Is solar energy used just to charge my batteries, or can it actually “run” electrical appliances?
Technically you do not need batteries but the quality of electricity you will get from a solar panel will directly depend on the weather. If a cloud goes in front of the sun, the electrical energy produced from the solar panel will drop significantly. Think of it as someone randomly turning up and down the volume on your stereo. In practicality, you will want batteries in virtually all applications. Batteries can store energy even though the electrical supply to them is not “clean” ie. wide variations in supply current. When power is drawn from batteries, however, they will supply your electrical appliances with continuous, good quality electricity. Q: Is there a risk that if I use solar panels I might overcharge my batteries? A: Solar panels are normally wired through a charge controller to prevent overcharging. The regulator shuts off the solar electrical energy when the battery is fully charged. However, if you use a small solar panel (less than 20W) and your RV has significantly gr
