Solar power can provide a great alternative for homeowners that are looking to generate their own power from the sun. Modern systems are reliable and fairly simple to install as well. With recent improvements to their efficiency the average home can be powered with less equipment, which can dramatically lower the cost of installation, and allow the system to be paid for in less time.

Because of this increase in efficiency, these solar power systems can be built smaller and this makes them much more portable. In years past these solar power systems could only be used on homes with an abundance of roof space. Newer systems have the advantage of being used anywhere power is needed and as a result a new class of portable solar power systems has emerged.

These new portable solar power systems can be used to supply power in remote areas, or when you need to take power with you on a trip. Typical applications include remote hunting or fishing cabins, camping trips and even mobile home installations. This allows you to enjoy many of the comforts of home by simply placing the portable solar panel in direct sunlight.

Because these portable solar power systems are not connected to the local utility, they need a way to store this power for use later. This is normally accomplished with the addition of a bank of batteries to the system that can be charged when the sun is shining and then used to power your electronics during the evening. In a mobile home installation these batteries might be the main batteries used for the vehicle. For other applications this battery bank is part of the portable solar power solution.

One typical portable solar power solution consists of a portable solar panel, and a controller / inverter. The solar panels can be permanently mounted to a roof if the system will be used on a fixed structure like a mobile home or cabin. They can also be simply wheeled into bright sunlight for the ultimate in portability. These solar panels are then connected to the controller unit by plugging in the extension cable. The controller is really three things in one cabinet. It houses the electronics responsible for controlling the charging of the battery, the batteries themselves and an inverter that is used to convert the battery power into AC current that can be used by an appliance. Some of these controllers also have a DC connection so you can use them to charge other portable devices like a laptop of cell phone.

With some of these systems you can even charge the internal batteries while at home, using the solar panels and then take the controller with you to supply power from its fully charged batteries. This has the advantage of not requiring you to bring along the large solar panels on your trip. You can simply disconnect the controller, slip it into your car and enjoy free power for as long as the batteries hold their charge. Then when you return from the trip you can connect the solar panel back to the controller and charge the batteries so they are ready for your next trip. If you are going on an extended trip you can bring the solar panels with you to charge the batteries while you’re away. This type of portable solar power system offers the most flexibility and allows you to enjoy the free power the sun provides when you travel.