Portable Solar Panel For Camper

Best Solar Phone Chargers

We narrowed down the best solar phone chargers on the market based on criteria including durability, power output, portability, design, functionality, extra features and cost.

Each of the products listed below provided good value for the price and would be a great choice for powering up your iPhone or Android using solar energy.

Each product featured here has been independently selected by the writer. If you make a purchase using the links included, we may earn commission.

How Do I Know How Charged My Rv Battery Is Percentage

Manufacturers really do a crappy job when it comes to helping you monitor your RV battery.

The high-end brands are starting to get better, but most trailers come with a 0 25 50 100% monitoring screen. Push a button, and we will let you know. The problem is that this value isnt accurate at all.

Some solar charge controllers have a screen with features and on some models, it will tell you the battery voltage. Unfortunately, these arent 100% correct either.

The best way to know the state of charge of your battery is with a battery monitoring system. Its done with a shunt hardwired to the battery. A popular option is the Victron BMV-700 Battery Monitor.

The monitor can be put in your RV and once youve set how big your battery bank is in total amp hours, it will give you a percentage. It will also tell you the current voltage and how many amps youre consuming at the moment.

If you do know the voltage and believe its somewhat accurate, here are some general guidelines for a 12V AGM and wet cell battery based on voltages and their corresponding state of charge percentage.

As always with general info, this is a general guideline and you should always read the manual or contact your battery manufacturer to know what is best for your specific 12V battery.

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Best For Quick Setup: Zamp Solar Legacy Series Usp1002 Solar Panel For Rv

The Zamp Solar Legacy Series USP1002 Solar Panel is excellent for quick setups. This is especially great if you plan to use the solar panel with a smaller RV or if youre going to move around very frequently.

All you have to do is fold the panel up into the padded carrying case and take it to wherever you need to go. The extendable legs on the bottom of the panel also allow for custom installation that will help you get just the right angle for maximum power.

In addition to that, this solar panel has a plug & play system that allows you to use the alligator clips to attach a portable kit to any 12-volt battery or battery bank.

The only downside of the Zamp Solar Legacy Series USP1002 Solar Panel is its price. Its pretty expensive when you compare it to much of its competition, so if youre looking for a solar panel that does not cost a small fortune, this one likely wont cut it.

However, if you dont mind paying more, this solar panel is well worth the money if you want something you can set up and break down super easily.

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Wattage Charging Ports And Accessories

When choosing the best portable solar panels for camping, the output capacity in watts is always a primary concern. Will you need the panel for charging cell phones, a laptop, or the battery for your RV? The number of devices and their energy consumption will determine your best choice.

If you only want to keep your smartphone charged, then a smaller solar panel that supplies at least 5 watts will be needed. If you want to charge your laptop, you’ll need a minimum of 45 watts and probably more like 90 watts. Thus, you might want to invest in a solar panel with more than enough wattage. Keep in mind the output will depend largely on the weather and amount of sunshine at any given time.

Depending on the devices you plan to charge, you’ll need to buy additional accessories. For example, you may need an AC-to-DC inverter for laptops as well as a battery or portable power station to store the energy from the solar panel.

For more technical considerations, see the video below:

Best Value: Allpowers Bendable Sunpower Solar Panel For Rv

The ALLPOWERS Bendable SunPower Solar Panel is a heavy-duty solar panel that brings great value for a great price. Suppose you dont want to spend a large amount of money on one of the higher-end solar panels.

In that case, this one is an excellent choice because its lower price doesnt equate to a lack of features.

The solar panels are compatible with many solar generators, and they can also provide large amounts of power to power stations and 12V batteries. It also features a foldable design, making it very portable like the other solar panels on this list.

The quality of the kickstands is the one area where this solar panel does not succeed with flying colors, as many customer reviews mention the kickstands being shaky at best. Some reviews even report the kickstands breaking after just a few uses, so dont expect to be blown away by them at all.

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Wissblue Solar 21 Charger

• Dimensions : 11.0 x 22.0 x 0.3
• Weight : 21.0oz / 595g

The Wissblue Solar 21 Charger is an ideal choice for campers that are looking to power a portable generator and their devices. This solar panel set offers up to 60 watts of energy output, which makes it suitable for use with smartphones, generators, and laptops.

Despite its high power output, this panel set folds up to a small packed size. It also has four stainless steel holes which can be used to attach the panels to the outside of a tent for charging your devices in camp.

For added convenience, the Wissblue comes standard with an assortment of different size connectors. These adaptors allow you to quickly charge devices via USB or DC and are the right size for connecting to a range of different solar generators.

What we like

• Powerful output. 60W is strong enough to charge generators.
• Optimizing technology prevents overcharging of batteries
• Multiple Connectors. Designed to connect to different portable generators.

What we don’t like

• Water-resistance issues. The electronic junction box is not water-resistant.

Why You Should Trust Us

James Lucas who authors this review, is a long-time writer, editor, and photographer. As an avid climber who authored the Yosemite Valley Bouldering , James spends hundreds of days outside every year documenting the outdoors and testing gear while traveling around his home in Boulder, Colorado and where his heart is in the Sierra. From working out of his van in the dispersed sun of the Rockies to base camping on top of sunny El Capitan in Yosemite, James uses solar panels from large to small to harness the sun and power his adventures, charging his camera gear and his connection to the world. Outdoor Gear Lab and James performed rigorous testing on all the models in this thorough review.

We put this comprehensive review together after researching over 80 different products on the market. After careful researching, we selected and bought the best of the best. Then, we tested each product objectively and thoroughly. We look at how quickly each model charges with different amounts of sunlight, how it handles multiple devices at once, the rate of charging, and its portability and durability. To test our metrics, we used each contender in the field. Our process reflects the most up-to-date products, with updates occurring multiple times per year.

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How Is Rv Solar Different From Home Solar

It’s important to clarify the main differences between van solar panels or RV solar panels and house solar panels. Whereas solar panels for your home are mostly rooftop solar panels. They are typically designed to cover all of your home energy needs. Solar panels for RV are relatively small solar panels designed to maintain a steady bank of power in your batteries and provide enough power to charge a few appliances in your motorhome.

How Can I Maximize Power Efficiency When Using Portable Solar Panel Kits

Keeping your panels clean of any dust and debris will help to maximize your power efficiency while using portable solar panel kits.

It is also important to pay attention to the angle of the sun. With a ground panel, this may mean moving the panel throughout the day. For roof mounted panels, you can instill a tilt- a mechanism that will manually or automatically change the angle of the panel mount to increase sun exposure.

Lastly, you can use a battery monitor to track which devices have a high-power draw. You can use this knowledge to create a power budget for yourself to ensure you arent overusing your stored power on cloudy/rainy days or at night when your panel has stopped outputting charge.

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How To Find The Best Rv Portable Solar Panel And Kits

But how do you decide exactly which solar panel kit is correct for your RV? Well, its important to understand more about the different types of panels and how each works.

Youll also want to know more about the specific features and specifications of these panels so you can more accurately compare them. Well cover all of that in this Buying Guide.

Zamp Legacy Series 140

Rig owners who want a high quality flexible solar panel need to look at Zamps Legacy Series 140-Watt Portable Solar Panel Kit. Its considered one of the best available for being adaptable based on its surrounding environments.

Aside from its flexibility, buyers need to notice its easy setup process. It shouldnt take more than five minutes, which is a fact most of its review confirmed. You couldnt read more than two of them without seeing a sentence talking about how easy the setup was compared to other models.

I was thrilled to see it came with an integrated 10-amp charge controller, as well. This aspects inclusion will help protect your battery bank and keep track of the entire charging process. In fact, this charge controller has the capability of extending your batterys lifespan by three times.

The product was made in the USA, which is another positive sign. Its a notable factor because US manufacturing rules are much more strict than some foreign countries. You can rest easy knowing it passed a rigorous amount of safety protocols before entering the market.

You should be thrilled by its 25-year output warranty, too. It conveys this brand has faith in its product. It seems most Zamp portable solar panels have long warranties, which is another great sign that theyre great at making these devices.

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Nekteck Portable Solar Panel Charger

Available Wattage: 21 | Weight: 1.13 lbs | Dimensions: 26.3 x 11.1 x 1.06 in

When it comes to the best portable solar chargers, The Nekteck Portable Solar Panel Charger will always make the list. This charger is made of three monocrystalline solar panels and can provide up to 3 amps. It has dual USB outputs along with technology to promote fast charging. At only 6.3 x 1.1 x 11.1 and 1.13 pounds, the charger likely weighs less than your camping tent and is a breeze to bring on all of your camping trips. The IPX4 waterproof rating means its resistant to both water and dust. With up to 24% solar conversion efficiency, youll love how quickly the Nekteck Portable Solar Panel Charger charges your devices while youre exploring the great outdoors.

What Is Our Favorite Solar Panel For Camping And Outdoor Use

The best camping solar panels must meet a few requirements: portability, efficiency, and durability.

Portability comes first because when youre camping especially if youre hiking or backpacking you need a solar panel that can easily fit into your car and camping gear. If the panel is too large or heavy, then there is no use taking it with because it will consume too much space.

Efficiency is also important because the ultimate job of your solar panel is to turn solar energy into usable energy for your mobile devices. Panels that have a higher efficiency rating can do this more effectively, which is why this percentage matters.

Finally, durability is key because if youre an avid camper, you are bound to encounter some bad weather. Your portable solar panel must be hardy enough to withstand high winds, rain, and even snow.

After evaluating each of these key components, it was clear that the FEELLE Power Bank was the winner. Not only can it fold up small enough to fit in your back pocket, but its waterproof and has the capability to charge several mobile phones at a time.

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Best Portable Solar Panels

• For use with flooded, gel, and AGM style lead-acid batteries
• The regulator prevents RV battery overcharging
• No digital display so you cannot tell what mode charger is in, what amperage it’s sending to the battery bank or any other information about battery or charge condition.
• Green LED light that indicates the charge controller is powered up and functioning
• No user-adjustable settings

What Type Of Solar Panel Is Best For Camping

The best type of solar panel for camping depends on your needs. Generally, you should focus on getting something rugged and portable that can fit in with your camping site without inconveniencing you.

Foldable solar panels are great for portability and reliability. You can often unfold them somewhere with direct sunlight and quickly move them as the sunlight shifts throughout the day. However, many of these wont provide the power you need.

Some solar panels are installed on a camper or RV. These are generally much more powerful and sometimes difficult to remove. You can use these to power your entire camper, which can then power the rest of your campsite via outlets.

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Best Portable Solar Panels For Rv Living & Campervans In 2023

Posted on Last updated: December 31, 2022

Home » Van Life » Best Portable Solar Panels for RV Living & Campervans in 2023

Portable solar panels for RV living and van life can provide a complete energy solution or extend the existing solar system for extra juice.

Charging your batteries from solar panels is super helpful when boondocking, even if you spend most of your time on campgrounds.

There are many portable solar panels on the market, and choosing the right panel for your needs can be challenging.

Here are the best portable solar panels for RV living and van life to keep you comfortable, and off-grid for longer.

When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. As Amazon Associates, we earn from qualifying purchases. For more info, please check our disclosure page.

Newpowa Polycrystalline Solar Panel

Available Wattage: 100 | Weight: 19.62 lbs | Dimensions: 35.83 x 26.57 x 1.18 in

The Newpowa Polycrystalline Solar Panel has been redesigned to be smaller in size but provide the same high-efficiency output. The 100 watt solar panel weighs around 20 pounds and measures 35.8 x 26.6 x 1.2. It includes pre-installed diodes and cables. The panels are framed with a heavy-duty anodized aluminum to enhance rigidity and durability. The panel works great in the sun and even still gives you some power when its cloudy. The Newpowa Polycrystalline Solar Panel offers great power and value for money.

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How Much Wattage Do You Need

Solar panel size is measured by the wattage it is capable of outputting. When determining what size solar panel your setup needs, you first want to reference the size of the battery you are charging.

As a rule of thumb, under ideal circumstances a 12-volt, 100-watt solar panel will produce 30 Ah per day. This means it would take just over three days to fully charge a 100 Ah battery with a 100-watt solar kit, whereas a 300-watt solar system could recharge this battery in less than two days.

The next thing to take into consideration is usage. Once you know how long it will take you to charge your battery at 100-watts, you can factor in the rate at which you go through a discharge cycle.

If you deplete a 100 Ah battery rated for 80% discharge in one day, that means you need to produce 80 Ah of charge per day. You want to round this number up to account for cloudy days, non-ideal camping spots with limited sun exposure, and high energy-drawing days.

For our example, the minimum amount of solar you would want to purchase would be 300-watts to produce 90 Ah of charge in a 24-hour cycle. In my opinion, it would even be worth sizing up to 350-watts to be sure you never run out of charge.

Zamp Solar Legacy Series 140

This kit includes a 140 Watt foldable monocrystalline solar panel, a 10-amp solar charge controller, a 15-foot cable, and a nylon carrying case.

Made in the USA , Zamp is known for its use of best-in-class solar cells and has a stellar reputation in the solar industry. Zamp backs its products with a 25-year output warranty.

This kit will charge most 12V batteries including Lithium-ion batteries, and comes with automotive SAE plugs as well as alligator clips that run from the charge controller to the battery bank.

This kit is intended to charge a 12V or 24V system. So, bear in mind that it will not charge 6V golf cart batteries unless theyre wired in series to create a 12V or 24V system.

• Handcrafted in the USA 25-year output warranty Best-in-class solar cells Easiest start to solar
• No installation required Includes everything you need Charges most 12-volt batteries, even lithium

Price & availability info updated 2022-06-22 at 16:57.

Zamps Legacy Series also includes a 230 Watt portable solar panel kit with an integrated charge controller and carrying case. This is a similar kit to that noted above, but this kit has panels with 230 Watts of power and a 15-amp charge controller .

• Handcrafted in the USA 25-year output warranty Best-in-class solar cells Easiest start to solar
• No installation required Includes everything you need Charges most 12-volt batteries, even lithium

Price & availability info updated 2022-06-22 at 16:57.

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