Scientists estimate that the sun produces enough energy in just one minute to fuel the entire world for a year. It’s no wonder people have been developing ways to harness this power ever since the first solar battery made its debut in 1954. By allowing anyone to take this amazing technology along with them virtually anywhere, portable solar power is the next evolutionary step in utilizing the energy freely given to us by our largest star.
Camping enthusiasts who enjoy adventuring “off the grid” but hate lugging around power cords or batteries will love the convenience of this alternative energy source. Items such as a portable solar charger are typically collapsible, lightweight and can provide power to a multitude of devices, including flashlights, small televisions and AM/FM radios.
An example of a portable solar power device tailor-made for campers is the SOLO 15 by Brunton. It uses a lithium battery pack that weighs only four pounds and is rechargeable through a vehicle or household wall outlet. The SOLO 15 provides enough juice to run any video camera for up to 100 hours. This portable solar charger retails for less than $650.
Companies such as PowerEnz offer the serious camping diehard products like the incredible Hail Storm, which is capable of handling emergency and survival situations. The Hail Storm’s case is water-, dust-, and crush-proof. It can pump out an astounding 800 watts maximum of AC power for a little less than one hour.
Aside from its uses in the wilderness, portable solar power is being used in the military, colleges and universities, private homes and many businesses.
So, how do all of these portable solar power devices, such as the portable solar charger, work? Good question. They work by taking what are called “photovoltaic cells” and exposing them to sunlight. These cells typically are made up of a double layer of panels. When the sun hits these cells, one cell becomes positively charged and the other becomes negatively charged, producing electricity. How much of an electric current is produced depends mainly upon the size of the device, the length of exposure to the sun and the strength of the sun.
Countless studies over the years, like the one in San Francisco done by the U.S. Department of Energy, have proven that solar power is incredible. On June 14, 2000, more than 100,000 customers in that area lost power. The study said conditions for solar energy were almost perfect that day and it could have provided plenty of power to handle this outage. Now, using these portable solar devices, we can tap into this power in even the most remote places in the world.
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