Press reports
Here is a small selection of reports about SOLARA and our products in German trade journals.
Press reports on various SOLARA topics
Always ready with our OB2 solar module!
The trickle battery is a crucial component in off-grid systems, where it stores energy and provides a reliable power supply, especially when no external power source is available. Its robust design and intelligent charging technology ensure a continuous power supply for various applications, such as lighting, communication, and security, even far from the main power supply.
The Bear Squat website subjected various chargers to extensive testing. In addition to conventional chargers powered by standard wall outlets, solutions for trickle charging without a direct wall connection – namely, those based on solar power – were also examined. In these tests, the OBD2 solar module proved highly successful and offered a number of notable advantages:
- Simple installation: The solar panel is placed behind the windshield and connected via the OBD2 port, allowing for easy installation.
- Using the OBD2 interface: The module uses the vehicle's OBD2 interface as a power source, ensuring broad compatibility.
- Effective maintenance charge: With 13 watts, it delivers a constant, low charge even in favorable lighting conditions to keep the battery at a balanced level.
- Dependence on lighting conditions: The effectiveness depends on the lighting conditions, with direct sunlight ensuring a stable charge.
The OBD2 solar panel is a practical solution for RV owners to maintain their batteries, especially during extended periods of inactivity or sporadic use. Its off-grid functionality allows for independent outdoor use, which is particularly helpful for those who enjoy exploring remote locations and rely on a dependable power supply. With this solar panel, batteries can be optimally maintained and preserved even in remote areas.
Read more about the bear squat and the OBD2 solar module here.
Expanding solar capacity with SOLARA Vision modules on an off-road camper
Ulrich Dolde owns an off-road camper and has expanded his solar capacity with SOLARA Vision modules. In his blog , he explains how he removed the old modules himself and installed the new SOLARA Vision modules on his roof!
After realizing that his 15-year-old modules were no longer generating sufficient power and were undersized at 200 Wp, he faced the decision of which new modules to install. Ultimately, he opted once again for the walkable glass-glass solar modules from SOLARA ( S-Series Vision ), which he had already installed on the roof of his cab in 2018. Despite their higher price and weight compared to conventional solar modules with a film backing, the SOLARA S-Series Vision was the best option for him.
The main reason for his decision was that he plans to park his vehicle for an extended period during his next trip to Asia while he flies home to continue his journey later. Given the possibility that someone might climb onto the roof while the vehicle is unattended, he wants to ensure that the new modules are robust enough to prevent any potential damage. SOLARA's glass-glass modules are particularly well-suited for this purpose.
These walk-on solar modules are distinguished by their German manufacturing and robustness. You can find the glass-glass solar modules here under SOLARA S-Series-Vision.
Watch his explainer video:
Recording of the expert webinar: Solar technology in motorhomes with module manufacturer SOLARA
For ambitious travel with your motorhome, campervan, or off-road vehicle, and for a degree of independence from campsites and pitches, a solar system is ideal. Solar panels are especially valuable if you want to stay off-grid for as long as possible in a beautiful spot far from an electrical hookup.
This extensive topic was covered in an expert webinar by SOLARA on October 09, 2023. The recorded webinar is available below and can be viewed here. Important questions were also answered at the end. Have a look!
Many thanks to DCSolar (a brand of SOLARA GmbH) for the provision of a mobile solar power system! Whether during a break or, as in my case, during a forced break due to a breakdown in front of a repair shop: in any case, you are supplied with enough energy to power all your phones and/or
As a special feature, the well-traveled (and much more experienced) solar power system will be auctioned off at the end of our Baltic Sea Circle Rally for the benefit of SAGE Hospital eV – energy for a good cause, so to speak!
Tested: Mobile solar system from Solara
The modules are equipped with Sunpower solar cells mounted on the back and are said to have an efficiency of over 22 percent. The module assembly, measuring approximately 69 x 63 x 2,5 centimeters, has a peak output of 102 watts. This should allow for the generation of slightly more than 400 watt-hours of energy on a typical summer day in our latitudes.
It can be attached using Velcro, zippers, eyelets, or Tenax/LOXX fasteners. The weight is listed as 4,9 kilograms. The recommended retail price is €859.
Tested: Mobile solar system from Solara
Solar panels are usually permanently installed. However, a mobile solution can be useful in some cases – for example, if you usually sleep with a mains hookup and only occasionally need more self-sufficiency, want to use the solar panel with different vehicles, don't have roof space, or appreciate the option of placing the solar panel in the sun while parking the vehicle in the shade. Especially during winter camping – where we tested the Solara Power Mobile Plus set – two further advantages become apparent: The panel is easier to clear of snow when mounted on the windshield than when roof-mounted. Furthermore, the angled position is better suited to the winter sun's position.
A clever feature of the Solara set is the combination with an insulating mat for the windshield. This mat is attached to the windshield frame using a Velcro strap that runs through the cab and magnets sewn into the mat's edge. The mat helps keep the heat in during the winter and out during the summer. It also has sewn-in loops into which the foldable solar panel can be inserted. An included steel cable with a combination lock also serves to deter thieves.
The five-meter-long connection cable is connected to the panel via a plug and routed inside through the rubber seal of a cab door or a camper window. The other end is simply plugged into one of the 12V sockets in the camper body via a wired solar charge controller – alternatively, it can be connected to a permanently installed charge controller. In a practical test in the Allgäu region, the 102Wp module managed to recharge the battery – which, according to the control panel, was about half full – to 75 percent over a sunny day. The Solara Power Mobil Plus set is custom-made for the VW Transporter, Mercedes Vito, and Fiat Ducato. Including the charge controller, it costs €1124,90 – roughly the same as a permanently installed system.
Press reports on the company's 20th anniversary
Press reports on new products 2016/17
Extraordinary exhibits at the Caravan Salon 2016
The most unusual discoveries
Benjamin Köbler-Linsner: “I was surprised by the Solara windshield cover. The cover, made of thick material, protects the vehicle interior from overheating in sunlight. Additionally, a solar panel can be zipped in to generate electricity.”
