As solar power has matured as a technology, companies have started applying it to more than just houses. Acting as an energy platform for our transport was an obvious application.
As an active technology, one of the first uses for solar power was on NASA spacecraft. Although not used for propelling the crafts, interested parties immediately started thinking about using solar power for getting us around in our daily lives. Alas, there were so many problems with the technology, including efficiency issues, that the idea never really gained much footing. With the massive popularity of hybrid vehicles, companies and research institutes are revisiting the idea.
The elements of nature have been created for man alone. Every single need can be acquired and it is present in nature around us. Man only needs to travel and explore the hidden treasures of nature and use them for the fulfillment of his basic needs of life. Something that doesn’t need any searching shines up above in the sky. The sun is the basic source of life on earth. If there was no sun no life would have been possible.
Sun emits light which is known as the solar energy and you may have heard and studied about solar energy being used for thousands of purposes. This energy has been used for heating systems and thermal power plants are run through solar energy and so on. When you read or hear about these things you simply pass on because this is too common.
Most recreational vehicles have generators to make electricity to power up the appliances, air-conditioning, television, microwave and other electrical comforts of their portable home. But what they really need is a robust solar powered system to power up their RV. And due to the increases in battery life and solar cell efficiencies it is starting to make a lot of sense. Plus the prices have come down quite a bit also.
You see, I travel full time in an RV (NASCAR or Indy Car Truck Converted) and I can foresee a day when I am totally generator free. Currently I live off the grid and use a combo of sorts of energy. Solar is so excellent however, because it makes no CO2 when there is no wind around and it makes no noise. So, I am VERY pro-solar.
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The first thing to realize is that you are probably not going to be able to generate enough power to fill all your electricity needs for a whole day with your new RV solar panel. A single 50 watt RV solar panel will generate approximately 200 watts of power per day (given sunny circumstances, that is), especially when you consider that it is only during the heat of the day, when the sun is highest in the sky, that the RV solar panel will get the bulk of its charge.
Now, 200 watts is certainly nothing to shake a stick at. Far from trying to discourage you from undertaking this admirable task, we just want to advise you go into it with realistic expectations. The purpose of an RV solar panel should be to supplement your available power, not provide all of it.