How Solar Recharging Works and When It Makes Sense
Solar recharging is more accessible and powerful than ever, but how does it actually work, and is it the right solution for your energy needs? This guide breaks down the solar recharging process, explains key components like inverters and batteries, compares off-grid and grid-tied systems, and shows how to charge power stations and electric vehicles. Whether you want lower bills or to gain energy independence, you’ll learn when solar charging makes real sense and how to make it work for you.
How Does Solar Charging Work?
Here’s an overview of solar charging and the different components that make the system work.
Solar Panel Basics
Solar panels, sometimes called photovoltaics or PVs, are made of photovoltaic cells with semiconductor materials like silicon. When sunlight hits the surface, the photons of light stimulate the semiconductors to release electrons. Those electrons flow through the circuits as direct current (DC) electricity, a process known as the photovoltaic effect. How much energy they produce depends on your panels' size, rated wattage, and how much direct sunlight you get daily.
Role of Charge Controllers, Inverters, and Batteries
Batteries are an essential component of any system since they allow you to store the solar power you produce during the day for use at night and during bad weather.
The charge controller is a critical component for any system that includes a solar battery. It regulates the voltage (V) and current (A) flow into the battery to prevent overcharging and over-discharging, which could damage your battery. Fortunately, all EcoFlow solar batteries have a built-in Maximum Power Point Tracker (MPPT) charge controller, which is considered the most efficient available. It protects your battery from overcharging and uses algorithms to constantly monitor and optimize the charging process so you can maximize your output while protecting your investment. MPPT also works with high-voltage and low-voltage panels, making it the most versatile option.
Your home and most household appliances run on alternating current (AC) electricity, so you must convert the DC power your panels produce into AC electricity using an inverter. If your system doesn’t contain one, you may need to install a separate inverter. Again, all EcoFlow solar batteries have built-in inverters, so you don’t have to worry about them. They can supply AC electricity via wall plugs or DC via USB ports and 12V car plugs.
Off-Grid vs. Grid-Tied Setups
Grid-tied setups are where the home remains connected to the electrical grid. You can use your photovoltaic power, but you’ll rely on grid power at night or when your panels are not producing enough energy. While grid-tied systems technically don’t require batteries, they still benefit greatly since they allow you to use more solar energy and provide backup power when the grid goes down.
An off-grid system is typically much larger than an on-grid one and contains significant battery storage. In this case, your home is not connected to the electrical grid, and you have complete energy independence, producing and storing all the electricity you need.
The EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3 Solar Generator (PV400W) is perfect for any on-grid or off-grid setup. It offers reduced electrical bills and reliability for on-grid systems since its 4000W output battery can still supply energy to your essential appliances when the grid goes down.
For those going off-grid, adding extra batteries can expand your power capacity up to 12kWh. Thanks to its 2600W solar input with 2 PV ports, you can maximize your output. This would supply enough electricity for most large homes to go off-grid.
Example: Charging a Power Station (or EV)
To charge your power station, plug your PV panels into it using the supplied connectors, which are nearly universally compatible. A portable power station like the EcoFlow Solar Generators already has built-in charge controllers and inverters, so it will safely and efficiently charge and supply both DC and AC power on demand.
You can also charge an electric vehicle (EV) with photovoltaic panels. EVs consume about 4,666 kWh of electricity annually, and each kW of PV capacity produces about 4 kWh/day or 1,500 kWh/year. Therefore, you’d need to install 4,666 kWh/1,500 kWh or about 3.1 kW of PV capacity to charge a typical EV. If you use 400W PV panels, you need about eight panels on your roof or carport. You must also install an EV charging station at home, and then you can use the PV panels to run your EV charger. Finally, battery storage is essential to charge your car at night when your photovoltaics aren’t producing energy.
How Do You Know if Solar Makes Sense?
Consider the following factors to help you determine if it makes sense for you.
Energy Needs
Anyone with high electricity rates or power needs can benefit from a photovoltaic array's additional power and cost savings. It will keep those monthly bills down, and with battery storage, you will always have energy when you need it, even if the grid goes down.
For those with low energy needs, like those who travel or camp and need to recharge some devices and run lights at night, a small, compact, and very affordable system like the EcoFlow RIVER 3 Solar Generator is very beneficial.
Upfront Costs vs. Long-Term Savings
While the upfront installation costs can be high, plenty of loans, rebates, tax credits, and other incentives help reduce that cost. After the solar payback period, when the system pays for itself with the savings you earn, your energy could be free for 20 years. So, even without incentives, the upfront costs will always be worth it for the long-term savings.
When you use high-quality, affordable systems like the EcoFlow Solar Generators with excellent warranties, your long-term savings are assured. Cheap models with poor warranties typically need replacing far sooner, costing you more in the long run.
Available Sunlight
You should also consider the availability of sunlight since this will determine the time needed to charge a solar generator. Most homes have roofs that can accommodate PV panels, but it can vary depending on the condition of your roof. In the northern hemisphere, south-facing roofs are best, followed by east and west. You also need to consider shade from trees or buildings. Still, even with tricky situations, there are usually custom ways to install your system to produce energy efficiently.
EV Charging
EVs are a necessary step towards decarbonization. However, if your home relies entirely on the grid, it will still produce emissions since the grid is still heavily dependent on fossil fuels. To go carbon-free, you can use PV panels to charge your EV. It takes about eight 400W solar panels to charge an average EV. However, most of us are out when the sun is shining during the day, so batteries are essential to charge your car at night.
Solar Batteries' Role in Recharging
Solar batteries play an essential role in recharging. They store the energy your photovoltaic panels produce during the day so you can use it at night to recharge devices when the sun isn’t shining.
How They Store Energy
Solar batteries store the direct current (DC) electricity that the PV panels produce as DC energy. A charge controller controls the flow of charge from the panels into the batteries, preventing overcharging and over-discharging. That DC can then be used directly or converted into AC electricity using an inverter, which may already be built-in.
Types
There are different types of solar batteries, and not all are created equal. Older deep-cycle lead-acid models have a poor depth of discharge (DoD) of 50%, and only offer 300 to 500 charging cycles, or 3 to 5 years. Older lithium-ion models provided an 80% DoD and more charging cycles, but were prone to thermal runaway.
The newer LiFePO4 battery chemistry is safer, not prone to thermal runaway, offers a DoD of nearly 100%, and has 3,000 to 5,000 charge cycles, or about 10 to 15 years. This makes LiFePO4 batteries the superior choice, which is why they’re used in all EcoFlow Solar Generators.
Generators vs. Battery Banks
A solar generator is a portable battery system with a built-in charge controller, inverter, and photovoltaic input. It’s an all-in-one energy-generating solution, making generating and supplying the power you need easier with fewer components. However, their capacity may be limited.
A battery bank's primary function is to store energy. It generally doesn’t have extra components, like the charge controller or the inverter. You make them functional by pairing them with the EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3 Solar Generator (PV400W) to expand your storage capacity so you can run an entire home.
Benefits of Solar Recharging
One significant benefit of solar recharging is the enormous cost savings compared to grid power or traditional generators. It also offers substantial environmental benefits as a renewable, clean energy source that reduces our reliance on fossil fuels, lowers carbon emissions, and significantly reduces air, water, and soil pollution. Another benefit is its versatility. It can be used for household power, home backup when the grid goes down, EV charging, and portable power for RVs, traveling, and camping trips.
What Is the Biggest Drawback to Solar Power?
The biggest drawback of solar power is that it’s only available during the day since the sun must be out to produce the photovoltaic effect.
The other, often overestimated, drawback is weather dependence. Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need bright, sunny skies to produce energy. Panels still produce power on cloudy, rainy, windy, and even snowy days, albeit at a lower capacity. Your panels will rarely stop producing energy during bad weather unless completely covered by snow.
Both of these drawbacks are easily solved with an appropriately sized battery backup that stores energy for use at night or during bad weather.
EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3 Portable Power Station
Frequently Asked Questions
How To See How Much Sun a House Gets?
You can use solar irradiance maps of your region to estimate how much sun you will get. To get more precise estimates, there are plenty of apps on your phone that you can use to determine how much sun a particular house will get, including those that directly measure solar irradiance.
How Long Can a House Run on Solar Power Alone?
A home can run on solar power indefinitely for the system's life, about 25 to 30 years. Its ability to produce enough power depends on the size of the array, battery capacity, available sunlight, and your energy needs.
What Happens to Solar Power When Batteries Are Full?
When the batteries are full, the charge controller (usually built into quality solar batteries) will stop the energy flow into the batteries to prevent overcharging and damaging your battery. Any excess solar energy is typically diverted to a backup system (if available) or simply not used.
Final Thoughts
Solar recharging works by converting sunlight into electricity using photovoltaic panels, then storing or converting that power to use in your home or to power devices and EVs. Whether you choose a grid-tied system for lower bills or an off-grid setup for complete energy independence, the right solar solution can provide enormous long-term savings while reducing environmental impact. Systems like the EcoFlow DELTA Pro 3 Solar Generator (PV400W) make powering your life with the sun, day or night—simple.