12v Solar Lighting System

What is a 12 volt solar panel system?

A 12V solar panel system creates a power output of 12 volts which is the most common used solar system setup used for caravans, marine and RV appliances, or for field communication radios and garden fittings like pond pumps or lights.

Is a 12V Solar System a good choice?

While the output from a 12V solar panel system may not be large enough to power an entire household, 12 Volt Solar Systems are very effective for powering smaller electrical and electronic devices. The best 12V Solar System setup is also flexible and portable and very cost effective.

Can a 12V circuit cause a fire?

Fuses are really important in a system like this. 12v systems aren't generally considered dangerous and are therefore perfect for this use; however there is a real possibility that a short circuit could cause a fire.

Can a solar panel charge a battery?

For those of you who are unfamiliar with the components of a solar charging system, it goes something like this: You can hook a solar panel straight up to a battery and charge it.... however this all goes very badly when the battery is fully charged and you will actually damage the battery if you push anymore current into it.

What are the different types of solar controllers?

There are two main types of controller; PWM and the MPPT Controller. (Thanks for the correction Malkaris) The first, PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) is better suited to low power applications (< 170W) however it is not capable of dealing with any over voltage generated by the solar array.