Solar power is continuously gaining momentum and popularity. There are now solar chargers designed to power cell-phones, cars, laptops, etc. The solar charger harnesses energy form the sun and stores the energy within its battery for later use. Typically, a solar charger can hold on to its charge for up to a year. The advantage to using a solar charger is that it eliminates all of those unnecessary, bulky chargers for every electronic device.

The Most Recommended Solar Chargers Are:

It may be difficult to choose between the best solar chargers because there are a lot of great models out there that basically perform the same functions. Upon being fully charged, the solar charger can fill a cell-phone’s life twice or play up to twenty hours of music.

Solar battery chargers 101

Keep in mind that Your panel will produce 100% full wattage output when placed on direct sunshine. Before buying a portable solar power system, it’s good to answer these questions:

• How long would the solar panel take to charge a 12 volt battery?
• What’s the ideal wattage for a solar charger?
• How can I control if it works fine?
• Will it fry my battery?

Most models have an illuminated LEDs that lets you know the panel is charging. Other have a built in controller to block the charge when the battery is full.

Choose the right solar recharger

To explain in further detail about the conversion, basically an hour of sunshine will equal about an hour of music, or 25 minutes of conversation. The batteries in most solar units last up to about a year, and the charger works with numerous gadgets: Bluetooth, iphone, games, digital cameras, etc.

The charger is extremely light and easy to transport making it optimal for travel purposes.

The General rule to calculate the average charge time:
Take Amp/hour rating of the battery and Divide by the charger rating (in amperes) and then add about 10% for the extra time to top off the battery
I.e. Assuming You have a typical full size auto battery, it is about 50 amp hours.

To Calculate how much time You’ll need to charge the battery with a 15 Watt solar charger You’ll need:

1. Calculate the Ampere per hour of the charger: 15 Watts /12 Volts = 1, 25 Amperes
2. Calculate the division: 50 amp hours / 1, 25 ampers = 40 Hours of direct sunlight
3. Add 10%: 4 hours

A 15 watt charger is great for vehicles such as cars, boats, ATV’s, even electric fences. 7 watts are perfect for laptops and camcorders. A 2 watt charger is perfect for cell phones, ipods, and smaller cameras.

There is a formula to help describe the way solar energy works: the output for solar energy is described as watts. The wattage can be understood by multiplying the voltage by the amperage.

More specifically: volts x amps x watts = / e.g. a six volt 30 watt solar panel measuring ten by 22 inches has a voltage of about 8.55, and amperage of 1.75.

One can determine the correct amount of wattage needed based on how much each electronic device expels.

How Many Hours Does the Solar Charge Give You ?

The answer depends on the number and size of the solar panels and the set-up or system installed in your area. The prevailing weather condition in your location is another factor. Winter days, rainy and overcast skies can affect the capacity of solar panel systems to absorb and produce solar energy. Even the time and position of the sun are important factors.

If conditions are perfect, the energy radiating from the sun in the mid-afternoon is usually at its peak compared to the early morning and late afternoon sunlight. If you live in an area with sunlight all year round, your solar panel system will produce optimum results. Avoidable factors such as obstructive shadows from nearby objects and improper mounting of solar panels can also affect energy output.

Calculating the number of hours a solar charge provides depend on the previously mentioned factors. For example, a 60 watt solar panel in a location which receives at least 6 hours of optimum sunlight can generate an average of 360 watt hours per day. On the other hand, the same 60 watt solar panel in an area which receives 2.5 hours of sunlight can only generate 150 watt hours per day.

How Big Of A Solar Panel Is Needed To Charge A Deep Cycle Battery?

Before looking at the optimal size of a solar panel that is needed to charge a deep cycle battery, you first have to look at the design and makeup of a deep cycle battery. Deep cycle batteries are your regular batteries such as the ones that are in cars, RV’s, and boats. They are designed to be charged and recharged thousands of times. These batteries are rated according to amp hours. This means how many amps it can provide over a set amount of hours. The most common is a 350ah battery. This means it can provide 35 amps of power over the course of ten hours of usage.

When it comes to the best solar panel needed to charge a deep cycle battery, a 12 volt panel is the most common that is used. The best way to figure out what sized panel that you will need you will calculate the powering load of the panel (3 amps is the norm with a 12 volt panel) multiplied with the amount of time that the panel gets the most sun, which during a very sunny day can run between 4 and 6 hours. With that being said, a 12 volt panel at the most can provide 12 to 18 amps to your deep cycle battery. Figure this out and that means one good day of sun can lead to 5 hours of use to a 350ah battery.

What Can A 5 Watt Solar Panel Be Used For ?

A 5 watt solar panel is good for operating a multitude of different products. Automatic animal feeders and electric gates are two examples of products that make use of 5 watt solar panels. In some instances, this particular wattage solar panel is used for charging three, six, and twelve-volt batteries. Unlike common battery chargers which are plugged into an electrical outlet, solar panels are meant to be used during power outages or other scenarios where electricity is not available.