RV FEATURE
I ’ ve been advocating for portable lithium power stations , or solar generators as they are also known , for some time now . I ’ ve been using various models out in the field for more than two years and , even in that short period , the technology has advanced tremendously . So much so that the capabilities of the latest models from companies like EcoFlow and Bluetti are astonishing , to say the least .
But while they offer significant advantages over their petroldriven cousins , if they go flat , you can ’ t just ‘ fill them up ’ and get them going again . They need to be recharged . Fortunately , that need not be as daunting as it may seem . They can be recharged in a multitude of ways , some very quickly indeed .
In this tech special , we look at the various ways you can recharge your portable lithium power station , how long it will take to recharge , and the ways you can boost charging so you can be back up and running in no time at all .
SOLAR PANELS
It might seem obvious to talk about solar panels as an option for recharging solar generators but it is surprising how much confusion there is out there about it . For instance , all solar generators will have a maximum solar input rating in watts . As it turns out , you can connect higherwattage panels quite safely as long as they do not exceed the generator ’ s maximum solar voltage input . This is called ‘ over panelling ’ and it ’ s a safe way to improve solar recharging .
For example , let ’ s have a look at the EcoFlow Delta 2 we reviewed back in February . It has a solar input rating of 500W at a maximum voltage of 60V . Nothing is stopping you from connecting two 300W panels in parallel to the Delta 2 for a total of 600W as long as the voltage of the panels does not exceed 60V . These two panels will produce 500W with less sunlight due to their combined larger surface area . They will hit the solar generator ’ s maximum wattage earlier and hold that level later in the day .
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