Good news: There are actually a few ways you can solar power your apartment or condo — even if you don’t have a suitable roof (or a willing landlord). I live in a rental house and, over the last couple months, have explored every possible way to go solar as a renter. I’ve been encouraged …
I recently tested how long a 12V 100Ah lithium battery will run a TV. The results? My TV ran for 16.5 hours straight off my 12V 100Ah lithium battery. Not bad! However, how long your battery runs your TV will depend on a number of factors, such as your TV’s power consumption and your inverter’s …
Use our calculator to easily find the maximum open circuit voltage of your solar array. Solar Panel Spec #1 Open circuit voltage (Voc) You can usually find this number on a label on the back of the solar panel. Error: This field is required. Quantity How many of this panel are you wiring in series? …
I recently tested a 100 watt solar panel for 10 days to shed insight on how much energy solar panels can produce. The results? My 100 watt solar panel output an average of 431 watt hours per day. The total energy produced over the course of my test was 4.31 kilowatt hours (or 4,310 watt …
How Much Energy Does a 100 Watt Solar Panel Produce? Read More »
This versatile setup can be used to light up a shed, garage, van, and more.
In this tutorial, I’ll show you 2 ways to charge lithium iron phosphate (LiFePO4) batteries with solar panels. (No solar experience necessary.) In fact, I use both of these ways to solar charge my own LiFePO4 batteries. This tutorial will focus on solar charging 12V LiFePO4 batteries, but I’ll also share some tips on how …
How to Charge LiFePO4 Batteries with Solar Panels Read More »
This tutorial contains everything you need to know about how to test solar panels. You’ll learn: Let’s get started. 1. How to Test a Solar Panel with a Multimeter Your multimeter is your best friend when testing solar panels. You can use it to check: Here’s how. What You Need Video Walkthrough Here’s a short …
4 Ways to Test Solar Panels: Output, Wattage & Amps Read More »
I recently tested the Newpowa and Renogy 100W solar panels side by side. After 24 hours, the Newpowa panel had generated 490 watt hours, and the Renogy panel had generated 570 watt hours. That means the Renogy panel generated an extra 80 watt hours, or 16% more, than the Newpowa panel. I was frankly shocked …
I recently tested how long a 12V 100Ah LiFePO4 battery will run a 12V RV fridge. The results? My 12V RV fridge ran for 102.5 hours off my 12V 100Ah LiFePO4 battery. Crazy! Of course, your mileage will vary based on factors like ambient temperature, your fridge’s power usage, and how often you open it. …
How Long Will a 12V 100Ah Battery Run a 12V RV Fridge? Read More »
I spent weeks testing 5 of the best MPPT solar charge controllers on the market. I built a custom testing setup and tested their ease of use, build quality, and power output. I also researched their specs and spent time using their mobile apps to monitor my system and create custom charging profiles. Based on …
