Benefits of Portable Panels and Batteries

A home already powered by residential solar may not seem like it needs to add portable solar panels to the mix. However, portable panels complement standard home solar arrays quite well.

While residential solar provides the electricity needed to power homes, portable solar panels mobilize the scale of solar’s potential, prolonging the life of portable solar batteries during an emergency. Combined, they make for renewable energy’s most dynamic duo.

Varying Portability and Wattages

The solar market has a wide range of portable solar panels, from handheld to fold-able stand-alone solar panels. The average handheld solar panel has a max output of 10 watts, which barely charges a smartphone, whereas Goal Zero’s Boulder-200 Briefcase solar panel can produce up to 200 watts per hour.

The Advantages of Portable Solar Panels

Portable solar panels have some advantages over residential solar panels. These modules’ smaller size allows their owners to position them to receive maximum sunlight, a luxury homeowners with standard home solar installations don’t have.

Their portability also makes it possible to take solar-generated electricity on a trip instead of only having it in the house. While residential solar powers the home, portable solar can power essentials while traveling, camping, having a get-together in the park, or even during power-critical emergencies.

Camping with Portable Solar Panels

The Goal Zero Yeti 3000 is as powerful as portable solar batteries get. It offers up to 3,000 watts of power. Those who prefer glamping (a portmanteau of glamorous and camping), or boondocking can easily use their laptops, charge their gopro, and keep their refrigerators running. If a portable solar panel charges this battery during the day, it can continue to provide electricity continually for as many charges as the panel will serve up to the battery from the sun’s rays.

Charging Goal Zero’s Solar Batteries With The Boulder 200

With the Boulder 200 Briefcase, the Yeti 3000 can charge the Boulder 200 during the day and continue to provide electricity throughout the trip. While a full charge in a Yeti 3000 would take a Boulder 200 Briefcase 18-36 hours to charge, the battery doesn’t need to die before it can be recharged.

Residential Solar and Portable Solar Panels

While adding electricity to a camping trip adds some comfort, most people don’t go camping super frequently. Some don’t go camping at all. For these individuals, the benefits of portable solar panels aren’t lost. Portable solar panels can also help during emergencies.

Power Outage Prep with Portable Solar Panels

During an outage and due to NEC 2017, grid-tied solar arrays have to shut down at the modular level. While the battery backup provided in our level 1 battery backup package will keep the essentials running during most interruptions, a prolonged outage would require more power. The Boulder 200 Briefcase can charge the battery during the day, allowing the home to continue to power essentials.