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    • Our Story
    • Resources
    • Seminars
    • Content
    • Outreach
    • Contact
    • Seasonal Info
  • Home
  • Our Story
  • Resources
  • Seminars
  • Content
  • Outreach
  • Contact
  • Seasonal Info

SAVE ON RENOGY SOLAR COMPONENTS!!

Use our CANLIFE promo code @ Renogy checkout for 6% off most solar components!  Our Renogy promo code CANLIFE is valid in the United States, Canada, Australia, and the UK!

GET DEALS!

WHY GO SOLAR?

Our goal is to live small and inexpensively while living large as we travel, work, and explore North America.  In 2012, we added a small solar power system to help us reach this goal, freeing us from expensive electrical hook-up campsites, restrictive reservations, and gas generators.  RV solar panels opened the door to boondocking without sacrificing our electrical needs.  By living nearly 100% solar since 2012, we've saved over $200K in camping fees!  Check out the details of our solar powered system here.


In 2017, we were introduced to RENOGY, an awesome, female-owned, solar power company in southern California.  We upgraded our system with their high quality components, making off-grid living both fun and easy!  As solar educators and affiliates for this innovative company, we can pass along discounts on Renogy products.


Using our affiliate links*, combined with promo code CANLIFE, save 6% on most Renogy products!  This code can be used in the United States (US), United Kingdom (UK), Canada (CA), and Australia (AU).  *When you use our links, you also support a variety of our favorite non-profit organizations!

Explore Renogy & Save $$$

FREE Solar Coaching!

As Solar Educators, we offer coaching services to anyone who wants to DIY -- just let us know how we can help you with your questions about living off the grid and solar power installation!  

Contact Us!

Updated for 2025! Solar System Sizing Worksheet

Use our worksheet to calculate your daily total Watt Hours, as well as design and price out your Renogy off-grid solar powered system.  

Be sure to use our promo code CANLIFE at checkout to save 6% off your total order!  Check out our video on how to use this worksheet.

2025 Master Solar Powered System Worksheet (xlsx)

Download

Videos for Solar Newbies

RV Solar 101: Sizing Your System

RV Solar 101: Sizing Your System

RV Solar 101: Sizing Your System

A perfect place to start to get your head around solar power terminology and how to begin sizing your own system.

RV Solar: To DIY or Not?

RV Solar 101: Sizing Your System

RV Solar 101: Sizing Your System

Not certain if you want to tackle your own solar power project?  This DIY video will help you evaluate if you are ready to install your own RV solar panels, or if you should hire a professional.

What Can You Power with Solar?

RV Solar 101: Sizing Your System

Portable Solar Generator for Traditional Home, RV or Cabin

We test Renogy's REGO System by running various high wattage household appliances using its powerful 400Ah LFP battery and 3000W Inverter Charger.  We were impressed by how well these components performed!

Portable Solar Generator for Traditional Home, RV or Cabin

Portable Solar Generator for Traditional Home, RV or Cabin

Product Review: Seeking an easy, portable, and silent generator that can serve as back-up power during a power outage AND power an RV or off-grid cabin?  


How Do Self-Heating Lithium Batteries Work?

Did you know that most deep cycle batteries stop charging when their core temperature drops below freezing?  While this is true, we've discovered that there are many misconceptions about how self-heating lithium batteries actually work.  Using our Renogy 100Ah LFP Self-Heating batteries, we'll walk you through it.  More info here.

Solar Deals & Discounts!

We can help you save loads of money on RV solar panels and your whole solar power system!  Be sure to use promo code CANLIFE for 10% off!

Our Solar DIY Installation Videos

Installing Rigid Solar Panels

Installing Flexible Solar Panels

Installing Rigid Solar Panels

Concerned about drilling into your RV roof?  Here's how to install Renogy 200W solar panels AND prevent leaking!

Installing Solar Components

Installing Flexible Solar Panels

Installing Rigid Solar Panels

Watch how we transform an unused space in a Forest River Travel Trailer into a powerful Renogy solar component cabinet designed to run multiple appliances at once.

Installing Flexible Solar Panels

Installing Flexible Solar Panels

Maximize Boondocking with Dual Input DC to DC Charger

Want to save weight?  Watch how we updated our vintage camper's electrical system with Renogy's 100W flexible solar panels, MPPT charge controller, and 100Ah Smart LiFePO4 battery.  

Maximize Boondocking with Dual Input DC to DC Charger

Maximize Boondocking with Dual Input DC to DC Charger

Maximize Boondocking with Dual Input DC to DC Charger

No need for a noisy gas generator!  Installing a Renogy 30A Dual Input DC to DC charger can augment your solar powered system significantly during fall, winter, and spring AND on low solar days. 

Installing LiFePO4 Batteries

Maximize Boondocking with Dual Input DC to DC Charger

Monitoring Your Off-Grid System

It was time for an upgrade! To keep our mobile business powered with solar, we installed 2 Renogy 100Ah Smart Self-Heating LiFePO4 batteries to power our laptops, Starlink Roam, and other electronics. 

Monitoring Your Off-Grid System

Maximize Boondocking with Dual Input DC to DC Charger

Monitoring Your Off-Grid System

The Renogy ONE M1 is a complete all-in-one solar energy monitoring and off-grid smart home management device. Watch how we install and connect it to the solar components in our off-grid rolling tiny home.   

So much thanks to 'Freedom in a Can' for all their help, guidance, and support with designing my 5th wheel solar system!


Joe Soave, CPA & Happy Solar User

Solar Blogs, Charts, & Worksheets!

Terminology & Lifestyle Info for Solar Newbies

  • Unscrambling the Alphabet Soup of Solar Terminology
  • Fellow Solar Road Warriors Share Their Stories
  • Solar Power System Sizing Worksheet **Downloadable Excel Worksheet**
  • Six Simple Strategies for Maximizing Solar on a Small Budget
  • You've Gone Solar...Now What?
  • The Ultimate DIY Guide to Off-Grid Solar
  • Is a Solar Powered Full-Time RV Lifestyle More Sustainable?
  • How Does the Solar Tax Credit Work?
  • How Much Solar Do I Need to Work from the Road?
  • Buying a Solar Powered RV? How to Determine if it Has What YOU Need


Solar Panels

  • What to Consider When Choosing Solar Panels?
  • Different Ways to Attach Various Solar Panel Styles
  • Busting Myths about Flexible Panels
  • Our Vintage Rig Gets a Modern Upgrade


Charge Controllers

  • Do You Need a Solar Charge Controller for an RV?
  • Everything You Ever Wanted to Know about Renogy Charge Controllers


Battery & System Voltage

  • ​Which Deep Cycle Battery is Best for My Solar Lifestyle?  A Cost-Benefit Analysis
  • Expectations vs Reality: Making Sense of Battery Voltage & Percentages
  • 12V, 24V, or 48V Solar Power System:  Which Voltage is Best for your Situation?
  • How Do Self-Heating Lithium Batteries Work?
  • Deep Cycle Battery Discussion & Comparison Charts


DC to DC Chargers

  • Got an Engine?  Get a DC to DC Charger
  • How To Choose & Size a DC to DC Charger
  • Dual Input DC to DC Charger for 12V Fridge Installation


Battery Inverters & Inverter Chargers

  • RV Inverter Installation Guide
  • Converter, Inverter, & Inverter Charger:  What's the Difference and Which Do I Need?


Solar System Monitoring

  • BT Module vs Battery Monitor:  Watts Best to Monitor Your System?
  • Introducing the Renogy ONE!  Installation & Basic Set-Up


Solar Generators (Home & Portable Options)

  • Pros & Cons of Solar Generators
  • Meet the LYCAN 5000: From Emergency Generator to Off-Grid Home Power Supply 
  • Phoenix 300 + 100W Solar Suitcase: The Perfect Travel Companions



Using our affiliate links*, combined with promo code CANLIFE, save 6% on most Renogy products!  This code can be used in the United States (US), United Kingdom (UK), Canada (CA), and Australia (AU).  *When you use our links, you also support a variety of our favorite non-profit organizations!


Installing Renogy flexible solar panels on our vintage canned-ham camper.

Hamlet's Renogy Solar Wiring Diagram

 All component details listed below. Use our affiliate links below AND promo code CANLIFE for 6% off. 

Hamlet's Solar Powered System Details

Vintage camper with Renogy solar panels parked at Harvest Host location in Maine.

We run on nearly 100% solar and travel all over the continent!  To run our lives and mobile business, we use the following RENOGY equipment.

​Check out our step-by-step RV solar installation and product review videos!


Using our affiliate links*, combined with promo code CANLIFE, save 6% on most Renogy products!  This code can be used in the United States (US), United Kingdom (UK), Canada (CA), and Australia (AU).  *When you use our links, you also support a variety of our favorite non-profit organizations!

View Our YouTube Playlist

1957 Sportcraft Travel Trailer (*see below for appliances we use):

  • 100W Flexible RV Solar Panels x 2 (Installation Video)
  • 40A Rover Charge Controller (Installation Video)
  • 12V-100Ah LiFePO4 PRO Batteries x 2 (Extreme Testing Video)
  • 700W Pure Sine Wave Inverter (Installation Video)
  • Renogy ONE Core Monitor (Installation & Review Video)
  • Smart Accessories (Installation Video)
  • Note: When we are parked in the shade and we need a solar power boost, ​we plug our 400W Lightweight Solar Suitcase into the above system with our Solar Panel Extension Cables x 2 (10AWG/20ft).

Nissan Frontier Truck (to run our ICECO12V refrigerator/freezer and charge our house battery):

  • 400W Lightweight Solar Suitcase (Installation & Review Video)
  • 50A Dual Input DC to DC Charger (Installation Video)
  • 12V-100Ah Mini CORE LiFePO4 Battery + Battery Shunt 300 (Installation & Review Video)
  • ​Solar Panel Extension Cables x 2 (10AWG/20Ft)
  • Renogy ONE Core Monitor (Installation Video)
  • VL45 ICECO Refrigerator/Freezer* (Review Video)
    ​(*use promo code CANLIFE at checkout to get 12% off your order!)


**Appliances We Run with Solar!**

Camper: LED lighting, 12V fans, immersion blender, mattress pad heater, heating pads, Starlink, laptops, and recharge other small electronic devices such as smartphone, power bank, electric shaver, GoPro batteries, speaker, and bike lights.


Truck: 12V ICECO refrigerator/freezer

Subscribe to Our "Almost Monthly" Newsletter!

Join us on the road to hear about our solar powered adventures, upcoming events, full time RV living tips, as well as our favorite RV resources and outdoor gear!

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