Take the Sun on the Go! — #solarmadeeasy

Head Outdoors and Bring the Conveniences It's that time of year again for some good old camping and outdoor fun. We've been behind closed doors due to COVID19 for a few months now. Opportunities for getting out are slowly increasing, and one of the safest ways to break up the stay-at-home boredom is to hit a campground and breathe some fresh air! Some of us love getting back to nature and hitting the camp ground roughing it a little. And some of us....still want to enjoy some modern conveniences! 😂So go ahead. Bring along some lights, a camping fan, an air...

Solar Tip Tuesday - Peak Sun Hours Yes, your solar panels produce energy throughout the day. But, is that energy production consistent? Obviously not. Peak sun hours are an important part of the equation that will determine how much power your solar panels will generate for you.The amount of energy generated by your solar panels can be thought of in terms of a bell curve - a graphical depiction of, in this case, energy produced. The peak of this bell curve is at the height of your solar panel's energy production on a given day. And, the daily height of...

Personalized Grid-Tie Solar Power Needs at Your Fingertips Are you considering a grid-tie solar setup for your home? Although Solar Sporting Goods does not do these types of installations, here at The Solar Side, we still look after our solar inspired clients!When was the last time you showed up at a car dealership with the intention to buy a car, and having zero preconceived notions of anticipated and realistic costs?Never? Me either. Why should buying solar be any different? One of the best independent sources of information to estimate the most appropriate size of your grid-tie solar array can be found...

Solar Panel Wiring:  Which is better - Parallel or Series? So you are interested in setting up your own DIY solar panel array to charge your batteries.  Perhaps you want to use portable solar panels for RV or Marine batteries, or establish a DIY portable solar power generator kit to power RV appliances such as a Dometic CoolFreeze Portable cooler, a TV, lights, cooktop, etc.  After reviewing Solar Generators vs. Portable Solar Power Banks and estimating your PV wattage requirements using our solar calculators, you recognize that a single 12v 100W solar panel may not quite be sufficient to meet your needs,...

When it comes to small, off grid portable solar power applications, there are several products on the market that manufacturers claim to be “solar generators.”  So, what are they and how do you choose the best one? First things first - THERE IS NO SUCH THING AS A SOLAR GENERATOR. By definition, a generator is a machine that converts one form of stable energy into another, e.g., a dynamo that converts mechanical energy into electrical energy. Solar energy is hardly stable.  All those “solar generators” on the market are nothing more than varied size batteries with built-in inverters and displays...