There has been a trend for some time with some of the more forward thinking solar manufactures going to larger solar panels. This is more of short lived fad, but rather an opportunity, especially for American based solar panel manufactures to capitalize on their unique advantage over Chinese panel manufactures which is less shipping costs.

Freight adds a substantial non-value added cost to the price of solar panels. Helios Solar Works has taken a giant step forward to utilize their central US location and gorilla marketing tactics. Really smart of some folks over at Helios. Why? I recently helped a homeowner put together a 30 panel system in Wisconsin where we started with the more common 245 watt panels. Trouble was we could not get all the power the homeowner wanted on the roof of his shop. By simply switching to 300 watt panels, we achieved his goal of 7 kW + and kept his cost more in line with his budget.

Fast forward just a few months. Helios has recently come out with their 9T6 400 watt series panels. Though this monster weighs in at a hefty 75 lbs, this 96 mono-crystalline cell beauty is a sight to see.  Solar panel manufactures has long sought ways to cut down on the amount of space taken up over a solar cell which even so slightly restricts rays of the sun from being fully exposed. The more of the solar cell that is exposed, the higher the panels output. No question about it, high-performance large modules offer higher efficiency and lower installation costs because they cover with less labor and less roof racking needed.

Helios Solar Works is headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. They manufacture their solar panels using materials sourced from regional and U.S. suppliers whenever possible. Manufactured end-to-end in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (USA) using Helios Solar Works advanced, automated platform and a local workforce makes Helios and American sucess story they should be yelling about in Washington.

Revised 5/6/2013 – Saturday New Jersey Gov. Christie implemented a gas-rationing system reminiscent of the 1970’s. Can emergency solar generators provide a viable substitute? Super-storm Sandy was indeed a terrible disaster but maybe it should be treated as a wake up call. Americans sit complacent on their couches content watching Honey Bo Bo and dancing with the stars while their country is fighting two wars and our climate is undeniably changing.

Come-on America, instead of complaining about the long gas lines maybe its time to take some personal responsibility for the lights in your home. We want smaller government… until we need it. Emergency solar generators do not need fossil fuel and can virtually last a lifetime with a minimum of replacement parts. Wouldn’t it be nice to have your refrigerator running and a few lights on when the next Sandy hits? Emergency solar generators come in all types, sizes and price tags but there is one for every pocketbook or circumstance.

Small solar generators start from $1,500 to $4,800 and will power a few small lights and radio to a refrigerator. Taking up little space, the Ecotricity has two fold-able 45 watt solar panels on a cart that plugs into the inverter and battery pack. The 4.8 kW (4800 watt) kit provides you with dependable backup battery power when you need it most. Fully automatic, this emergency solar backup power center can sit in your garage keeping the batteries topped off. Don’t worry, the Magnum Energy MM-RC25 remote control monitor located on the outside of the front of the cabinet will show you your battery state of charge and tell you if something is wrong.

Farther up the scale is the 10K home backup kit. The 10kW kit provides you with dependable emergency battery power when you need it most. The backup power kit provides you with dependable power stored in 8 powerful sealed AGM batteries with an option to add 16 more. Fully automatic, the power center will detect a utility power blackout and automatically switch over to your battery bank whether you are home or gone. The most compact and functional design on the market provides for location flexibility to add solar panels and qualify for a 30% federal tax credit. the powder coated outdoor cabinet has a keyed lock for security, advanced digital LED display, AC power outlets and 4400 watt continuous AC power inverter / charge controller.

Whatever your needs, consider the “what if” before it becomes reality.

According to media reports, Saudi Arabia plans to meet a third of its electrical power needs from solar by attracting US$109 billion in investment for the establishment of a specific industry. Meanwhile, Mecca is planning to install 100 MW of solar panels.

A group of up to 20 solar panel bidders are expected to compete for the projects, which are scheduled to be announced next January 5. “We want to be first city that owns power plants and hopefully the first in the Muslim world,” said al-Bar in an interview.

Overall, Bloomberg reports that Saudi’s central government is looking to attract investment of up to $109 billion to establish a solar grid tied industry in the region, with the aim of harnessing a third of the kingdom’s power needs from solar energy. “The target is almost as much as the $136 billion invested worldwide in solar energy last year, according to Bloomberg New Energy Finance.”

At the start of May, the governments King Abdullah City for Atomic and Renewable Energy (KA-CARE) announced Saudi Arabia’s ambitious plans to install 41 GW worth of solar by 2032. The program aims to “catapult Saudi Arabia into the group of global leaders in renewable-energy development.”

Source: PV Magazine

You know what really burns my backside besides a flame about waist high? It’s the Congressional Republicans tossing out bull about Solyndra while they quietly pass billions… yes billions in subsadies and bailouts for big oil, wall street, cheese, milk and coal. Yes Solyndra failed, but so did the first 12 atlas rockets before we got it right and flew to the moon! Home grid tied solar is here to stay so get over it and move on. Too many people are wise to the bull in Washington.

Here is the big headline “The House of Representatives passed a bill to tighten up oversight on the Department of Energy’s loan guarantee program.” (Did they also pass a bill to tighten up Wall Street… before we have to bail them out again?)

Titled the “No More Solyndras” Act, H.R. 6213 takes aim at the Obama administration backed solar energy manufacturing firm that applied for bankruptcy in 2011 after receiving more than $500 million in federal support through the DOE loan guarantee program. Such loan guarantees were part of the $787 billion American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009, which spent multiple billions backing upstart technology companies and renewable energy installations.

The House vote September 14 was 245-161. According to reports, 22 Democrats broke ranks and voted for the bill, along with all but four Republicans.

The proposed legislation would restrict eligibility for future loan guarantees to projects that submitted applications before December 31, 2011. This could leave $34 billion in authorized money to provide financial backing to applications made before that date.

Should the bill pass into law it would also require the Treasury Department to review solar guarantees. The DOE to consult with Treasury on changes, terms and conditions and other aspects of loan guarantees. The bill also would impose administrative sanctions and civil penalties of $10,000 to $50,000 on federal officials who violate the requirements of the program.

The bill was introduced by Fred Upton, R-Mich., who chairs the House Energy and Commerce Committee.

The California-based Solyndra was the first renewable energy company to win a loan guarantee to help it bring its cylindrical photovoltaic panels to market. After going bankrupt, some analysts and company formers blamed the company’s failure on inexpensive solar components made in China flooding the American market.

Before its bankruptcy, members of the Obama administration pointed to Solyndra and companies like it as an example of how the U.S. would build a new renewable energy economy and create green jobs. (Fact check, grid tied solar has created thousands of new high tech jobs they cannot export.) Since, Republicans have called the company an expensive government boondoggle that left taxpayers responsible for millions in mismanaged funds. (Unlike the wall street bailout!)

Source: Elp

Nomad 7 solar watt off-grid solar panel kit includes the Guide 10 battery pack with 4 rechargeable batteries. With the Nomad 7 solar panel and the Guide 10 power pack you can recharge and go. If you want to get an idea how long it will take to power up your small electronic gadget, Goal Zero has field tested this kit with an independent team of outdoors experts.

The Nomad 7 watt solar panel will charge most USB and 12V gadgets directly from the portable solar panel. You can also charge multiple small electronic devices simultaneously if they are connected to both the USB and the 12V output ports. The Nomad 7 watt solar panel splits the incoming solar power to both output ports. Goal Zero calls the re-power numbers TrueWatt charging times. iPod = 2 hours. Garmin GPS about 2 hours. Charging a cell phone 1 hour. Go Pro Camera, 4 hours and last but not least this solar panel will charge a Satellite phone in about 2 hours.

The Nomad 7 watt solar panel is weather resistant but it is not waterproof. That means you will not damage the portable solar panel by getting it wet, but don’t try and hold it underwater. You also need to keep in mind that the Nomad 7 watt solar panel needs to pointed at the sun for it to deliver a full 7 watts of power. These high tech solar panels have more power per square inch than any other solar technology. But keep in mind that mono-crystalline solar panels need to be kept free of shading to work properly.

You iPhone users might want to make a note that the iPhone can be pretty prickly when it comes to power sources. If you attempt to charge your iPhone directly from the Nomad 7 watt solar panel, the iPhone may display a compatibility warning which you interpret as broken. Part of the problem is the inherent inconsistency of solar with clouds passing over or other shadows. Oh, wait, that’s not a problem with the Guide 10 Adventure Kit because it not only includes the Nomad 7 solar panel but also rechargeable batteries. Power your iPhone using the USB port on the Guide 10. Problem solved!

When out on the water or spending a weekend with your RV, your system just needs to work. With a Magnum inverter charger on the right RV solar kit, not only can you rest easy knowing everything will function as specified, but Magnum inverters / chargers are extremely easy to install.

Magnum offers both sine wave and modified sine wave models to choose from for your RV solar kit, so that you can choose what’s right for you and not have to spend money on features you don’t need. From the MS Series that will power your plasma TV to the MM Series that provides a cost effective solution to smaller energy needs, Magnum Energy has you covered.

Travel with your RV with the comfort of knowing that a Magnum Energy inverter / charger is at the center of your RV solar kit. With efficient chargers and lightweight structures, Magnum inverter / chargers are designed with an RV system in mind. You’ll stay on the road and moving if you purchase your RV solar kit with a Magnum inverter / charger.

The MMS Series Inverter / Charger is a pure sine wave inverter providing a cost effective solution for those with smaller power needs in mobile applications. Versatile, easy-to-use, and lightweight, the MMS Series provides a reliable base for your energy system. Power Factor Corrected (PFC) Charger: Magnums PFC charger is built into all of Magnums inverter / chargers. It uses less energy from a generator than a standard charger using 25-30% less AC current than standard chargers.

Safe and reliable: The MMS Series is ETL Listed to the stringent requirements of UL/cUL 458 and CSA C22.2 #107.1-01 for mobile use. Attractive styling: The modern, hourglass case, paired with the die cast aluminum base combines form with function, creating an attractive unit that uses its base as a heat sink for superior high temperature operation you will appreciate with your RV solar kit.

The standard 20 amp transfer relay will pass AC power through the inverter when using shore or generator power. If your battery voltage reaches below 10 VDC or above 17 VDC, the Magnum MMS Series will automatically shut down. Mount the MMS Series on a shelf, bulkhead, or even upside down. The MMS Series is fan cooled, enabling the unit to work well in confined spaces. If the inverter does exceed its temperature limits, it will automatically shut down and then restart when it cools down. The MMS Series will automatically shut down if its output wattage is exceeded or it detects a short in the wiring, saving the unit from costly damage. The MMS Series comes with an on/off front-mounted switch with an easy-to-read LED indicator. This RV solar inverter comes with built in input and output circuit breakers for ease of installation. The standard battery temp sensor monitors temperatures from 0 – 50° C. The MMS Series is backed by a two-year (24-month) parts and labor warranty so you can enjoy your RV solar kit with Magnum inverter for years to come. All Blue Pacific Solar’s RV solar kit order fulfillment is free.

Brunton portable power along with Goal Zero leads the way. The leading manufacturers of camping equipment for today’s outdoor adventure, Brunton Outdoors is located in a new, state-of-the-art facility at the gateway to the Wind River Mountains in Riverton, Wyoming. Goal Zero has a modern state-of-the-art facility in beautiful Idaho. Brunton and Goal Zero portable power are well known for their innovation in camping. Discover a universe of outdoor portable solar panels with Goal Zero and Brunton.

Brunton and Goal Zero portable solar power panels continues to expand portable power devices and gadgets with the new restore charger hybrid Brunton portable power device which features solar panels and battery storage. The new Restore from Brunton power is a hybrid power device delivering power for USB-based items nearly anywhere and at any time. The Restore, big brother to the new Freedom charger, features two powerful polycrystalline portable power solar panels that fold clam-shell style for added protection. Brunton Portable power Restore is capable of withstanding the rigors of the outdoors but stylish enough to carry every day. 5v / 2,200 mAh battery 1,000 mA output Two 100 mA Brunton portable power solar panels gauge rubberized housing for increased durability.

Brunton and Goal Zero portable power – Consumer Electronics: Handheld Devices & Rechargeable Batteries Application: Charges/runs most handheld electronic devices such as MP3 players, cell phones, digital cameras, Personal Digital Assistants; and is also compatible for running most AA/AAA Ni-Cd and Ni-M-H battery chargers. How to use: Connect the 12 V vehicle power outlet receptacle to the Folding Solar Panel. Insert the adaptor (male) included with the handheld electronic device or battery charger into the 12 V vehicle power outlet. Place the panel in direct sunlight. Consult Goal Zero or Brunton appropriate “Product Application Chart” for charging times. 12 V Accessories Application: Charges/runs most 12 V accessories. How to use: Connect the 12 V vehicle power plug to the Folding Solar Panel. Insert the 12 V vehicle power plug directly into the socket of the 12 V accessory. Consult appropriate “Product Application Chart” for charging times.

Brunton portable power – Vehicle Batteries – Application: Trickle charges and maintains car / RV / marine batteries. How to use: Connect the 18” battery clamps to the Folding Solar Panel. Directly connect the 18” battery clamps (included with the Folding Solar power Panel) to the vehicle battery. Or Connect the 12 V vehicle power plug to the Folding Solar Panel. Insert the 12 V vehicle power plug directly into your car’s cigarette lighter outlet. Place the solar charger on the car’s dashboard so that it receives direct sunlight. NOTE: The Folding Solar Panel is not designed for continuous outdoor use. Disconnect and store the solar charger in a cool, dry place when not in use.

Brunton and Goal Zero portable solar frequently asked questions:

How do I know that my folding solar panel is working? Check the charge indicator light or bar on the handheld electronics or accessory. For battery charging, the product can be
tested with a volt meter.

How do I know what size to use? For Goal Zero and Brunton equipment if you click on our live chat we will guide you to the best portable solar charger.

Will this product drain my battery at night? No. The Brunton portable power and Goal Zero solar panels have built-in reversing diode and charge regulator that prevents the solar array from discharging your battery at night.
What happens if the portable solar power panel gets wet? All our Brunton and Goal Zero portable solar chargers are durable built to withstand the rigors of backcountry living. But keep in mind they are electronic which means you should not submerse the portable solar panels and dry after using before you store the equipment. Wipe the product with a clean, dry cloth and allow the product to dry before folding for storage.

Can I leave the portable solar power panel outside for continual use?

Portable solar products are not designed to be kept permanently outdoors. If you have that type of application, consider a ridged solar panel.

Should the solar panel be disconnected from the car battery when starting the engine?

Brunton as well as Goal Zero portable solar power panels warrants their product to be free of defects in materials and workmanship for 1 year. This warranty extends to the original purchaser from the date of purchase. This warranty is void and a charge for repair will be made if the portable solar panel has been damaged by negligence, accident or mishandling, or has not been operated in accordance with standard operating procedures, or if the product was altered or repaired by anyone other than a Brunton or Goal Zero repair facility. No other warranty, expressed or implied, applies to the Brunton or Goal Zero product, nor is any person or company authorized to assume any other warranty for Brunton or Goal Zero. Brunton or Goal Zero does not assume any responsibility for any consequential damages occasioned by this product. Should the product prove defective, contact Brunton, and you will be provided with a Return Authorization Number (RA#).

Brunton portable solar power panels – CAUTION: Check for compatibility and fit of adaptors before using the unit to charge electronic devices. Improperly seated adaptors can be a shock hazard and may damage the electronic device. CAUTION: The USB output from this unit is built for USB 2.0 compatible 5V units. DO NOT use any Brunton or Goal Zero portable power device to power medical equipment, life support or other critical devices.

Brunton portable solar power panels – Charging with a USB cable that was supplied with your 5V electronics. To fully charge your Brunton Restore unit. Unplug the Mini USO connector from the side of the unit. Plug the USB cable supplied with your portable electronic device into the USB port on the Brunton Restore. Plug the other end of your cable into the electronic device needing power. Wait unit the electronic device is fully charged. Unplug the cable from the electronic device and from the Brunton portable power Restore battery charger. Reseat the mini USE connector into the port on the Brunton portable power Restore battery charger. Recharge unit as necessary.

Buy Brunton and Goal Zero portable solar chargers directly from our website as we ship worldwide. We have a wide range of high-quality Brunton and Goal Zero portable solar chargers and portable batteries from which you can get your mobile phones, digital cameras, PDAs and other electrical devices charged up anytime and anywhere. You can get these stylish quality useful solar mobile phone chargers on our on-line shopping store at cheap prices. Blue Pacific Solar will provide you the lowest price and the best service you have ever received. Brunton makes everything small and tetchy in your pack. Best known for their compasses, Brunton also makes stoves, wilderness power accessories, all kinds of navigation instruments, binoculars and lanterns. Never content to sit on their heels, Brunton is always devising new and better ways to explore.

Brunton and Goal Zero portable power high-quality cheap solar technology is incorporated into a range of products from their foldable portable solar chargers, offering everyone from outdoors enthusiasts to commuters to military applications a solution to charge their phones, laptops, car batteries, to solar panels and power devices anywhere around the globe. Goal Zero and Brunton are the leaders in the portable solar technology field. Goal Zero portable power quality cheap solar rechargeable electronic batteries, portable battery packs, are used for; backpacking the Grand Canyon, mobile power, emergency survival power, military solar power applications, wilderness power, search and rescue portable power, disaster portable power, backpacking, hiking, camping hiking, trekking, cycling, RV car truck snowmobile marine battery trickle charging, off grid power, mountain outdoor vacation, mountains vacations power hiking trail adventure, and outdoors trips. All Brunton and Goal Zero portable power solar chargers products are plug and play technology. Buy a quality durable Brunton or Goal Zero portable solar power or portable rechargeable battery.

Powerful and compact, the Boulder 15 watt portable flat solar panel is perfect for camping or a Saturday at the park. 15 watts of efficient monocrystalline solar technology, the Boulder 15 watt solar panel can be linked together with several other panels to give you all the power and convenience that lightweight ridged panels offer.

The Boulder 15 watt solar panel from Goal Zero is one of the best designs for portable ridged solar panels we have seen. All our solar energy consultants were pumped when we checked out the durable and lightweight aluminum frame on the Boulder 15 watt solar panel. The black monocrystalline solar panels are some of the most efficient available on the market. Monocrystalline solar is thought to be the workhorse of panels in the industry. Because monocrystalline is a purer form of silicon crystal, it is more efficient but also more expensive. The high price of monocrystalline solar panels also means you are getting more electricity production per square inch of panel that other types solar products. Another advantage of monocrystalline solar is the life expectancy is a minimum of twenty-five years and longer.

When Goal Zero designed the high efficient Boulder 15 watt solar panel they really covered all the bases. You can hang the Boulder 15 solar panel from just about anything and also chain multiple solar panels together using the quick clip (sold separately). The Boulder 15 watt solar panel has a handy power cord that allows you to easily plug the solar panel into the Extreme power packs (sold separately) storing the power you are producing in a battery for when you need it. The Boulder 15 watt solar panel is waterproof, but don’t place it underwater remembering the panel is producing electricity.

When using your Boulder 15 watt solar panel you should also consider shading. The Boulder 15 is a smaller version of its older brother. Because the monocrystalline solar cells are wired in series, if you shade one panel you can restrict the generation of electricity. If you shade a row, you can knock out the power entirely with what’s commonly called the Christmas tree effect.

While you are RV camping or at the park, a good rule of thumb to optimize your collection of solar energy is to angle the Boulder 15 at about the same latitude where you are using the panel. That means while camping in North Carolina, you might want to angle the Boulder 15 watt solar panel at about 35 degrees tilt and pointed directly south. A really cool method of making sure your Boulder 15 watt solar panels are at the optimum position is to take a block of wood, hold it on the face of the panel at noon until there is no shadow and you are in. We think you will be pleased with the performance of the Boulder 15 watt solar panel.

As someone who has climbed the face of mountains and spent a significant amount of time backpacking remote trails in the Grand Canyon, I have come to appreciate (and respect) nature is all it’s forms. Maybe for that reason I remain keenly aware of any act of man that blisters our environment. Solar panels are a no brain-er technology that we should push on every level for many, many reasons.

The sun strikes every square meter of our planet with more than 1,360 watts of power. Half of that energy is absorbed by the atmosphere or reflected back into space. 700 watts of power, on average, reaches Earth’s surface. Summed across the half of the Earth that the sun is shining on, that is 89 petawatts of power. By comparison, all of human civilization uses around 15 terawatts of power, or one six-thousandth as much. In 14 and a half seconds, the sun provides as much energy to Earth as humanity uses in a day.

The numbers are staggering and surprising. In 88 minutes, the sun provides 470 exajoules of energy, as much energy as humanity consumes in a year. In 112 hours less than five days it provides 36 zettajoules of energy as much energy as is contained in all proven reserves of oil, coal, and natural gas on this planet.

If humanity could capture one tenth of one percent of the solar energy striking the earth one part in one thousand we would have access to six times as much energy as we consume in all forms today, with almost no greenhouse gas emissions. At the current rate of energy consumption increase about 1 percent per year we will not be using that much energy for another 180 years.

Consider for a moment the effect putting solar panels on nearly every home in America coupled with electric cars could have on our security, the air we breath and society as a whole. In our cities we would not have to breath dangerous gasses that are killing us. We would make huge strides to pass on to our children a better planet than was given to us. There would be no need for the Treasure of this great nation to be sacrificed 10,000 miles away to keep our SUV’s running. The list goes on and on.

Smaller, cheaper, faster: Does Moore’s law apply to solar cells?

There is a lot of talk lately about Moore’s Law in regards to solar panels. In the computer technology field, Moore’s law says that the number of components that can be placed on a chip doubles every 18 months. According to Scientific American, if Moore’s Law were applied to solar power technology, we would eventually have the solar equivalent of an iPhone very cheap, mass produced energy technology many times more effective than the giant and centralized technologies it was came from.

Over the span of thirty years, the cost of PV cells in solar panels has reduced 7 percent each year on average. If this continues, the cost of this one form of renewable energy will be just over 50 cents per watt in 20 years. Solar panels historically have been about half the installed cost of a solar power system. With the cost of installation falling at the same rate as solar panels, the cost of solar in the U.S. will cross the current average retail electricity price of 12 cents per kilowatt hour in 2020. In fact, given that electricity prices are currently rising a small fraction per year, prices will probably cross earlier, around 2018 for the country as a whole, and as early as 2015 for the sunniest parts of America.

Any argument against developing solar panels as a main energy source in American has to be coming from a source directly connected to the petroleum industry, or worse. If solar is here to stay, wouldn’t it be great if we accelerated the installation of solar panels and applied Moor’s law fulfillment of the promise of solar in our lifetime?

Source Scientific America Author – Ramez Naam

Those of you that know me know I spend a lot of time outdoors in remote locations modeling and field testing portable solar panels when I am not selling solar at work. Recently I spent the weekend doing a bikini shoot near Cabo San Lucus Mexico. Jeff, the photographer, was shooting me and the other girls using a Nikon D800 with rechargeable EN-EL15 Li-ion batteries which we (he) kept charged using a Goal Zero portable solar panel and portable battery. (You can follow Sally on Twitter @Sally_Solar)

Use to be that if you were going to do outdoor shoots in remote locations you had to bring along a generator to keep things charged up. (The electronic devices, stay focused) Now portable solar panels with off-grid battery storage will do the same job, but without the noise of a nasty generator.

This is not the first remote photo shoot I have done with Jeff, but it is the first time we recharged his camera equipment batteries and other electronic devices depending entirely on portable solar panels. We arrived on site on Saturday late morning after flying then driving to our remote location. Jeff liked the rock structure at this particular site and had used it before, though not with me. After my photo set was done, Jeff switched battery packs leaving a set of batteries on the Goal Zero Extreme 350 which was being recharged with the Nomad 27 watt portable solar panel.

The Goal Zero Nomad 27 and Extreme 350 portable battery would be our source of power for our cell phones and Jeff’s camera equiupment throuout the weekend. When Saturday evening arrived Jeff was able to review his days work by plugging in his laptop inside his tent. The other bikini model that also was along for the shoot were able to recharge our cell phones using the Goal Zero portable solar panel and battery.

The Goal Zero Nomad 27 watt solar panel was more than enough charging power to keep all of our batteries topped off. A great value, Nomad 27 watt portable solar is for anyone needing power on the go. The Nomad 27 watt solar panel is great for weekend camping or epic travel adventures. You will love how durable this portable solar panel is. It is amazing how user friendly the Nomad 27 watt solar panel is attached to the side of your tent or hung off your car. The Nomad 27 watt portable solar panel will keep your music going on your iPod or power up your iPad to upload your Facebook photos while off-grid.

The entire two days we spent at the site near Cabo San Lucus Mexico felt like a slumber party with a bunch of girls in bikinis and t-shirts. Needless to say the atmosphere was hot and not because of the temperature. Bunch of girls in bikinis in a remote location was a kick. It would have not been near as much fun if we were using a generator instead of portable solar panels with a portable battery to recharge the equipment.

About the Author: Sally S. is a part time model and full time solar sales associate. You can follow Sally on Twitter @Sally_Solar.