Electrical set ups can be daunting at first and if you're just starting to do your research then we can imagine choosing a 12v solar system can be a daunting decision. There are so many different ways you can hook up a battery to a solar panel. However, if this is the first time you have come across words like: series, parallel, dual, alternator, fuses, currents, amps, watts, volts, DC to DC... and don’t even get us started with learning how to hard wire. If you aren’t lucky enough to have an uncle that’s been a sparky for 20 years and is happy to lend a hand then something like Hard Korr battery box and portable solar blanket is for you.
If you have just bought your first van, 4x4 or RV and just want to hit the road as soon as possible, we recommend one of the easiest plug and play systems from Hard Korr. The Hard Korr battery box has all of the 12v outlets, charging ports and connections you’ll need to be on the road in just a few days. This set up is designed for camping trips where you are more likely to be parked up for a few days or even weeks at a time. All you need is set of Crocskin portable solar panels, a Hard Korr lithium battery, Hard Korr Coloured lights and a Hard Korr battery box. This 12v solar system will allow you to charge your phone, your speaker, lights and run your fridge all at once for weeks.
If you are feeling confident enough to tackle some of the hard wiring yourself then it is possible to create a simple dual battery setup using the optional 50A Voltage-Sensitive Relay (VSR) and Dual Battery wiring kit Hard Korr offers This would allow you to charge the battery off your alternator as well, so that you do not have to rely on solar panels as much. If you do get the chance to do this, we recommend consulting an auto electrician as cars with a smart alternator do require a DC-DC battery charger to automatically tell the 12v system to charge the secondary battery when the mains battery is full. It is suitable for a range of battery types including AGM, Wet, Gel and Calcium however in this buying guide we are suggesting that a lithium-ion battery is the way to go if you want to get the most out of your portable power station.
When it comes to choosing a battery for your 12v solar set up, look no further than a lithium-ion, they are quickly becoming the more standard choice because of their long-term benefits and power output. Even though they are rapidly declining in price and are now more afforable than a few years ago, some people still get put off by the price, but after doing the research it's easy to see that you get what you pay for with a lithium-ion battery. Unlike lead acid batteries that can discharge just by sitting on concrete for too long, these 100AH deep-cycle lithium batteries are made up of four aluminium-encased prismatic cells wired in series, each with a nominal voltage of 3.2 volts. Whilst more expensive than most to manufacture, prismatic cells are more stable and shock-resistant than other options which mostly consist of banks made up of cylindrical cells wired together. These batteries use an advanced battery management system to ensure an even energy balance between cells and allow the batteries to be wired up in parallel or up to 4 in series. The battery management system in a Hard Korr Lithium battery contains an intelligent protection circuit module which prevents against over charging, over-discharge, short-circuits and over-heating.
Choosing a lithium-ion battery means your battery will last longer and provide a much greater reliability, with two significant advantages over lower quality deep cycle batteries. Firstly, the maximum discharge rate is 100Ah for 40 minutes or 150Ah for 2 minutes. This is especially important if you plan to use this battery in conjunction with an inverter. Secondly, you can connect four of these batteries in parallel or in series. This means you can create up to a 400Ah in a 12V setup, or a 100Ah in a 48V setup which would work a treat in any tiny home, but especially handy when just getting away for the weekend.
Why choose a lithium-ion battery?
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Lasts up to 10x longer than cheaper alternatives like Sealed Lead Acid (SLA) batteries
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Safely use up to 70% of usable capacity and 99% when jump starting (vs 50%/70% for SLA)
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About half the weight of an equivalent SLA battery at just 14kg
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Environmentally friendly and non-harmful to humans: Non-toxic, contains no acid and can be installed in any direction
Now that you’ve got your battery situation sorted, the next tricky thing is choosing how to charge them. Many people often make the mistake of buying solar panels that are not compatible with lithium-ion batteries. Hard Korr have made their entire range lithium compatible to make life easier for happy campers. As you may already know, in order to harness the power of the sun you have to have a few devices working all at once. Most superior quality solar panels will come with an in-built solar controller which is why we love these Hard Korr heavy duty portable fold out solar panels. Simply plug the 50A Anderson plug that comes included in the kit into your Hard Korr battery box and start charging right away. With 1.6 metres of canvas charging at double the strength of most fold-out portable solar blankets, it is easy to see why these Crocskin fold out solar mats were awarded two prestigious Global Media Awards at the 2018 SEMA Show. With a solid copper PCB board to enhance cell durability, the cell armour technology, extra-strong 1680D canvas, thicker wiring and detachable 5-stage waterproof solar controller, this little blanket of power can easily handle days in soaring temps with no problems.
The materials listed above are used to construct the portable solar blanket are resistant to both UV rays and heat, as well as flexible and impact resistant. Providing a protective barrier for the solar cells, increasing their durability and lifespan by years. In fact, the Crocskin coating on these fold out solar blankets held up perfectly in an accelerated weathering test that simulated 30 years of sun exposure, making them our ideal choice for off-road adventures in any weather.
Now for the best part. Once you have your solar panels, battery and battery box squared away and in working order get ready to hit the beach with these portable 12v camping lights from Hard Korr. With 2 different choices of lights designed specifically with the anti-bug dim orange setting, that has proven to reduce the attraction of flying visitors by up to 90%. This Hard Korr LED camping light kit is perfect for budget travellers who want more diversity for their camping vibe. Hard Korr have a choice to install either a 2,4 or 6-pack of camping lights anywhere on an awning or inside a 4X4 set up.
Simply plug into your Hard Korr Battery Box and it’s all you will need to illuminate your next epic adventure. A Hard Korr 12v camping light kit contains orange/white light bars with an output of 3,000 lumens as white, or 1,750 lumens as orange. With up to 32 metres of 12v camping lights to plug-and-play with, an extra-long light cable allows you to customise your lighting setup to suit your camping needs.
With all of this in mind, we truly back the team from Hard Korr as they are die-hard camping nerds, with so much experience under the belt. They’ve worked hard to bring customers an easy set up that anyone can understand, with the most user friendly 12v solar system and battery box designed to accommodate multiple 12v accessories at once, so we promise you won’t be disappointed.
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