Small Solar Generator - Great Addition to Your Emergency Supplies

One thing most people don't consider when having their emergency kits prepared is power.  You need some sort of power for radios, tv's, computers, phones, cooking, etc.  Yes, having additional fuel, be it charcoal or fuel containers, for your grill is an excellent choice for an emergency kit, but those will not power up a radio for you.  Wait, you say, I have batteries.  Ok, what will you do once those batteries have worn down?  How much, exactly, do you intend to spend on an arsonal of batteries anyway?  Rechargers won't work without power.  

Solar power seems to be catching on as a viable choice for power needs for every day households.  This is a good idea but very expensive for the average family to impliment.  A small solar generator and small solar powered items are within the rhelm of affordability for most folks and just a good idea to help you out in a pinch of no power due to whatever causes it to go out.  

What you'll need:

1.  A solar panel.  

Do a search for solar stores online and you'll find a huge array of sizes and wattage panels.  For an emergency kit, you'll only need about 13 watts.  You are not powering your entire house, just a few basic needs.  

2.  A battery.

Not a car battery.  You'll need a marine battery or perhaps a golf cart battery.  These are built to withstand charging and draining over and over and over while car batteries are not designed for such usage.

3.  An inverter.

These also come in so many sizes that it can be confusing.  For a radio and perhaps a 13 inch television 400-800 watts is appropriate.  Ideally, an inverter with standard plug ins and a 12 volt plug in is best if you have any 12 volt appliances.

The process: