Portable renewable energy power system
Various examples described herein are directed to portable renewable energy power systems comprising a solar module comprising a plurality of photovoltaic cells; a battery module comprising a plurality of battery cells; a user interface comprising at least one input device and at least one display; an alternating current/direct current (AC/DC) converter; a direct current/alternating current (DC/AC) converter; and a control module comprising at least one processor.
1. A portable renewable energy power system, the system comprising:
an enclosure having a first side hingably attached to a second side carried by the enclosure;
a deployed position wherein a first solar panel and a second solar panel are exposed and face away from the enclosure;
an un-deployed position wherein the first solar panel and the second solar panel are received within the enclosure and covered by the first side and the second side;
a battery module carried by the enclosure;
an alternating current/direct current (AC/DC) converter carried by the enclosure;
a direct current/alternating current (DC/AC) converter carried by the enclosure; and,
a control module programmed to configure the system among a plurality of configurations including:
an external charge configuration wherein in the external charge configuration, the system is configured to receive an alternating current (AC), convert the AC to a direct current (DC) with the AC/DC converter, and provide the DC to charge the battery module;
a solar charge configuration wherein in the solar charge configuration, the system is configured to receive solar generated power generated from at least of the first solar panel and the second solar panel, and charge the battery module with the solar generated power; and,
a solar and battery configuration wherein in the solar and battery configuration, the system is configured to convert the DC from at last one of the first solar panel and the second solar panel, and battery to an output AC with the DC/AC converter and an output DC.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first solar panel and the second solar panel is foldable along a hinge.
3. The system of claim 1 including a strut carried by the enclosure for supporting at least one of the first solar panel and the second solar panel away from the enclosure.
4. The system of claim 1 wherein the control module is further programmed to configure the system according to a hybrid power configuration wherein in the hybrid power configuration, the system is configured to receive a solar generated power, convert the solar generated power to a solar AC with the DC/AC converter, provide the solar AC to a load, determine that the solar AC is insufficient to drive the load, convert a battery generated power to a battery AC with the DC/AC converter, and provide the battery AC to the load.
5. A portable renewable energy power system, the system comprising:
an enclosure having a solar module, a battery module, an alternating current/direct current (AC/DC) converter and a direct current/alternating current (DC/AC) converter;
a control module carried by the enclosure comprising at least one processor, wherein the control module is programmed to configure the system according to:
a solar charge configuration wherein in the solar charge configuration, the system is configured to receive solar generated power generated by the solar module and charge the battery with the solar generated power;
a battery only configuration wherein in the battery only configuration, the system is configured to convert the DC from the battery to an output AC with the DC/AC converter and an output DC;
a solar only configuration wherein in the solar only configuration, the system is configured to convert the DC from the solar module to an output AC with the DC/AC converter and an output DC;
a solar and battery configuration wherein in the solar and battery configuration, the system is configured to convert the DC from the solar module and battery to an output AC with the DC/AC converter and an output DC; and,
a hybrid power configuration wherein in the hybrid power configuration, the system is configured to
receive a solar generated power,
convert the solar generated power to a solar AC with the DC/AC converter; provide the solar AC to a load,
determine that the solar AC is insufficient to drive the load,
convert a battery generated power signal to a battery AC with the DC/AC converter; and,
provide the battery AC to the load.
6. The system of claim 5 including a first side hingably attached to a second side.
7. The system of claim 5 including:
a deployed position wherein a first solar panel and a second solar panel are exposed; and,
an un-deployed position wherein the first solar panel and the second solar panel are positioned in the enclosure.
8. The system of claim 5 wherein the solar module is hingably attached to the enclosure.
9. The system of claim 5 including a user interface having a display.