Camping is a fun hobby many people enjoy year round, which allows them to get away from their busy lives and enjoy the beautiful outdoors. Having the right equipment can make or break your camping experience. Add these handy tools to your camping equipment and improve your emergency preparedness at the same time with these two recommendations.

Solar Panels

While you are camping in your trailer and away from any source of electricity or power, you may need to recharge your camper's batteries to run certain appliances or lights. A portable gasoline-powered generator is a common choice of power source for a camping trailer, but has limitations. Some camping locations do not allow or restrict your use of a generator, as generators create a lot of noise and smell which can be off-putting to fellow camping neighbors.

A generator also needs gasoline to run, which will eventually run out, especially if you don't have access to a retailer to buy more. With solar power, there is an unlimited amount, as long as the sun is shining on your camping trip. Solar panels for camping are lightweight, portable, and easy to hook up to your camper's battery and power supply. 

You only need to have installed a charge controller inside your camper and an inverter within your camper's electrical components. An inverter will convert the electrical current to AC from DC so you can plug in and run your camper's appliances on the charge.

You can also carry a portable solar panel charger to store solar power to use for charging your cell phone, laptop, or other electronic devices. Portable solar panel chargers are approximately the size of your cell phone and you can hook them on your backpack to collect a charge while you hike.

Water Purifier

When you are camping, water is one of the most important parts of your survival, as you cannot survive without it for more than a few days. Although your camper likely has a water storage tank to hold drinking water, it is always a good idea to have a backup plan. Keeping and carrying a water purifier for camping can save your life and also help with your emergency preparedness. There may be a time when you can get water but it is not safe to drink.

Water purifiers come in several sizes, from the size of a pen and up to the size of a backpack. Make sure you select one that uses the right filtration technology to remove impurities, including viruses, bacteria, and protozoan cysts, such as cryptosporidium and giardia. You can find filters that purify water with the use of ultaviolet light, micro-filtration, or reverse osmosis.

If you haven't yet purchased a portable water purifier, you can use simple techniques, such as boiling the unsafe water before you drink it. It is recommended to boil water at a rolling boil from one to three minutes, depending on your altitude. 

Make sure to add these two items to your camping gear to help you be prepared. For more information, contact local professionals like DFW Solar Electric.

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