What Are The Best Solar Generators For Camper Vans, RVs, or Off-Grid?
Convert solar energy into electricity with these solar generators.
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Living life on the road in a camper van, RV, or even off-grid in a cabin or container home can seem very appealing in our hyper-connected world.
As appealing as that all sounds, we are all modern creatures and still need some basic electric-powered necessities in our life on the road. Inserting just enough convenience into our lives makes the off-grid living journey just a little sweeter.
While buying and installing a complicated solar setup is possible, a trendy alternative is to skip the dirty work and go with a portable solar generator.
With all of the bells and whistles you need in one compact unit, these unique devices are a perfect solution to add a little luxury to off-grid living.
Stick around while we learn more about portable solar generators and explore some of the top brands with some of the best solar generators.
What To Look For In A Good Solar Generator
When considering a good solar generator, there are four main features. These include the battery (capacity and cost), the inverter, the power output, and overall cost. Let’s look at each in more detail.
Battery
Battery capacity measures how many watts you can store in your solar generator. A large battery capacity makes more power available for you to use while the sun is not shining and solar panels are not producing electricity. This can happen if you are in the shade, the clouds are out, or during the night! If you want to use a lot of power in the evening, a larger battery is better.
Batteries come in two main types. They are lead-acid and lithium-ion. The latter (lithium-ion) is widely considered much better and offers more capacity. Lead-acid batteries last longer and are more affordable than lithium-ion batteries.
Inverter
Your battery produces direct current (DC), which must be converted to alternating current (AC) before powering your devices. On rare occasions, you might have an appliance that requires DC, and an inverter would not be required in this case. Aside from that, most devices run on AC, so you need a suitable inverter.
It’s best to get a model with a verified pure sine inverter with high efficiency. Many of the solar power stations below already come with this feature. A verified pure sine inverter will create a cleaner power similar to your home and use less battery.
Output
The power output of your battery should be close to your maximum energy needs. Therefore, a properly sized generator is key to getting the correct power output right. You will not have the necessary power to run all of your devices if your power output is less than your energy needs. This can lead to frustration if you constantly have to pick and choose what devices you can run at any given time.
Cost
Price is always going to be a factor when choosing a solar generator. Preferably, you will find an affordable option without making sacrifices (and we’re sure this guide will help you do just that.) Installation cost should not be overlooked when making the overall price calculation.
Our best advice is to look for middle-range products with good reviews. The lowest price or most expensive may not be the best choice.
5 Best Solar Generators For Camper Vans RV’s Or Off-Grid Living
Now that we know more about solar generators and how to find a high-quality product, let’s look at some of our favorite makes and models on the market.
1. Westinghouse iGen 1000s
The Westinghouse IGen1000s solar generator is the most budget-friendly option at just under $1k. It provides hours of electricity at a continuous 1500 watts. This handy power station can charge up to twelve devices simultaneously with an LED data center. Similar devices to the iGen1000s are the Pecron E1000, Jackery Explorer 1000, and the GoalZero Yeti 1000x.
As with all five solar power generators in this review, the IGen1000x is solar-panel capable, and we recommend you use the 100W Solar Panel or the 60W Solar Panel.
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2. Jackery Explorer 1500
The Jackery Explorer provides quiet, clean, accessible energy for camper vans, RVs, and off-grid living. It has enough power output to run a full kitchen and entertainment center and charge your portable devices. Similar devices include the Goal Zero Yeti 1500x and the Maxoak EB150 Portable Power Station.
Connect it to the Jackery SolarSaga 100W Portable Solar Panels, and you can live off-grid indefinitely, powered entirely by the sun.
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3. MAXOAK EB240 Portable Power Station
The Maxoak EB240 is an excellent option if you want to find a long-lasting, high-load portable power station to compliment your off-grid lifestyle.
At 2400Wh, the Maxoak is a bump up from the Jackery Explorer 1500, and every bit is capable of powering everything you need to run for off-grid living, van life, or RV weekend adventure.
Just like the others, the MAXOAK EB240 Portable Power Station is solar-panel capable, and we recommend you use the BLUETTI SP350/350W Solar Panel or the Renogy 12 Volt Solar Panel 100
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4. Goal Zero Yeti 3000x
The Goal Zero Yeti 3000x is a monster of a powerhouse capable of running your whole camper van or cabin yet compact enough to throw into the back of the Subaru for the weekend.
Goal Zero Yeti provides a high-end professional-grade power system that can run anything you plug into a conventional outlet. They make the best power inverters on the market, so you can’t go wrong with this one. All of that awesomeness does come with a price, though.
To go completely off the grid grab one of the Goal Zero Ranger 300 Briefcase Solar Panels. Similar power stations to consider are the Pecron E3000 and the Ecoflow Delta Max 2000.
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5. Ecoflow Delta Pro 3600
What a fantastic power station! With The Ecoflow Delta Pro 3600, you can power up to thirteen different devices simultaneously if you want to. We were able to plug a toaster and a refrigerator into the AC outlets and use the USB-A and USB-C ports to charge devices. Connect to one or more Ecoflow 160-watt portable solar panels and enjoy free solar power for days.
While this one can be a little noisy with a fan that constantly runs the reviews on EchoFlow and Amazon, both show how loved this one is. It has massive power and should be a strong consideration if you have a lot of demand for electricity in your camper van or off-grid home.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Solar generators are devices that provide home-like electricity without the need to be connected to any power source. They have two main components. The first is an integral solar panel that captures the sun’s rays and converts solar energy into electricity. Secondly, the solar generator takes the electricity generated from the solar panels and stores it in a high-performance battery.
Lastly, solar generators have several connections and outlets to plug in anything from a home appliance to a small mobile phone. Most importantly, you can use the power in the solar generator battery while the solar panels are charging!
Portable solar generators come in many different sizes and configurations. Some have enough power to run a completely off-grid home, while others are more suitable for lighter uses like car camping or watching that movie under the stars.
Perhaps the best benefit of a solar generator for off-grid living is that the energy is free and effortless to use. There is no need to worry about finding fuel, filling tanks, or electrical hookups. You simply need a good location with plenty of suns.
Solar generators are relatively maintenance-free, especially when compared to gas or diesel generators. Another perk is weight savings. Of course, batteries are heavy but not as heavy as a gas-powered motor. With a compact design and lighter weight, solar generators are more accomodating.
The size of the solar generator comes down to your individual needs and the power requirements you have. The power needed to run an entire RV, camper van, or off-grid home, including climate control, differs from a small vehicle or DIY camper or trailer.
If your needs are high-end, you will need a large generator or multiple. On the other hand, if you only want to power a few LED lights, charge your devices, and keep some food cold, you can get away with one of the entry-level solar power generators.
To calculate the size of the generator, follow these steps:
– Know your power needs.
– Add up the wattage for each appliance you intend to use, and multiply by the number of hours you plan to use it.
– Add 20% to this calculation as an extra margin to be conservative.
– Divide your extra margin calculation by 0.8 to determine the generator’s size.
Suppose your total power needs equal 2kwh. To properly size the generator needed, you multiply two by 1.20 and get 2.4kWA. Divide 2.4 by 0.8, and you end up with 3kVA, and this is the minimum size of generator you will need.
The amount of solar power your camper van or RV produces depends on how much surface area you have on the roof (for solar panels).
One of the main issues increasing solar panels is to make sure you have a place to store the excess power they produce. For example, you may get a lot of output when the sun is shining brightest, but you may not have enough electrical load to use it.
Too much solar will waste, and too little may not meet your needs. If you constantly produce too much electricity for your needs, you installed too many solar panels.
You could have more space on the roof for other things (like a deck) and more money in your pocket. For this reason, it is good to find the size of your solar panels and batteries for your needs before spending the money and installing them.
If you pull a vehicle behind your van or RV, one idea is to use an electric car to store excess solar energy!
