charger has a block to keep that from happening. The flow of energy will only be activated if the clamps are connected to negative and positive in the correct configuration.
Using solar energy to charge your house hold items as well as off grid systems is a great idea. With rising energy prices and the interest in clean energy on the rise, Americans are becoming more interested in how they can use energy in more efficient ways and how they can produce energy from renewable sources even on a small scale. Not only is a 12 volt solar battery charger a great way to power any electrical object in an outdoor or remote setting, it is a great way to get started with using solar energy. Whether you are interested in powering your RV, riding lawn mower or Jet Ski, a solar battery charger could be your solution to never having to charge your battery again or have to run out of juice when you need it the most.
