What To Look For In Solar Power For Camping

Have you wondered if modern solar systems are something you can use for camping? In particular, is this something that would be practical? Can you easily carry them? Will they last a long time?

If you are considering solar power for a camping trip then you must have answers to these questions. Another question is are solar power camping systems affordable? And do they produce enough power to meet your requirements?

RV Camping

RV camping and solar power go together in a simple fashion. Though you must consider if they provide true utilitarian value.

After all, if you are like most people then you will park your camper in a location with complete working hook-ups.

If this is the case then you don't need a solar-powered system for your RV. The exception is if you want to make sure to have a backup in case of a power outage. But even then I would only have a small system. Such as a couple of solar-powered lanterns. Otherwise, it's just an expensive toy. And there are better things to spend your money on.

But you might be someone who didn't buy an RV so that you have to hunt for hook-ups. You got it so that you could have adventures off the grid. You want to go somewhere people are not. To avoid the hustle and bustle for a week. Or even a long weekend.

You want to fish and enjoy the wildlife in a place that Google Maps cannot find.

And to avoid having to set a clock to speed to the hook-up location.

If you are in this group then solar-powered camping would make sense for you. There would be a practical use in this situation. You avoid the need to connect to the ball and chain of the electric grid. And opens up more of the world to your camping pleasure.

It is not hard to operate an RV electrical system by connecting it to solar power.

You can also easily connect batteries to a solar power system.

Though you need to make sure that you first plan for these requirements. In the movie Apollo 13, one of the constant battles is how much power the astronauts need to make it back home safely. The same is true for your RV. You will need to figure out how much power you require. After that, it then becomes a matter of creating your equipment list of panels, inventers and most important, batteries.

There are many places on the Internet that will help you figure out the calculations needed to determine your solar power requirements. And what pieces of kit that you need to meet your power requirements. Every day it seems like there's a new solar power system for RV. They come in a wide variety of sizes. And you will find something that meets your requirements. And you will likely find them simple to use.

Though if you switch to solar power then you are not going to want as many other appliances that make RV camping enjoyable for more people. A great example is your coffee pot. I am an avid coffee drinker. My wife knows that her #1 job before we go to bed is to make sure our coffee maker is ready for the morning.

If you have a coffee maker in your RV and want to use solar power then you will want to find the most efficient one you can get. Something that can brew in a few minutes and doesn't have a warming plate. Instead, pour your coffee into a thermos or insulated cup that can keep your coffee warm without needing to consume battery power.

Tent Camping

It makes more sense to look at solar power for tent camping. Over at Camping Forge , our expertise is helping people get the most out of camping in tents.

Even with tent camping, you will find a variety of people. There are those who are not ready to go completely wild. And will look for a KOA campground that has easy electrical access. And then there is the group who live by the Heinlein quote of "Don't handicap your children by making their lives easy." They pitch their tents whenever the sun goes down.

While you would think this group of people wouldn't be natural solar-powered gadget carriers, they are a solid choice for a variety of reasons. We are more aware of the dangers of forest fires these days. And so you don't always want to lite fires. And you don't want to be dependent upon batteries for your light. Instead, solar gear can be carried in your backpack. Technology has now given us flexible solar panels which can be placed in the campsite to create power for use.

The solar power systems are easily carried and packed. They can be used to run lights at night or even keep you warm with a heater in the winter. Backpacks with solar cells can be used to use sunlight to power your phone. While you may not have service, you want to use your phone as a camera. Or listen to music on your hikes. Larger units can be packed into your vehicle and run larger appliances. You still may want to eat hot food without a campfire. Or carrying in propane. Thus a solar oven or grill can come in handy.

Solar power systems are practical, affordable and will become more popular. And if you are environmentally conscious then you want to use as much clean energy as you can and the simplest portable way to do this with solar power.