Patent ID: 7388348

Claim:
A portable solar energy system, comprising: a solar energy panel having an array of photovoltaic cells for converting light energy into dc electrical energy; a charge controller for regulating the flow of dc current from the solar energy panel; and an energy storage and conversion unit having: a sealed lead-acid battery; a dc-to-ac inverter unit electrically connected to the battery for converting energy stored in the battery to ac electrical energy, the inverter having at least one output receptacle; a disconnect switch for interrupting dc current between the battery and the inverter; circuitry for monitoring and controlling inverter output based on dc voltage supplied to the inverter, wherein the circuitry for monitoring and controlling inverter output comprises: an alarm circuit activated when the dc voltage supplied to the inverter drops below a first set point; and a shutoff circuit for turning off inverter output when the dc voltage drops below a second set point value; and a frame, the inverter, the battery, and the disconnect switch being mounted on the frame.