I've been seeing a lot of ads for portable solar panels that come with batteries, and I'm really curious about how they work. I live in Southern California where the sun shines almost all day, but I'm worried about a few things. If I have a solar panel on my balcony during the day, can it charge a battery that powers my refrigerator at night? My fridge is pretty demanding, needing quite a bit of power, and I'm also concerned about using a small AC or heater in winter. I want to know how much KWh capacity I'd need for the solar panel and battery for one device at a time, like the fridge or heater, and if there's any risk of starting a fire if I plug everything in at night. Plus, I've got a budget of about $2000. I do have some solar panels for my security cameras, but they're not the same type. Any insights would be super appreciated, even if it's to tell me this isn't feasible!
2 Answers
To answer your question about feasibility: using a portable solar panel with a battery can work, but there are some important limitations. In California, "plug and play" solar systems for general residential use are still a bit tricky legally, and most available models wouldn’t give you enough power to run heavy appliances like a refrigerator overnight.
You'd definitely need a decent battery capacity – think large enough to store power generated during the day to use at night. As for pricing, many quality power stations are under $2000, just make sure to check their wattage ratings! It might take some research to find the perfect setup that meets your needs, but it’s a great move towards reducing your electric bills!
The idea of using solar panels and batteries to power your appliances is definitely feasible, especially with your sunny location in SoCal! However, you're right in being cautious. The main thing to consider is whether the panel can charge the battery sufficiently to run your fridge or heater overnight. Since those appliances consume quite a bit of energy, you’ll need a solar panel and battery system that can handle their wattage.
For backup power, you would typically look into a larger setup, probably something like a solar inverter connected to a battery bank. But if you only want a portable solution, think about investing in a power station designed for solar charging. I recommend checking out various brands, but make sure they have enough output capacity for what you need! Just remember, plug-and-play systems might not work as you imagine without some serious energy calculations.
Thanks for the insights! So, if I get a power station, will that help me avoid connecting to the grid? Sounds like a good option for total independence!
This is super helpful, thanks! I'll definitely look into those battery capacities and see what fits my budget. I'm not ready to give up on this just yet!