Do you enjoy traveling around the country via RV? Do you like going for a quick weekend getaway without having to worry about paying for a hotel room or boarding your pets?

Traveling around the country in your RV is a great way to let loose and explore. But while this may sound expensive and gas guzzling, there are plenty of ways you can decrease your costs as well as your carbon footprint.

Specifically, by using portable solar generators as your backup energy source.

These days solar generators are powerful, portable, and specifically designed for clean energy. Most are also silent, so there’s no noise pollution either!

Solar Generators: A More Eco-Friendly Backup Energy Source For Those Who RV

How Can I be More Eco-friendly When I RV?

One of the best ways to accomplish this goal is by investing in an eco-friendly backup energy source that can power your RV and any other equipment you have that will require energy to operate.

A solar generator  will change the way you travel for good. It allows you to utilize natural resources from the sun to harness power for your campsite and electronic devices – everything from small lights, to large screen TV’s and a fridge.

A solar generator will employ solar panels to collect energy from the sun, store it and repurpose it into electricity to power your devices. There are a huge range of generators / power stations which all vary in cost and capacity.

Choosing a Solar Generator For Your Needs

There are several things you should consider when shopping for the best solar generator. But the most important thing is to consider the amount of energy you need to produce along with the amount of energy you need to store at any given time.

For example, to power a trailer, ideally you’ll want to have a solar generator that can provide at least 30 amp-hours per day. To accomplish this, you’ll need to purchase a solar panel that can produce at least 100-watts at any given time.

Knowing this, you can decide how many solar panels you will need to purchase to have the ability to power your RV and travel setup.

Terminology: A watt-hour is a unit of energy which measures the amount of work or change, that can achieved. It explains the capacity of most power station products, and tells you how many times your devices will recharge using its battery.

Different power stations offer different battery, load, and output capacities, and will additionally offer other features, like how many output ports it comes with, which determines how many devices you can charge at the same time.

Also consider things like the battery life, and how many life cycles a battery has, your connections and charging, and protection for overheat, overcharge, overcurrent, overtemperature, and overvoltage.

Not sure of what type of solar generator to purchase? This list of product reviews by Ecotality contains everything you need to know about the best solar generators.

What Will You be Powering?

If you’re going to power your entire RV and camping setup, you’ll need a larger solar generator than if you are going to provide power for small appliances (i.e. cell phones and tablets) while on the road.

Some travel enthusiasts hope to power large items such as an air conditioning unit or a refrigerator. An air conditioner and a refrigerator will require a significant amount of power so you will need to invest in a solar generator that can produce enough energy to keep up with the demands of your appliances.

It’s best practice to design your solar-generated power system by the amount of running wattage that is required to operate your appliances at any given time.

Helpful Information to Keep in Mind

It’s important to note that not all solar generators are created equal.

How a solar generator needs to be stored, the size of the solar panels, and the features that make it functional all play a role in the overall accessibility and success of your solar generator to make it worth the investment.

Here are questions you should think about – if you are unable to confidently answer these questions, you should spend  time developing a plan, as it can make or break the effectiveness of your solar generator.

Storage

How much room will you have in your RV to transport a solar generator? Will you have a space for the generator that will ensure that it is protected from the elements?

Mobile App

Some solar generators are equipped with the ability to track metrics via your mobile phone by downloading their app. An app can give you real time information at a moment’s notice.

Curious how much battery life remains before you reach your destination? Wonder how many hours you will need direct sunlight to harvest enough energy to continue on your journey?

A mobile app will assist you by tracking energy storage, battery life, and charging time.

Durability

If you’re planning to travel regularly, it’s imperative that you invest in a solar generator that is durable and can withstand the abuse that comes from extensive use and traveling on the road on a consistent basis.

Chances are you’ll bump your solar generator and it needs to be able to withstand bad weather conditions among other factors that come with road travel.

A portable solar powered generator is a fantastic way to RV while generating your own power and reducing your carbon footprint at the same time. Investing in a solar generator is the most economical way to generate electricity and convert it into energy that can be used to run your appliances, and power your campsite.