How to Have Electricity When Off Grid

As more and more folks join the RV or Van Lifestyle with the goal of boondocking, they will need a means to power their laptops, TV’s, phones, cameras and other devices.

Boondocking in the Rocky Mountains

So, what’s the answer? Most turn to the sun. Some prefer generators. Generators can be cumbersome and noisy and can make for annoyance to others nearby. They also require fuel. That too can be cumbersome, messy and could be dangerous.

Some RV’s come with generators, making for convenience. Some van dwellers carry generators as a backup in case they are in an area where the sun may be limited for periods of time. Personally, I carry an inverter generator and in all the years I’ve boondocked, I’ve only had to use it once due to rainy conditions and lingering clouds. Otherwise, my portable solar panels have been adequate.

The energy from the sun, on the other hand is immeasurable. All you need to harness the sun’s energy is one or more solar panels, depending on your needs, a house battery, charge controller and an inverter. Solar panel manufacturers are popping up all over as the demand grows.

Portable solar panel

You can have solar panels affixed permanently to your RV or van or you can opt for portable solar panels. In my case, I have a portable solar panel called a suitcase solar panel. It’s 2 panels that fold similar to a suitcase and can be stored in your RV or van until needed. When you’re off grid, simply pull out your portable solar panel and position it in such a way as to capture the full sun and you can move it to follow the sun. Unlike a permanently attached solar panel that’s not as easy to position to follow the sun. Furthermore, some suitcase or portable solar panels include a charge controller.

The sun’s energy is then sent from the panel directly to your house battery where it’s stored. Your inverter is connected to your house battery and you can plug your laptop or other device into your inverter to power your devices.

Solar panel affixed to roof of van

NOTE: Depending on your energy needs will determine what size house battery and inverter you will need. This article is not going into detail for that. That is something you individually will need to determine.

Source: Most of the photos in this blog are provided courtesy of pixabay.com.

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