Conventional generators heavy, oily, have high maintenance and use fossil fuel to generate electricity. Solar generators lightweight, eco-friendly, and generate electricity without the need for refueling.

A solar generator can be charged either from a wall outlet or from a solar panel. It can supply electricity for phones, home security cameras, lights, small electrical devices, or even a window air conditioning unit (for example with this heavy-duty solar generator – Goal Zero Yeti 3000). When paired with solar, you can actually save money on your electric bills, and a solar generator offers clean, quiet power that you can’t get with a conventional generator.

A solar generator is a great choice for camping, tailgating, RVs or home emergency backup system. If you are looking for the best solar generator but don’t know how to pick the right one, this “solar generator review and rating” is for you. In this article we review several solar generators that we feel are worth your hard-earned money. And we also explain some things that you will want to know about solar generators before making a purchase.

Best Solar Generators: Our Picks

	Product	Capacity	Battery	Weight (lbs)	Ranked for	Price
	Goal Zero Yeti 400 Lithium Solar Generator Kit	428Wh	Li-ion	25.9	Best Portable Kit	Check Price
	Jackery Explorer 240 Portable Solar Generator	240Wh	Li-ion	6.6	Best for Camping	Check Price
	Goal Zero Yeti 1400 Lithium	1425Wh	Li-ion	43.7	Best for Home	Check Price
	Suaoki S270 Lithium Power Station	150Wh	Li-ion	2.9	Best for Backpacking	Check Price
	Rockpals RP250W Portable Solar Generator	250Wh	Li-ion	5.5	Best for Backpacking	Check Price
	Renogy Phoenix All-in-one Solar Kit	150Wh	Li-ion	12.8	Best All-in-One Kit	Check Price
	Renogy Lycan Powerbox	1075Wh	Li-ion	60	Best for RV, Off-Grid	Check Price

Read our reviews

What’s a Solar Generator?

As the name implies, a solar powered generator is powered by the sun.

Unlike conventional generators, solar generators don’t run on gasoline, diesel, or propane. This kind of generators capture the sun’s energy via solar panels, store that energy in a battery bank, and release it through a power inverter to be used for standard AC power.

With a conventional generator that is used to supply stand-alone loads, there is a constant output of power from the generator but there is no storage of power to supply the loads when the generator is not running. In this case, solar panels are not able to replace a generator on their own because solar panels cannot reliably produce a steady flow of instantaneous power.

With a solar generator, the idea here is that the solar will supply a varying amount of power to the battery storage, the battery storage will store this power until it is needed and then supply loads with a constant supply of power as necessary.

Simply put, a solar generator works in a way that is similar to a small off-grid solar system, the only difference here is that a solar generator is portable, which you can put in your car and bring with you anywhere you go.

Of course, the solar power generator needs to be designed, both the solar panels, the charge controller, the deep cycle batteries, and the inverter/charger to allow for enough power to be stored in total to meet the loads.

Today’s best solar generators can come equipped with the lithium-ion battery that can store a huge amount of energy in a very small package.

How Does a Solar Generator Work?

Basically, a solar generator is a simple system consisting of 4 key components: the solar panels, the batteries, the inverter/charger, and the solar charge controller (optional).

1) Solar Panel

The solar panel is what powers a solar generator.

A solar panel is filled with individual photovoltaic cells, which have the ability to convert photons of sunlight into electricity. When photons hit a solar cell, they knock electrons loose from their atoms. If conductors are attached to the positive and negative sides of a cell, it forms an electrical circuit. When electrons flow through such a circuit, they generate electricity.

Solar cells are made of silicon crystals cut into super-thin wafers or a film made of silicon, cadmium telluride or other materials. The cells are connected in a series to develop an electrical current that charges a battery.

You’ll find that efficiency levels among solar panels differ. Efficiency refers to how well each cell converts the sun’s photons into electrical current. So a solar panel with a 15 percent efficiency rating produces 50 percent more electricity than a solar panel with a 10 percent rating.

A solar panel typically costs a few hundred dollars and is easy to purchase. With proper installation and maintenance, your solar panel will last, on average, for 20 years.

2) Battery

The solar powered generator is also called the battery powered generator, because of the fact that the battery storage capacity is the most important aspect of a solar generator’s actual usability.

The battery storage is also the first and foremost factor you’ll want to consider when selecting the best solar generator. Depending on your solar generator goals – the number of devices and how much power they draw, you may want a high-capacity battery.

Without decent battery storage capacity, reliability and usability are severely affected. Without batteries at all (batteries not included), a solar generator is pretty worthless.

The battery of a solar powered generator is the deep cycle battery. It’s rated in terms of amp hours (amp/hr). For example, a 12-volt 100 amp/hr battery. To calculate the battery capacity, from amp hours, multiply amps times volts. For example, the watt-hour rating of the above 12-volt 100 amp/hr battery is 1200 (12*100).

Unfortunately, not all of the rated watt-hours should be used. Battery manufacturers recommend only using 50% of the full capacity in traditional lead-acid batteries in order to preserve lifespan and reduce failures. Draining batteries fully will effectively destroy them.

The best batteries for solar generators are lithium-ion batteries. Lithium-ion batteries are lighter and more power dense and can be drained to 10% capacity. This type of deep cycle battery is also more durable and have a longer lifespan than traditional lead-acid batteries, AGM or GEL batteries.

The Jackery Portable Power Station Solar Generator 240Wh is a good example. This is one of the best solar generators for camping on the market and it comes equipped with a lithium-ion battery. The lithium battery makes it compact and lightweight and can store a lot of energy. In addition, its voltage will not change much under heavy load, and their total capacity will not fluctuate much under different loads.

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3) Inverter

Power from a solar generator is direct current (DC), and your appliances need alternating current (AC). So you need a device to convert DC to AC, called an inverter.

Inverter/chargers – an upgraded type of inverter – also grant the ability to externally charge your battery bank by plugging it into the grid or portable generator and routing the incoming AC power to the batteries in DC power. Ultimately, inverters rate the maximum watts you can pull at any one time from a solar generator. For example, a 2,000-watt power inverter lets you pull up to that wattage in AC power.

For a solar generator, look for an inverter/charger with one or more AC outlets to accommodate your appliances. A 2,000-watt voltage inverter provides sufficient power to run most home appliances or RV appliances or power tools. Also, the best solar generators should use a pure sine wave inverter.

Most electronic devices such as Bluetooth speakers, smartphones, and laptop computers require a pure sine wave inverter to operate.

4) Solar Charge Controller

Most solar charge controllers come as an optional when you buy a solar generator. The role of the solar charge controller is to do two things.

• It is to convert the electricity received from the solar panels to the voltage required by the battery bank
• To regulate the flow of power from the solar to the battery bank so as not to damage the batteries. Solar generator’s batteries need to be treated carefully in terms of the rates at which they are charged and discharged so as not to damage them.

Do I always need a solar charge controller? Not always, but usually. Generally, there is no need for a solar charge controller with a small solar system like a solar powered generator. And most portable solar generators available on the market today have been optimized to be charged with portable solar panels.

But if you’re building a DIY solar power generator, you probably need a good solar charge controller. The best way to get full power out of solar panels is to use an MPPT solar charge controller.

Benefits of Solar Generators

1) Solar Generators are Silent

Unlike conventional generators, solar generators don’t run on fuel, so they have no moving parts. They aren’t as loud as gas generators. In fact, solar generators are virtually silent when in use.

2) Solar Generators are Zero-Emissions

One of the most obvious reasons to use a solar powered generator is that it is a “green” choice. It doesn’t harm the environment because it is fueled by the sun, and it does not run off of fossil fuels, like gas or diesel.

When fossil fuels are used to create electricity, they produce harmful gas emissions that affect the safety of air, water, and soil. In contrast, solar energy produces no pollution. The sun’s power offers an unlimited source of energy that does not strip the landscape or harm the ozone layer.

3) No Maintenance and Fuel Costs

As mentioned before, solar generators don’t require fuel to work, so they are maintenance free and operating costs are practically zero.

The only cost associated with the use of a solar generator is the initial investment. This means that despite the large initial investment, there are no additional costs associated with its use, so the cost is recovered quickly.

The best solar generators can cost you a few hundreds of dollars initially but will save thousands of dollars on fuel and maintenance costs after several years of use, depending on the size of the system.

4) Solar Generators are Portable

Most solar generators are portable. Today’s best portable solar generators are compact and lightweight but pack a serious amount of energy. Most portable solar generators are designed for camping sites, outdoor parties, boat life, and road trips.

A portable solar generator is also especially ideal backup power, in that they can be moved and stored when not in use. You will find a solar generator is extremely helpful in the event of power outage.

The most common choice is a solar generator with a capacity of 150-500Wh. These solar generators provide enough power for phones, tablets, laptops, mini refrigerators, portable evaporative coolers, CPAP machines, jump start a car, and keeping lights on for emergency use – but still small enough to pack for a trip.

5) A Solar Generator Works Without… the Sun

One of the most common misconceptions about solar power generators is that they cannot be used when it is cloudy or rainy outside. The solar generator actually stores power on the days when it is sunny, meaning that you will still be able to use the device in inclement weather.

Plus, a solar generator can be charged either from a wall outlet or from a solar panel. That means when it is cloudy or rainy outside and the solar panel is useless, you can recharge your solar generator with a wall outlet.

Finally, once the solar generator is up to full speed, it will run day and night without any input from you. During the day, the electricity charges the batteries and excess powers your equipment. At night, the batteries power your equipment. As long as there’s enough daylight every day, it just goes on and on.

5) Solar Generators Can Be Safely Used Indoor

Not only a solar generator perfect choice for camping and outdoor capacities, but it’s also safe to operate indoors.

Gas and diesel are expensive, dirty, and potentially toxic. Most gas/diesel generators are very loud, meaning that you don’t want to operate them nearby. Worse, the fumes that gas generators put out mean that you cannot operate them indoors, as it would be unsafe.

As a result, gas generators must be kept outside which means you’re going to be dealing with a mess of cables coming through windows and doors that you have to extend repeatedly to get to your devices. Further, if your power is out, typically it entails harsh conditions outdoors and heading outside is often not advised.

Contrary to gas/diesel generators, solar generators are 100% safe to operate indoors. That means no trips out into the harsh weather, and it means no running cables through windows and doors or trying to extend cables multiple times to reach far away appliances. Just set the solar generator down right next to it!

6) A Solar Generator the Best Emergency Backup for 12V Medical Equipment

Most medical devices, and all of those sold as portable devices, will work with the 12-volt power outlet.
You may want to consider a solar generator for your continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device, oxygen concentrator, infusion pump or nebulizer, which will allow you to go camping or otherwise live off the grid and still keep your medical device powered.

REVIEW: The Best Solar Generators to Buy

1. Goal Zero Yeti 400 Lithium Solar Generator Kit w/ Boulder 100 Briefcase Solar Panel Review – Best Portable Solar Generator Kit

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The Goal Zero Yeti 400 Lithium Solar Generator Kit with Boulder 100 Briefcase Solar Panel is our pick as the best solar generator kit for most people. This kit is perfect for basecamps, weekend camping trips, cabins and living off the grid in the wood.

This solar generator kit also a great choice for outdoor activities like hunting and fishing. And you can use this solar generator kit as an alternative to gasoline-powered generators, running small appliances, lights and even medical devices for a short time.

The Goal Zero Yeti 400 Lithium is an upgrade of the best-selling Goal Zero Yeti 400 Portable Power Stationwith a Lead-acid battery. The Lithium-ion battery in this version is smaller and lighter than a comparable lead-acid battery, so it’s easier to carry around but pumps out the same amount of power.

The Yeti 400 Lithium is also more powerful than its predecessors. It features increased surge allowances, advanced battery protection, user-replaceable lithium battery pack, and longer shelf life. With the 428 watt-hour capacity (39.6Ah and 10.8V), you can power lights, smartphones, tablets, laptops, TVs, CPAP machines, and even a mini-fridge.

And because the Yeti 400 produces pure sine wave output, it’s safe to be used with any electrical device you may have.

Fully charged, the Yeti 400 offers the following approximate power:

This solar generator has three USB ports, two AC outlets, and one 12V output. It has a user-friendly LCD screen featuring a runtime/recharge time estimator, as well as a battery level monitor and an output/input meter. You get real-time usage data at a quick glance.

One of the key features that makes Goal Zero solar generators the best portable solar generators on the market is that they have a user-replaceable battery. Whenever the included battery is dead, you can easily replace it by yourself. The replacement process only takes about 5 minutes and your solar generator will last for years. This is a money-saving feature!

Replacing a GoalZero Yeti 400 Battery | Video by Goal Zero

You can charge the Yeti 400 Lithium from the wall when you’re at home (fully recharges in about 7 hours), it can also recharge by connecting a compatible solar panel. If you are a heavy user using all the power in one day, we recommend using the Boulder 100 Briefcase Solar Panel. The Boulder 100 Briefcase will fully recharge the Yeti 400 Lithium in about 8-16 hours.

If you are a standard or light user and use about 30-40% of the power per day, you can use 1 Boulder 50 Solar Panel.

One thing we don’t like is that this newer lithium-ion solar generator cannot be charged using the 12v cigarette lighter outputs in the car. “DO NOT ATTEMPT TO CHARGE YOUR YETI LITHIUM FROM A 12V SOURCE” is what Goal Zero says on their website. As opposed to this, the older lead-acid Yeti 400 allows recharging from a car. We think this is for safety reasons, charging a lithium-ion battery is harder than charging an AGM lead Acid battery.

Why should I buy the Yeti 400 Lithium over the Yeti 400? Goal Zero Yeti 400 vs. Goal Zero Yeti 400 Lithium

The short answer is …we think the best solar generator should come with the lithium-ion battery, for 3 reasons:

• Compared to lead-acid batteries, Lithium has a longer lifespan and much higher efficiency.
• Lead-acid batteries should only be run to 50% depth of discharge, while lithium-ion batteries can handle deep discharges of 90% – 100%.
• Lithium batteries can run on a heavy load much better than lead-acid batteries. Their voltage will not change much under heavy load, and their total capacity will not fluctuate much under different loads.

Overall, if you’re looking for a medium-sized solar generator, the Goal Zero Yeti 400 lithium solar generator with Boulder 100 Briefcase Solar Panel is your best bet. The compact size and lithium power make it ideal for camping, tailgating, off-grid living, or using at home. We highly recommend this generator!

Note: When charging gear with the Yeti 400 Lithium solar generator, take note of the LCD Battery Display. If you plug in devices that have a high power requirement (a large refrigerator), the charge level of the Yeti can drop very quickly and you may not get exactly 400Wh of energy.

Cold temperatures (below freezing) can impact the Yeti’s battery capacity. If you’ll be living off-grid in sub-zero conditions, we recommend keeping your Yeti 400 Lithium in an insulated cooler, connected to a power source (solar panels), and charging your gear.

2. Jackery Explorer 240 Review – Best Solar Generator for Camping

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Don’t be fooled by its compact size, the Jackery Explorer 240 delivers enough power for any device you might have on your camping trip. Its lithium battery packs a 240Wh capacity to keep your phones, your laptops, your drones, and even your mini fridge charged for a short time.

Its lightweight and small designed, in a combination with the pure sine wave inverter and many other convenient features, plus a foldable, easy-to-carry 50W solar panel (sold separately) make the Jackery Explorer 240 one of the best solar generators for camping on the market today.

Fully charged, the Jackery Explorer 240 offers the following approximate power:

Weighing only 6.6 pounds and measuring 9.0 ” x 7.8” x 5.2”, the Jackery Explorer 240 is very easy to carry around as well as store. Built into its compact body are a DC Input, 2 USB Outputs, an AC Outlet, and a car port for true compatibility.

There are three ways to charge this solar powered generator: via wall outlets – 7 hours, via solar panels – 7.2 hours for Jackery 50W solar panel, and via 12V car cigarette lighter. You can easily see the charging process, along with Input Watts and Output Watts on the digital display panel. This display will also inform you of the total watts being used.

Jackery 50W Solar Panel is foldable, portable and comes with a nice protective cover and a cable to connect it to the Jackery Explorer 240. The panel is lightweight and folds up, locking itself with magnets. It is a sturdy and easy-to-pack panel that you can take with you on any camping trip without to much hassle.

Overall, the Jackery Explorer 240 is our pick as the best solar generator for camping, especially car camping. This is a great portable generator to take with you on a trip, camping in the woods, or anywhere you might need power.

3. Goal Zero Yeti 1400 Lithium Portable Power Station Review – Best Solar Generator for Home

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The Goal Zero Yeti 1400 Lithium provides an enormous amount of energy for its compact size. With a capacity of up to 1,425-Wh (132Ah x 10.8V), an inverter producing the similar continuous output (1500W), and nearly twice the surge capability (3000W), plus the built-in surge allowances and multistage protection for compatibility with a wide range of electronics, this solar generator can easily power many high-power devices in your home such as your refrigerator, 1/3HP sump pump, power tools, portable table saw, and much more. For this reason, the Yeti 1400 lithium earned our pick as the best solar generator for home.

In addition to its enormous amount of energy, the Yeti 1400 Lithium solar generator also features an easy-to-use, plug-and-play design. It provides an array of output options for any energy need. It has 4 USB outputs, 2 AC outputs, a 12V DC vehicle cigarette lighter-style socket, and a 6mm 12V DC port. You can charge up to 10 devices at once.

With an informative LCD display, it’s very easy to see how much power you’re using. The display also shows the real-time input and output and calculates your runtime.

What can the Yeti 1400 Lithium Power?

The Yeti 1400 Lithium is a WiFi Connected Solar Generator. Wifi connectivity allows you to control your generator remotely. You can turn ports on or off, check battery level, as well as power in and out. Unfortunately, the WiFi connectivity requires a router to work.

Like the Yeti 400 lithium, the lithium battery in this 1400W version is replaceable. That means you can replace the battery when it’s dead.

There are only two ways to charge the Yeti 1400 lithium: from an AC outlet or from the sun. Charge time is dependent on the size of the solar panel. The Boulder 200 Briefcase will fully recharge the Yeti 1400 Lithium in about 16 hours. Charging by AC power takes about 25 hours.

All in all, we were very impressed with the overall quality of the Goal Zero Yeti 400 lithium solar generator. It has an excellent design that looks nice and sturdy. It’s very powerful for its compact size. It can power all essential home appliances during a power outage. It’s safe to be used indoor and is virtually silent. This is one of the best solar generators for home use and we’d recommend it to those looking for an alternative to a 2000W gas generator.

Goal Zero Yeti 1400 Lithium – Home Edition | Video by Goal Zero

4. Suaoki S270 Lithium Portable Power Station Review – Best Backpack Solar Generator

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This 150Wh Suaoki Portable Power Station is amazingly compact. With the weight is only 2.9 lbs (1.3 kg) and size of 7.3 x 4.3 x 4.7 inch, this solar generator can easily fit in your backpack. The battery storage capacity of 150 watt-hour makes it ideal for charging devices such as laptops, phones, tablets, cameras, drones, Bluetooth speakers, CPAP machines, and more.

The Suaoki S270 is probably the most compact solar generator you can buy. This is a great power source to go traveling with, and if you need something that is small in size but big on impact.

This solar generator has most kinds of outputs you could ask for. It has 4 USB ports, one of them is powered by fast-charging QC3.0 technology, ensure that your phones, tablets and cameras stay charged throughout the day wherever you go.

2 AC outlets provide power for small home appliances (max 100W, peak power 150W), 4 DC ports and 1 car port for devices like in-car devices and more. With up to 12 versatile ports to pick from, this generator can keep all the necessary gear powered up anywhere.

Keep in mind that you can only run the devices under 100W with this unit.

All the things above make this Suaoki generator one of the best portable solar generators on the market. But that is not all. The Suaoki S270 features built-in MPPT solar charge controller.

MPPT charge controller optimizes the match between the solar panels and the battery, and helps to get the maximum amps into the battery. With MPPT charge controller inside, the generator can be recharged much more efficient than other models without MPPT, plus it can be recharged on even a cloudy day.

You can charge this portable solar generator by connecting to SUAOKI 60W or 100W solar panel. It can be fully charged in 8 hours by being plugged into a wall outlet. It can also be charged by plugging into your car 12V socket.

5. Rockpals RP250W Portable Solar Generator Review

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If you’re looking for a compact solar generator, but the 150Wh unit above is not enough for your power needs, this Rockpals RP250W Portable Solar Generator is for you.

This solar generator features a lithium-ion battery that has a capacity of up to 240Wh (250W rated, 300W surge) while weighing only 5.5-lbs. It has a travel-friendly design with an easy-carry handle. Its compact size is ideal for traveling and backpacking, keeping your devices charged on long road trips. Featuring pure sine wave output, the Rockpals RP250W is safe for charging up your tablets, iPhone, iPad, laptops, fans, TV, lights and CPAP machines.

What can the Rockpals RP250W power?

Designed for camping and traveling, the Rockpals RP250W features a variety of output options.

It has dual 120V AC (300 Watt Surge) worldwide outlet for powering your Laptop, Monitor, TV, Air Mattress, Lamp, Fan, Router, Modem, Christmas lights; 4 12V DC for car powered device under 60W, such as car vacuum, car refrigerator, car air fan, CPAP machine; 2 5V USB outputs for phones, iPad, GPS devices, mp3, cameras.

And like the Suaoki, the MPPT controller is built into the RP250W and it optimizes the source to maximize power, resulting in up to 40% faster charge times from solar panels. On the best sunlight condition, the generator can be recharged from zero to full in 9-10 hours with the Rockpals 60W solar panel. You can also connect this solar generator with the Renogy 100 Watts Solar Panel via DC 5.5*2.5mm to MC4 connector.

Rockpals RP250 will be fully charged in 8 hours by being plugged into the wall outlet.

In brief, this versatile portable energy source is great for traveling and weekend picnics. It’s light, convenient, and has an affordable price. If you’re looking for a solar generator for your next traveling trip, this is absolutely one of the best to buy.

6. Renogy Phoenix All-in-one Solar Kit Review – Best Solar Generator with Built-in Solar Panel

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The Renogy Phoenix is one of the coolest solar generators we’ve ever seen. Unlike most solar power generators on the market, this generator comes as an All-in-One portable suitcase style solar system. It has high-efficiency built-in 20W Monocrystalline solar panel and a built-in charge controller, a 16Ah lithium-ion battery bank, and an onboard inverter, along with multiple charging ports making it perfect for any outdoor activity.

Without external solar panels, the Renogy Phoenix is very versatile. It’s about the size of a briefcase (16.24 x 11.95 x 3.94 inches) when closed, weighs just 12.8 pounds, and opens up to present a pair of 10W monocrystalline solar panels to the sun for charging.

Two strong latches hold the unit closed when not being used for solar charging, and a large handle makes carrying it along quite easily. Although its size and weight aren’t necessarily conducive to backpacking trips, it’s perfect for car camping on the weekend and off-grid adventures.

We think this is also one of the best solar generators to buy if you sometimes go off-roading or fishing on the boat. The Phoenix is built in a sturdy ABS case, which appears to be rugged enough to take most normal bumps and jolts. The unit isn’t waterproof, but spring-loaded doors protect both the input and output port sections, which should keep out dust, dirt, and grime during transport, and the Phoenix has wide feet that keep it stable and upright when in the vertical ‘briefcase’ position.

The Phoenix generator features three ways to charge: AC Power, Car Power, and Solar Power. It takes approximately 15 hours to charge it to full with the built-in 20W solar panel, which seems quite slow. But the Phoenix is capable of expanding up to 100 watts with additional panels (up to 100W additional, for a total of 120W), which would speed up charging considerably, with a full charge taking just a few hours.

The Phoenix has an AC output (150W max continuous output),  4 USB ports (5V 2.4A), two 12V ports (3A), and a 12V cigarette socket. The lithium battery has a lifecycle of about 1500 charging cycles. It has a storage capacity of about 190 watt-hours. The unit has a built-in pure sine wave inverter, so it should play nicely with most, if not all, small AC appliances.

Overall, we really like the Renogy Phoenix, this is a great all in one solar system for outdoor adventurers and emergency preparedness. Renogy is a renewable energy company that is supplying some of the highest quality solar products on the market today. You can’t go wrong with their solar generators.

7. Renogy Lycan Powerbox Review – Best Solar Generator for RV and Off-Grid Living

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The Renogy Lycan Powerbox charges in 3 hours and produces 900 watt-hours of power, enough to run a full-size refrigerator for eight hours. It’s our pick as the best solar generator for RV and off-grid living, and for good reasons.

This unit is waterproof and it comes with multi-terrain wheels for easy transporting. The generator’s lithium-iron phosphate batteries are rated to last up to 2,000 cycles. 900 watt-hour of continuous power and various outputs and four 110V (1200W max) universal AC ports allow you to run and power many devices and appliances at once.

You can use this solar powered generator for your microwave, TV, laptop, coffee maker, and refrigerator. It’s safe to use indoors, and we think you’ll want to use it at night when camping in an RV campground. Fully charged, the Lycan Powerbox is enough energy for running all night.

The Powerbox has a 75Ah capacity battery, which takes about 7.5 hours to fully charge using house current, or about 9 hours with a single 100W solar panel (or a more optimal 3 hour charge time with 300W solar panels). We’d recommend you use the Renogy 100 Watts 12 Volts Monocrystalline Solar Panel for the highest efficiency.

Once charged, you can plug your devices directly into any of the three 5V USB ports, a 12V car charger socket, one of the two other 12V outlets, or one of the three 110V AC outlets, and have access to plenty of juice, whether for mobile devices or standard appliances.

The lithium battery in the Powerbox is interchangeable. It allows you to prepare a library of fully charged batteries for quick, hassle-free reloads. This feature is not only super convenient and energy efficient, but it could also potentially be a lifesaver in the event of a natural disaster or emergency.

Overall, the Renogy Lycan Powerbox is a very good choice for RV, travel trailer, and off-grid living. It could also be a good choice for job sites and remote areas.

How to Select the Best Solar Power Generator?

The Best Solar Panel for a Solar Generator

There are three types of solar photovoltaic technologies: Monocrystalline, Polycrystalline, and Thin Film.

1) Monocrystalline

Monocrystalline solar panels, such as the Renogy 100 Watts 12 Volts Monocrystalline Solar Panel, are the most efficient type (they produce more power per cell). They also are the most energy- and time-intensive to produce, so they tend to be the most expensive type. Their sunlight to electricity conversion efficiencies tend to fall in the range of 25 percent to 30 percent.

2) Polycrystalline

Polycrystalline solar panels, such as Renogy 100W Polycrystalline Photovoltaic PV Solar Panel, made up of many smaller crystals, cost less and provide a similar lifespan, but they deliver slightly lower efficiencies in the range of 13-22 percent. With these, you might need to cover a larger surface area to get the same output you would get with a monocrystalline solar array.

3) Thin-Film

Thin film solar panels are made from non-crystalline layers of semiconductor materials so thin that they are flexible. Thin film solar panel can be produced faster and is less expensive than crystalline cells, but it has a lower efficiency – in the range of 10-19 percent – so about twice the surface area is needed per watt of power.

Despite the lower efficiency, thin film solar panel can use diffuse sunlight better than crystalline cells, is less prone to overheating (good for warm climates), is more shade tolerant and may be more resistant to hail damage. That can help improve output when the solar orientation is not optimal. Thin film output tends to degrade faster than crystalline cells.

The Best Battery for a Solar Generator

A solar generator is also called a battery-powered generator. This means the battery is the most important component in a solar generator. Looking at the battery is one of the first steps when selecting a solar generator.

The amount of battery storage you need is based on your energy usage. Energy usage is measured in kilowatt hours over a period of time.

For example:

100 watts x 10 hours per day = 1kWh per day

Sizing your solar generator capacity:

Lead Acid sizing:

1kWh x 2 (for 50% depth of discharge) = 2kWh

Lithium sizing:

1kWh x 1.1 (for 90% depth of discharge) = 1.1kWh

After estimating energy usage we need to consider which type of battery will work best, as they have unique performance characteristics and are sized differently.

There are three main battery chemistries for solar power generators: Flooded Lead Acid batteries, Sealed Lead Acid (AGM, Gel) batteries, Lithium-ion batteries.

1) Lithium-ion Batteries

Lithium batteries are the most efficient type of battery, which means less power is wasted in the charge/discharge process. They also have a greater discharge depth (up to 90 percent or more) allowing you to fully utilize all of your battery capacity.

Lithium batteries are also lighter and more durable and have a longer lifespan than lead-acid batteries. Because of the better efficiency and deeper discharge depth, Lithium battery banks tend to be only 50-60% of the size of a comparable lead acid bank!

Using Lithium batteries for portable solar generators offers many advantages over older rechargeable technologies. As you can see, most of the best solar generators in our lineup use lithium batteries.

Lithium-ion batteries:

• Recommended
• Most expensive $ $ $ $
• Typical lifespan: 10+ years
• No maintenance
• Highest efficiency, faster charging, more usable capacity (deeper discharge depth)

2) Sealed Lead Acid Batteries (AGM, Gel)

Sealed lead acid batteries, such as the battery used in the older Goal Zero Yeti 400 portable generator, are less efficient than lithium batteries. They are partially sealed, but have vents in case gases are accidentally released for example by overcharging. And they are sensitive and need to be fully recharged every day or week, where Lithium batteries can stay at a partial charge without any adverse effect.

Sealed lead acid batteries can be turned upside down, so they are much safer than flooded lead-acid batteries.

When using sealed batteries and flooded batteries, you’ll notice it never discharges more than 80%. In fact, most manufacturers recommend a discharge depth of no greater than 50%.

Sealed lead-acid batteries:

• Safe to use
• More expensive $$
• Typical lifespan: 3-5 years
• No maintenance

3) Flooded Lead Acid Batteries

This type of battery is not recommended for solar power generators.

Flooded lead-acid batteries have the least cost per amp-hour of any of the choices. However, they require regular maintenance in the form of watering, equalizing charges and keeping the top and terminals clean.

Flooded lead-acid batteries are heavy and are less durable than lithium batteries when deep cycle. A full discharge causes strain and each discharge/charge cycle permanently robs the battery of a small amount of capacity. This loss is small while the battery is in good operating condition, but the fading increases once the performance drops to half the nominal capacity.

Charging flooded batteries are slow. The battery must always be stored at full state-of-charge. Low charge causes sulfation, a condition that robs the battery of performance.

Unlike Sealed batteries, flooded batteries can NOT be turned upside down, so they are not safe to be used for a solar generator.

Flooded lead-acid batteries:

• NOT recommended
• Lowest upfront cost $
• Typical lifespan: 5-7 years
• Requires maintenance – add distilled water and equalize charge on a monthly basis

Overall, the best battery for a solar power generator is the lithium battery. The AGM and Gel battery can also be used, but they much less efficient than the lithium battery. The traditional flooded lead-acidLifespan is not recommended.

How to Build a DIY Solar Generator?

If you’ve decided to build your own DIY portable solar generator, here are things you’ll want to know. There are quite a few articles about how to build a solar generator, and sometimes it’s too much information for the brain to absorb, so we’re going to keep this section a simple as possible.

#Step 1: Buy a Minn Kota Trolling Motor Power Center. This is a battery holder that can hold one battery (up to group 27). It has a couple 12-volt ports already wired in and ready to go. It also features built-in battery meter displays current “state of charge”.

#Step 2: Buy a deep cycle battery. We’d recommend a battery that has a capacity of at least 50W. If you’re looking for a lithium-ion battery, the Battle Born Batteries 100 Ah LiFePO4 Battery is our favorite option.

#Step 3: Buy a Solar panel. Please check out the previous section

#Step 4: Buy a solar charge controller. A charge controller keeps the battery from overcharging and there are many shapes and sizes.

• How to choose the best solar charge controller.

#Step 5: Buy a power inverter. An inverter to convert low volt DC to standard 120 volt AC power. The best solar generators should have at least a 1.5:1 usable watt-hours-to-inverter-rating ratio (i.e., 1500 watt/hrs to 1000 watt inverter).

• The best pure sine wave inverter and charger to buy

#Step 6: Buy a battery charger. If you want to charge your DIY solar generator from a 110V wall outlet, without an inverter/charger, you’ll need a battery charger. The best charger for deep cycle battery is a smart charger.

• Choosing the best deep cycle battery charger

#Step 7: Integrate Parts to the Minn Kota Trolling Motor Power Center. Commonly, charge controller, battery, inverter, charger, and other things come inside the box. Better place solar panels outside. Later, you could buy a bag to move the solar panels easily. See the diagram on how to do the wiring of a DIY portable solar generator.

You can build your own solar-powered generator, however, if you’re not handy or experienced with wiring electrical parts, you’re better off buying a pre-assembled solar generator.

The post The Best Solar Generator On the Market appeared first on Green Living Blog.

Well, there are many things need to be considered when it comes to selecting a power inverter but if you have enough money to spend for a pure sine wave inverter, the answer would be “Yes! It’s worth every penny”. The best pure sine wave inverters tend to incorporate very expensive, high power capable digital components. They not only help you to get the most out of battery bank, but also protect even the most sensitive electronics that you have. The result is your devices work safer and much more efficiently.

This guide will walk you through everything you should know before you buy a pure sine wave inverter for your RV, boat, truck, home backup system, or solar battery bank. It will help you find the one that best matches your needs. We also review some of the best pure sine wave inverters on the market that will help you narrow down your choices.

• Choosing the Best Solar Batteries for Your Solar Power Storage

Best Pure Sine Wave Inverters on the Market

Image	Pure Sine Wave Inverter	Running Watts	Voltages	Best For
	Magnum MS Series Inverter/Chargers	2kW to 4kW	12V, 24V, 48V	Home Backup, Solar, Off-Grid, RV, Marine
	AIMS Power Pure Sine Wave Inverter Chargers	600W to 12kW	12V, 24V, 48V	Home Backup, Solar, Off-Grid, RV, Marine, Car, Truck
	Xantrex Freedom SW Series 12V Inverter/Charger	2kW/3kW	12V	RV, Marine, Home Backup, Solar, Off-Grid
	Go Power! GP-SW3000-12 3000-Watt Pure Sine Wave Inverter	3kW	12V	Trucks, RV, Marine, Home Backup, Solar Off-Grid
	Samlex America PST Series Pure Sine Wave Inverter	300W to 3kW	12V, 24V, 48V	Car, Truck, RV, Home Backup, Solar, Marine
	Outback Power FXR 120V Series Inverter Charger	2kW to 3600W	12V, 24V, 48V	Large Solar Off-Grid/Grid-tie Systems, Home Backup
	Xantrex PROWatt SW inverter	540W, 900W, 1800W	12V	Commercial truck, RV, Marine, Small Solar PV Systems
	VertaMax PURE SINE WAVE Inverters	1.5kW/3kW	12V	Car, Solar, Off-Grid, RV, Back Up Power

Here are Our Top Picks

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One of the most advanced pure sine wave inverters/chargers for home backup and off-grid systems is the MS Series Inverter/Charger from Magnum Energy. The pure sine wave output of this inverter is very clean and highly recommended for computer equipment, televisions, stereo amplifiers and sensitive radio equipment. It’s available for 12V, 24V, and 48V systems in various sizes (2000W to 4000W) to meet the demands of a wide range of electrical systems.

Like other Magnum inverter chargers, the MS Series pure sine wave inverter includes five-stage smart battery chargers for charging batteries from any 120V AC source such as a generator, AC utility power or 120V AC shore power hookup. Best of all, when installed in a solar PV system, this inverter will work perfectly with most MPPT charge controllers on the market. The result is more energy and more run time on cloudy days. For more details, read our detailed reviews below.

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The AIMS Power Pure Sine Wave Inverter Charger is one of the best pure sine wave inverter chargers for you. It’s very popular today not only because of its reliability but also the ability to support a wide range of applications, battery types, and you can easily find a model that fits the size of your system. It is available in 12V, 24V, and 48V from 600W to 12kW.  The most common sizes are 2000W and 3000W at 12V, which are being used the most for RV deep cycle batteries.

Like the Magnum inverter, the AIMS pure sine wave inverter charger is an all-in-one device. The inverter converts DC power to AC power, while also automatically charging a battery bank when the city or generator power is available. When connected to AC power, the unit charges and maintains the required battery bank. As soon as the AC power is disconnected or city power is lost, the inverter switches to the DC battery source.

What’s A Pure Sine Wave Inverter?

Finding the best pure sine wave inverter for you is not easy, especially if you don’t understand what a pure sine wave inverter is.

Power inverters are devices which can convert electrical energy of DC form into that of AC. They come in all shapes and sizes, from low power functions such as powering a car radio to that of backing up a building in case of power outage. Inverters can come in many different varieties, differing in price, power, efficiency and purpose. The purpose of a DC/AC power inverter is typically to take DC power supplied by a battery (12 volts) or a group of batteries (24 volts or 48 volts), and transform it into a 120 volt AC power source operating at 60 Hz, emulating the power available at an ordinary household electrical outlet.

On the market today there are two different types of power inverters, modified sine wave and pure sine wave inverters. These inverters differ in their outputs, providing varying levels of efficiency and distortion that can affect electronic devices in different ways.

Pure Sine Wave Inverters

Pure sine wave inverters are able to simulate precisely the AC power that is delivered by the utility, or may be better. They are used to operate sensitive electronic devices that require high-quality waveform with little harmonic distortion. In addition, they have high surge capacity which means they are able to exceed their rated wattage for a limited time. This enables power motors to start easily which can draw up to seven times their rated wattage during startup. Virtually any electronic device will operate with the output from a pure sine wave inverter.

Usually pure sine wave inverters are more expensive than modified sine wave inverters due to the added circuitry. The best pure sine wave inverters could cost about 3-4 times as much as a modified sine wave inverter of the same power. For example, the AIMS 2000W Pure Sine Inverter and the AIMS 2000W Modified Sine Wave Inverter.

This cost, however, is made up for in its ability to provide power to all AC electronic devices, allow inductive loads to run faster and quieter, and reduce the audible and electric noise in audio equipment, TV’s and fluorescent lights.

Modified Sine Wave Inverters

A modified sine wave is similar to a square wave but instead has a “stepping” look to it that relates more in shape to a sine wave. The waveform is easy to produce because it is just the product of switching between 3 values at set frequencies, thereby leaving out the more complicated circuitry needed for a pure sine wave.

The modified sine wave inverter provides a cheap and easy solution for powering devices that need AC power. It does have some drawbacks as not all devices work properly on a modified sine wave. And even some equipment may seem to be working fine, but may run hotter than with a pure sine wave inverter and reduce the life of it.

Pure Sine Wave vs. Modified Sine Wave – Why Pure Sine Wave is Better?

Some electronic devices may pick up inverter noise while operating with modified sine waveform. Using fluorescent lighting can be problematic when using modified sine wave inverters. Most of the equipment on the market is designed for use with pure sine wave inverters. Some appliances, such as refrigerators, air compressors, water pumps, clocks or speed motors will not produce full output if they don’t use pure sine wave current, moreover they may damage the equipment. Some loads, such as light dimmers will not work without pure sine wave at all.

Pure sine wave inverters, on the other hand, will work properly with any electronic device that requires sensitive calibration. They also can reach a higher voltage level, which causes the load to perform better than modified sine wave inverters can provide. Plus, one of the biggest advantages of pure sine wave over modified sine wave is that it consumes much less energy. A modified sine wave inverter can consume up to 30% more energy than with a pure sine wave inverter. This is very important to a small power system.

How to Size Your Pure Sine Wave Inverter

The best pure sine wave inverters for you should have enough capacity to power the devices you have. If you only need to use one device at a time, then that’s the only one you’ll need to look at. The situation does get more complicated as you add more devices, but it’s still a relatively simple calculation.

You will have to figure out how much wattage your devices require. This information is usually printed somewhere on electronic devices, although it may show voltage and amperage ratings instead. If you are able to find the specific wattages for your devices, you’ll want to add them together to get a bare minimum figure. This number will be the smallest pure sine wave inverter that could possibly suit your needs, so it’s a good idea to add between 10 and 20 percent on top and then buy a pure sine wave inverter that size or larger.

The other factor to keep in mind when determining the necessary size of a pure sine wave inverter is the difference between Running Watts and Starting Watts.

Starting Watts is the wattage that a pure sine wave inverter can supply for short periods of time when the demand spikes, while Running Watts is the limit for normal operation. If your devices draw a combined total of 1000 watts, then you need to buy a pure sine wave inverter that has a running watts rating of 1000 watts. A pure sine wave inverter that is rated at 1000W starting and 500W running just won’t cut it in that situation.

Starting/Running Watts for Common Devices

Bear in mind that if you’re going to be using your pure sine wave inverter for an RV air conditioner, always consider a model that has a running watts rating of at least 2000W and a starting watts rating of at least 3000W.

Some of The Best Pure Sine Wave Inverters For You

1. AIMS Power 12V Pure Sine Wave Inverter Charger – Best Pure Sine Wave Inverter for Home Backup

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One of the most popular pure sine wave inverters for home backup systems is the AIMS Power 12V Pure Sine Wave Inverter Charger. This inverter is available in various sizes (from 600W to 4000W) to meet the demand of electrical system in your home. If you’re running a window air conditioner, the 4000W model would be an excellent choice. This inverter is also a great choice for RVs, cars, trucks, renewable solar, off-grid, and marine applications (as it has conformal-coated (marine-coated) boards, making it marine-grade and resistant to dust and/or water vapor that may travel through the air and could otherwise be damaging to the unit).

The Aims Power pure sine wave inverter is an all-in-one inverter. Not only does it take DC power and convert it to AC, but it can also automatically charge a battery bank and automatically switch when connected to AC power. This inverter has 2 inputs, DC and AC. When connected to AC power, the unit will pass the AC power through it (generator, shore power, outlets), as well as charge and maintain the battery bank. As soon as the AC power is disconnected, the generator is shut off or city power is lost, the inverter will automatically switch to the DC battery source.

One of the features that makes it the best pure sine wave inverters for home electricity backup is an average 10 millisecond transfer time with the built-in transfer switch. This feature is awesome as it makes the inverter a nearly uninterrupted power supply (UPS) when combined with a battery bank. This pure sine wave inverter also features a battery-type selector, which helps user regulate the voltage going into the battery bank. This capability can be a big money-saver since treating the battery bank properly will maximize its lifespan.

Must-have accessories:

• AIMS Power REMOTELF Remote Switch with LCD Monitoring Screen

2. Xantrex Freedom SW Series 3000 Watt Inverter/Charger – Best Pure Sine Wave Inverter for RV, Boat

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When it comes to electrical power, RVers need reliable devices that work easily – exactly when they should. Let’s face it, they’ve got more to think about than whether their electrical system is working: like taking the perfect panoramic shot, fishing, hiking, or watching the game highlights in the parking lot of their favorite sports arena. In the RV industry, Xantrex is one of the most reliable names. And the Xantrex Freedom SW Series 3000 Watt Inverter/Charger is one of the best pure sine wave inverters that Xantrex offers to RVers.

The Freedom SW 3000W inverter/charger is packed with features and it is one of the most advanced pure sine wave inverters on the market today. It features premium sine wave output with high surge capability and temperature compensated, power factor corrected, multi-stage charging to meet power needs of demanding loads including inductive motor loads. It provides 3000 watts of utility grade AC power to operate commonly used AC-powered electronics such as plasma television sets, microwaves, entertainment systems, computers, printers, power tools, refrigerators and much more. This is a great choice for RVs with an air conditioner. With a powerful 150A built-in smart charger, it will charge your battery bank very fast.

Video: Xantrex Freedom SW Inverter/Chargers

We’ve found that this is one of the best pure sine wave inverter/chargers for charging your battery bank with a generator. It features a “Generator Support Mode” which allows the inverter to step in to assist the generator when AC loads exceed the capacity. An optional automatic generator start feature protects batteries by starting up the generator to charge the batteries while continuing to supply AC. With an optional remote ON/OFF switch, you can link the inverter to the ignition switch to prevent unwanted battery discharge when the alternator isn’t providing power.

• Read more: What’s the quietest generator for RV?

Multi-stage charging is the best way to restore a battery’s charge and extend battery life. The Freedom SW 3000 pure sine wave inverter/charger is power factor corrected for maximum efficiency and uses a 3 stage charging system (bulk, absorption, and float) plus a manual equalize feature to charge AGM, flooded, and Gel batteries. The equalize feature helps to retain maximum battery capacity by removing crystals that form on the plates. Using the optional system control panel, you will be able to program charging rates to match manufacturer’s specifications. The charger also compensates for battery temperature using the included sensor.

Overall, this is definitely one of the best pure sine wave inverter chargers you can buy. It’s a perfect inverter for the boat, home solar PV system, and backup system as well. If you’re looking for a lower capacity pure sine wave inverter/charger, we would highly recommend you take a look at the Xantrex Freedom SW 2000W.

Must-have accessories:

• Xanbus System Control Panel for Xantrex Freedom SW

3. Magnum MS Series Inverter/Charger – Best Pure Sine Wave Inverter for Off-Grid System

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The Magnum MS Series Inverter/Charger is a pure sine wave inverter designed specifically for the most demanding off-grid applications. Besides off-grid systems, it is also very popular for RV’s and marine use.

This pure sine wave inverter and power-factor corrected charger provides clean, reliable inverter power with a total harmonic distortion of less than 5%. Flash programming allows easy memory upgrades. The transfer relay shifts power automatically in 16 milliseconds whenever shore power is lost, preventing crashes from damaging sensitive electronics. The inverter/charger keeps its cool, with dual variable-speed brushless cooling fans.

Like other Magnum inverter/chargers, the MS Series includes five-stage smart battery chargers (with Bulk, Absorption, Float, Equalization and Battery Saver-which maintains your batteries in storage without drying them out). Ruggedly marinized for corrosion protection in the saltwater environment, the MS Series includes conformal coated circuit boards, an aluminum powder-coated chassis and top and stainless fasteners. Available for 12V, 24V, and 48V systems in 2000, 2800 and 4000-watt sizes to meet the demands of a wide range of electrical systems.

Overall, if you’re looking for the best pure sine wave inverter for your off-grid system, or electrical system in your RV or boat, you could stop here. Even though the inverter is limited to 4000W, but as more energy is required, you can connect multiple inverters in parallel to get more capacity. You do not need an additional remote control unit to operate the power system, but if you want remote monitoring and control capability, an optional remote control can be located up to 150′ away from the power center.

Must-have accessories:

• MAGNUM ME-RC50 Remote Panel

4. Go Power! GP-SW3000-12 3000-Watt Pure Sine Wave Inverter

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If you’re looking for a high end, high capacity pure sine-wave inverter, we’d highly recommend you give the Go Power! GP-SW3000-12 3000-Watt Pure Sine Wave Inverter a serious look. This is one of the highest quality pure sine wave inverters in the industry. It supports AC devices rated up to 3000-Watt delivering 3000-Watt of continuous AC power with a high surge capacity for devices that require up to 6000-Watt to start.

The high capacity, compact, easy-to-use and easy-to-install design of the GP-SW3000 make it the best pure sine wave inverter for full-time RVers, long-haul trucks, utility vehicles, work trucks, and marine applications.

5. Samlex America PST Series Pure Sine Wave Inverter

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Founded in 1991, Samlex America is one of the most trusted names in the inverter industry. The company operates factories and assembly facilities in Europe, Asia, and North America. Samlex offers inverters from 120 to 3,500 watts, along with a variety of battery chargers and communications converters.

The Samlex America PST Series is the best pure sine wave inverter that Samlex offers to the market. This inverter is available in many different sizes, from 300W to 3000W and capable of working with systems ranging from 12V to 48V in input range. So you can easily find the size that meets your power needs. All of them feature powerful microprocessors, and a built-in transfer switch capable of driving highly reactive and capacitive loads.

The Samlex America PST series is best for temporary or intermittent loads. If you plan to use devices for extended periods or want to power devices such as a water pump, air compressor or power tools, you may want to consider the more efficient SA series of inverters from Samlex.

If you’re looking for an inverter/charger from Samlex America, consider the Samlex Evolution, or EVO for short.

Must-have accessories:

• Samlex RC-15A (Remote Control for PST-600 and PST-1000 Inverters)
• Samlex RC-300 (Remote Control for PST-1500, PST-2000 and PST-3000 Inverters)

6. Outback Power FXR Series Inverter Charger – Best Pure Sine Wave Inverter for Large Solar Off-Grid/Grid-tie Systems

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Outback is an American company founded in 2001 and headquartered in Arlington, WA, and is specialized in the design, production and sales of mobile and marine solutions, power backup systems and renewable energy systems. In particular, Outback specializes in the manufacturing of solar products suitable for off-grid applications. Their products have been used in extreme conditions for example in Alaska and Africa, but also in rural areas in Latin America and southern California.

The Outback Power FXR Series Inverter/Charger is the most recent generation of Outback’s pure sine wave inverters, which can be used in grid-connected, off-grid, or even hybrid applications. This is definitely one of the best pure sine wave inverters for you.

Both off-grid and grid-tied functionality in one unit:

• Seven programmable modes, including GridZero and Support Mode and built-in networked communications
• Advanced Battery Charging (ABC) with expanded charging voltages and time parameters, enabling system designers to accommodate the specific charging profiles and algorithms of new and emerging energy storage technologies including Lithium Ion, Aqueous Ion and Flow chemistry batteries
• Easy system upgradability in the field

The Outback FXR pure sine wave inverter/chargers can be paired with a MATE3s remote to add OPTICS RE to remotely monitor and control system performance from any location. Available in power ranges from 2000W-3600W, multiple units may be stacked and connected with other OutBack Power electronics for more seamless system integration and the ability to function in a wide variety of applications, and system sizes.

Up to nine inverters can be combined in a 3-phase system with the 12V, 24V or 48V models, and up to 36kW in a grid-tied 24V or 48V system. The exclusive modular system architecture means that increased power output is just an additional FXR inverter/charger away.

Must-have accessories:

• OutBack Power MATE2 Digital Display System Control Flush Mount

The post The Best Pure Sine Wave Inverters To Buy appeared first on Green Living Blog.

While there are many benefits from having a battery storage system to store the energy your solar panels produce, delving into the world of solar batteries can get confusing, particularly since they are expensive and are difficult to change after your solar storage system is built.

Solar batteries come in many different types and sizes. Most people are familiar with the 12 volts battery system – this is simplest and most standard battery system that is used in vehicles, RVs, and boats, but in the world of solar energy it should be your choice only for a small simple battery system. By reading this guide you’ll understand why.

This guide will show you how to choose the best solar batteries for your home solar panels (small and off-grid system) and how to make the most of every amp-hour of them. You can also find out more about how to wire multiple solar batteries together in the system to make them more efficient.

At the bottom of this guide are some tips that will help you charge your batteries faster and ensure maximum service life. This is a long guide, so if you don’t have time to read and learn, here are our picks of the best solar batteries on the market that you should buy.

Image	Solar Battery	Type	Capacity
	VMAXTANKS 12-Volt 125Ah AGM Deep Cycle Battery	AGM	125Ah @ 12V
	Trojan L16RE-2V Renewable Energy 2V Deep Cycle Battery 1110Ah	Flooded lead-acid	1110 Ah @ 2V
	Trojan T105-RE 6V Deep Cycle Battery 225Ah	Flooded lead-acid	225Ah @ 6V
	Renogy Deep Cycle Pure Gel Battery 12V 200Ah	Gel	200Ah @ 12V
	Universal UB121000 12v 100AH Deep Cycle AGM Battery	AGM	100Ah @ 12V
	Battle Born Batteries 100Ah LiFePO4 12-volt Deep Cycle Battery	Lithium-ion (LiFePO4)	100Ah @ 12V

What are Solar Batteries?

Solar batteries are simply deep cycle batteries that provide energy storage for solar, wind and other renewable energy systems. They are a key component in an off-grid solar energy system. In other words, solar batteries are the heart of a solar PV system.

Even if you’re installing solar panels on the roof of your house or your RV that are already tied to the utility grid, you’ll still need solar batteries if you are trying to use power in the event of an outage. Without solar batteries, you can only use power at the time solar panels produce it.

Solar batteries work by storing the DC energy being produced by your solar panels during the day and make it available when the sun isn’t shining. In most cases, you have to use a power inverter with your batteries to convert DC electricity into 120 volt or 230 volts AC for use in the home.

Overcharging is the enemy of any deep cycle battery, your solar batteries also need a solar charge controller to manage the power from solar panels going into them. A solar charge controller ensures that the batteries are not overcharged during the day, and that the power doesn’t run backward to the solar panels overnight and drain the batteries.

Click to show larger image

Types of Solar Batteries

Which type of solar batteries is best? For many years, solar storage systems mainly relied on lead-acid batteries. They were individually designed and often involved significant installation time and cost. Solar batteries on offer today are packaged as large single or small modular units, can be flooded lead-acid, sealed lead-acid (AGM or Gel cell), lithium-ion or several other chemistries, can store much greater amounts of energy in a smaller volume.

In most cases, lithium-ion batteries are the best option for a solar panel system, though this type of deep cycle batteries is still relatively expensive and can cost you a lot more than other types. Flooded lead-acid batteries are the cheapest option but they have a short cycle life (500 or less) and require a bit of maintenance. To choose the best solar battery type, it is important to understand the advantages and disadvantages of each type, its upfront cost and especially to make sense of what is covered under the warranty.

Flooded Lead-Acid Batteries

Until recently the most common chemistry used for home solar batteries, especially in off-grid locations has been the flooded lead-acid battery, also known as “wet cells”. It is similar to multiple car batteries strung together to provide more capacity.

Their main advantages are proven reliability, safety, and fairly low upfront cost. The main disadvantages are bulk and corrosion. They also require regular maintenance, need to be kept upright to prevent leakage and must be kept in a ventilated environment. For this reason, many homeowners are switching over AGM batteries in which you don’t have to care about the needed maintenance.

Personally we think flooded lead-acid batteries are the best solar batteries for those who enjoy monitoring and maintaining their system, while AGM batteries are best for those who have an “out of sight, out of mind” attitude.

The best flooded lead-acid batteries for home solar PV systems are Trojan’s deep-cycle lead-acid batteries. Trojan Battery Company is the world’s leading manufacturer of deep-cycle batteries and their deep-cycle flooded lead-acid batteries are one of the most widely used solar batteries for large off-grid solar PV systems.

Trojan Deep Cycle Lead-Acid Batteries | See on Amazon

AGM Batteries

Absorbent Glass Mat (AGM) technology became popular in the early 1980s as a sealed lead acid battery for military aircraft, vehicles, and UPS to reduce weight and improve reliability. The AGM battery is a type of lead-acid battery in which the electrolyte is absorbed into a fiberglass mat.

You will find that the plates in an AGM battery are flat like flooded lead-acid batteries, or they may be wound into a tight spiral (like Optima batteries). The internal resistance of AGM batteries is lower than flooded cells; they can handle higher temperatures and self-discharge more slowly than other types of batteries.

In some respects, AGM batteries are similar to Gel batteries. AGM cells are leak-proof due to the captive electrolyte and do not need much ventilation under normal conditions. However, unlike gel batteries, AGM cells use the same charging voltage as flooded batteries and are more compatible with solar electricity systems. This means they can be used in combination with flooded cells, though this setup is not recommended as it may degrade battery life.

Other advantages of AGM batteries are that they are non-hazardous, relatively lightweight, resistant to cold temperature, not inclined to heat up (low internal resistance) and able to hold a static charge for a long time. We also like the fact that AGM batteries have much higher life-cycle but only cost a bit more expensive than flooded lead-acid batteries. Overall, it seems AGM batteries are a perfect option for off-grid solar power systems.

Our favorite AGM batteries for solar PV systems is the Vmaxtanks 12V 125Ah AGM Deep Cycle Battery. This is one of the best solar battery on the market. 8 of these batteries wire in 24 volts systems will give you a capacity of 500 amp-hours.

Vmaxtanks 12V 125Ah AGM Deep Cycle Battery | See on Amazon

Gel Batteries

Gel lead-acid batteries are specialized in deep-cycle applications. They use fumed silica as a thickening agent for the electrolyte, which makes the cells more sturdy. The viscous electrolyte prevents the cell from leaking when damaged. Gel batteries also ventless and discharge at a slightly higher rate than flooded cells.

Gel batteries actually predated the AGM type but are losing market share to the AGM’s. This due to Gel batteries have a few serious downsides that make them a sub-par option in solar storage. First, they tend to have very narrow charging profiles and can be damaged easily by charging them inappropriately.

The low charging voltage makes it very easy to accidentally overcharge the battery and destroy it. This is particularly true in solar electricity systems, where electricity production is variable. In addition, gel cells are more expensive than flooded cells and do not provide much better amp-hour capacity.

However, like AGM batteries, gel batteries don’t need much maintenance and also resistant to vibration and shock. They are excellent for extreme conditions because they have higher boiling points. They also have a higher life-cycle than AGM batteries and flooded batteries. If Gel batteries are charged with a proper solar charge controller, such as Outback Flexmax 80 FM80 MPPT or Midnite Solar Classic 150 MPPT Charge Controller, you can expect it to provide a very good performance.

One of the best and least expensive Gel cells for solar PV systems is the Renogy Deep Cycle Pure Gel Battery 12V 200Ah. This solar battery is designed particularly for off-grid solar power systems. Wiring eight batteries in a 48-volt battery system will give you a capacity of 19.2 kWh (400Ah at 48V).

Renogy Deep Cycle Pure Gel Battery 12V 200Ah | See on Amazon

Lithium-ion Batteries

Solar batteries for home solar panels are increasingly focused on lithium-based chemistry which have seen a steady decrease in cost in recent years. Lithium-ion batteries are also widely used in cordless power tools such as cordless impact wrenches, cordless air compressors and more. These batteries are small and light in comparison to their capacity. They can be efficiently charged and have relatively long lifespans.

Not all lithium-ion batteries are the same. The best type of lithium-ion batteries for your solar panels is Lithium Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4). LiFePO4 batteries are totally SAFE, won’t burn or explode, stable and maintenance-free for 15 to 20 years. It offers good electrochemical performance with low resistance. This is made possible with nano-scale phosphate cathode material. The key benefits are high current rating and long cycle life, besides good thermal stability, enhanced safety and tolerance if abused.

The biggest advantage of lithium-ion batteries is its extremely high life-cycle (3000-5000 cycles) and its high charge and discharge efficiencies which help harvest more energy from your solar panels. They also lose less capacity when idle, which is useful in solar installations where energy is only used occasionally.

With these reasons, lithium-ion batteries are a good choice for any solar PV system, small or large, off-grid or grid-tied. The biggest disadvantage is its high price tag. A lithium-ion solar battery system can cost 4 times as much as a flooded solar battery system.

One of the best and least expensive lithium-ion batteries for solar PV system is the Battle Born Batteries 100-Ah LiFePO4 12 volt Deep Cycle Battery. This battery can be used in 12V, 24V, 36V or 48V systems. At only 29 lbs, it packs the power of a 140 lb lead acid battery and lasts 10 times longer.

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Flooded, AGM, Gel and Lithium-ion Batteries – Which is better?

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12 Volts, 24 Volts, or 48 Volts?

What’s the best voltage for your battery bank? Because battery voltage is difficult to change after your energy storage system is built, so that is the MUST-ASK questions before buying your solar batteries. 12 volts is simplest and most standard, used in cars, RVs, and boats. If you want a small simple power system, 12 volts will probably be easiest. Today, most solar storage systems are 24V or 48V since these systems have some technical advantages over the 12V system.

Higher DC voltages means lower cost. Connecting fewer modules in series (a PV source circuit) means fewer conductors and connections, reduced voltage drop, fewer fuses or breakers, and fewer or smaller combiner boxes. Higher voltage also means lower current for the same amount of power, which allows using smaller-gauge wire that costs less.

• 2,000 Watt = 166 amp @ 12 Volt
• 2,000 Watt = 83 amp @ 24 Volt
• 2,000 Watt = 41.5 amp @ 48 Volt

In addition, most customers seem to want more power over the years. A 12V DC system with a tiny 12V power inverter is difficult if not impossible to upgrade/upsize.

So if you think you will have more than 500 watts of solar modules, consider 24 volts. If you plan on living off-the-grid completely, the 48-volt battery system is the best choice. Bear in mind that a good solar charge controller is relatively expensive, so consider using models that support 24V and 48V battery systems from the first, such as Midnite Solar Classic 150 MPPT Charge Controller – this charge controller supports up to 150V DC input.

Midnite Solar Classic 150 MPPT Charge Controller

Often the 2V deep cycle batteries offer the largest amount of storage; however, you may need up to 24 of these huge deep cycle batteries, if your system is 48 volts. You can use a group of eight high-capacity 6V golf cart batteries then wire them in series to get a 48V solar battery system.

Best Solar Batteries for Off-Grid Solar PV Systems & Reviews

1. VMAXTANKS 12-Volt 125Ah AGM Deep Cycle Battery

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If you’re building your off-grid solar power system, we highly recommend VMAXTANKS 12-Volt 125Ah AGM Deep Cycle Battery. This heavy-duty deep cycle AGM battery is one of the best solar batteries on the market. It’s also one of the most popular deep cycle batteries that are used in the solar power industry.

The VMAXTANKS 12-Volt 125Ah AGM is available on Amazon and is an excellent battery for the price. The amp ratings and performance match many of the super-premium brand batteries, but at half the price. These batteries are excellent for cold weather and you can feel confident knowing your solar batteries will always be charged, even when the temperature is below freezing. You can expect the battery to last about 8 to 10 years without any needed maintenance.

2. Trojan L16RE-2V Renewable Energy 2V Deep Cycle Battery 1110Ah

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When it comes to building a large home off-grid solar PV system with flooded batteries, the Trojan L16RE-2V Renewable Energy 2V Deep Cycle Batteries are some of the best solar batteries currently available. These batteries are the best choice for those who want to run large appliances, such as refrigerators or air conditioners, off battery power.

Trojan batteries one of the best brands. These all pass rigorous quality tests, so you will never have a problem with your batteries. The terminals are free of corrosion and the reservoir is quite large, so the charge holds for years. They do require regular maintenance but this kind of task is very easy to do. Trojan’s batteries are designed to have a battery life of at least 10-years and comes with an 18-month warranty. This battery can operate in extreme condition such as high/low temperatures, remote locations and other challenging conditions.

The L16RE is available in 2-volt and 6-volt sizes. This 2V version offers the largest amount of storage (1110Ah). If your system is 48V, you’ll need up to 24 of these 2-volt deep cycle batteries wiring in series. A group of 24 batteries means you’ll have a battery system with a capacity of 48V x 1110Ah = 53.2 kWh – this is a huge energy storage system.

3. Trojan T105-RE 6V Deep Cycle Battery 225Ah – Best Buy

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If you’re looking to purchase more than 4 of Trojan’s flooded batteries for your solar storage system, consider the Trojan T105-RE 6V 225Ah batteries. These are very good high-capacity flooded solar batteries for the price. If you buy a pack of these batteries on Amazon, you might have an excellent storage system at less than $1000. This is awesome for those on a budget but want to get reliable solar deep cycle batteries for their off-grid solar power system.

With proper charging and watering, you could expect 8 years easily. This is essentially the Golf cart sized battery, but this is no golf cart battery it has been totally redesigned for renewable energy applications. It has a 5-year warranty. In a 48 Volt series connected string, these batteries provide an excellent power to any kind of household appliance.

4. Renogy Deep Cycle Pure Gel Battery 12V 200Ah

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Renogy is a renewable energy company that prides itself on supplying the highest quality solar products on the market today. Renogy’s deep-cycle pure gel batteries are considered the best solar batteries on the market, specially designed for off-grid solar power systems. It’ll give you maximum storage for any solar setup and can deliver up to 1000 cycles at 50% DOD.

This battery is a pure Gel battery. So it’s maintenance free battery thanks to the gel-like material inside the battery making it completely sealed. It’s equipped with PE compound separator construction, which ensures that gel electrolyte is distributed evenly throughout the inner battery and ensures the best evenness of all parts of the battery.

Valve regulated sealed construction and triplex strengthened sealing on terminals and posts prevent electrolyte leakage, and guarantee the airtight and liquid state of batteries in normal operation and prevent external air from entering battery inner. Because of the use of lead-calcium grids alloy, Renogy batteries have low self-discharge and reliable performance. In-room temperature, self-discharge ratio per month of Renogy battery is about 3% of the battery capacity.

However, these solar batteries are Gel batteries so they are typically expensive and are sensitive to overcharging. But if you install them in a system that has an MPPT charge controller everything would work fine.

Best Solar Batteries for Small/Medium Solar Power Systems

5. Universal UB121000 12v 100AH Deep Cycle AGM Battery

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Universal Battery is a leader in competitively priced sealed absorbent glass mat (AGM) and gel technology. The Universal UB121000 12v 100AH is a decent battery. However, the short 12-month warranty leaves more to be desired, especially for the price. That being said, the battery can handle a wide range of temperatures, can be mounted in any position, requires no maintenance and may be transported by Air or Ground without any special handling regulations.

6. Battle Born Batteries 100 Ah LiFePO4 12 volt Deep Cycle Battery

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LiFePO4 lithium-ion batteries are the safest, strongest and most reliable solar deep cycle batteries available. They outperform and outlast all other types of deep cycle batteries. The Battle Born Batteries 100Ah LiFePO4 12-volt Deep Cycle Battery is 100% MADE IN THE USA and is one of the best solar batteries on the market. It weighs only 29lbs and is made from 100% safe, nontoxic materials. It’s designed to last 3000 cycles up to 100% depth of discharge, at which point the battery will still hold 75 to 80% of its energy capacity.

This battery can handle extreme temperatures, have very long life spans and can be recharged very fast. Battle Born Batteries also offers an excellent warranty, so you can get a full replacement if the battery fails within the first three years.

Battle Born Batteries 100Ah LiFePO4 12-volt Deep Cycle Battery | Video by Battle Born Batteries

How to size your solar battery bank?

How much power do your solar batteries need will depends on 2 main things:

1. How much energy will your appliance(s) use off the battery bank?
2. Days of Autonomy

The first piece of information that you need to know is how much energy (in kWh) you are consuming daily or weekly. The easiest way to know your energy consumption is to look at your monthly energy bill and estimate your daily consumption. You could also calculate your energy consumption by knowing which energy resources you use.

For example, if a TV of 90 W would consume 90Wh in one hour. A refrigerator with 700W power necessity would consume 1400 Wh in two hours, and so on. The most accurate way of determining the energy consumption of your appliances is using the Kill-A-Watt meter.

However, you are never really able to take all the power of the battery. As once the voltage drops below requirements, your solar batteries should be charged up before you hurt them. There is a simple rule of thumb for this:

• Lead acid batteries will give you around 50% of their rated power.
• AGM and Gel batteries will give you around 50 – 75% of their rated power
• Li-ion batteries will give you around 80 – 90% of their rated power.

Choosing an efficient solar inverter is very important. Let’s say you have an 85% efficient inverter, and your AC consumption is 850 Wh. That means your solar batteries should be at least 1000 Wh in order to cover you’re your loses due to the inverter.

The second part of sizing your solar batteries is the potential days of autonomy. This is the number of days where no power generation is possible due to clouds or rain, despite the fact that you continue to consume energy. On a normal day, you could count on 5 hours of sun, however, you’d have to consume energy for 24 hours. Two-days of autonomy means, your batteries would be large enough to supply continuous energy for full two days without charging. Three to five days of autonomy is accepted as normal battery sizing.

Best Solar Charge Controller for Your Solar Batteries

One of the key components of a solar power system is the charge controller. A solar charge controller manages the power going into the battery bank from the solar array. It ensures that the deep cycle batteries are not overcharged during the day, and that the power doesn’t run backwards to the solar panels overnight and drain the batteries.

A solar charge controller is available in two different technologies, PWM and MPPT. We generally recommend homeowners using MPPT charger controller, this type of solar charge controllers is more expensive than PWM, but it’s worth it to pay the extra money as an MPPT charge controller can boost system performance by up to 30%.

An MPPT charge controller will adjust its input voltage to harvest the maximum power from the solar array and then transform this power to supply the varying voltage requirement, of the battery plus load. Thus, it essentially decouples the array and battery voltages so that there can be, for example, a 12-volt battery on one side of the MPPT charge controller and a large number of cells wired in series to produce 48 volts on the other.

Here is how we select MPPT charge controller:

If one module in your 48V system produces 10 amps and two parallel strings of modules are used, your system will produce 20 amps at 48 volts. Certain factors such as light reflection or cloud effect at irregular intervals can increase current levels. This is quite common. Therefore we increase the charge controller amperage by a margin of 25% bringing our minimum controller amperage to 25. We migrate over to our catalog and we find a 30A charge controller, which is a very close match.

What’s the best MPPT charge controller for my solar batteries?

These are some of the best MPPT charge controllers for solar batteries that we recommend, but almost any modern controller will work fine.

Best for Off-Grid systems

1. Outback Flexmax 80 FM80 MPPT 80 AMP Solar Charge Controller
2. Midnite Solar Classic 150 Charge Controller 150VDC Input MPPT
3. Morningstar’s TriStar TS-60 MPPT Charge Controller
4. Victron BlueSolar MPPT 150/60-Tr Charge Controller

Best for Small system

1. Renogy Rover 20 Amp 12V/24V DC Input MPPT Solar Charge Controller
2. EPEVER 30A MPPT Solar Charge Controller
3. SolarEpic MPPT 40A Solar Charge Controller

Best Solar Inverter for Your Solar Batteries

To get the most out of your solar batteries, it’s important to choose an efficient solar inverter. There are 2 types of inverters: pure sine wave and modified sine wave. Pure sine wave is always the most efficient inverter for any solar power system. It’s also needed if you’re going to run your laptop, smart TV, refrigerator off the solar battery bank.

• Best Pure Sine Wave Inverters – Reviews & Guide

You should choose an inverter that can convert the DC voltage that matches the voltage of your battery bank. In the USA most residential and business use is 120V single phase. Homes will often use 240V split phase for larger loads such as a clothes dryer, well pump, and electric stove. So your inverter should also support both 120V and 240V output.

Additionally, you must determine what your maximum wattage draw will be if all of your appliances that may be on at the same time, are on. If you have a 900W water pump, a 1000W refrigerator, and a 100W TV, you need to add the wattages together to get at least a 2000W inverter.

If your solar power system is an off-grid system, we highly recommend Magnum Energy’s American-made inverters. These are the best off-grid solar inverters available.

If you’re on the budget, consider some cheaper pure sine wave inverters from AIMS Power, Go Power, Power Bright, or Renogy. These inverters are quite good for the price.

Charging Solar Batteries with a Generator

• Read more: how to choose the best charger for your deep cycle battery?

There are going to be many times when the sun isn’t shining and your batteries are low. The only choice you might have is to charge your batteries using a portable generator.

Most generators have a 12V DC output built into them, however, trying to charge a battery using this is almost a waste of time. The 12V DC output is usually limited to around 8 amps the voltage can fluctuate and is not suited to effectively charge batteries.

Honda EU2000i Portable generator

The MOST EFFICIENT way to charge your solar batteries without solar panels is to connect a Smart Charger to the 120V/230V AC outlet of your generator. A smart charger uses 3 or more stages to charge the battery bank exactly the way it wants to be charged depending on its state. By upsizing the smart charger you can charge the battery at a much faster rate than the generator’s standard built-in unit.

NOCO Genius G26000 12V/24V 26A Pro Series UltraSafe Smart Battery Charger | See on Amazon)

How to Connect your Solar Batteries Correctly

There are several ways to wire multiple solar batteries to achieve the correct battery voltage or capacity for a particular DC installation. Wiring multiple solar batteries together as one big bank, rather than having individual banks makes them more efficient and ensures maximum service life.

Wiring solar batteries together in Parallel

Wiring batteries together in parallel has the effect of doubling capacity while keeping the voltage the same. For example: 4 of Vmaxtanks 12V 125Ah batteries wired in parallel will increase capacity to 125Ah x 4 = 500Ah but still only 12V. And the system capacity is 12V x 500Ah = 6 kWh.

Wiring solar batteries together in Series

Wiring solar batteries together in series will increase the voltage while keeping the amp hour capacity the same. For example: if you have 12 of Trojan L16RE-2V 1110Ah batteries wired in series will give you 2V x 12 = 24V, but still only 1110Ah. And the system capacity is 24V x 1110Ah = 26.64 kWh.

Wiring solar batteries together in “Series + Parallel”

Most solar battery systems are a combination of series and parallel connections to archive both a higher system voltage and capacity. For example: You have eight of Trojan T105-RE 6V 225Ah batteries and you want to have a 24V solar storage system. Wiring them in series/parallel will give you 24V with 450Ah capacity.

The post The Best Solar Batteries for Your Solar Power System appeared first on Green Living Blog.

The deep cycle battery is the most important component in any RV’s electrical system. It provides the juice to run all of your RV’s appliances and electronic devices when there is no 110-volt power supply. Without power from deep cycle batteries, there is no way to pump water into your RV’s fresh water tank, no way to run your electric fan or refrigerator during the hot summer months, and  also no way to run your electric space heater to keep your RV warm over the winter. After all, everything in your RV needs electricity to function and the deep cycle batteries system is your RV’s heart and soul.

Yet despite that, many owners do not really understand the importance of choosing deep cycle batteries for their RV and how to maintain them properly. Even when the best deep cycle batteries are installed in your RV, you may not get the most out of them if you don’t know how to connect multiple batteries together to achieve the correct battery voltage or capacity for RV applications. That’s why we’re here to help. By reading the information below you are already setting yourself apart in a way that will help make your RV experiences in the future run smooth as a whistle.

In this guide, we’ll give you everything you should know to choose the best deep cycle batteries for your RV. We’ll give you our in-depth reviews on some of the best RV batteries on the market that you should buy. Then we’ll share some tips on how to connect your batteries together as one big battery bank to make them more efficient and ensure maximum service life. And finally, some MUST-KNOW battery charging tips from experts that you won’t find anywhere else.

Ok, let’s get started! But if you don’t have time to read, here are our top picks:

Image	RV Battery	6V or 12V	Type	Capacity
	VMAXTANKS 6 Volt 225Ah AGM Battery	6V Golf Cart	AGM	225Ah
	Trojan T-105 Flooded Deep Cycle Battery	6V Golf Cart	Flooded	225Ah
	Battle Born 100Ah LiFePO4 12 volt Deep Cycle Battery	12V	LiFePO4 Lithium-ion	100Ah
	Lifeline GPL-4CT 6-Volt 220Ah AGM Deep Cycle Battery	6V Golf Cart	AGM	220Ah
	XS-Power-D3100	12V	AGM	110Ah
	Optima BlueTop Starting and Deep Cycle Battery	12V	AGM	--

What’s an RV Deep Cycle Battery?

In today’s RVs everything relies on deep cycle batteries, from portable coffee machines or small water pumps to large appliances such as microwaves, TVs, air conditioners, and refrigerators. They are designed to provide a steady amount of current over a long period. The deep cycle battery differs from the starting battery which is designed to deliver high bursts of energy for short periods to crank the starter of the engine (car, truck, boat, etc).

An RV deep cycle battery is designed to discharge between 50% and 70% of its capacity, depending on the manufacturer and the construction of the battery. When the batteries are recharged, energy is re-deposited into the bank, and the process, or cycle, starts over. Compared to a starting battery, a deep cycle battery has much thicker plates and they are solid, not a sponge. These thicker plates have less surface area and thus less of the instant power that a starting battery needs. They are designed to be discharged down to 20% of their maximum charge repetitively. The thicker lead plates allow for this as they are much sturdier than their sponge counterparts.

Deep cycle batteries are also used to power small vehicles, such as electric wheelchairs, golf carts, and marine applications. For marine applications where both engine starting and light deep cycling are required, dual-purpose batteries are often used, commonly known as deep cycle marine batteries. This battery type is neither a starting nor a deep cycle battery but rather a compromise between the two so it performs both functions adequately.

We generally advise that you choose only true deep cycle batteries for your RV to get the best performance and battery life, though there is a dual-purpose battery model that works very well in any RV application and even solar power system – the Optima BlueTop Starting and Deep Cycle Battery. This is one of the top-rated RV deep cycle batteries on the market, and for good reasons.

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Types of RV Deep Cycle Batteries

Deep cycle RV batteries are made of three different common types: Flooded Lead Acid, Gel Sealed, and Sealed Absorbed Glass Mat (AGM). There is no one best battery for all RV applications. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages. Flooded or “wet” batteries are the most cost-efficient and most widely used batteries in RVs and solar systems, but they require regular maintenance and need to be used in a vented location. AGM batteries are costlier than gel or flooded cells but last considerably longer and are maintenance-free.

The BEST RV battery is not always the most expensive, but it’s seldom the cheapest either. Understanding and comparing are the keys to know which is the right one for you.

I. Flooded Lead Acid Deep Cycle Batteries

Flooded lead acid batteries, also known as wet cells, are based on the lead-acid chemistry discovered in 1859 by Gaston Planté, and are also the most popular type of deep cycle batteries in use today for RV applications. The term “flooded” is used because this type of battery contains a quantity of electrolyte fluid so that the plates are completely submerged.

Flooded batteries consist of lead and lead-oxide plates surrounded by an electrolyte, a mixture of sulfuric acid (H2SO4) and water (H2O). Taking electricity out of the battery (discharging) causes the plates to change to lead sulfate, and dilutes the electrolyte. Putting electricity into the battery (charging) forces the sulfate coating off the plates and back into the electrolyte, making it more concentrated, and the plates return to lead and lead oxide.

Hydrogen and oxygen gas are released during charging as some of the water molecules in the electrolyte break apart from electrolysis. Vented wet cells allow the gases to escape into the atmosphere, unlike gel and AGM batteries, which recombine the gases and re-introduce them to the system. Hydrogen is an explosive gas, so battery boxes and compartments must be vented to let the gas escape safely.

Personally we don’t think flooded lead-acid batteries are the best deep cycle batteries for an RV. They do require regular maintenance, off-season charging, must be installed in an upright position and don’t tolerate high amounts of vibration. But this type of deep cycle batteries really has a lot going for it.

Flooded batteries handle overcharging better than gel and AGM deep cycle batteries, because of this hydrogen venting and because they are not sealed like the other types. They usually have the longest life and the lowest cost per amp-hour of any of the other choices. They require regular maintenance in the form of watering, equalizing charges and keeping the terminals clean but if you spend an hour per year to take care of them, everything would be fine. Their initial cost is lower than similarly sized AGM or gel batteries, and MUCH lower than the new type of lithium batteries.

Flooded batteries average about 20% loss. For every 100 Watt-hours you put into the battery, you can pull about 80 Watt-hours back out. But even with a fair loss in efficiency and the need for eventual replacement, this is the best energy storage solution for the price. A typical flooded lead-acid battery can be expected to last 5 to 7 years if you maintain it regularly but some cheap units might fail only after 3 years of regular use. You should buy your batteries from some American trusted names such as Trojan, Interstate Batteries, and Rolls Surrette.

Trojan Battery Company is the world’s leading manufacturer of deep-cycle batteries and their deep-cycle flooded batteries are the best batteries for RVs today. The Trojan Golf Cart 6-Volt Flooded Lead-Acid Battery is the most widely used deep cycle battery by professional RVers. With this battery you can expect it to last up to 10 to 15 years and even more if you maintain the battery every year.

See on AmazonOur Review

—Why use golf cart 6-volt batteries for RV’s 12-volt system? Read on to find out.—

II. AGM Deep Cycle RV Batteries

AGM deep cycle batteries are perfect for most applications. These batteries are the best deep cycle batteries for trolling motors, boats, Harley Davidsons, trucks and recreational vehicles. They are nearly always better, stronger, tougher and less maintenance than flooded batteries.

Absorbent Glass Mat (AGM) technology became popular in the early 1980s as a sealed lead acid battery for military aircraft, vehicles and UPS to reduce weight and improve reliability. The AGM battery is a type of lead-acid battery in which the electrolyte is absorbed into a fiberglass mat. You will find that the plates in an AGM battery are flat like flooded lead-acid batteries, or they may be wound into a tight spiral (like Optima batteries). The internal resistance of AGM batteries is lower than flooded cells; they can handle higher temperatures and self-discharge more slowly than other types of batteries.

AGM deep cycle batteries differ from flooded batteries in that the electrolyte is held in the glass mats, as opposed to freely flooding the plates. Very thin glass fibers are woven into a mat to increase surface area enough to hold sufficient electrolyte on the cells for their lifetime. The fibers that compose the fine glass mat do not absorb nor are they affected by the acidic electrolyte. These mats are wrung out 2–5% after being soaked in acids, prior to manufacturing completion and sealing.

How AGM Batteries Work | Video By Johnson Controls

Pros & Cons of AGM Batteries

AGM deep cycle batteries are a great choice for vehicles with large power demands like RVs & motorhomes and for those who seek greater reliability and longer life in RV deep cycle batteries.

One of the biggest advantages of an AGM deep cycle battery is that it’s maintenance-free. While a flooded lead-acid battery requires regular maintenance and needs a topping charge every six months to prevent the buildup of sulfation, an AGM deep cycle battery is less prone to sulfation and can sit in storage for longer before a charge becomes necessary. Even after 12 months sitting idle as long as it has been cared for, it can be recharged and put back into full service without any major damage. For those reasons, AGM deep cycle batteries are the best choice if you don’t want to do the needed maintenance.

Other leading advantages of AGM are a charge that is up to FIVE times faster than the flooded version. AGM offers a depth-of-discharge of 80 percent; the flooded, on the other hand, is specified at 50 percent DoD to attain the same cycle life. The AGM battery is also able to be installed in any orientation and stand up well to very LOW TEMPERATURES. So if you often use your RV & motorhome during the winter months, AGM deep cycle batteries are a perfect choice.

However, AGM batteries are sensitive to overcharging. The charging of AGM deep cycle marine batteries is different to that of the car battery. The voltage required to charge them is greater, therefore you will need to replace the original car battery charger if it is not programmable to charge AGM batteries.

• Read More: How to choose the best charger for my deep cycle battery?

What’s the best AGM deep cycle battery for an RV?

There are some of the best AGM batteries for the RV that we think you should buy. Vmaxtanks 6-Volt AGM Deep Cycle Battery, Lifeline AGM Deep Cycle Battery and Optima BlueTop. Our favorite option is the Vmaxtanks 6-Volt 225Ah AGM Deep Cycle Battery – this is recommended for accessory-heavy vehicles, or for vehicles running a lot of battery-draining electronics like RVs & trucks.

See on AmazonOur Review

III. Deep Cycle Gel Batteries

Gel batteries actually predated the AGM type but are losing market share to the AGM’s. They have many of the same advantages over flooded lead-acid batteries including ease of transportation, as the AGM type, except the gelled electrolyte in these batteries is highly viscous and recombination of the gases generated while charging, occurs at a much slower rate. This means that they typically have to be charged slower than either flooded lead acid or AGM batteries.

If charged at too high a rate, gas pockets form on the plates and force the gelled electrolyte away from the plates, decreasing the capacity until the gas finds its way to the top of the battery and is recombined with the electrolyte. Generally speaking, Gel batteries tend to have narrow charging profiles and can be damaged easily by charging them inappropriately.

Because of that, Gel batteries are NOT the best RV batteries and shouldn’t be used if you don’t have considerable experiences of working with batteries and battery chargers.

But compared to AGM batteries, GEL batteries are ideal in tougher situations where there are extreme temperatures and vibrations. A Gel battery is also much more expensive than an AGM battery of the same capacity. Gel batteries are more common used in solar power applications.

If GEL batteries are your choice, we’d recommend the Renogy’s deep cycle batteries (6V-12V, 100Ah-260Ah). These are the best option to purchase at this time because these GEL batteries have a very good quality at a very competitive price.

Flooded, AGM & Gel Battery Comparisons

IV. Lithium-ion Deep Cycle Batteries

There are more than a few good reasons Lithium far exceeds the performance of Flooded Lead Acid & AGM batteries. A lightweight option which offers charging efficiency and between 3000-5000 life cycles makes Lithium the best choice for a better battery. Showing high performance in both extreme heat and cold, Lithium is about 2.5 times more efficient at low temperatures and operates safely up to 149*F. Furthermore, versatile mounting allows for your battery to be installed in any direction with the same consistent energy flow throughout the duration of use. Despite higher upfront costs of Lithium deep cycle batteries, the savings are clear when considering the true lifetime value.

How does a lithium-ion battery work?

Lithium-ion batteries- How do they work | Video by BASF

There are several types of lithium-ion, but you should only use Lithium Iron Phosphate(LiFePO4) for your RV. It’s totally SAFE, won’t burn or explode, stable and maintenance-free for 15 to 20 years. It offers good electrochemical performance with low resistance. This is made possible with nano-scale phosphate cathode material. The key benefits are high current rating and long cycle life, besides good thermal stability, enhanced safety and tolerance if abused.

LiFePO4 is more tolerant to full charge conditions and is less stressed than other lithium-ion systems if kept at high voltage for a prolonged time. LiFePO4 deep cycle batteries have a very constant discharge voltage. Voltage stays close to 3.2 V during discharge until the cell is exhausted. This allows the cell to deliver virtually full power until it is discharged. And it can greatly simplify or even eliminate the need for voltage regulation circuitry.

Because of the nominal 3.2-Volt output, four cells can be placed in series for a nominal voltage of 12.8 V. This comes close to the nominal voltage of six-cell AGM or flooded lead-acid batteries. And, along with the good safety characteristics of LiFePO4 batteries, this makes LiFePO4 a good potential replacement for lead-acid batteries in RV applications.

What’s the best Lithium-ion deep cycle battery for the money?

One of the best RV lithium batteries for the money is the Battle Born 100Ah LiFePO4 12-volt Deep Cycle Battery. We can tell you that this battery is AMAZING. It’s very light, only 29 lbs, can be wired in series up to 48V and unlimited in parallel, and designed and assembled in Nevada, USA.

See on AmazonOur Review

6-Volt Golf Cart OR 12-Volt Deep Cycle Battery

What is the best RV battery size: 6 volts or 12 volts? Some say two 6 volt batteries are better than two 12 volt batteries, how do you think?

A 6-volt battery for RV is actually a “golf cart” battery. 6V golf cart batteries are one of the most versatile batteries readily available for either a small home, cabin or for someone just starting to live off the grid. If you think these 6-volt batteries have no place in the world of RV with the 12-volt storage system, then think again. They are a perfect choice for your RV and can be much more cost-effective than 12-volt batteries in the long run.

To explain it in cost-effective detail, first let’s look at the inside of each battery size. Both contain 2.1-volt cells. Three cells in the 6-volt battery and six cells in the 12-volt battery. The 6-volt battery has more space per cell than the 12-volt hybrid so the plates are thicker and will last longer. The 6 volt will be able to discharge deeper than any 12-volt deep cycle. In fact, most 12-volt deep cycle RV batteries are not true deep cycle, they are a hybrid between a deep cycle and a starting battery but most 6-volt golf cart batteries are.

In addition, if you have only two batteries (6V batteries in series or 12V batteries in parallel), placing them in series provides a more effective charging capability and assuming that the physical size of the two batteries is about the same, you will have roughly the same amount of power capacity in watts with either configuration. But series cells will all charge to full capacity even if one is not as good condition as the others, while parallel cells will only charge to the level of the weakest cell. Based on our own experience, two 6 volt batteries will give you lot higher amperage than one 12V battery.

What’s the best 6 Volt Battery for RV?

Here are 4 of the best 6V deep cycle batteries for RV that you should buy:

• VMAXTANKS 6 Volt 225Ah AGM Battery (Recommended)
• Trojan 6 Volt Flooded Deep Cycle Battery
• Lifeline Marine AGM Battery – GPL-4CT
• Amstron GC2 6V AGM Golf Cart, Marine, RV Battery

How to charge a 6-volt Golf Cart battery?

The voltage required to charge a 6-volt battery is lower than that of a 12-volt battery, therefore you will need to replace the original 12V battery charger if it is not programmable to charge 6V batteries. One of the best 6-volt battery chargers is the NOCO Genius G3500 6V/12V 3.5A UltraSafe Smart Battery Charger.

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This RV battery charger is designed to charge 6V and 12V lead-acid and lithium-ion batteries up to 40Ah. It charges 2x faster than ordinary battery chargers, can repair damaged batteries and remain safely connected 24/7

Review: The Best RV Deep Cycle Batteries to Buy

1. VMAXTANKS 6 Volt 225Ah AGM Battery | Recommended

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If you’re choosing high-capacity deep cycle batteries for dry camping, the VMAXTANKS 6 Volt 225Ah AGM Battery may be what you want. It’s the best 6-volt golf cart AGM deep cycle battery currently available. While you can survive with just a few cheap flooded lead-acid batteries, you will enjoy the road less traveled more comfortably with VMAXTANKS. We recommend a minimum of 6 VMAXTANKS batteries if you plan on using almost everything in your RV with the battery.

As for the amp hours, when you connect two of 6-volt batteries in series to get 12 volts, the voltage adds and the amp hours remain the same. So six of 225Ah 6V batteries in series/parallel configuration to make a 12-volt bank would give you 675Ah (3 x 225Ah) of which 500Ah would be available for use before you hurt them.

2. Trojan 6-Volt T-105 225Ah Flooded Deep Cycle Battery

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Trojan invented the golf cart battery back in 1952, and ever since then has been making quality batteries that outshine their competition. The T-105 6V golf cart deep cycle battery is Trojan’s flagship line and is a clean, reliable power source for golf carts, electric vehicles, RVs, marine, or anything mobile. This is one of the most popular RV deep cycle batteries and is trusted by many long-time RVers.

The Trojan T-105 features Trojan’s historically-proven engineering with T2 Technology, an advanced battery technology for maximum sustained performance, longer life and increased total energy. T2 Technology helps the battery increasing both sustained capacity and total overall ampere-hours, resulting in more operating power for your application. It’s a key reason why Trojan batteries consistently outperform the competition.

Trojan combines a thicker internal grid with their robust Maxguard T2 separator and high-density paste to create an exceptional battery that outperforms its competitors. Their advanced battery technology results in a longer battery life with lower maintenance costs, making it a great option for RVs that have a solar PV system.

The most important characteristic to consider when purchasing a new deep-cycle battery for an RV is cycle life. Trojan T-105 batteries are good for 1200 cycles at 50% DOD and 800 cycle at 80% DOD – longer than almost any other flooded deep cycle battery in the industry. So you can probably expect your RV battery life to be about 10 years or even more.

3. Battle Born 100Ah LiFePO4 12 volt Deep Cycle Battery

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LiFePO4 lithium-ion batteries are the Safest, Strongest and most Reliable RV batteries on the planet. They outperform and outlast all other types of deep cycle batteries. The Battle Born Batteries 100Ah LiFePO4 12-volt Deep Cycle Battery is 100% MADE IN THE USA and is one of the best RV lithium-ion batteries on the market. It weighs only 29lbs and is made from 100% safe, nontoxic materials. It’s designed to last 3000 cycles up to 100% depth of discharge, at which point the battery will still hold 75 to 80% of its energy capacity.

Battle Born LiFePO4 Deep Cycle Battery | Video by Battle Born Batteries

For the amp hours, when you connect two of 12-volt batteries in parallel, the amp hours add and the voltage remains the same. So 4 of these 100Ah 12V lithium-ion batteries in parallel configuration to make a 12-volt bank would give you 400Ah (4 x 100Ah) of which 90-100% would be available for usage.

4. Lifeline GPL-4CT 6-Volt 220Ah AGM Deep Cycle Battery

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Installing Lifeline GPL-4CT 6-volt AGM Deep Cycle Batteries in your RV means exceptional running time and more recharges than you’d get out of a traditional battery. It’s perfect for RVs with creature comforts that tend to drain batteries quickly. On top of providing outstanding vibration resistance, the Lifeline GPL-4CT efficient power delivery and faster recharge time mean you’ll spend less time worrying about your battery. This means more time for fun.

Lifeline GPL-4CT 6V AGM batteries are hand-made in the USA (according to the company). They are high-quality products that are readily available nationwide and come with a good 5-year warranty. Most RVers rated it the top-of-the-line AGM batteries, but it’s slightly more expensive than others of the same capacity.

Lifeline Batteries are manufactured in West Covina, California by the Concorde Battery Corporation – a US family owned and operated company. The Lifeline Battery technology is a direct spin-off from Concorde’s industry-leading aerospace battery lines. All of these batteries satisfy the rigorous demands from many branches of the US Military and a host of industrial and private sector applications. Therefore, Lifeline GPL-4CT AGM batteries are a perfect choice if you’re looking for a strong and reliable power source for your RV.

What’s the Best Charger for RV Batteries?

Charging RV batteries is a relatively complex subject for those who don’t have any knowledge about the battery. The most basic charging system is a “Converter” that converts 120V AC to typically 13.2V DC for the 12V DC systems in the rig. A converter is designed to provide lots of 12 VDC for various systems but is not a good battery charger. All the 12V DC systems in your RV are designed to operate satisfactorily on DC voltages between 10.5V to 15V. A converter provides 40 amps or more for these systems, but can only charge batteries at 3 to 5 amps. So if the only charging device you have is a converter, it can take many hours to recharge a depleted battery.

The best battery charger for your RV deep cycle batteries is microprocessor-controlled chargers, also known as “SMART CHARGERS”. These chargers are designed to charge lead acid and other types of batteries based on computer-generated algorithms. Simply put, the charger collects information from the battery and adjusts the charge current and voltage based on this information. This allows the battery to be charged quickly, correctly, and completely when using a smart charger.

The fastest and most reliable smart charger for RV deep cycle batteries currently available is the NoCo Genius UltraSafe Smart Battery Charger. These battery chargers are available in many different sizes and voltages: 6V, 12V, 24V and 1 bank, 2 banks or 4 banks.

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NoCo chargers are waterproof, shock and vibration resistant rugged design can be mounted directly onto a variety of applications, including RVs, boats, trolling motor, as well as, a full range of electric vehicles and industrial equipment. They monitor battery activity of flooded, gel, AGM and lithium-ion batteries without the worry of overcharging. And this’s one of the most advanced charging systems designed for improved battery performance and longevity.

Installing Battery Monitor in Your RV

Installing a battery monitor might be the best investment you’ve ever made in your RV. It shows charge state, voltage level, usage, predicted usage time left etc. The controller in this monitor calculates the amount of current being put into the battery bank while charging and taken out during discharging and thus calculate the charge state of the battery.

The best battery monitor is the Victron BMV-700. This is the latest Amp Hour Meter from Victron Energy. It keeps track of current flowing in and out of a battery bank and uses a sophisticated algorithm to read out the state-of-charge of the battery in percentage remaining and amp hours remaining. It also displays Volts and Amps, time to go, and Consumed Energy and keeps track of Historic Data including Battery Efficiency, Average Discharge, Deepest Discharge, Number of Cycles, Overvoltage, and Undervoltage Alarms.

Here is Victron’s instruction to connect the BMV-700 battery monitor:

How to connect the BMV-700 battery monitor | Video by Victron Energy

Charging RV Deep Cycle Battery with Solar Panels

A solar charging system is not complete without a charge controller. The charge controller is designed to do two primary things within an RV solar power system: optimize the charging of your RV deep cycle batteries by the solar panels and prevent electricity from the batteries from going through the solar panels when there is no sun.

• Read more: The ultimate guide to choosing the best batteries for solar power system

The best type of charge controller for the RV solar system is the maximum power point tracking (MPPT). This is an advanced charge controller that tracks power by measuring the voltage and adjusting the current to get maximum power transfer with prevailing light conditions. Some low-cost charge controllers on the market only produce an output voltage when sufficient light is available. With a diminishing light source, the charge controller simply turns off and resumes when sufficient levels of light are restored. Most of these devices cannot utilize fringe power present at dawn and dusk.

These are some of the best MPPT charge controllers for RV that we recommend, but almost any modern controller will work fine. Exact model will depend on application and system size, amperage and voltage.

• Outback Flexmax 80 FM80 MPPT Charge Controller
• MidNite Solar Classic 150 MPPT Charge Controller
• Morningstar’s TriStar TS-60 MPPT Charge Controller
• Victron BlueSolar MPPT 150/60-Tr Charge Controller

Charging RV Deep Cycle Battery with a Generator

• Read More: What’s the best quiet RV generator on the market?
• Read More: Quietest portable Generators for Camping & Tailgating – Noise/Decibel Comparison

Using a generator is the fastest way to charge your batteries when dry camping. Most generators have a 12V DC output built into them, however, trying to charge a battery using this is almost a waste of time. The 12V DC output is usually limited to around 8 amps the voltage can fluctuate and is not suited to effectively charge batteries.

Honda EU2000I Generator

The FASTEST way to charge your RV batteries is to connect a Smart Charger to the 120V AC outlet of your generator. A smart charger uses 3 or more stages to charge the battery bank exactly the way it wants to be charged depending on its state. By upsizing the smart charger you can charge the battery at a much faster rate than the generator’s standard built-in unit.

For example, if all you want to do when using a generator is to recharge the house batteries, you could use a portable 500 watt generator powering a 40 amp multi-stage charger (here we have 40 amp at 13.6 VDC), such as Xantrex TRUECharge2 12VDC 40A Battery Charger, and run it a few hours per day when the noise does not bother people. Obviously, with a 2,000-watt generator and a 125 amp charger, such as MAGNUM 3000W Inverter/125 Amp charger, it will take much less time to recharge the house battery system.

If you want to use these high-amp 12VDC battery chargers to charge 6V golf cart batteries, connect two batteries in series as one big bank.

The post Choosing the Best Deep Cycle Batteries For Your RV appeared first on Green Living Blog.

Oxygen levels are increased by supplementing wind and wave action, adding plants to water and exposing water to purified oxygen. But you most likely know that nature may not be providing enough to keep everything healthy and in balance. When oxygen levels in the water drop, fish will begin gasping at the surface of the water to take some air at the surface, they will likely swim less and eat less. Eventually, the problem will get worse and swift action should be taken.

You know that your pond needs more oxygen in the water and you have to find out the way to do that. You may think that adding more aquatic plants underwater will add more oxygen to the water. The problem is: plants provide oxygen during the daylight, but at night they will get oxygen and add more CO2 to the water. So adding more aquatic plants isn’t a wise choice.

Using a pond aerator is the better choice for your fish and your environment. By simply adding an aeration pump you can greatly increase the gas exchange with the water. It also reduces the need for chemicals to combat the many problems caused by low oxygen, muck and high nutrients. Pond aerators oxygenate your pond, helping all biological processes and create a more stable environment, resulting in healthier fish and plants. Aeration is also very important during winter months in colder climates, as aeration helps to keep a small hole open in the surface of the pond to aid in degassing.

If you’re ready to add an aeration pump to your pond, we created the buying guide below just for you. In this buying guide, you will get a basic understanding or aeration and know which type of pond aerator is the best unit for your pond or lake.

Image	Product Name	Rating
Best Single Swing Gate Openers
	Airmax PondAir 2 Aeration Kits	A
	Aquascape Pond Air 2 Aeration Kit	A
	Airmax KoiAir1 Water Garden Aeration Kit	A+
	Danner 04580 Pond Aeration Pump with Diffuser	A+
Best Solar Pond Aerators
	SunnyTech Solar Power Pond Oxygenator Air Pump	B
	Solar Pond Aerator / Oxygenator – 2 Stone	A
	AerMaster Aerator Solar Koi Pond 2	A
Best Diffused Aerator Kits
	AirPro Rocking Piston Pond Aerator Kit	A+
	Aspen Aeration Systems Rocking Piston Aeration Kit	A+
	Kasco Robust-Aire Aquatic Aeration System RA1NC	A+
	EasyPro PA6SWN	A
Best Surface Aerators
	Kasco Marine Pond Aerator 2400AF	A++

GARDEN POND AERATORS

If you want your garden to spring to life, consider adding a pond or water feature. If you want your ponds to bring life to a fish, add more oxygen to the water. Although you may have waterfalls or fountain sprays add oxygen to the water, they are not always enough and should be supplemented with diffused aeration. With a bottom diffused aeration, water is circulated to increase dissolved oxygen levels. Aeration can also be used in the winter months to keep a hole open on the ice.

Garden pond aerators are a small pond aerators or ornamental aerators that can be used for a very small pond such as ornamental, hobbyist or small koi fish ponds. These units can be used throughout the year, making it a great investment for ponds with koi and other pond fish. Your pond fish will be happier and healthier, and you will have reduced excess organic material in your pond – meaning fewer nutrients to fuel algae growth.

Best Garden Pond Aerators

1. Airmax PondAir 2 Aeration Kits

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Airmax PondAir 2 Aeration Kits deliver essential oxygen and circulation to ponds up to 2,000 gallons and less than 8 ft. in depth. Designed as a complete aeration solution, the PondAir 2 contains everything you need to introduce aeration to small water gardens and features with a quick and simple installation.

Running very quiet on a 4W dual-output compressor, this low-cost air pump costs virtually nothing to run that will make you feel good about providing constant aeration to your pond. The breakdown of excessive organic material will deter plant growth such as algae, deter murky water, and promote overall water clarity/health.

2. Aquascape Pond Air 2 Aeration Kit

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The Aquascape Pond Air-2 aerator will effectively oxygenate your pond, helping all biological processes and creating a more stable environment. It delivers a high volume of oxygen to ponds up to 2000 gallons. Available in two- and four-outlet options, the Pond Air kit is made up of an aerator pump that’s placed above ground and two or four aeration discs (seen at left) that are placed in your pond.

The Aquascape Pond Air 2 provides years of trouble-free operation and comes complete with everything you need. It features a strong outer housing, a thick rubber gasket that helps reduce noise and vibration, and a wide, flat base that makes it stable and easy to place.

3. Airmax KoiAir1 Water Garden Aeration Kit

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The Airmax Koi Air 1 is a great little aerator for small ponds from 2,000 to 8,000 gallons. This is one of the best water garden aeration kits which is designed for small Koi fish ponds.

The KoiAir1 will work wonderfully in ponds up to 8,000 gallons and has a suggested operational depth of no more than 4 feet in order to maintain aeration quality and the overall life of the compressor. In smaller ponds, it’s not usually necessary to place the diffusers at the deepest part of a pond, therefore, even a more shallow, off-center location will still aerate the pond well.

Built with an energy efficient dual diaphragm 17-watt compressor, KoiAir 1 Aeration Kit provides maximum circulation and oxygen with 0.80CFM airflow. A powerful yet energy efficient dual diaphragm SilentAir Aeration Pump infuses your pond with fresh air while the virtually maintenance free membrane diffuser plate allows for maximum oxygen uptake.

Airmax gives you a range of options:

• Airmax KoiAir Mini for mini ponds from 1,000 – 4,000 gallons
• Airmax KoiAir 2 for ponds from 8,000 – 16,000 gallons

4. Danner 04580 Pond Aeration Pump with Diffuser

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Danner Manufacturing is a family owned company founded from 1934. Danner is one of the most trusted manufacturers in the world for pond aerators, fountain pumps. The Danner 04580 is the highest quality air pump for garden ponds today, last longer than any pump on the market.

The Danner 04580 has been designed to satisfy the requirements of a multitude of water related applications. This beautifully designed air pump can be used for oxygenating outdoor ponds and water gardens, de-icing outdoor installations during harsh winters, oxygenating indoor water features and aerating single or multiple aquarium or terrarium tanks.

This air pump has a sturdy design, quiet operation allows it to blend well into your aquarium setup or backyard. It operates on standard 110V electric with a 6ft. power cord included. Diffuses up to 8,900 cu.in/min, the Danner 04580 is designed for ponds up to 10,000 gallons and 9.5 ft. max water depth.

Pond aerators from Danner Manufacturing are usually expensive, but they’re very good.

If you’re looking for an another option from Danner:

• Danner 04560: 7000 gallons and 10ft. max water depth

SOLAR POND AERATORS

The solar pond aeration systems run on 100% power absorbed from the sunlight by solar panels. Using solar powered systems are great for both remote locations with no electricity and environmentally conscience applications. Solar pond aerators pay for themselves with time, resulting in an unbelievable cost savings over electric-powered pond aerators. Plus, if you use an electric-powered pond aerator, in very hot weather and your air pump failure during a power outage that can lead to a fish kill very quickly. Using a solar pond aerator, you won’t have to worry about power outages.

Solar-powered aerators are also available which work like the air pumps in fish-tanks – attaching to a perforated artificial stone and bubbling air directly into the water. Although many of them are designed for quite small ponds, they can also be used very effectively to supplement other methods of aeration in larger ponds too. Solar-powered equipment, inevitably, works at its best during the sunnier months, which fortunately coincides with the pond’s maximum need for additional oxygen. Since warm water naturally holds less oxygen than cold and fish and other aquatic life are at their most active in the summer, the “green” solution can certainly play its part.

Best solar Pond Aerators

1. SunnyTech Solar Power Pond Oxygenator Air Pump

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The SunnyTech solar air pump is a perfect aeration system for mini ponds or aquariums. This unit has battery backup once the batteries are fully charged they can run for 50-60 hours with no further sun light.

This little solar pond air is 100% powered by a small solar panel does not require any wiring, ensuring a quick and easy installation. The solar panel should be placed in an outdoor area to ensure exposure to sunlight, and connected to the main unit before the air stones are dropped into the pond. Because it is fully waterproof, it can be placed outdoors all year round.

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2. Solar Pond Aerator / Oxygenator – 2 Stone

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This simple effective Solar Oxygenator is an ingenious brushless air pump powered by solar energy, suitable small to medium sized ponds up to 792 gallons (3,000 liters). Two separate air stones, each with a meter and a half of tubing, allow you to provide oxygen to your entire pond rather than just one section. It is solar powered so that you will save money from your energy bill and you won’t have to run a mains cable outside.

Blending perfectly into your garden with all the effectiveness of other less subtle oxygenators, this little device will perfectly suit the modest pond enthusiast’s retreat. To use for large ponds, you can buy more units.

3. AerMaster Aerator Solar Koi Pond 2

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This AerMaster Aerator Solar Koi Pond 2 is a great aeration system for ponds up to 6ft. in depth and up to 14,000 gallons water. It comes as a turnkey system. There is nothing else to buy other than some concrete to set your post.

This solar aeration system is a quiet, high-efficiency aerator that adds much-needed oxygen to ponds and lakes. It’s very easy to install and can be used year round, and it has direct drive technology for battery-free operation. The mounting frames are pre-cut and pre-drilled to mount the 2 panels in parallel. Includes quick cable disconnects to make assembly much easier and a 5′ galvanized steel mounting pole with instructions.

It features battery-free operation which means the manufacturer has eliminated the expense of rechargeable batteries and charge controllers making the system much less expensive and yet affordable for most small pond owners.

Features + Benefits

The system includes a 2-year warranty on the compressor and other major components and a 5-year warranty on the solar panels, diffusers, and airline. This is a great way to aerate your pond cost effectively by taking advantage of the sun!

Other options from AerMaster Aerator:

• AerMaster Aerator DD Solar 2 – for ponds up to 15′ deep and up to 3/4 acre in size.
• AerMaster Aerator DD Solar 3 – for ponds up to 15′ deep and up to 1.5 acres in size.
• AerMaster Aerator DD Solar 8 – for ponds up to 15′ deep and up to 2.0 acres

DIFFUSED AERATION SYSTEMS

Diffused Aeration Systems are the most popular type of pond or lake aerator and the most effective for ponds that or 6′ or deeper. By using compressed air injected directly into the bottom of the pond, a continuous flow of air and water is moved upward and thousands of gallons of water are mixed with little-expended energy.  These aeration systems run on electricity and are efficient at aerating small ponds and also make the most cost efficient and most effective large pond aerators as well.

These aeration systems are the best way to add more oxygen throughout your large pond and to your valuable fish. They provide millions of tiny bubbles and can oxygenate the whole body of water from the bottom all the way up to the top. They will help you remove bad types of bacteria, parasites and other nasty ‘critters’ live in the bottom of the pond.

Diffused pond aerators also have a benefit of being installed hundreds if not thousands of feet from an electric source. You can simply keep the air compressor in a garden shed or protected area and run poly tubing to the pond’s edge then connect the tubing to the valve. These aeration systems are very easy to install and can last many years.

Best Diffused Aerator Kits

1. AirPro Rocking Piston Pond Aerator Kit – up to 1 Acre

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The AirPro Rocking Piston Pond Aerator brings results you won’t find anywhere else. It’s able to aerate ponds up to 1 acre, the super-strength rocking piston compressor operates up to 50′ deep while the motor draws 1.7 amps and pumps 2.3 CFM of air. This complete system efficiently pumps air into your pond, eliminating numerous issues like foul odors, mosquito hatches, and bottom muck. Over time, it helps improve fisheries by expanding oxygenated habitats for a clean, healthy environment!

The AirPro air pump is made from durable and long-lasting materials, you’ll be able to rely on our pond aerators through virtually any season and weather condition! Although it’s able to deliver efficient results, this affordable pond air pump maintains total safety. The system operates without running electricity through the water, this diffused aeration system is completely safe for people or wildlife near and in the water.

This AirPro Rocking Piston Pond Aerator Kit is perfect for your ponds or lakes. If you’re looking for a good pond air pump kit, we would highly recommend this product.

2. Aspen Aeration Systems Rocking Piston Aeration Kit (1/4 Hp – 1 Arce)

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This complete aeration kit is designed for up to 1-acre ponds. It includes a 1/4 hp rocking piston compressor, a 2-way manifold with a pressure gauge, two 100 ft rolls of 3/8″ weighted tubing, and two 9 inch diffusers with bases.

This kit comes with a beautiful green locking cabinet which is designed to keep the compressor inside for outdoor extreme weather conditions. Within the cabinet, the manufacturer has added a cooling fan with cross flow ventilation, an oil filled pressure gauge to reduce indicator vibration, a pressure relief valve which opens at approximately 17 psi to prevent damage to the compressor. All components are protected within it.

This Aspen Aeration Kit comes with all high-quality components. The self-weighted air hose is very heavy duty and pliable. It is stronger, thicker and heavier than other brands. The air compressor looks great – very nice and sturdy. Overall, this complete aeration kit is one of the best options to add millions of air bubbles to the water.

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There are several other options from Aspen you can choose:

• Rocking Piston Aeration Kit with 1/2 Hp rocking piston compressor – for ponds up to 1.5 acres.
• Rocking Piston Aeration Kit with 3/4 Hp rocking piston compressor – for ponds up to 4 acres.

3. Kasco Robust-Aire Aquatic Aeration System RA1NC – 1.5 acres

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Kasco Robust-Aire diffused air systems provide deep water aeration for ponds and lakes. Diffused aeration is an effective method of aeration for ponds up to 1.5 acres and depths greater than 8 ft. This aeration system is the most efficient on the market and creates more water flow to aerate your pond. Diffusers are designed to provide a fine air bubble with the least amount of pressure.

This kit is available as complete packages from one to six diffuser heads. These highly efficient and effective diffused aeration systems are designed and sized to meet most typical aeration applications and come complete with everything you need including all connectors and adapter fittings. Installation is quick and easy with Kasco’s exclusive SureSink weighted air lines by simply sinking in place without separate weighting or anchoring.

The best feature of this aeration system is it comes with an optional remote manifold allowing you to install the compressor up to a mile away from the water’s edge. The remote manifold also allows you to adjust airflow to each individual diffuser head to get the balance of airflow and performance you need. Plus, there’s no electricity needed at the edge of the pond or lake, so it’s safe for swimming.

Kasco is a name that has been well known in the industry for decades, we are happy to offer this excellent product from them.

4. EasyPro PA6SWN – Best Aeration Kit for Shallow Ponds

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EasyPro PA6SWN is the best choice for shallow ponds that are less than 7′ deep. It can move oxygen very fast to the water in a pond as large as 3/8 acres. Its single diffuser system is perfect for a pond that has a regular shape, such as round or oval.

If you have a shallow pond, this air pump is more energy efficient than aerators for deeper or bigger ponds or water features, with an incredibly quiet operation. All parts are weather resistant so can be used outdoors, and the kit comes with everything you will need to set up your shallow aerator.

Because this aeration system improves a pond’s water conditions, it helps koi, other fish, aquatic plants and beneficial bacteria thrive in the ecosystem. Also, the aerator’s mixing of water leads to more uniform temperatures in the pond. The better conditions promote fish health and help protect fish during freezing weather.

HIGH OXYGEN SURFACE AERATORS

Using surface aerators is the best way to transfer a huge number of bubbles to the water. They’re designed to use mostly for shallow ponds that are 5′ deep or less. Because of the high circulation rate, these pond aerators are especially helpful in controlling surface algae and other unsightly surface problems.

If you want to move an enormous amount of water quickly adding an abundance of oxygen to your shallow ponds, surface aerators are the best choice.

Best Surface Aerators

1. Kasco Marine Pond Aerator 2400AF – ½ Acres

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Kasco Marine is the leading designer and manufacturer or aerating fountains and surface aerators. The company was founded in 1968 and grew quickly become one of the most trusted American company by bringing high-quality products to consumers. Kasco pond surface aerators are designed to withstand the rigors of commercial aquaculture operations, industrial applications, and municipal waste water plants. With more vertical-pump-type aerators in use in North America than any other manufacturer, Kasco is the clear market leader in products proven to deliver outstanding performance and reliability.

The Kasco Marine Pond Aerator is a really good aeration system provides an effective method of aeration for ponds or lakes. The 2400AF model is ideal for ponds/tanks with surface areas of about 1/2 acre. The high-performance design of this aerator uses a single open propeller that creates and pushes water droplets into the air allowing efficient transfer of oxygen to the water. Agitation and movement created by the process spread the oxygenated water throughout the body of water.

The post The Best Pond Aerators, Air Pumps For A Fish Pond, Lake appeared first on Green Living Blog.

Gate Opener + Outdoor security camera + Driveway Alarm System are the 3 best things to maximize convenience and security for your driveway gates, garden gates, and walk-through gates.

Image	Product Name	Price	Rating
Best Single Swing Gate Openers
	Mighty Mule MM560	$$	A
	USAutomatic Sentry 300 Commercial Grade	$$$$	A+
	Ghost Controls TSS1XP Heavy-Duty Solar	$$	A
Best Dual Swing Gate Openers
	Mighty Mule MM562 Heavy Duty	$$$	A
	Liftmaster LA400PKGU	$$$$$	A+
	USAutomatic Sentry 300	$$$$$	A+
	ALEKO AS1200	$	B
Best Sliding Gate Openers
	ALEKO AC1400	$	A
	Viking Access K2	$$$$$$	A+
	LiftMaster SL585	$$$$$$$$	A+
	Mighty Mule MM-SL2000B	$$$$$	A

Types of Gate Opener

Gate openers are designed for both swinging and sliding gates. Swing gates use underground operators which are located by the hinge and operate the gate via a link arm, much like a regular door does. Slide gates use operators with a chain attached across the gate to slide gates from right to left or left to right. Sliding gates are often large, heavy and therefore more hazardous than swing gates they can however be equipped with appropriate safety devices making them some of the safest gate systems available. Sliding gate openers can move very large gates up to thousands of pounds and in some cases up to 100’ long. They are usually cheaper than swing gate openers.

Gate Opener Buying Guide

To determine what type of automatic gate opener is right for you, ask yourself the following questions:

1. Do you have a single or dual gate or slide gate?
2. Does your gate swing into or away from your property?
3. Long and weight of your gate?

You should consider buying a solar-powered gate opener if your swing gate isn’t within 1000 ft. of a 110V AC power source. Because sliding gates are often heavy and large, you should buy a heavy-duty gate opener. The best 110V/240V AC-powered gate openers should come with an emergency release key which allows you to enter or leave your property even if there is a power outage.

DC Gate Opener or AC Gate Opener?

In the past, most gate openers were primarily designed using alternating current (AC) induction motors but this is rapidly changing. In recent years, manufacturers have increased their range of direct current (DC) motor-driven operators to residential and commercial markets.

You can expect to pay more for a DC gate opener (12V or 24V) than a comparable AC gate opener (110V or 240V). But a DC gate opener will run cooler and therefore have a higher duty cycle rating than an AC gate opener. DC gate openers are also usually smaller than AC gate openers, therefore providing manufacturers the opportunity to design operators that are smaller with different styles and looks.

DC or solar gate opener can offer consumers smoother, quieter, more precise and more efficient operation, while AC gate opener may have a longer motor life (because AC motors are brush less and therefore do not have any wearing parts except bearings.)

Top 10 Best Gate Openers

An automatic gate opener is a versatile system which is ideal for properties on busy roads which need to open quickly due to its fast travel speed. It offers you a peace of mind whenever you want to open a gate without stepping out of the interior of your car, particularly in the winter when outside air temperature is extremely low. Plus, if you own a gate opener at the end of a driveway, you may feel like you’re delving into a world of cryptic and esoteric lingo that all sounds like something out of The DaVinci Code.

If you are looking for a perfect swing or slide automatic gate opener to suit your home or farm that will operate efficiently and reliably. Here are some very best gate openers on the market you should take your time to explore:

Best Single Swing Gate Openers

1. Mighty Mule MM560 Review – Best for the Money

The Mighty Mule MM560 is the best DIY single gate opener in its class. This gate opener can handle gates up to 18 feet maximum in length or a maximum of up to 850 pounds. It can be utilized for many applications including residential, agricultural, farm and ranch and for all types of gates including chain link, tube, panel, vinyl, wood and wrought iron gates.

The Mighty Mule gate openers are designed to be easy to install with no electrician or welding required. This kit includes everything you will need for the installation. It is solar capable with the addition of a Mighty Mule 5-watt solar panel or 10-watt solar panel. It features Dual Sense Technology which makes the gate stop and reverse direction when it comes in contact with an obstruction. This is factory set to the most sensitive setting and must be adjusted during installation. It also has an adjustable auto-close feature. After the gate reaches the fully open position, it can be set to remain open up to 120 seconds before automatically closing.

Highlight Features:

2. USAutomatic Sentry 300 Commercial Grade – Editors’ Choice

US Automatic is an American manufacturer of high-quality solar gate operators and accessories founded in 1994. If you’ve been searching high and low for a top-quality and commercial grade automatic gate opener system, you will love US Automatic gate opener. But gate openers from US Automatic are often much more expensive than other brands. There are a number of reasons as to why so many businesses and individuals decide to protect their property with automatic gate opener systems produced by US Automatic, but I’m sure that the key reason is: Superior Quality.

Sentry 300 automatic gate opener is the first high-quality commercial grade DIY gate opener. The superior design and features of the Sentry 300 automatic gate opener make it impossible to compare the cost of similar products. Quality, reliability and no hidden additional costs associated with the Sentry gate opener make the Sentry kits the best value on the market.

Made in the USA and powered by a 12 Volt DC battery which is charged by the included AC transformer or optional solar panel kit. US Automatic recommends the solar option for charging this allows for remote installations and qualifies for a 30 percent federal tax credit. The Sentry energy efficient design makes it the first truly solar charged gate opener that can provide weeks of operation with no sun. The Sentry is designed to be installed on farm gates up to 20 feet in length, ornamental iron gates up to 12 feet in length and chain link up to 14 feet in length. A full line of solar friendly accessories is available to allow you to customize your automated gate system to your needs.

With 3 year warranty from the most reliable company in the US, we strongly recommend you buy this gate opener.

3. Ghost Controls TSS1XP Heavy-Duty Solar Single Automatic Gate Review

Ghost Controls is a designer and manufacturer of innovative gate automation solutions for the North American market. Millions of gates are sold annually, only to be manually opened or closed with cumbersome locks and chains.

The Ghost Controls TSS1XP kits are ideal for residential gates or farm gates. It features SafeForce Technology that automatically limits the amount of force that the automatic opener system will exert on a moving gate to prevent injuries to people or animals. This gate opener offers new leading-edge technology that helps the opening system run very quiet, very fast and safe. It has a proprietary maintenance free gear box and motor designed for smooth, quiet operation regardless of age and high cycles.

This gate opener system is low voltage (DC) and solar optimized for environments without access to AC power and require minimum maintenance and installation expertise. Unlike the Might Mule MM560, a 10W Solar Panel is included in this kit. The remote that included in this kit is preprogrammed, its range more than 100 yards from the gate, that means it will work from inside your house.

You can’t go wrong with the Ghost Controls TSS1XP, we would definitely recommend this product to you.

Best Dual Swing Gate Openers

1. Mighty Mule MM562 Heavy Duty – Best For the Money

Like its single version MM560, the Mighty Mule MM562 is the best DIY dual gate opener in its class. This gate opener can handle gates up to 18 feet maximum in length or a maximum of up to 850 pounds per leaf.

This dual swing gate opener was designed to be installed in just a few hours. Its included manual gives you enough information to install it step-by-step without expert’s help. Additionally, you have access to a 24/7 troubleshooting guide as well as customer support. The MM562 has the ability to open and close gates that open to and from the property, adjustable auto close option with alarm, soft start and stop to extend the life of your gate opener, a control box and a battery is included in the power performance kit.

This gate opener and all Mighty Mule automatic gate openers are solar capable with the addition of a Mighty Mule 10-Watt solar panel. It’s compatible with all Mighty Mule keypads, gate opening remotes and gate opening sensors. The MM562 kit includes everything you need for installation. But you have to buy a solar panel separately.

2. Liftmaster LA400PKGU Dual Swing Gate Opener– Editors’ Choice

LiftMaster LA400PKGU is one of the most expensive dual swing gate opener on the market, and is best one in delivering unsurpassed performance and secure access to your property.

The best feature of the LiftMaster is it can be connected via MyQ Technology which allows you to control your garage door opener, gate operator, or home lights by using an Internet-enabled smartphone, tablet or computer from anywhere, anytime. Just imagine if you forgot to close your garage door, need to let the service or repairman in when you’re not at home, or you are on vacation or at the office. LiftMaster MyQ technology gives you control from anywhere! This App is available for download from the App Store and Google Play for ultimate reassurance and convenience.

Video: MyQ App

The LiftMaster has an ultra-efficient battery backup system, providing up to 400 cycles or up to 97 days of standby power when the power is down. Because this is a 24v motor it has a high duty cycle of 20 times per hour, ideal for multi user properties and also the built in hard stops means that no external hard stops need to build in to the ground. It also boasts stop and reverse obstacle detection which is unique to the 24v operators for added protection.

Features + Benefits:

If you don’t care about the price, this one is the best choice.

3. USAutomatic Sentry 300 Dual Gate Opener

Like the Sentry 300 single gate opener above, the U.S. Automatic Sentry 300 dual swing gate opener is the most reliable and durable gate opener available.

It is powered by a 12V DC battery (not included). This battery is charged by the supplied transformer which requires AC power (120 VAC) to be either at the gates area or within 1000 feet of the gates area. If the AC power is more than 10 feet from the gate openers control box then additional extension cable is required. The battery also can be charged through a solar panel (sold separately). Typically only one panel will be required. The Sentry dual swing gate opener is capable of a high number of cycles per day.

The Sentry 300 control board features high-quality components and industry leading ideas such as auto resetting fuses for motor protection. The old auto type fuse that blows and must be replaced has been designed out of this controller to avoid the unnecessary expense of buying fuses. Another patent pending item designed into the control board is the on-board potentiometers for adjusting stop limits.

Again, this is very nice product from US Automatic, we think you would be please if you buy one!

4. ALEKO AS1200 Electric Gate Opener

If you are looking for a low-cost option of electric gate opener, the Aleko AS1200 may be the right choice for you. Aleko is a Washington-based company was only found in 2005, but they have built their reputation as one of the most trusted and technologically advanced companies in gate opener market.

AS1200 is a benefit to the residential and commercial applications. It applies remote usage and avoids the manual operation that keeps you calm and dry inside your vehicle. It uses a 24V DC motor which regulates the opener and can resist gates weighing up to 1320lbs and length up to 20ft (10ft and 660lb per leaf). The smooth running of motor gives the opener a greater life and durability. Optional built-in battery backup provides seamless operation of the gate operator and all DC control and sensing devices in the event of a power loss.

Overall: Best Low-Cost dual gate opener to buy.

Best Sliding Gate Openers

1. ALEKO AC1400 Electric Sliding Gate Opener – Best Buy

The Aleko AC1400 is the most common sliding gate opener on the US market, it is an AC-powered addition to the ALEKO family of slide gate operators. You will get amazing starting torque along with continuous operation with this gate opener, this sliding gate opener is ideal for most applications.

The Aleko AC1400 is made with an effective aluminum alloy chassis. It’s corrosion resistant and light enough for one person to carry and install. This opener’s heavy-duty motor is able to handle gates that are till 1400 lbs, along with a maximum of around 50 ft. precisely in length. This gate opener is designed as such that when it experiences any obstruction on its way then it will reverse back. In this way you do not need to worry about your pets or infants getting stuck while your gate is closing.

This less expensive gate opener is a great addition to your home.

2. Most Expensive Sliding Gate Opener: Viking Access and Liftmaster

The Viking Access (K2) and LiftMaster (SL585) all offer a good lineup of chain driven slide gate operators. All 2 brands can run on 110VAC/220VAC or 24VDC Solar and include the batteries for full-time battery backup at no extra charge. They’re really expensive option for a gate opener, the price is 3-4 time more expensive than the Aleko.

The LiftMaster is the most expensive. It is a durable heavy-duty gear-driven operator for use on heavy gates and high-cycle applications such as gated communities and industrial locations. It supports gate lengths up to 75 feet and gate weights up to 1900 pounds. This gate opener can be controlled via MyQ App on your phone.

The Viking Access has an incredible reputation in the industry and provides great support. The newly redesigned K2 features the VFlex control board with on-board diagnostics LCD display and simple push-button digital limits setup. Featuring a built-in heater, increased gate capacity of up to 700 lbs.

Viking Access and Liftmaster offer great operators, but because they are such big name brands in the industry you will be paying more initially.

See Price:

• Viking Access (K2)
• LiftMaster (SL585)

3. Mighty Mule MM-SL2000B Single Slide Gate Opener Review

The MM-SL2000B can automatically open heavy-duty slide gates weighing up to 1000-Pounds per leaf and up to 30-Feet in length per leaf (or a 20-Feet driveway opening). This model is ideal for light commercial and residential slide gate applications, and is a compact design for tight spaces.

The SL2000B is powered by a 12 volt DC motor and is solar compatible (requires at least 10-Watts of solar power). The MM-SL2000B is an access ready package that includes Battery, Radio Receiver, Entry Transmitter, AC Transformer, and all necessary mounting hardware for a standard installation.

Features + Benefits:

Overall:

You will be extremely pleased with the Mighty Mule MM-SL2000B and we would recommend it to anyone who wants to add convenience and security to their home, ranch or farm gate.

The post The Best Gate Openers, Driveway Gate Operators 2019 appeared first on Green Living Blog.

If you are looking for the best solar-powered security camera, this article is for you. Below, we review 4 of the best and top-rated solar-powered security cameras, battery-powered security cameras on the market.

• Read More: Best Night Vision Security Cameras (Indoor/Outdoor)
• Read More: Best Wireless Driveway Alarm for Your Home

Best Solar-Powered Security Cameras: Our Picks

	Arlo Pro 2	Ring Spotlight Cam Battery	Reolink Argus 2	Lynx Solar
Price	Check Price	Check Price	Check Price	Check Price
Connectivity	Wi-Fi	Wi-Fi	Wi-Fi	Wi-Fi
Resolution	1080P Full HD	1080P Full HD	1080P Full HD	1080P Full HD
Field of View (Degrees)	130	140	130	100
Motion Sensor
Two-Way Audio
Notifications	Email, Push, Text, Call	Push	Email, Push	Push
Night Vision	Infrared	Infrared	Starlight	Infrared
Weatherproof
Voice Commands
Siren	100+ dB	110dB	70-80 dB
Storage	Cloud, External Hard Drive	Cloud	Cloud, Micro SD card	Cloud
Free Cloud Video Storage	7 days of cloud video recordings	30 days free trial	10 GB/15 days of motion-triggered recording	7 days of motion-triggered recording

#1. Arlo Pro 2 Home Security Camera System Review

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The Arlo Pro 2 Home Security Camera may not cheap, but it’s the best solar-powered security camera money can buy. There are many cheaper alternatives out there, but we truly have not found any other solar-powered security camera on the market that offers the same versatility, video quality, combination of software, and value as the Arlo Pro 2.

Introducing Arlo Pro 2 Security Camera | Video by Arlo
Arlo Solar Panel

This solar-powered security camera can be powered by the included 2440 mAh rechargeable battery or plugged into a solar power panel, called Arlo Solar Panel. The Arlo Solar Panel is rated at 2 watts and 6 volts and it needs only 5 to 6 hours of direct sunlight to keep the batteries fully charged. It’s adjustable and very easy to install, as all of the ARLO systems. You just need to mount and plug it into the camera and everything will work instantly. You can also use this solar panel to power the Arlo Pro or Arlo Go camera.

The panel is weather resistant and it has an adjustable mount for simple installation plus a 6 ft. long power cable for flexible placement.

Cable connection to the panel is snug and secured with a latch to keep it in place. Cable connection to the camera itself is also very snug, no concerns about water seeping in. The only little problem with it is that the plug that goes into the back of the camera is large and it might be a bit difficult to adjust the angle of the camera. But we think if you place some sort of mounting shim and then the camera, you should have no trouble with the plug or getting the angle you want.

Video Quality and Features

As one of the best solar powered security cameras on the market, the Arlo Pro 2 provides very high image quality and has plenty of features that are a step above most of its competitors.

The camera has 1080p sensor instead of 720p in the original Arlo Pro. The increase in resolution is a definite advantage in daytime video quality—you can make out objects farther away, and faces are more lifelike. Even though the camera offers a 130-degree field of view only, we think this is perfect for most applications. While some other solar-powered cameras offer up to 180 degrees of coverage, but in our experience, rarely is that needed — and it tends to significantly distort the image.

The Arlo Pro 2 has a ton of advanced features. Two-way audio, motion and sound alerts via the Arlo app, recording of alerts with a three second pre-record, so you capture the moment of an event rather than the aftermath. There’s also night vision. With six of infrared LEDs, the camera provides up to 25 feet of night vision in black and white, and allows you to zoom in up to 8x. You can change the motion sensitivity settings in the Modes.

Another extremely useful feature is an integrated alarm. This helps makes this system much more effective than some budget priced solar-powered security cameras. Built into the base unit is a ‘smart siren’ with a 100+ DB output (it can be turned down via the app) which can be programmed to sound if the motion is detected from a particular camera. Now that should hopefully deter any burglar!

Finally, one of our favorite features is the ability to control this solar-powered security camera by voice commands. The Arlo Pro 2 works with dozens of other smart home devices via IFTTT applets and Stringify flows, and can be integrated into a SmartThings home automation system. It also works with Alexa voice commands to display video on an Echo Show or Fire TV device.

Installation & Video Storage

The Arlo Pro 2 solar-powered security camera is very easy to install and configure. It connects to the base station via WiFi signal and the base station connects to your router directly via the included Ethernet cable. The base station provides a steady low-power Wi-Fi connection for up to 15 cameras (though only five can be streamed at once).

The Arlo Pro 2 has a nice selection of options for saving your recordings that include both local and cloud storage. Netgear has a generous free cloud storage program that is included in your purchase of the Arlo Pro 2: seven days (rolling) of triggered events for up to five cameras with limited support for three months. For most users, the seven-day program should be all that’s necessary. If the seven-day free plan just doesn’t provide enough peace of mind, you can purchase a 30-day Premiere or 60-day Elite plan for $9.99 and $14.99 per month, respectively. While the Arlo Pro 2 doesn’t include a slot for a memory card, the base station supports removable storage, so you can save every single clip on a thumb drive or USB hard drive.

Bottom Line

The Arlo Pro 2 home security camera is our pick for the best solar-powered security camera on the market. It is the most full-featured solar-powered outdoor security system we’ve ever tested. We are particularly impressed with the sheer amount of included features and Netgear’s generous cloud storage plans. You can’t go wrong with it.

#2. Ring Spotlight Cam Battery/Solar-Powered Review

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If you’re looking for a solar-powered outdoor wireless security camera with the spotlight feature, the Ring Spotlight Camera is your best bet. It costs less than the Arlo Pro 2 but it offers an excellent set of features to ward off any intruders. For us, the Ring Spotlight Cam Solar is a simple, effective, low-maintenance way to monitor around the home.

Ring Solar Panel

You can power the Ring Spotlight Camera with the Ring Solar Panel. This solar panel is designed exclusively for charging the Ring Spotlight Cam Battery. With just a few hours of direct sunlight every day, your Cam will stay charged around the clock. Spotlight solar panel comes with a free toolkit and micro-USB cord, so you can get everything set up in just a few minutes. All you need to do is connect the solar panel to your Spotlight Cam Battery with the micro-USB cord, and secure it with the adjustable mounting bracket.

The Ring Solar Panel feels a bit more solid than the Arlo solar panel, and it also has a longer power connector, up to 13 ft. Mounted this solar panel easily and connected to the camera easily as well. The only restriction on mounting is finding somewhere the solar panel will enjoy sunlight each day (southern exposure is best, but not absolutely necessary).

If you don’t want to run the camera off a solar panel, you can charge the batteries via a mini USB charging port. One battery is rated to last for six months on a full charge. The camera can hold two battery packs and will automatically switch over to the secondary battery when one runs out of juice.

Video Quality and Features

As one of the best solar powered security cameras money can buy, the Ring Spotlight Camera offers very sharp video quality with a bright spotlight and many other intelligent features to secure your home against theft.

This wireless security camera captures video at 1080p and has a 140-degree field of view. The motion sensor, encased in a dome on the bottom of the camera, has a 270-degree detection range. The camera uses four infrared LEDs to provide up to 30 feet of night vision and has a built-in 110dB siren, an 802.11n Wi-Fi radio, and a speaker and microphone for two-way audio. The spotlight itself consists of two strips on either side of the camera, each with four LEDs that provide an overall brightness of 700 lumens with a 4,000K color temperature.

Ring Spotlight Cam | Video by Ring

However, the Ring Spotlight Camera lacks the pre-buffered recording capabilities, which shows you what happened just before a triggered event, that you get with Arlo Pro 2 camera and the Ring Video Doorbell Pro.

Finally, this solar-powered security camera works with IFTTT and you can use Amazon Alexa voice commands to view video on an Echo Show display or another compatible device.

Installation & Video Storage

As with most smart home devices, you set up the Spotlight Cam using the Ring app, which is available for iOS, Android and Windows mobile devices. The installation process is very simple and quick. Simply connect the camera to your Wi-Fi network and you’re ready to install. The Ring app includes a step-by-step tutorial with video clips covering everything to help you get the job done as fast as possible.

Installing Ring Spotlight Cam Solar in 15 Minutes | Video by Ring

Mounting the camera is also very easy because there’s no wiring involved. Simply find a spot on the outside of your home where the camera can access your Wi-Fi, screw in the mounting bracket, attach the camera to the bracket, adjust it to your preferred angle, and tighten the clamp screw.

The Ring Spotlight Camera doesn’t come with a free cloud storage plan as the Arlo pro 2. It comes with a 30-day free trial of Ring’s cloud storage for recorded video. At the end of the period, you have the option of upgrading to one of a pair of Ring Protect plans:

• Protect Basic Plan allows you to store, review, and share video for up to 60 days for $3 per month or $30 a year per camera;
• Protect Plus Plan provides the same for unlimited Ring cameras and adds a lifetime warranty and discounts on Ring products for $10 per month or $100 a year.

Bottom Line

The Ring Spotlight Camera is one of the best solar powered security cameras for outdoors you can buy. It is a compact, well-built outdoor security camera with a comprehensive array of features to secure your home. The integrated spotlight feature is great as it provides a significant deterrent to opportunistic burglars.

#3. Reolink Argus 2 Outdoor Wireless Security Camera Review

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If you need a small, inconspicuous security camera that can be mounted anywhere and only takes a few minutes to set up, the Reolink Argus 2 is a perfect choice. This is the best solar-powered security camera that Reolink has made so far and it gets so many positive reviews from users for its ease of use and clear images.

Reolink Solar Panel

Reolink Argus 2 comes with a rechargeable battery, which allows you to charge directly via an outlet or via Reolink Solar Panel. This solar panel is designed for Reolink Argus 2, Reolink Go, and Reolink Argus Pro only.

The 360° wall mount of Reolink solar panel for its solar security cameras allows you to easily position the weather-resistant solar panel for maximum sunlight exposure. Reolink solar panel is supported by Reolink 2-year limited warranty and 30-day money back guarantee.

Video Quality and Features

The Reolink Argus 2 captures 1080p video at 15fps. It has a 130-degree field of view and uses seven infrared LEDs to deliver very sharp black-and-white night vision video out to 33 feet. It can also deliver color video at night. You can choose between these two night-vision modes in the setting.

This solar powered security camera has a highly sensitive PIR motion sensor. You will receive instant app push notifications, email alerts and sound alarms (siren) when motion events are detected. The motion sensor offers three sensitively settings: the furthest distance detection is a claimed 50 feet for large objects such as vehicles, and 29.5 feet for people, animals and the like. Lowering sensitivity reduces false alarms.

However, compared to 2 of the best solar-powered security cameras listed above, the Argus 2’s siren is not very loud. Many users complained about this feature.

Installation & Video Storage

Setting up the Reolink Argus 2 is very easy and straightforward whether you’re going to use the Argus 2 as an indoor or outdoor security camera. The camera has a built-in magnet that makes it easy to attach to its metal mounting base, you can mount the base to a wall or ceiling if you’d prefer.

Reolink Argus 2 is the first and most highly demanded Reolink model that works with Reolink Cloud. Reolink Cloud can record videos every time motion is detected. You can also set up a custom recording schedule for your needs. Reolink Cloud Free Beta Plan offers 10GB of free cloud storage for 15 days (up to 5 cameras). The Argus 2 also stores video locally to a microSD card (up to 64GB).

Bottom Line

Easy installation, high video quality, and color night-vision make the Reolink Argus 2 Wireless security camera one of the best solar-powered wireless security cameras for home surveillance systems. It is a fantastic option if you want just the security essentials with an easy setup and an affordable price.

#4. Lynx Solar Outdoor Security Camera Review

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The final model in our pick of the best solar-powered security cameras is the Lynx Solar outdoor security camera. This camera comes packed with many intelligent features typically found only on more expensive wireless security cameras, such as facial recognition, people and animal detection, and live streaming. You can install it anywhere there’s sunlight and its 7 days of free cloud video storage can save money in the long run.

If you don’t know, the Lynx Solar Cam is made by Tend Insights Inc – a California-based firm. Tend is a maker of award-winning lifestyle smart home products powered by computer vision technology.

Lynx Solar Panel

As the name implies, Lynx Solar Camera is an outdoor camera powered by an external solar panel that is included in the package. Lynx solar panel has a large surface that makes it harvest sun power efficient. It only needs 1 sunny day to power the camera for up to 7 days (based on one hour of recording/streaming per day). The solar panel makes mounting and running the camera easy from anywhere on your property, though you’ll want to install it within range of a Wi-Fi access point.

Video Quality and Features

The Lynx Solar Cam boasts a 1080p @ 30 frames/sec camera that will operate even in the face of a power or internet failure, as well as a motion detector and fully-integrated facial recognition software.

The facial recognition technology is not available in most of its competitors. Thanks to this technology, you’ll be able to upload photos of friends and family and receive notifications when a familiar face crosses your threshold. On the other hand, should a stranger appear in the frame, Lynx Solar can alert you to a potential disruption.

You can adjust motion detection and set night vision on or off in the app. There’s a handy button to flip the video image, so it will appear the correct way up if you’ve had to install the camera upside down. As with other best solar-powered security cameras, you can remotely talk and listen through the camera.

The Lynx Solar Cam is not designed to work with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.

Installation & Video Storage

Lynx Solar Camera is very easy to install and set up, so it can be placed in any location that best suits your needs. You just need to place the camera in an area of maximum visibility to ensure full home coverage. Then place the solar panel in an area that best captures daylight for round the clock unlimited power. The solar panel has a long power cable, up to 25 feet, so the solar panel doesn’t need to be too close to the camera.

If you live in the northern hemisphere, your panels should face true south. If you live in the southern hemisphere, your panels should face true north. If you live in an area where there is snow, you may want to use a steep angle so that it is more likely to shed snow. A snow-covered panel will generate no power.

Tend Secure Lynx Solar Setup Video | Video by Tend Insights

The Lynx Solar Cam includes seven days of video storage in the cloud at no additional cost. But it only records videos when anything that it deems unusual happens. That means it doesn’t store continuous recorded video for free. Only Netgear’s Arlo Pro 2 does. Lynx’s 30-day Premier plan is $9.99 per month/10 cameras.

The Lynx Solar Cam also has a built-in memory which is able to store several hours of footage if the camera loses its Wifi connection. When this happens, the camera will store data for 3 days; once Wifi returns, local data is uploaded to the cloud.

Bottom Line

Although somewhat limited, the Lynx Solar Cam security camera is still one of the best solar-powered security cameras on the market. It’s affordable and easy to use. The included solar panel is effective, backed by a backup battery. And its free cloud storage plan is just enough for most people.

The post Best Solar Powered Security Cameras For Outdoor | 2019 Reviews appeared first on Green Living Blog.

Benefits of Solar Attic Fans

If you’ve ever been in your attic, you know just hot the space can get, especially in summer months. The sun beats down on the roof surface and heats up the stagnant air inside the attic. Building codes require homes to have a passive vent system. But, passive ventilation does not provide the pressure needed to force the air through the attic and outside. That’s where a motorized fan comes in. An attic fan placed at the roofs ridge will pull air in from outside, force it to move through the entire attic space and escape through the attic vent. In summer months, a solar attic fan can reduce the temperature in an attic by up to 40°F!

Solar Attic Fan is a simple and environmentally sensible solution that can protect your home, neutralize moisture and drive out heat, keeping your home cool in summer and protecting it from harm during the winter, and even save you money.

Solar attic fans will run completely on the solar panel, powered by sunlight, and pull superheated air out of your attic to be replaced by cooler outside air. They cost nothing to operate and are virtually maintenance-free. They also require no electrical wiring, making them easy to install and maintain. Solar Attic Fans are very efficient, compact and they run very powerfully. With Solar Attic Fans, your attic will stay cool and dry. As a result, you feel cooler, greater comfort and prolonged roof life.

Solar Is Safer?

The effectiveness and safety of attic fans is a debated subject, but studies show that standard line-powered fans actually cost more to operate than they generate in savings. And they can create zones of negative pressure, which risks pulling conditioned air from the house into the attic and the dangerous possibility of pulling gases from combustion appliances back into the house — namely, carbon monoxide. Since solar-powered fans don’t draw nearly as much air as line-powered fans, neither of those concerns comes into play. Plus, a PV fan doesn’t cost anything to operate once it’s in place.

How A Solar Attic Fan Works?

Does Solar Attic Fans Run On Batteries? Will It Operate At Night?

Your Solar Attic Fan will run completely on the solar panel. When the sun goes down, normally, your fan would stop, even if your attic is still hot. And it also does not run on batteries. It only operates when the sun is out.

The answer is: No!

But here is the solution:

Your solar attic fan will be able to run at night if you buy a hybrid power source (or hybrid power adapter). But we call it is Solar Controller for Attic Fan.

When there is no sunlight available to power the fan and the Solar Controller has the optional house power connection enabled, the Solar Controller will cycle house electricity in order to power the fan. This will allow your attic temperature to continue to drop after sunset and help remove the hot, stagnant air that can build up on those warm summer evenings.

For Example: When the sun goes down, your fan turns off, regardless of attic temperature. In hotter climates, even at night, the attic doesn’t cool below 80 degrees. With the “hybrid power adapter”, you can plug your Solar fan into your house power and it will activate the fan if the temperatures are still over 80 degrees…yet the sun is down. Your attic fan will run off of your solar panel first. It will only draw from house power if: “the sun is not powering your attic fan and if your attic is still above 80 degrees“.

Our Favorite Solar Controllers for Attic Fan:

•  Solar Controller SC20 (U.S. Sunlight)

How Many Solar Attic Fans Do I Need?

Before running out to buy an attic fan, take some time to check the existing attic ventilation on your house. While the type and number of vents will vary depending on the specific roof design, house location and amount of direct sun, a minimum venting system should have 1 sq. ft. of roof vent area for every 300 sq. ft. of attic area (1/300). When it comes to Attic Fans, More is Better.

Attic vent fans are rated by CFM (cubic feet per minute). To determine what size power vent fan you need for your attic, see the chart below:

Click to See

Best Solar Attic Fans For The Money

1. Durabuild Solar Powered Attic Fan Review

The Durabuild solar attic fan is designed to keep your attic cool and dry by driving out built-up heat and moisture. It’s the perfect solution for small attic spaces and moderate to mild climates.

This attic fan promises thermostatically controlled temperature regulation for spaces up to 1850 square feet with its 24v motor and 20w solar panel that is thermostatically controlled. If the conditioned space reaches 85 degrees, the motor turns on and once it cools to 65 degrees, it will automatically shut off. The durable Grade 5 ASB shroud is impact and UV resistant. Shroud and panel are adjustable to maximize sun exposure. Oversized galvanized & powder coated flashing resists rust and protects against leaks.

Other Features:

• Engineered to be the most efficient solar attic fan line on the market.
• Runs very quiet.
• May qualify for federal and/or local tax rebate
• Limited 5-year warranty on the fan and 20-year warranty on the solar panel.
• Easy to install and looks good.

2. Natural Light Solar Attic Fan (36W) Review

The Natural Light brand solar attic fans are top rated by builders and are the highest quality built in the USA! Powered completely by free solar energy, this sleek and efficient vent is both compact and quiet. Fully operational right from the box, it installs easily, with no electrical wiring, no expensive electrician and city permits. And let’s not forget powerful!

A single 36-watt unit can fully vent up to 2,625 square feet, operating at up to 1,628 cfms. Natural Light has developed a unique adjustable mounting bracket that allows the solar panel to be positioned in the angle where it will collect the most sunlight to provide optimum fan performance. The mounting bracket also allows air to continually circulate around the solar panel keeping it cool for a consistent output. This Solar Attic Fan mounts on 3/12 to 12/12 pitch roofs. (this unit not for flat roofs or side wall mounting). Natural Light also provides a solar panel in 12, 24 and 60 watts to accommodate the correct amount of ventilation needed.

The Natural Light Solar Attic Fan utilizes a German engineered direct current motor. The motor is precision balanced to achieve low motor vibration and low motor noise. Additionally, the motor sits in an isolation bracket to further ensure a smooth, quiet operation. Each motor undergoes individual motor winding testing to ensure consistent motor performance.

Other Features:

• May qualify for federal and/or local tax rebate.
• 25-year limited warranty on entire unit.
• Easily installed with No wiring required.

3. BROAN 345SOBK Solar Attic Ventilator Fan 28W Review

The BROAN 345SO Attic Ventilator features a 28-watt solar panel that captures sunlight from dawn to dusk and efficiently converts it into electric power to keep attics cool and dry all day long. It provides 537-maximum-CFM (or a 3,222 cubic foot attic) and year round protection for the structure of a home.

The housing features a molded design of UV-stabilized, color-dyed, rugged ABS plastic that withstands hail and resists fading to remain attractive for years. It may also be painted to match roof color. Corrosion-resistant aluminum screen keeps pests out without impeding airflow. Stainless steel fasteners and galvanized steel brackets for durability, corrosion resistance, and longer life.

4. ECO-WORTHY 25W Solar Attic Fan + 1pc 30W Solar Panel

Eco-Worthy is one of the best solar panel manufacturers on the market. Eco-Worthy Solar Attic Fan provides proper venting cools your roof and extending the material life. It also reduces the load on your air conditioning system, will cut your cooling costs dramatically and makes your attic be cooler very quickly.

The single 25watt solar vent fully vents up to 2,200 square feet area, and provides up to 1900 CFM of ventilation, with the new high-efficiency brushless motor keeps you a quiet environment!

In addition to, at a very low price, it comes with a 30W poly folding solar panel that can give your 25W attic fan enough power to work even on the cloudy days. The 30W poly folding solar panel includes angle adjustable bracket and 5m wire then you can adjust the optimal angle relative to the sun to get the best efficiency!

Other Features:

• Continuous working even in cloudy days (minimum 3.5V start up).
• Brushless motor quiet power on.
• High-quality poly solar panel with angle adjustable bracket, can be applied to different roofs.
• Simple connectors, easy to install and operate, just plug and play.

5. Amtrak Solar Attic Fan (35W) Review

For any solar attic fan to perform well it will need power from solar panel. If the solar panel is low wattage the fan motor will not get enough power to run the fan. Amtrak solar panel provides 35W high quality crystalline solar panel, unlike competitors which offer only less than 30 watts solar panel.

This fan could be installed in the gable vent or anywhere in an attic. The fan turns on as soon as the sunlight hits the solar panel and runs all day. Keeps the house cool and ventilated with fresh air circulation all day.

The post Best Solar Attic Fans For Home appeared first on Green Living Blog.

I own 1 acre (4000sqm) it gets lots of sunshine and a decent amount of wind. It’s a subtropical climate with sporadic wet summers and dry winters. Its in a rural area and we are three people. We don’t use aircon. But I will need to use tools often grinder, welder ect. $15000aud in our budget.

Answer (from Alan Johnson – Quora):

As many others have likely noted in similar threads, going off-grid is about being extremely cognizant of the amount of electricity you are using.

There are certain things in my off-grid home that we simply do not have. These include items such toasters, electric coffee makers, clothes dryer etc. Producing heat uses a LOT of electricity.

Large appliances such as hot water heaters, Fridges and Freezers can be run off of propane, however, modern off-grid fridges are being made now with highly efficient compressors and ….lots of insulation. If you live in a subtropical climate where you can rely on sunshine most of the year, you will likely not have an issue and can probably run a full size fridge and a freezer off a modest system. Hot water production is easily managed by a roof mount solar hot water system. Very effective, even in less than tropical climes.

So, if you are looking at one fridge/freezer, small clothes washer (without an internal hot water heater), small appliances, lights, a well pump, water pressure pump, computer(s) and so forth, off grid energy consumption is not bad. Here are some numbers:

My home is about 1400 sq.ft and features what i have just described without the electric fridge. Our daily requirements are about 40–60Ah on a 24v system. I suspect most people will be double this, likely triple with a fridge. This will mean you will use about 150 Ah, which is about 3.5 KwH.

To store sufficient power, you will need a good size battery bank. I would go bigger than initially thought to account for the occasional household addition. For this usage a battery bank of 8 6V golf cart batteries would be the absolute minimum in my opinion. I would probably go with more, and depending on where you are I might choose larger Surette batteries. Large and heavy, but lower voltage and likely more robust than smaller 6v ones. From a cost perspective in Canada, you should be able to get by with about $1,800 – $2,000 CDN in batteries.

I would choose a 3–4,000 watt inverter – add another $2,000 or so.

Solar Panels – Panels are fairly cheap right now. 200W 12v panels can be sourced here for about $350 per. In a warm climate with good sun, 8 panels will be sufficient giving you at least 5–10 amps of power per panel (assuming a 24v system overall). Basically two hours of ‘peak charging’ will meet your daily needs. After accounting for inefficiencies, clouds etc, you should be able to meet all your daily electricity needs with about 4 hours of sunlight.

Total cost is easily under $15,000.

The post Answer: I want to go off-grid with my electricity needs. Where should I start? appeared first on Green Living Blog.

But in fact, our entire way of life is dependent upon gadgets of convenience and being tied to the grid. And our food is kept cool and fresh by the refrigerator in your kitchen which is connected to the electric grid. If a sudden emergency were to occur, all the food in your refrigerator is spoiled. If we do find ourselves in a sudden long terms emergency where the use of electricity is non-existent, what are our options as far as keeping food refrigerated? Are you equipped and prepared to live in an environment where there is no electricity?

Off grid appliances (especially off grid refrigerators/freezers) are likely expensive and they could be the largest consumer of electricity in your off the grid home. But, without it – the quality of your life will suddenly deteriorate. Options for good off grid refrigerators are numerous and knowing which is the best one to invest your hard-earned money into can be confusing. Selecting the best off grid refrigerators for you is less about aesthetics and more about size versus power usage. After doing some research, we have found a few things that could help you out of with this predicament and save a lot of time and money. So, let’s look at the various considerations and our top picks for the best off-grid refrigerators to keep in mind before making any purchasing decisions.

A quick list of the best off grid refrigerators/freezers:

Image	Off Grid Fridge/Freezer	Type	Size	Price
	Sundanzer DCR225	Solar/Battery Powered	8.1 cu. ft.	CLICK TO READ
	EcoSolarCool Solar Refrigerator	Solar/Battery Powered	9.2 cu. ft.	CLICK TO READ
	Whynter 85 Quart Wheeled	Solar/Battery Powered	2.84 cu.ft.	CLICK TO READ
	Avanti RA7316PST	120V	7.4 c.f.	CLICK TO READ
	Frigidaire FFTR1514QW	120V	15 Cu. Ft.	CLICK TO READ
	Dometic RM3962RB	Gas/Propane	9 cu. ft.	CLICK TO READ
	Norcold N841 2-Way	Gas/Propane & 120V	7.5 cu. ft.	CLICK TO READ

How to choose Off Grid Refrigerators & Freezers

• Read more: RV Refrigerator Buying Guide

1. Choose the Right Size

The very first thing to take into account relates to sizing and knowing how many cubic feet of the refrigerator will meet your needs. Most of us have been conditioned to believe that a larger unit is better but more often than not, it ends up with spoiled food because it’s easy to forget about items that aren’t easily seen. Conversely, a refrigerator that is too small can become a source of frustration because one can’t store all the items they need.

What size unit you need depends on how much fresh produce you’ll typically consume. If you are a family, you may want to consider a 16-18 c.f. unit. If you are single, you may want to check out something in the 4-7 c.f. range.

The second consideration is your power source. The reasons why you should care about your power source because everything takes power. And your refrigerator actually poses a significant burden to your power supply system. Standard freezers and refrigerators can use 3000 watt-hours each day. A few better models like can be found that use under 1500 watt-hours a day, but it’s still a big number. If you plan on powering your home with a solar system, you may want to consider selecting a smaller unit (or increasing your solar system size and battery bank) or buying a propane fridge – more efficient electric unit.

2. Buy The Most Efficient Off Grid Refrigerators & Freezers

Refrigerators for living off the grid should be the most efficient, lowest energy consumption available.

Don’t choose a refrigerator with the quite thin wall. A refrigerator is an island of cold air surrounded by warm air. Assuming that you don’t open the door often or place a lot of warm foods in it all at once, the insulation acts to keep the heat from seeping into the cold space. “The thicker the insulation the longer your refrigerator kept cold without power”. The refrigerator with a thin wall also has a higher heat gain, which in turn requires more battery power.

There are different varieties in insulation thickness when it comes to appliances, so if you’re trying to pick something for an off grid application, definitely be mindful of this one factor alone. We recommend that you should pick a chest freezer with a decent amount of insulation to keep it as efficient as possible. Chest freezers generally have a thicker wall designed to keep cold air in.

As refrigerators tend to be among the largest power consumers in the home, care should be taken to ensure that the most energy efficient refrigerators are used. If you’re still using the refrigerator that you bought when you got married 20 years ago, it’s time to stop bragging about its longevity and start looking around for a new model.

3. Understand your Refrigerator

It might seem too easy but the important way to buy the best off-grid refrigerator is by locating one without all the bells and whistles and looking at the “Energy Guide” label or documentation.

Simply look at the label that states how many kWh per year the fridge will use. You should be able to find an 18 to 20 cubic foot unit with an energy consumption of under 365 kWh per year. If you keep to this standard you will be able to operate your fridge with about 1000 watts of solar modules, even in the worst of climates (with battery bank).

If you can’t find any “Energy Guide” label like the image above, you should buy a Kill-A-Watt meter. Simply connect your fridges to the Kill A Watt, and it will assess how efficient they really are.

4. Buy From a Reputable Seller

The downside of buying off grid refrigerators as they are made one at a time and are priced from $1000-$2000 and even higher. If something were to go wrong like a compressor burning out, repairs are very difficult. No one stocks parts for these beautiful machines and no one seems to know how to repair them, although they don’t operate any differently than a 120V version. If you can afford one, we still highly recommend you to buy refrigerators and freezers from reputable sellers (we listed below).

Solar Powered Refrigerator & 12V DC Battery Powered Refrigerators

Pros:

The solar powered or battery powered refrigerators and freezers can be powered by one or two 100 watt solar panels and a small deep cycle battery bank. If you’re planning to live off of the electric grid, purchasing an efficient solar-powered refrigerator is probably one of the most cost savings investments you can make.

By creating electricity with the help of the solar panels, it then uses the electricity like a normal plug in the refrigerator. A solar powered refrigerator/fridge that uses batteries actually uses a combination of solar panels and lead batteries, the batteries serve as back up overnight and on sunless days.

Did you know that old refrigerators can be converted into solar-powered refrigerators if your wire it with a proper power inverter.

Cons:

While they can be effective, this type of solar refrigerator/fridge has many disadvantages. For instance, they are expensive to buy, the batteries are heavy and deteriorate quickly in hot climates, are maintenance intensive and only last about three years. The batteries also need to be disposed of properly otherwise they leak and cause lead pollution.

Refrigerators will be your biggest consumers of electricity and because of this, you will have to run a generator to keep the batteries topped up during inclement weather.

1. Size Your Solar PV System

I discussed how to size your home solar PV system, you can read this post to know how to size your solar panels and battery bank for powering your off grid refrigerators. Sizing PV systems for refrigerators is not difficult if you know how much power will be used and how long they will operate each day.

Solar panel:

Unless you live in the very cold northern latitudes having short days and low sun angles, most parts of the United States will average 4 to 4.5 hours of direct sun per day during the winter months and 5 to 6 hours per day during the summer months.

As an example, if you select a refrigerator or freezer that requires 800Wh per day to operate, this means you will need a solar array that can provide at least 100W output (800 Wh/8 hours) during the summer. Since the ambient air temperatures are cooler in the winter than summer, all refrigerators and freezers will require less energy to operate during colder months, so a more accurate winter calculation would use the Wh load given for lower ambient temperatures.

A 100 watt solar modular will provide approximately 650Wh during each full hour of peak sun (with 6.5 hours of peak sun). So using the above example, we will require more than one 100 watts solar module. A 200 watt solar PV system is the best choice. You will always have some days with less than average hours of peak sun or even no sun, so adding a large solar module will allow putting more Wh of charge into the battery that will be consumed that day. Having extra solar Wh going into the battery on a sunny day will carry you through those days with little or no sun.

Battery:

The size and type of battery you select will determine how long the refrigerator or freezer can continue to operate without being recharged. Do not use automotive-type batteries, as these have very thin plates and will not last longer than a few months if subjected to a daily charge-discharge cycling.

The size of your batteries depends on how and how often you recharge your batteries. Most sources of off-grid power, though, are only available for some of the time. If you live in the desert and you have solar panels, the fridge just needs to run through the night. If your power comes from a generator than you might expect your fridge to run through the day and get a daily charge from the generator. If you live in a country with clouds and rain, you might go for days without any power input. How long you go without charging the batteries is the most important part of calculating the needed size.

You should look for a quality deep-discharge battery, it can cost you more than $100, but it is worth it. The Optima D31M BlueTop Deep Cycle Battery is one of the highest quality battery that you can find on the market. Installing an Optima BlueTop battery in your boat, RV or your solar PV system means exceptional running time and more recharges than you’d get out of a traditional battery. It is pretty expensive but it can give you 5+ years of use without maintenance. You can’t go wrong with this one.

Battery Charger:

When shopping for the battery charger, make sure it has an automatic state-of-charge feature that reduces or completely shuts off the charging current when the battery is full. Otherwise, leaving a battery charger connected full-time to any battery will quickly “boil” it dry if the charging current does not lower as the battery’s charge level goes up. The NOCO Genius Smart Battery Chargers is perfect for this application. They are some of the safest and most advanced battery chargers on the market. It charges 2x faster than ordinary chargers, can jump start dead batteries, repair damaged batteries, power DC devices. It can also effectively maintain automotive, marine, RV, lawn & garden and deep-cycle batteries.

Solar Charge Controller:

I like to use a maximum power-point tracking (MPPT) solar charge controller, which will “squeeze” more charge out of any solar module. The charge controller’s size depends on the size of your solar array.

• Here are the best MPPT charge controllers on the market.

2. How to choose Best Power Inverters for Off Grid Refrigerators

An inverter is an electrical device that converts DC battery power into 120-volt AC household power to run appliances such as a refrigerator. Inverters are available in different power capacities and some are powerful enough to operate refrigerators. But before you run out to buy an inverter, you need to figure out how big an inverter you need.

Inverter’s Size:

When shopping for an inverter, you need to know the power draw of your off-grid refrigerator in watts. Read refrigerator’s label or use Kill-A-Watt device to know. If you see 700W, keep in mind that it is just running wattage. If you read this power inverter buying guide, you will know that every electric device with motor requires “peak power” to start up. A fridge motor also needs a jolt of about three times its running wattage to start up, but this surge is needed for only a fraction of a second. To run this refrigerator, you will need an inverter that can handle 700 watts for long periods and a surge of 2200 watts for a split second. And now you will need an inverter with “peak power” higher than 2200 + 700 = 2900W to power your 700W off grid refrigerator.

A typical inverter offered at discount stores or home centers provides 1,500 watts continuous AC power and 3,000 watts of surge power. This unit should run a typical 16 cu. ft. refrigerator with no problem. If you want to use other electric devices along with your 16 cu. Ft. refrigerator, you will need a bigger power inverter like these 2000 watt units or 3000-watt units.

NOTE: Do not use a new fridge with a modified sine wave inverter. Today’s refrigerators use fancy electronics and computers for temperature regulation. It is not uncommon for a new fridge to be completely destroyed in a short time by a poor quality sine wave.

3. Best Solar-Powered/Battery-Powered Refrigerators for Living Off The Grid

Save on costs with SunDanzer DCR225 refrigerators and freezers. This high-efficiency refrigerators and freezers have exceptionally low energy consumption requiring smaller, less expensive power systems and low operating expense. Thick insulation, top opening, and a refrigeration system optimized for solar make the SunDanzer refrigerators and freezers the ultimate low energy user.

The Sundanzer DCR225 is a fridge with 8.1 cubic feet (229 liters) capacity, and it uses just 730 Watt-hrs/day at 12V, 90°F (32°C).

SunDanzer cabinets are commercially produced by Electrolux of Sweden, one of the world’s leading refrigeration unit manufacturers. SunDanzer chest-style refrigerators and freezers are easy to clean using the drain hole at the bottom. 24V interior light in all models, not as bright when used on the 12-volt system. Exceptionally low energy consumption direct from house battery, no inverter needed.

This solar refrigerator is of the highest quality and efficiency in the EcoSolarCool refrigeration range. Made with the latest and most advance Danfoss DC compressor in European factory, it provides comparatively, larger cooling refrigeration storage to the freezing compartment. The freezer is situated on the top and the refrigerator on the bottom. This model is ideal for residential and business customers whose needs are primarily cooling refrigeration storage.

The power consumption is the record lowest at 550Wh/day in the solar/ DC refrigeration appliances industry worldwide. It is also amongst the lowest in the AC refrigeration appliances market. It operates on 12 or 24 DC volts and no inverters required.

This Whynter Portable Fridge / Freezer offers premium quality and innovative design to your frozen/refrigerated needs. This freezer is great for RVs, boats, campsites, fishing trips and truly portable so you can take your fridge/freezer anywhere! All you need is either a standard household 110 Volt outlet or a 12 Volt power source, like an automotive battery.

The Avanti RA7316PST only operates on standard household 120V outlet. But it is one of the lowest power consumption available on the market. It draws 70 watts when running, but it doesn’t run all the time. At 80 degrees ambient temperature it runs a bit less than half of the time, so it draws only an average of 30 watts (720Wh/24hrs). This refrigerator will work perfectly on your 200 watt solar PV system but you need an inverter.

The Frigidaire 15 Cu. Ft. Top Freezer Refrigerator is loaded with features. It is designed to handle extreme temperature conditions. The humidity-controlled crisper drawers are designed to keep fruits and vegetables fresh so you don’t have to worry about stocking up. Designed, engineered and assembled in the U.S.A. the Frigidaire 15 Cu. Ft. Top Freezer Refrigerator is high-performing, more accessible, and more innovative than ever. It runs on 120V household outlet and it draws only an average of 980Wh/24hrs. It is perfect to run on your solar PV system of 300 solar panels and more.

Gas/Propane Refrigerators/Freezers for Living Off the Grid

A propane refrigerator operates with a propane gas flame to heat the ammonia and distilled water using hydrogen gas to circulate steam vapor and liquid ammonia to cool it down. No electric lines or inverters and generators to power the refrigerator. Many boats, RV, and off-grid homes use this type of refrigeration method. A propane refrigerator is an efficient way of cooling food when one is living off the grid.

1. Why should I use gas/propane refrigerator?

In order to live in a house off the grid, we believe that propane is still the most cost-effective to operate a refrigerator in the long run. This is based on the amount of maintenance to operate vs. a 12VDC refrigerator. Since there are no moving parts on a propane refrigerator there is hardly any maintenance to use this type of refrigeration unit. Generally speaking, a gas refrigerator usually needs to be cleaned only twice a year by cleaning the burner area and flue tube. No compressor unit to go bad. No batteries to charge.

The downside of the propane fridge is the propane/gas cost. Expect to pay $20 to $50 per month for the operation of your propane fridge. Propane is quite a safe energy source, but it does have risks. It is combustible, and as with any flammable gas, a leak can be potentially devastating. Also, propane is stored under high pressure, making any sudden decompression or rupture of its container an event of violent force.

2. Best Off Grid Propane/Gas Refrigerators

Thanks to advanced insulation technology, Dometic has expanded the storage space of the RM 3962 to 9 cu. ft. – without increasing its outside dimensions. Also featuring adjustable shelves, eye-level LED controls and self-locking handles for convenient and secure storage. The RM 3762’s shelf guards will helpfully prevent spills while driving on bumpy roads. With its sleek, contemporary design the Dometic New Generation refrigerators are a fitting centerpiece for your off-grid home. It can run on 2-way: 110V AC and LP Gas. When floor space, capacity, and appearance are all important, there’s no better choice.

Dometic is the worldwide trusted brand. Dometic’s headquarters are located in Solna, Sweden.

Norcold’s gas absorption refrigerators are “Best in Class” in reliable performance. They have been made in America by an American-owned company. Roomy models are user-friendly, with an easy-to-see and operate LCD control panel at eye level. Superior cooling units give you better performance, durability and longer life. Built-in diagnostics make service faster and more efficient.

Model NXA841R 2-Way operates on propane and 120V electric.

FINAL TIPS:

• The most efficient fridge/freezer is the freezer on top: Cold air is heavy and falls from the freezer chamber to the fridge using no fan or pump. The bottom freezer model all use electricity to move the cold freezer air up to the fridge compartment. The side by side models are usually not that efficient either and are best avoided.
• Ice makers consume too much electricity: Do not buy a fridge with an automatic ice maker. You can spend a few minutes a month filling the ice cube tray.
• Do not buy a fridge with auto defrost. These refrigerators use a timer and electrical heating elements that consume a huge amount of electricity every so many days. This can add many kWh per year of operating electricity. The second problem with auto defrost is the timers/computers can be confused by generators or poor quality sine waves making the auto defrost cycle happen more than normal.

The post Best Refrigerators/Freezers For Living Off The Grid appeared first on Green Living Blog.