12V Solar Panel – Everything You Need to Know

Last updated on December 12, 2023

There are many different types of solar panels that people use to harness and use energy from the sun. 12v solar panels are small solar panels that can power an RV, marine equipment, or car battery maintenance. They are often used in field communication radios, golf cars and garden fittings like pond pumps or lights.

How To Choose Between A 12v And 24v Solar Panel?

Solar panels come in different options that are cost-effective and eco-friendly. There are numerous factors to consider when choosing the best option to meet your needs.

While it may be challenging and confusing if you are unfamiliar with the solar panel market, it becomes easier when you narrow down the specific aspects to focus on.

During the screening phase of various brands in the market, you should consider things like product’s warranty, its power and availability, any services that come along with it, and the manufacturer’s credibility.

Solar panels have different voltage and wattage, which can be confusing for anyone looking to buy them. For instance, customers often ask about the difference between 12V and 24V solar panels. The main differences between them are the size of appliances they can be used for as well as differences in some technical specifications.

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In addition, there are five general areas that differentiate them. These are their compatibility with inverter, battery, charge controller, their applications (real uses), as well as pricing and range.

Compatibility with battery – The choice of solar panel should be compatible with the battery. For instance, a 12v solar panel works best with the 12v battery while the 24v solar panel suits the 24v battery. While there is no 24v battery in the market, it can be created by a connecting 12v batteries in series.
Compatibility with inverter – The solar panel you buy should be compatible with the inverter you have. The inverter’s voltage should match the voltage of the solar panel. For instance, a 12v solar panel goes well with a 12v inverter.
Compatibility with the charge controller – The choice of solar panel is also dictated by the inverter you own. It is important to note that at no point should a solar panel rating be higher than the charge controllers; otherwise, that will lead to damage.
Application – When shopping for a solar panel, it is important to consider your needs. For instance, a 12v solar panel is suitable for tourist vans, streetlights, home lighting, solar water pump, science project, fishing boats, office, solar bag, mobile charging, shops, small homes, mobile charging. On the other hand, the 24v solar panel would be perfect for offices, banks, hospitals, banks, solar parks, government buildings, parks, parking, apartments, factories and other on grid applications.
Pricing and range – The solar panel voltage has options based on the wattage. This could also dictate the cost of a solar panel. For instance, 12v or 24v solar panels may have different prices because they have different wattage.

Why A 12v Solar Panel Is A Great Investment For Our Home

With efforts directed to mitigating climate change, the focus has shifted towards finding and harnessing renewable energy.

The sun is a source of free and readily available energy everywhere. Considering how easy it is to develop and use it, solar energy is regarded as the greenest, most affordable, and cleanest type of renewable energy.

There are many benefits associated with solar energy and solar panels. Solar panels are also gaining popularity as people are exploring alternative sources of energy to deal with surging electric bills.

The benefit of solar panels is that they are not just affordable, but also generate clean electricity from the sun. The challenge of using solar panels as an energy source is that people are put off by the sizable initial cost.

➜ Cost effective – Solar panels are ubiquitously appreciated and associated with cutting energy costs. While initial investment in solar panels is high, it saves several months of electric bills in the long run.

This is because the energy bills are slashed significantly depending on power needs and solar panel power system capacity. By running on sun energy, the solar panels pay themselves many times over.

In some instances with a higher initial investment, solar panels could even generate a surplus of solar energy, which could then be used to generate extra income.

There is no additional cost beyond the installation of the solar panels as solar energy is free and renewable. With a lifespan of beyond 25 years, solar panels are a sustainable solution to energy needs.

➜ Generate extra income – Solar panels could potentially generate more electric power than you need especially when the sun is out. This surplus electricity could be sold back to local utility companies, thereby generating extra income for you.

➜ Easy to scale and versatile – Solar panels are versatile in that one doesn’t need to spend huge sums of money to consistently reap the benefits of sun energy.

You can start gradually with a cheaper and more affordable solar panel that can power a few electronics, and then scale up over time. Eventually, you can end up covering the entire roof with solar panels which allows you to reduce your dependence on the main electric grid.

➜ Raise property value – With solar panels, you can raise your property value and accelerate the resale process. Fitting power-generated solar panels to a property increases its value, because it guarantees monthly electric bills won’t be hefty.

Solar panels add an appeal to the property which goes a long way in finding a buyer if you decide to put the property on the market.

➜ An eco-friendly option – In today’s world where efforts are channeled towards curbing climate change, environmentally friendly options such as solar power are widely championed and appreciated.

Solar energy helps reduce gas emissions and carbon footprint which goes a long way towards protecting the environment. Beyond that, there are virtually no maintenance and repair costs associated with solar energy options.

How A 12v Solar Panel Works

Among other innovations, solar panels have been developed to help with energy conservation by harnessing the sun’s energy. There are several types of solar panels designed differently to suit the diverse needs of users.

For instance, the 12v solar panel is smaller and has a 12 volts’ power output. This output may not be sufficient to power the needs of an entire household. However, its size is suited for small electronic devices and appliances.

These small appliances include golf cars, field communication radios. RV appliances, car battery maintenance, and garden fittings like pond pumps. Basically, 12 volts’ panels can power any gadget or device whose power needs are within that range.

Solar panels charge batteries which then power the different appliances. That means the home load is determined by the inverter load capacity as well as the battery range, which dictates the backup time and power.

The Benefits Of A 12v Solar Panel

12V solar panels are ideal for smaller power needs, because they are not only flexible and portable, but also cost effective. The 12v solar panels are suited for those looking for affordable devices to power small energy needs.

This refers to devices that in the traditional sense were powered by conventional batteries or were used to charge the batteries.

Most people looking to acquire solar panels are often put off by their high initial cost, especially compared to the cheaper alternative of buying batteries.

However, when considering long-term costs, solar panels are a much more cost-effective option as they last longer and the equivalent cost of purchasing batteries is much higher.

The most significant advantage of 12v solar panels is that they are portable.

With their small size, they are easier to transport and can practically be used anywhere while the sun is up. Furthermore, their portability means they can be used on motorhomes and boats as well as other devices that have relatively small power needs.

How To Install 12v Solar Panel

Installing a 12v solar panel system is rather simple if you have the step-by-step guide. To set up a 12v solar panel, one needs to just grasp the basic things to check for and the order of installation.

➜ Plan for the installation – This is the first step of installing a 12v solar system. You begin by calculating or determining your electricity needs.

That could be done by going through your old electric bills. Knowing this helps you determine or design a system that can serve the average monthly power needs. For instance, you can use the off grid solar load calculator to determine the off-grid solar panel system for your boat, cabin, RV solar panels, or van.

➜ Designing the 12v solar panel system – After determining how much solar power you will need, the next step is assembling the specific components needed for the 12v solar panel installation.

Before embarking on installation make sure you have an inverter, the 12v solar panel (s), connectors and wiring cables, net metering box, mounting materials, protection material, as well as charge controller and battery.

The net metering box, usually provided by the utility company, is required if you are building into a grid-tie solar system, as it facilitates feeding the electricity to the main grid. For off-grid 12v solar system panels or back-up storage, a battery bank and a charge controller are required.

When choosing 12v solar panels, you should ensure that the total watts’ power can meet your needs and even provide a bit of wiggle room.

The choice of battery should be determined by both the capacity and your budget. The charge controller should not just be cost-effective, but also efficient in that it is the proper size. Your inverter should be largely based on the amount of power to be used.

The other miscellaneous parts for installation include the components that facilitate mounting of parts and connecting between the charge controller, solar panels, inverter, and battery.

Whether bought together or separately, it is important to have a checklist and to counter check after purchase to ensure you have everything you need ready.

➜ Purchasing materials – With the shopping list prepared, your next step will be to buy all the components for installation. Purchasing parts can be done individually or collectively.

The choice will be determined by your budget and availability of the materials.

➜ Installing the 12v solar system – Once all the installation materials have been delivered, the next step is installing the 12v solar panel. The first step is mounting the 12v solar panels.

There are numerous racking options for mounting 12v solar panels on your roof. However, when there is not enough room on the roof, the 12v solar panels can be mounted on the ground.

Once the solar panels are mounted, you can then proceed to install other components. When installing the other components, you should have them installed in a way that minimizes chances of damage and potential for power loss.

That can be ensured by properly using the pre-drilled holes to help with the mounting. The charge controller should be visible to facilitate monitoring of the solar power input. The inverter should be accessible to make it easy to plug electronics, and the inverter should be stored in a safe area because it generates heat while running.

You should not use the wire sizes recommended for your solar panel. In cases of multiple 12v solar panels, you need to be careful with the connection sequence whether it is parallel or series.

The basic 12v solar panel connection is such that the solar panels are connected to the charge controller (which is the regulator) that is connected to the battery, which in turn is linked to the inverter.

Once all this is done you are all set and ready to start using your 12v solar power.

How do 12v solar panels work?

12v solar panels convert solar energy into DC electricity, which is then converted to AC power to be used by domestic appliances. Solar cells, also called photovoltaic cells (PV), convert solar energy into electric power.

Why choose solar energy over electricity?

Solar energy is clean, easy to install, cheaper, low maintenance, environmentally friendly, renewable, and a sustainable alternative to fossil fuels (guaranteed for over 25 years).

How long do 12v solar panels last?

Most 12v solar panels have warranties for longer than 25 years. They are very efficient with a 90% production output.

Do 12v solar panels work when there is no sun?

No, they do not because their function and efficiency is dependent on the sun’s energy.

Is solar power classified as green energy?

Yes, 12v solar energy is green energy in the sense that it generates electrical energy without depleting earth’s nonrenewable resources. However, if they’re not properly disposed of, they can end up in landfills and with the heavy elements in them they leach to the ground and cause damage.