Renogy Lends a Helping Hand in Hurricane Relief Efforts

Hurricane season is in full swing in the Atlantic as the summer is winding down and water temperatures are staying warm. Nearly every year the southeastern region of the country faces a hurricane or one of their milder cousins, a tropical storm. This year, unfortunately, was no different. Hurricane Irma was a particularly strong category 5 hurricane, causing catastrophic damage along the gulf coast, particularly in southeast Texas and southwestern Louisiana. More recently, hurricane Maria, another category 5 hurricane, devastated the northeastern Caribbean. Like Irma, Maria caused widespread damage, decimating buildings, and leaving thousands without power, clean water, and food for days. Within hours after the storms cleared, volunteer organizations and non-profits sprang into action, delivering much needed supplies, food, and equipment to the devastated areas. Fortunately, Renogy is located far from the hurricane prone eastern and gulf coast regions. Keeping distance in mind, we couldn’t help but wonder: how could Renogy pitch in and lend a helping hand? After all, Renogy used to be located in Baton Rouge and dealt with a few hurricanes. We understand the physical and emotional tolls these storms can have on the local residents.

Lending a helping hand was never a second thought, but our team was trying to decide how to do best do so, and as quickly as possible. Back in Louisiana, one of the most memorable and annoying issues that came with a hurricane was the extended power outage that followed the storm. The power outage made it difficult to function due to the heat and shortened daylight hours in the fall. We quickly decided that we could best help by shipping electrical supplies to the devastated regions of Barbuda and the Virgin Islands. Altogether, Renogy donated four Lycan Powerboxes, twenty-six Phoenix Generators, and thirty 100W Solar Suitcases in hopes that the residents can use the supplies to power lights, fans and other essential electronics until grid power is restored. Renogy also shipped two hundred E.LUMEN Solar Flashlights and two hundred E.FLEX10s to a Tampa Bay high school sophomore who was determined to help with the relief efforts for hurricane victims in Puerto Rico.

We chose to donate products to the Maria victims, as the storm damage appears to be more severe and the people in the Caribbean simply have less means to repair their properties than their mainland counterparts. Further, we saw reports on persons affected by the storm that could not run lifesaving medical equipment due to power outages in their homes. The Phoenix Powerboxes and 100W Solar Suitcases can be used to recharge the batteries that can in turn, run the lifesaving electronics.

Natural disasters can strike at any time, just about anywhere. Do what you can to prepare for these events by stocking up on batteries, non-perishables, and clean water. If you live in a hurricane zone, purchase flood insurance and be sure to properly secure windows and doors. Try to keep electronics, such as cell phones and radios charged and in an easily accessible location, if possible. Contact your loved ones and set up an evacuation plan and meeting place so you’ll be safe. Last, and most importantly, evacuate early and pay attention to local new stations and reports. We hope you’re never left dealing with the long-lasting effects of a natural disaster, but being prepared ahead of time can reduce damage and help keep you safe.

What Components Do I Need for Off-Grid Solar?

Solar power systems are quickly gaining traction across the US. Once a renewable system mainly reserved for hot and dry climates, homeowners in rainy and cooler states just weren’t interested. Fast forward about five years and on-grid solar power systems are becoming more and more popular in the northern states. This trend is thought to have started because of lower prices and better technology. Solar panels that perform better in low light environments, such as the Renogy Eclipse, are great contenders for a northern power system because they can perform fairly well even on a cloudy day. With power costs rising, consumers are turning to solar to meet their needs while staying within their budgets. Even though some northern homeowners still aren’t interested in on-grid solar, that doesn’t mean there isn’t a different kind of system to suit their needs.

Off-grid power systems can be used by anyone, anywhere in the US. Since these systems are not excessively large and do not get installed on the roof, they are often a DIY project. Furthermore, they are a perfect go-to item in the event of a power outage, which of course, can happen anywhere in the US. Off-grid systems are also less costly than an on-grid system, particularly because they don’t require professional installation. For all of those reasons, off-grid systems are become must have items on RVs, boats, and campers. Many customers are also choosing to store these kits in their basements or sheds in case of an emergency.

If you’re in the market to purchase one of these kits, one of the first questions you’ll ask is, “What do I need?” To make things simple, Renogy sells several Complete Kits that come with all of the components necessary for an off-grid system. Every off grid system requires solar panels, but that is a given. Each solar panel contains a junction box with MC4 leads. These leads connection to another MC4 adapter kit, which is in turn connected to a charge controller. The size of your system will dictate which Amp size controller you’ll need to purchase. Aside from amperage, you may choose to purchase either an MPPT or PWM charge controller. MPPT charge controllers are more expensive than PWM controllers because they feature better power tracking technology. MPPT charge controllers help extend the life of the battery bank and help create a more efficient power system.

In addition to a charge controller, all off grid systems require a tray cable, which extends from the charge controller to the battery bank. You’ll also need to purchase mounting Z-Brackets if you intend to have the system installed on a surface suck as a boat deck or RV roof. Last but not least, you’ll need to purchase an inverter if you intend to use your off-grid system with regular consumer appliance. That is because the power generated from your system will need to be converted from direct current to alternating current. You may choose to purchase a Tracer Meter, which monitors and displays the solar system’s voltage and current, as well as amp-hour and watt-hour charge levels. However, this component is completely optional.

Here at Renogy, we’d love to make your journey into solar energy as easy as possible. That’s why we’ve created Complete Kits, which do contain all that is needed to set up an off-grid system. Of course, you’re free to mix and match or buy specific components elsewhere, which is what makes this list a must read. For more information about the systems, or to speak to a sales representative, contact us at 800-330-8678.

Where to Purchase Renogy Products

If you’ve been researching solar panels, you’ve surely stumbled upon Renogy Solar. Renogy has been in business since 2010, when the company CEO, Dr. Li, began selling solar panels on Amazon and Ebay. We’ve come a long way since the Ebay days, but as our business grew, so did the number of secondhand sellers. While many of these sellers may be approved retailers, it is difficult to know for sure. With all the different vendor options available, you may want to learn where Renogy maintains seller accounts.

To date, Renogy still sells on Amazon and Ebay, but has expanded sales into its own online store (www.renogy.com), showroom, and several other online retailers. On Amazon, the Renogy seller account is simply “Renogy.” We sell a variety of solar panels, kits, and accessories on Amazon, many the same items available at Renogy.com. On Ebay, Renogy’s seller account is renogysolar. After launching the online store website, originally Renogy-Store.com, we started listing and selling products on a number of lesser-known “marketplace” websites including Rakuten.com, Newegg, and Sears. When Walmart started opening its website to third party retailers, Renogy began placing listings on that website as well. However, Walmart has since begun selling Renogy Solar Panels directly.

 Most recently, Renogy started placing product listings on homedepot.com. If you start your internet search for Renogy products, it wouldn’t be unusual to find a number of third party, unrelated sellers advertising products. To avoid purchasing a potentially defective or counterfeit product, you should attempt to verify that the seller is an authorized retailer. If you purchase a defective or counterfeit product from an unrelated third party that is unauthorized, Renogy may refuse to replace or fix the product. If you live close enough to our Ontario, California office, you can also stop by the showroom to test the products and purchase in-person. Happy shopping!

Renogy Rover MPPT Charge Controller Product Release

To all of our solar fans out there: if you’re looking for ease of use and sky-high off grid efficiency, then look no further than the Rover MPPT Charge Controller. Like the popular Adventurer and Wanderer controllers, the Rover is the newest addition to the Renogy Traveler^TM Series. The Rover comes in 20A or 40A to best suit a customer’s needs. However, unlike an ordinary PWM charge controller, the Rover features MPPT tracking technology. MPPT stands for “Maximum Power Point Tracking,” which allows for an up to 99% tracking efficiency! What really sets this great solar charge controller apart is its error code detection feature. This feature allows you to self diagnose system faults by reading the code on the LCD screen. The body of the Rover is composed of die-cast aluminum for better heat dissipation, and the included cables allow for the measuring of the battery temperature and remote monitoring. Like any other MPPT charge controller, the Rover 4-stage charging: Bulk, Boost, Float, and Equalization. They may only be used with sealed lead-acid, flooded or gel deep cycle batteries.

The 20A MPPT Rover Charge Controller is available for purchase for $139.99 at Renogy.com, while the 40A MPPT Controller is priced at $209.00. Optimize your system efficiency and the lifespan of your battery bank with a new Rover Charge Controller. For more information, visit: https://www.renogy.com/products/the-traveler-series/rover/

Travel With Renogy Charge Controllers

If you’ve been following Renogy, you’ve probably seen all of the new products introduced in 2016. From new solar suitcases to generators, Renogy has been hard at work designing products to better suit customer needs. When Renogy first launched years ago, it only carried basic 10A and 30A PWM solar charge controllers. While these controllers were inexpensive, they weren’t entirely user friendly and customers often had to call in with questions. It wasn’t long before we figured out that customers would be willing to pay a little more for a better designed charge controller, so we set out to develop a state-of-the-art line of controllers that are both easier to install and use. We decided to call this new line the “Traveler Series,” keeping in line with the company’s outdoors and adventure theme.

The earlier introduced “new and improved” charge controllers included the Adventurer 30A PWM Charge Controller and the Wanderer 30A Charge Controller. Unlike the basic controllers that Renogy previously carried, the Adventurer and Wanderer are compatible with sealed, gel, and flooded batteries. The Adventurer Charge Controller features an LCD display screen that shows the current power generation, temperature, voltage, and charging current. Perhaps most importantly, the Adventurer is designed for clean flush mounting in RVs, trailers, and boats. The LCD and mounting features were not found on many of the first generation charge controllers. Renogy has received a great deal of positive feedback from customers, especially those using the charge controllers in recreational vehicles. The Adventurer 30A Charge Controller is included in all RV Solar Kits and the Wanderer 30A Charge Controller is included in all standard Starter Kits greater than 50W, all standard Premium Solar Kits, and all standard Complete Kits.

In mid 2016, Renogy introduced the Commander MPPT Charge Controller. The “MPPT” stands for Maximum Power Point Tracking technology, meaning that this controller will more efficiently charge the battery bank. This controller is also compatible with sealed, gel, and flooded batteries, making it more versatile than the original MPPT controllers offered by Renogy. In addition to MPPT technology, this controller also features Multiphase Synchronous Rectification for improved system performance. Although it is a pricier option, its tracking efficiency is as high as 99%, while the conversion efficiency is up to 98%. The Commander Charge Controller is offered as an upgrade in the Starter, Premium, and Complete Solar Kits. The Commander is offered in three options: 20A, 40A, and 60A.

For more information on the Wanderer 30A Charge Controller, visit https://www.renogy.com/renogy-adventurer-30a-pwm-flush-mount-charge-controller-w-lcd-display/

For more information on the Adventurer 30A Charge Controller, visit https://www.renogy.com/renogy-wanderer-30a-pwm-charge-controller/

For more information on the Commander Charge Controller, visit https://www.renogy.com/renogy-20-amp-commander-mppt-solar-charge-controller-w-mt-50/