What About Portable Solar Setups
Sometimes you just need a little extra power to charge small but essential gadgets, like your cell phone. Portable solar setups are perfect for this!
Theyre also a great introduction into the RV solar battery charger world. You can give them a test run when you dont want to mess with installing large panels, or arent ready to make a large investment yet.
Portable panels unfold like a pamphlet, and you can place them anywhere! . Connect them to your batteryand voila! An instant way to charge while off-grid.
LithiumHub offers 40W and 20W versions that can charge 12V batteries. You can fold them up and stash them in a backpack. Paired with a lightweight lithium battery, its a breeze to take them on a hike or boat trip.
Whether youre in need of a small portable setup or are searching for the best 12v batteries to accompany your setup, or need a normal 12v battery charger, here at LithiumHub, weve got you covered!
Read about lithium solar batteries or RV batteries here. Or, read more about RV solar setups and other eco-friendly RV tips here. Have more questions? Reach out to us!
What Is A Solar Inverter And How Does It Work
How does an RV inverter work?
An RV inverter plays an essential role in the solar power system for RV. It converts the variable direct current output of a photovoltaic solar panel thats stored inside of the lithium RV battery into standard alternating current power. This AC electricity then can be fed into your home to operate your appliances.
What are the two types of solar inverters?
Modified Sine Wave Inverters are the more inexpensive type of inverter and also the more basic & older version of the technology. Its not really designed to power sensitive electronics like computers, phones and TVs.
Pure Sine Wave Inverters are much more expensive but more realistic than the modified sine wave inverters. In the below graph, the voltage goes from a high of 120 volts to a low of negative 12 volts. Pure sine wave is the smoothest way of delivery AC current to your AC appliances. Modified sine wave graph is more jagged kind of almost stair-stepping way of delivery the energy so its not quite as smooth. Sensitive electronics can be damaged by those variations.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75NMRgom-6w& list=PLcUuWq_XtMrDxm8j4zACJ7SKSb6_Iv14D& index=2
Our Favorite Dakota Lithium Products
Dakota Lithium 277 AH 12V LifePO4 Deep Cycle Battery
This battery has 277 Amp Hours of capacity in a steel battery case the size of a single 100 Amp Hour. Thats 6X the amount of usable power of a single group 31 AGM battery. Built out of Lithium Iron Phosphate technology and reinforced with a ruggedized steel case, this is a battery built to last.
With a lifespan of 4,000 charge cycles this battery will last up to 5 times longer than your typical AGM battery providing exceptional value over time.
Optimized for marine/boating, solar energy, RVs & electric vehicles. LiFePO4 optimized charger included.
You gain twice the power of traditional batteries, less weight, a 5x faster charge and a longevity thats 4x longer.
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Best Batteries For Solar Setups
Choices, choices, choices! What kind of battery do you need for your RV solar battery charger? The standard choice is a 12 volt deep cycle battery. But amp-hour rating and the type of battery can vary.
Consider the following:
- Amp-hour rating . The higher the Ah, the more energy stored. Some RVers can get by with 50-100Ah. But if you want to take longer trips or power more appliances, you might want a 125Ah-300Ah battery. .
- Battery type. You can get a cheaper lead acid battery, or go for the gold and get a high-performance LiFePO4 lithium battery. Lead acid may be adequate for those looking to test the waters. But lithium batteries last far longer, use energy more efficiently, and charge faster. Theyre also better for the environment. Additional options include AGM and gel batteries, but they dont hold a handle to lithium. .
Acopower Lithium Battery Mono Solar Power Complete System With Battery And Inverter For Rv Boat 12v Off Grid Kit
$ 1,988.00
Wide ApplicationPerfect kit for having an off-grid 12 volt Lithium battery 12V Solar Panel system. 1500 Watt Pure Sine Wave Inverter provides plenty of AC power 120VAV to run your household appliances and the battery bank will supply plenty of energy for moderate use Designed for RVs, cabins, homes, boats, back-up and remote power useMPPT ControllerCharge controller brings peak conversion efficiency of 98%, high Tracking efficiency of 99% 4-Stage battery charging process for a rapid, efficient, and safe battery charging ,Solar charging 200W-800W will provide about 960-3840 Watt Hours or 80-320 Amp Hours of charge per day High Capacity Li-Battery PacksWith 3840Wh of 3pcs 100Ah lithium batteries, which have higher charging/discharging efficiency and more than 3000 times deep cycles than lead acid batteries. Built-in BMS, the 30A-60A MPPT solar charge controller can also prevent the lithium battery from getting damaged and provide double protections.Installation ReadyOne kit-everything you need DIY your solar charge system, the kit includes the necessary tools to start. California, USA based company in 11+ years solar industry supplies technical support, customer service and warranty Reliable & trustable local business. 24/7 Free Technical Support Service, 100% Customer Satisfaction Service
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What Is The Best Solar Panel For An Rv
Monocrystalline solar panels
These are the most efficient photovoltaic cells among all types. And they are also the highest in production cost. The single crystal silicon cells are encapsulated within the toughened glass and waterproof resin. So they have a long life span in service.
Polycrystalline solar panels
The photoelectric conversion efficiency is relatively lower than Mono. And its production cost is also lower. It has a shorter life span as well.
Amorphous silicon solar panels
This is a new product of thin-film solar cells as know as Flexible Panels. It consume very little silicon material but can generate electricity in low light conditions. Each panel is very thin and does not require a frame backing so its flexible, lighter and easier to install.
Whats the conversion efficiency of monocrystalline vs. polycrystalline panels?
Monocrystalline panels are formed with higher grade of silicone which makes them slightly more efficient than polycrystalline panels.
The photoelectric conversion efficiency of monocrystalline silicon solar cells is 20% the highest .
The percentage of energy with polycrystalline panels is converted into electricity is about 17%.
Which panel is more expensive?
Because monocrystalline panels are produced with a higher grade of silicon, the manufacturing process is slightly more expensive.
How durable are these solar panels?
Complete Rv Solar Power Kits With Lithium Batteries
As RV power requirements get larger, so do their solar power systems. Loads like RVs having Residential refrigerators necessitate larger solar arrays and high capacity lithium house battery banks. These kits have large solar arrays, inverter-chargers and lithium batteries for house battery banks. Many RVs are requiring 500 Ah battery banks and 40+ amps of solar to keep the base equipment running.
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Big Rv Solar & Lithium Battery Setup
Watch the video to see the installation of a complete solar and lithium battery setup.
Flexible Lifestyle
Clean, renewable power to enable off-grid adventures. Run all the basics including residential reefer, lights, TV and never worry about a dead battery again.
Sustainable Power
Cut fuel costs with years of clean and quiet power to your RV without expense to the environment or noise pollution.
Advanced Technology
Protect your batteries from overcharging and capture more energy from the sun than ever before possible with Maximum Power Point Tracking technologies.
Weatherproof Design
High impact resistance to the most severe weather- high wind, driving rain, heavy snow and hail.
Calculating Energy Generation And Storage Needs
A decent assumption is that a 100-Watt solar panel will generate on average 350 Watt-hours of power per day. However, this will vary significantly by location and time of year. This article by Mortons on the Move explains a way to get a more accurate result by using PVwatts.
Youll also need to know how many batteries youll need to store that amount of power! One 100 ah 12volt Battle Born battery has about 1200 Watt-hours storage capacity.
Keep in mind that your solar panels will only give you the stated number of Watts under perfect conditions. Perfect conditions = direct sun pointing directly at the panel. On a rainy day, you wont get 100 Watts from your 100-Watt solar panel. If youre parking in the shade, you wont get 200 Watts from your 200-Watt solar panel.
Its also challenging to estimate the amount of power youll use on a given day because days are different. You may be outside all day today enjoying nature, and fall into bed and watch 15 minutes of television tonight. Tomorrow could be a rainy day, and youll stay inside your RV, do a lot of work on your laptop, and watch a couple of hours of television in the evening. So estimating high is usually a good idea!
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Does A Solar Power System For Rv Works
As most people know, solar panels can continuously obtain energy from the Sun light source to provide electricity for the RV. It can make your RV a real mobile home without worrying about insufficient electricity.
The main advantage of the solar power system for RV is that they can be kept charged all the time, even in the most remote areas, even when you have to make an unplanned stop outside the service area.
Lithium Iron Phosphate battery packs have rapidly become popular in the field of solar power system for RV as the lithium RV battery. It is composed of battery pack, overcharge and overdischarge protection system, balance control system, battery case, etc. It has the advantages of safety, reliability, small size, light weight, and no overcharge and overdischarge. It can perfectly solve the storage of the electric energy system of the RVs.
High Quality Products Focused On Clean And Sustainable Power
Cut the cord and harness the power of the sun with a solar power solution for your RV. Jaboni is revolutionizing the industry with the first high-efficiency MPPT controller built for the RV market. We bring deep industry knowledge, responsive service and competitive pricing to meet any RV solar need.
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Other Important Factors To Consider
What is an RV lithium battery?
The RV is an incredible modern marvel. For years it has brought joy to countless families by being a great means of travel to experience the awesomeness of nature and the outdoors. Being a home away from home while at the same time being the family vehicle that brings you from Point A to Point B, the RV requires the help of a number of RV-specific products. One of these RV-specific equipment is the lithium RV battery.
Not to be confused with the actual lithium batteries, which are non-rechargeable in function, RVs mostly utilize the use of lithium-ion batteries for a great travel experience. The lithium RV battery, as it is famously known by both new and seasoned owners, is one of the best battery options out there. There are a number of reasons why choosing this battery is often the decision of most RV owners.
For one, the lithium battery option is able to topple the complications and weaknesses of the traditional lead-acid batteries. With the lithium variation, the instance for battery failure is greatly reduced and eventually eliminated.
The second thing it pertains to is the lithium RV batteries ability to disperse energy at a higher hourly rate than most battery options. What this means is that as a power supply it allows for a more consistent and sustained energy dispersal, so that motor-related problems are avoided when instances like power surges and drainages happen.
How does it work?
- Factor #1: Batterys Cycle Life
Solar Charge Controller 101
Additional safeguard benefits:
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Cheap Rv Solar Controllers
RV solar controllers are another place where installers try to cut costs. Does the controller have a large heat sink to dissipate extra energy? A good way to judge a controller is by its weight. It should be heavy. It should not have a fan. Fans fail and then the controller will overheat and die.
An aluminum heat sink doesnt fail. A good solar controller may cost two or three times the price of the cheap models. I expect my controllers to never fail. Cheap solar controllers typically dont last very long.
Check Your Roof Space
Solar panels arent small, and RV roofs arent very big. If you are roof-mounting your panels, take careful measurements and cross-reference with the dimensions of any potential panels. Measure twice just in case.
For some heavy electricity users, its possible you may not have enough space on your RVs roof to generate the power you need. In this case, you will need to look into supplementing your roof-mounted panels with other power sources or growing your battery bank to store more energy.
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What Are Rv Solar Panels
In the 1800s, scientists observed something called the photovoltaic effect, where some materials would produce an electric charge and current when exposed to sunlight. Attempts were made over the years to create solar engines, as they called them, but most had very low efficiencies. It wasnt until the 1950s that scientists discovered that silicon could create a much more efficient solar panel.
This initial discovery led to the development of solar cells that could harness the suns energy and turn it into electricity. The technology has evolved over the years, but the concept remains the same.
A solar panel is a panel filled with solar cells that capture the suns energy and turn that energy into usable electricity that powers homes, businesses, coffee pots, and, yes your RV!
Lets find out how it all works!
Rvers Want Solar And Lithium And The Rv Industry Is Starting To Listen
RV sales have skyrocketed in recent years, and campgrounds are busier than ever. Being able to fully utilize your RV while camping remotely without a power source, away from the crowds, is becoming increasingly popular. Combining solar panels with a lithium RV battery bank is one of the most popular ways RVers cut the cord that tethers them to overcrowded campgrounds.
The RV industry is taking notice of these trends as it looks to adapt its standards. For example, lithium RV batteries were added to the 2020 edition of RV industrys adopted American National Standards Institute Low-Voltage Standard. This addition allows the RV Industry Association to recognize lithium batteries as RV products. Changes like these set the standard for manufacturers to include lithium batteries as an option on new RVs.
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Go Power Has You Covered
Go Power! offers a full range of battery options for all of our RV customers, including more traditional AGM lead-acid battery solutions. As the use of lithium batteries becomes more commonplace, however, were pleased to provide aggressively-priced, high-performing lithium options for RVers, RV dealers and manufacturers.
Not sure whats the right choice for you? Contact one of our , or . Well help get you powered up and on the road.
What Is Needed For Solar Power System For Rv
First of all, most RV users intend to choose monocrystalline silicon solar panels as its conversion rate is the highest . Remember these solar panels are not installed once for all. You might want to clean up the surface of those panels once in a while, especially when you tend to live or drive in a dusty area, in order to prevent collection of dust that would affect the conversion efficiency for energy generation.
Secondly, MPPT is a device designed in the controller that can carry out intelligent calculation and implement tracking at any time, monitoring the real-time power generation voltage of solar panels and track the highest voltage current value. The system can charge the battery with the highest efficiency. Therefore, it is highly recommended to choose a MPPT controller when installing your solar system.
Most importantly, youre going to need a lithium RV battery at the heart of the system. To normal lead-acid batteries, two or three over-discharge are enough to entirely kill the batteries. It is always wise to use a quality lithium iron phosphate battery with good performance as your lithium RV battery.
At last, A solar inverter must be suitable for the real demands of all electrical loads on RVs. With all kind of electrical appliances, the effect power of a inverter should be above 2000 watts. But any power above 3000W can be a real waste in a camper van.
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