BougeRV is new on the scene in the buzzing world of solar creative adventure kits, so when they reached out, I was eager to get my hands on some of their impressive looking kits.
They sent me their 30 liter electric cooling kit, which included a 1100 watt power station and a lightweight 130 watt foldable solar panel system. Combined, they enable power generation with enough storage space to power a family campground and keep some food and drink cool to boot.
Disclaimer: BougeRV sent this kit to the author for free for this review.
Using the kit is as simple as unfolding the lightweight 130 watt solar panel, plugging it into the power station and connecting the refrigerator to it. The 30-litre refrigerator kicks in right away and starts cooling down whatever you’ve got inside. I loaded it up with drinks for a family celebration and found it was a great way to show off the cool new possibilities of solar generators and electric coolers at the same time.
Starting from the power generation side, BougeRV took the typical foldable solar panel system and flipped it on its head. It still delivers 130 watts of output at 12 volts, but sets itself apart with two standout features. Firstly, the solar cells used are extremely efficient, with a score of 23.5%. That’s top notch and maximizes the usable power produced by each cell in the panel.
Image Credit: Kyle Field, CleanTechnica
Second, it’s the lightest framed, foldable solar panel kit we’ve seen, thanks to the use of ultra-light PET plastic in the panel. That translates into an extremely low weight for the 130-watt panel at just 10.4 pounds. I was skeptical at first, thinking this was a cheap knock-off panel as we typically associate heavier weights with higher quality, more durable products.
In this case it is the opposite. The PET construction makes this one of the easiest portable solar systems to handle and set up I’ve ever seen. Most framed solar panels use glass on the front with a fiberglass back plate, making them inconveniently heavy to handle and breakable. BougeRV’s PET construction isn’t bombproof, but its lighter weight makes it easier to set up without having to work against its own weight. The lighter weight of the panel itself allows for less material that does not add value to the frame. With a thickness of only 2.2 inches, the folded panel is a nice compact size.
Solar panel specifications
- Dimensions: 26.6″ x 21.3″ x 2.2″
- Maximum power: 130 W
- Weight: 13.56 lb (6.15 kg)
- Efficiency of solar cells: 23.5%
- Product dimensions (folded): 26.6″ x 21.3″ x 2.2″ in, 675 x 540 x 55 mm
- Product Dimensions (Expanded): 26.6″ x 42.5″ x 1″ inches, 675 x 1080 x 25mm
- Maximum Supply Voltage:: 19.02V
- Maximum Power Current: 6.83A
- Operating Temperature Range:: -40°F～+185°F
The power from the solar panel is sent directly to the BougeRV .’s 1,100Wh Portable Power Station that stores power for when you’re ready to use it. The battery has a compact size with handles large enough to be useful, but not so large as to drastically increase the volume of the device. At that size, they hold enough power to make this device a consideration for use as a backup power supply for your home in the event of a power outage. It can produce 1,200 watts continuous or up to 2,000 watts peak. During testing, it easily powered our kettle and a handful of smaller everyday appliances.
That won’t power everything in your house for days, but it can power a modem, Wi-Fi, lights, and keep your devices charged. When combined with solar energy, the utility can be extended even longer. When our house burned down in 2017, the power (and therefore the internet) kept going on and off, making it difficult to keep up with local news. Having such a small backup battery can make all the difference when the power goes out, be it for a few minutes or for several days.
Image Credit: Kyle Field, CleanTechnica
On the connectivity side of the equation, the powerplant comes with 3 x pure sine wave AC outlets, 1 x PD 60W USB with charge/discharge capability, 1 x USB QC 3.0 port, 2 x USB A ports, 2 x DC cylinder outlets and a standard 12 volt DC outlet. It can be charged via an Anderson connector, a 12 volt DC adapter and via standard AC using the included power brick.
Power Station Specifications
- Chemistry: Lithium ion battery
- Cycle Life: 1500+ cycles with 80% capacity
- Capacity: 1,100Wh/50Ah
- solar input: 12-30V, 8A @ 200W max
- DC input: 12-30V, 8A @ 200W max
- AC output: 3x 110V, 1200W (2000W peak)
- 12v & DC output: 2 x DC5521, 1x cigarette port, 120W max combined power
- USB-A output: 2x 5V/2.4A, 12W
- USB-A QC3.0 output: 1x 5V/3A, 15W; 9V/2A, 18W
- USB-C output: 1 x 5V 3A / 9V 3A / 12V 3A / 15V 3A, 60W max
- Operating Temperature:: 32°F-105°F (0°C~40.5°C)
- Charging via USB-C: 5V 3A / 9V 3A / 12V 3A / 15V 3A / 20V 3A, maximum 60W
- Weight: 13.5kg /30lbs
- Dimensions: 16 x 12 x 14 inches
BougeRV’s kit makes it easy to take electricity and cold drinks with you everywhere. We put it to the test by the BougeRV 30 liter refrigerator in our Tesla Model Y and on the road. The size of this compact fridge meant I could fit it in the rear footwell behind the passenger seat. To power it, I connected it to the 1,100 Wh battery with the included 12-volt adapter. The fit was a bit loose and kept losing connection so after a short while I swapped it for the AC plug, which was solid.
Image Credit: Kyle Field, CleanTechnica
The temperature of this small 30 liter refrigerator can be adjusted from -7F to 50F, meaning it can effectively serve as a fresh food refrigerator or a freezer. It can run in Eco or Max mode depending on how fast you need it to reach the temperature set point. The Max mode consumes more power and consumes 60 watts when the compressor is running, while the Eco mode only consumes 45 watts.
In my testing, the fridge consistently pulled 21-41 watts in Eco mode and 35-50 watts in Max mode when it reached the temperature set point. From then on, the compressor will run for a few minutes every 15 minutes to maintain the temperature. Coupled with a 130-watt solar panel and the 1,100-watt power station, I found the combination to be enough to run the fridge through the night with enough left over to keep phones and laptops charged. In reality, consumption depends on how much you use your laptop, phone and refrigerator.
Specifications refrigerator 30 liters
- Capacity: 30QT = 28L = 0.99 cu. foot
- Dimensions: 22.68″ x 12.60″ x 15.55″ in
- Temperature range: -7℉~50℉
- Weight: 22.8 LB
- Tension: 12/24 VAC OR 110～240 VAC
- Wattage (Max mode): 60W
- Wattage (Eco Mode): 45W
- Noise: ≤45 dB
- Refrigerant: R134A
All things considered, this kit from BougeRV is an affordable way to pick up an off-grid solar-powered rig that allows people to get out and about on an adventure. Ditch the combustion generator. Bouge RV has you covered. The BougeRV Solar Generator 30 Quart Electric Cooling Kit retails for $1,419, but is currently on sale on their site for a few bucks less, at $1,399. To learn more about BougeRV’s 30 quart solar power plant kit, visit their website.
BougeRV has been offering CleanTechnica readers a 12% discount through the end of this year using promo code cleantechnica12. Leave that in to pick up some durable outdoor gear, go to all office space on your gas generator and go out to create new memories.
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