Using Solar Power Generators

As I have mentioned earlier, these so called "solar power generators" are small solar power systems and are NOT designed to power anything and everything just because they have AC outlets on them. Additionally, it is always better to use 12VDC powered items because DC-to-AC inverters waste power doing the conversion from DC to AC. An added bonus to using DC is that appliances are typically designed to use less power so they can be used safely in vehicles and not damage your battery or alternator. With this in mind, I advise everyone using small solar power systems to use them for powering DC appliances as much as possible and use AC appliances as little as possible.

To find 12VDC appliances think like and shop like a boater, RV camper, trucker, etc. I've linked to a couple of sites with appliances along these lines in my Useful Links section. Anyone with a Solar Power Generator should probably spend the $25 to $30 to get a 60 to 120 watts max. DC mini toaster oven like this one. Which can warm, cook, and pasteurize water (if needed). Pasteurizing water kills 99.99% of pathenogens and requires about 150 F (no need to boil).

Now when it comes to powering a computer, I recommend a low power notebook or netbook computer. I also recommend not using the power brick (as they call them) which is a transformer converting AC to DC. If you use this power brick to power your computer from your battery bank of your solar power generator you are converting DC to AC and then AC back to DC. Both of these conversions waste power. That doesn't sound too smart. So, go online to eBay or elsewhere or to Radio Shack and get the proper DC power adapter with an output of the appropriate DC voltage, current capabilities, and plug connector for your computer. This is far more efficient. The same goes for your cell phone and other electronics, get those DC power adapters!