12-Volt Transportable Solar Panels-What They Are And How Can You Utilize Them Along with Your Electronic Devices

One of the most popular types of portable solar panel systems is the 12 volt (12v) system. But just how much energy does 12v give you? Not enough to heat up your residence, but enough to run some of your portable devices, or boost their rechargeable batteries.

These portable panels function like large solar panels, but generate a reduced amount of electricity due to their smaller size. Similar to their larger cousins, they operate best under direct full sun conditions. Nearly all of them will work on cloudy and drizzly days, but it will take longer to generate the electricity to charge your device. The majority will not operate with indoor lighting, but there are solar panels being developed that will be able to use indoor light. They're projected to reach the consumer market in another 4 or 5 years.

Good portable panel systems have built-in regulators, meaning they'll automatically adjust the amount of energy they produce to the amount that the device requires. So be sure that the portable panels you buy have this feature, or else there's a danger of overcharging (or "frying") the device that you're trying to recharge.

Most portable solar panels fold into sizes tiny enough to fit into a large pocket or purse. But you can't fold the cells themselves. Think of a weight belt. It's foldable and flexible when compared to a barbell. But it folds because small weights are sewn into a flexible fabric, not because the weights are foldable. It's the same with the foldable solar panels: they fold because the solar cells are small enough to be mounted on foldable material.

So even though portable solar panels are advertised to be long-lasting and waterproof, you still need to be cautious when handling them. If you fold or crease the solar cell itself, you'll probably break or disable it. So do not fold the cell, or put the portable panels in the washing machine, or poke them with sharp objects. Your weight belt will survive that kind of treatment, but your portable solar panel won't.

One more word of warning: the portable solar panel can't recharge ordinary batteries. It can only charge rechargeable batteries. This may be obvious to you, but you'd be surprised how many people try to recharge regular batteries.

You will need additional connector equipment in order to use the portable panels, so plan for the additional expense. You'll need connectors that fit with the recharging plugs on your portable devices. And if you intend to use your portable solar panels to trickle charge your car, boat or snowmobile battery, you might need a set of battery clips.

"Trickle charging" can keep your vehicle's battery fully charged. Here's how it works: put the portable solar panel on a surface where it receives the most sun; then plug it into the cigarette lighter socket, or fasten the clips to the vehicle's battery. This can be a great help in really chilly climates where temperatures drop below freezing, and you have to keep your car parked outside all day.

Portable solar panels are still moderately costly compared to using grid electricity at home or in the office. But they make sense if you spend a lot of time camping, climbing or working from your car. And they're excellent backup systems for times when the power goes out.