With a solar energy bank, you can use free energy from the sun at any time of day or night. Thanks to a solar-powered generator’s portability, it is a great option for powering devices like phones, handheld GPS and more while on camping trips or road trips.

To generate and store solar power, you need two components: solar panels to capture the energy and a battery to store it. The more energy you want to capture at once, the larger you’ll want your solar panel setup to be. Also, don’t overlook the importance of the battery.

A battery allows you do to use solar energy whenever you need to recharge one of your devices, even at night. Additionally, the voltage of solar energy captured by the panels will vary, which can make it harmful to plug a device like a phone directly into solar panels. A solar battery, by contrast, can handle the varied amounts of energy coming from the panels and turning it into a steady and reliable voltage for your devices.

With portable solar panels and a solar generator, you don’t need to be near the power grid to get the energy you want. You can be camping, backpacking, road tripping or living off the grid and still enjoy the perks of working on your laptop, watching a movie on your tablet, recharging your digital camera or reading on an e-reader.

In terms of choosing the best portable solar setup for your needs, consider the demands of the devices you will be charging. This helps you calculate how large you want your panels and solar power bank to be as well as what kinds of output connections you need. Most batteries accommodate USB connections while some also support NEMA 5-15, NEMA 1-15 and other connections.

If your goal is sustainable living, you will certainly benefit having a portable solar generator as a renewable clean energy source. To ensure your equipment serves you long and well, follow these solar panel cleaning tips.