Get Those Products You Can’t Live Without Off the Grid

Can you remember a day where you didn’t use your cell phone? Even those of us who spent years in the “analog age” have a hard time remembering rotary phones or 8-bit video games. Nowadays, so much of our lives depend on power cords, chargers and outlets, while we simultaneously wrestle with a growing energy crisis that demands more conservation even as more electrical devices enter our homes.

Can we get those products we simply cannot live without off the grid? Well, the obvious solution is to install a home solar power system. But that’s not yet an option for many homeowners who can’t pick up the initial cost of solar electricity. Fortunately, home solar power is not an all-or-nothing proposition, and it’s fairly easy to get those indispensable home devices out of the energy foray.

Solar Chargers

Handheld solar chargers are growing sleeker and more powerful. All you do is charge your cell phone or iPod on the windowsill, patio or dashboard. Popular solar chargers include Suntrica’s flexible designs that can charge in place or on your body as a clothing accessory. The SolarSurge charger is specifically designed for today’s avid iPod listener.

PCs & Laptops

Computers may not draw as much wattage as other home appliances, but they’re often left running for extended periods of time and continuously pull power from the grid – even in sleep mode. There are specific solar systems designed to take your desktop computer system off the grid.

Laptops are a little more versatile. There is an array of available solar chargers with enough power to charge laptop computers. These are often flexible for easy portability and are sometimes built into personal accessories like handbags and backpacks.

One Panel at a Time

Assuming a full home solar power system is off the table, solar electricity can be built one solar panel at a time. Building a solar system incrementally has been made easier by the advent of microinverters, small inverters that mount onto each solar panel. While you may not be running your coffeemaker, toaster or other small electric device off the grid specifically, you can figure the amount of energy such gadgets consume and use a panel or two to offset that consumption. Single solar panels typically cost between $500 and $1000 and may be tied to the electric grid or tied to a bank of batteries for emergency power.

Photo Credits: The Gadgeteer & Preparedness Pro

Posted on October 20th in Solar Products by Dan.