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As Featured On EzineArticles10 Things To Know About Solar Power
Tutorial Part 9 of 10: Weatherproof, but...

Solar panels are outdoor things. They need sunlight. Therefore, they are made to be somewhat weatherproof. However, they are electrical devices, and are NOT waterproof...

How tough are portable solar panels? Can a folding panel be left out in the rain? Can you do a kayak roll with a rollable solar panel lashed to the deck?

The answers to these questions are: somewhat, yes, and if you design the system properly.

By their very nature, solar panels are meant to be used outdoors. Manufacturers design solar panels and solar chargers to withstand some wetness, wind & dust. However, these are electrical devices, and so should be exposed to the elements with care. Since you are not likely to get much charging out of your panel on days where the rain is falling, it is probably better to store the panel until the heavy rain clouds clear off. If your panel gets wet, wipe it down as soon as possible. Pooling water has a way of damaging most things.

Try not to over fold the panel. Fold it the same way each time to limit stress on the wiring in the fabric hinges.

Want to do a kayak roll? I advise using only rollable solar panels that offer the most waterproof construction of any. PowerFilm solar panels offer a gasketed output cable that can be strung down under the deck to a storage battery that can be kept in a dry bag (with some air space). We do not recommend using anything so sealed as a Pelican case for a battery pack, as all batteries need to be vented while charging.

In short, keep your solar panel clean, dry, and wrinkle-free in order to ensure a long life.

Please feel free to contact us with any questions regarding your solar project... mail@modernoutpost.com

Next...Part 10: System Design ABC's

Solar tutorial intro
Part 1: The Balance of Power
Part 2: Power & Portability
Part 3: DC not AC
Part 4: Clouding the Isuue
Part 5: Covering all the Angles
Part 6: Batteries not Included
Part 7: Amps & Volts
Part 8: Making Connections
Part 9: Weatherproof, but...
Part 10: System Design ABC's

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