Camping outdoors unifies you with mother nature, allowing you to appreciate the greeneries, the chirping of birds, the clean air, and the humming of the streams. To experience it, you don’t have to compromise but maximize comfort instead. And to do this, a handy dandy tool for you to bring is a portable solar panel.
A portable solar panel (or solar module) provides many functions while you’re outside to camp. You may use it for lighting, heating, charging phones and other personal devices, pest control, and even warding wild animals away.
Online articles provide you a lot to choose from. They claim that these are the best. Well, guess what? No best solar module exists out there since issues are bound to manifest. With that said, how do you choose one that greatly works for you? This article gives you an idea of the criteria.
Thin Multi-Layered Solar Cells
Good solar panels for camping are solar panels made up of thin multi-layered cells. Particularly, their thickness is 300 times thinner than photovoltaic solar cells, which are about 200 micrometers thick.
So what happens if a solar panel uses thin multi-layered solar cells? Utilizing these allows for flexibility, meaning that the solar panel can bend or warp a bit without damaging its components.
With flexibility, a solar panel brings a lot of perks while outdoors. You may easily load it even if the car is already cluttered inside. As for installation, you may position it anywhere you like so long as it can cope with the stress coming from bending or warping.
Thin multi-layered solar cells allow for ease of use. With them, you can install a solar panel or stash it away at a moment’s notice, even without the usage of specialized tools.
Strong winds aren’t a problem too. Thin multi-layered solar cells allow a solar panel to bend against the wind. With that said, it reduces the wind’s force upon the solar panel’s surface. Still, due to the solar panel’s lightness, it might get blown away.
Germany-Made or American-Made
High-quality solar modules come from either America or Germany. This statement is open for arguments. Furthermore, we don’t mean to instill market bias by this.
But why America and Germany only? Those coming from America have a high PTC rating, impressive longevity (averages 30 years of service lifetime). And smart features such as android or IOS connection, automatic shut-off function, etc. Brands that you should shortlist are Mission Solar, SolarTech Universal, and Tesla/Panasonic.
On the other hand, German solar modules for camp are characterized by their peerless engineering and durability. Most also comply with environmental regulatory standards. Meaning that they’re manufactured while observing minimum impact to mother nature.
How about portable solar modules made from China? There are a lot of decent manufacturers too! However, accompanying them in the market are numerous counterfeits and substandard ones.
Is There A White Background Foil?
Remember that a solar panel’s energy output is highly dependent on its exposure to sunlight. Therefore, a solar panel having a feature that maximizes its sunlight exposure isn’t bad, even if it didn’t produce a reputable brand.
When looking for a solar panel to use for camping, peel your eyes for the white background foil. A white background foil is installed on the back sheet of a solar panel and allows light to reflect. With it, the solar cells are exposed to light twice. Which then results in a heftier energy generation.
This feature also ensures that the solar panel generates adequate energy even if exposure to sunlight is low. A solar panel with white background foil is very suitable for woodlands, riversides, lakeside, recreational parks, and other highly shaded campsites.
Anti-Fog Glass and Tightly Sealed Frame
Fogging of the solar panel’s glass spreads sunlight in different directions and results in reduced energy generation. That’s why you should look for one which has an anti-fog feature. Usually, a solar panel with this feature uses a glass cover mixed with an anti-fogging agent that discourages the build-up of water droplets on its surface.
Also, look for sealants that reinforce the installation of the glass and frame on top of the solar cells. Common sealants that manufacturers use when making a solar panel are silicone, polyurethane, acrylic, butyl, and polysulfide. For more durability, some manufacturers place a thin lining of rubber on the edges of the frame.
Conclusion
A fire is already enough for cooking and lighting when camping. However, it’s an undeniable fact that the smoke that it produces affects the environment. Also, if you don’t put it out properly, some embers might stay lit and cause wildfires.
That’s why you should try using a portable solar panel instead. With a portable solar panel, you will have a more convenient means of heating and lighting provided that you bring electric lamps, heaters, pans, and other easy-to-carry appliances.
But the ultimate purpose of using it is to travel with the environment in mind. You might not have recognized it, but human activity has drastically affected mother nature. That’s why you should know how to live green.