Instructor
Sean Michael, PhD
435-881-7590
Instagram: thegeardoctor
Description
Solar power provides a new level of freedom for overlanders. This class provides an introduction to solar power, solar products that meet overlanding demands, and how to select a system for your travel style. Topics include designing a system, choosing different components, and how to size a setup for your unique requirements. A wide variety of products and brands give attendees a hands-on look at panels, charge controllers, lithium batteries, and more.
Class Type
Visual aid-based presentation
Category
Class
Category
Field Arts
Level
Intermediate
Focus
Neutral
Class Flow (50min)
Intro – 5min
- Speaker intro
- Course goals intro
- Hand-out packet (
- List of solar manufacturers (highlight those exhibiting @ Expo)
- Article 1: “Solar Power 101: Learning the Basics”
- Article 2: “Solar 102: Setting Up Your Overland and Off-Road Power System”
Overview of Solar – 10min
- Roots of solar power
- Recent evolution in solar products
- Benefits of solar for overlanding
Understanding Solar Systems – 10min
- System components and functions (hands-on)
- Basic terms
- Comparing cell types
- Comparing charge controllers
Designing Your Solar System – 15min
- Defining your uses and expectations
- Calculating power demands
- Selecting components (hands-on)
Getting More Sun – 5min
- Performance impacts of panel positioning
- Solar aspect and orientation
- Strategies for optimizing panels
Wrapup – 5min
- Q&A
- Examining sample products (hands-on)
- Instructions for accessing additional info:
- List of solar manufacturers (highlight those exhibiting @ Expo)
- Article 1: “Solar Power 101: Learning the Basics”
- Article 2: “Solar 102: Setting Up Your Overland and Off-Road Power System”
Additional Info
This course was one that Alison asked me to submit, and was first taught in 2019. Attendance that year was quite high, and for 202 the online version again received strong interest, and a fairly high viewer count. Over 2 dozen solar brands have generously provided products to allow hands-on learning, and comparisons. These include several new releases for 2024 technologies and products. This enables a hands-on component that may make this Expo class of the best opportunities of any trade show to see a wide range of the best solar brands.
Bio
Dr. Sean Michael is a professor in the Outdoor Product Design & Development program at Utah State University, a brand ambassador, and an independent product reviewer of overland gear. He works with a range of leading solar system manufacturers on testing, articles, and teaching about solar devices. He is a proud owner of a home outfitted with a 6kW PV system, and uses solar power on his Land Cruiser, Sprinter 4x4 van, trailer and BMW GSA.
Materials
- Hand-out packet
- Product examples featured in video:
- Victron (charging)
- Nations Alternator (charging)
- REDARC (controller)
- Cascadia4x4 (panels)
- EcoFlow (all-in-one, panel)
- Equipt/National Luna (battery box)
- Expion360 (Li batteries)
- Zamp (panel, controller)
- Ark (battery box)
- Jackery (all-in-one)
- Off Grid Trek (panel, controller)
- Renogy (panel, all-in-one)
- Flexopower (panels, controller, battery box)
- Goal Zero (panels, battery, all-in-one)
- 4th Dimension Solar (panels, controller)
- P3 Solar (panels, controller)
- Go Power! (panels, controller, battery box, Li battery)
- Odyssey (batteries)
- Solbian (panels)
- MPowerd (other)
- PowerFilm (panels, controller, all-in-one)
- Overland Solar (panels, controller)
- Nemo (other)
- BioLite (other)
- Yakima/Road Shower (other)
- Battle Born (Li batteries)