Henry M
Smart Solar Box Review
Saving money is something we all worry about at times.
We want to save money, whether we plan to spend it on our kids’ college educations or our own retirement.
At the same time, you may also worry about the environmental impact of your life and wonder if there are ways you can help the planet while also improving your financial outlook.
One thing that has the potential to accomplish both goals at once is solar power.
Now – hold on.
You might have priced solar panels for your home and found the prices to be a little high for your budget.
Maybe they even scared you away from making the switch to solar.
But what if there were a way to switch to solar without spending thousands of dollars on expensive panels?
That’s the promise behind an informational product called Smart Solar Box.
Using the information in the product, its creator says that anybody – whether they live in the country or the city – can build a solar box to harness the power of the sun and use it to reduce your electric bill.
In this review, we’ll explain what Smart Solar Box is as well as who created it and what it promises to do. We’ll also talk about some of the various components you’ll need to build your own Smart Solar Box and examine the research about the efficiency and uses of solar power.
So What Is Smart Solar Box?
Smart Solar Box is a product that provides you with the information and instructions to build a solar box of your own. It consists of written materials, photographs showing the steps to build the solar box, and instructional videos to demonstrate the methods described in the book.
We’ll talk about those in more detail later.
Another way of looking at it is that Smart Solar Box is an alternative route to solar power. You could spend thousands of dollars on new solar panels and hire someone to install them. Or, you could dedicate a few hours of your time to shopping for components and building your own Smart Solar Box with the help of this product.
Who Created Smart Solar Box?
Smart Solar Box is a product created by Ryan Tanner – although he is quick to point out that the original idea came from his father.
All he did was figure out what his father did and is sharing it with the world.
Ryan’s father died a while back. After his death, Ryan and his family traveled to his dad’s cabin to settle his affairs, and while they were there, a blizzard struck the area. Before long, everyone else for miles around had lost power – but Ryan’s father’s cabin was still ablaze with lights. Ryan got curious.
What had his father done?
Eventually, he figured out that the answer was this unassuming collection of toolboxes with solar batteries in them. He spent a bit of time replicating what his father had done, and soon he had built his own array of solar boxes and was saving 68% on his electric bill – even though he lived in the city. He then put what he had learned together into Smart Solar Box.
The Components of a Smart Solar Box
One of the things we like about Smart Solar Box is that, according to Ryan Tanner, anybody can build a solar box of their own for about $200. (Large homes may require more batteries, but you should still be able to power your whole house for less than $1,000.) That’s not much, especially when you compare it to the cost of having a pro come out and install new solar paneling on your roof. We’re talking a couple of hundred dollars as opposed to thousands.
There are five basic components of a Smart Solar Box. They are:
- Compact 50-watt solar panels
- Car batteries
- A solar charge controller
- An 800-watt power inverter
- A box to hold the battery
These components are readily available. Let’s look at some examples.
Solar Panels
You can expect the solar panels to be the most expensive part of your Smart Solar Box. It’s important to buy compact panels since the goal is to be able to build a Smart Solar Box even if you live in a small, city apartment. You should also look for panels that perform well in low-light environments, like these ones.
Car Batteries
Building a Smart Solar Box requires 2 small car batteries or one big one. There are solar batteries available and you may want to choose one of them, especially since they may be less expensive than a traditional car battery. You’ll probably need to do some comparison shopping to find a battery that suits your budget, but this is an affordable one.
Solar Charge Controller
A good solar charge controller doesn’t need to cost much. However, you should make sure that you find one with adjustable power rates and multiple USB ports. You should also choose a controller that offers you multiple kinds of protection, including low voltage and overcharge protection. It’s always a good idea to pick a product with heat protection. We like this one, which is both affordable and efficient.
Power Inverter
The power inverter attaches to the battery and converts the solar energy you collect into a usable form. You’ll want to look for one that can handle 800 watts. Like the controller, it should have built-in electrical protection. You’ll save a bit of money if you choose an inverter that comes with the necessary cables, like this one.
Tool Box
The final major component is the tool box that will hold your Smart Solar Box. You’ll need a decent-sized box that’s sturdy well-built. We like this one.
Tools and Other Items
In addition to the major components of the box, you’ll need some tools and other items to build your Smart Solar Box. If you don’t own most of these tools, then your cost will be higher if you buy them. An alternative would be to ask for help from a friend or pay someone to assemble your Smart Solar Box for you. You’ll need:
- Pliers (regular, cable cutter, cable crimper and decorticator pliers)
- Flat and cross screwdrivers
- Box cutter
- Sliding measuring calipers
- Fixed wrenches
- Plastic cable ties
- Hand drill
- Drill bits
- Electrical cables for wiring
- Screws, washers, and nuts
- An on/off switch
There are a few other incidentals as well. The product includes a complete shopping list with illustrations, making it easy for you to find what you need either online or in your local hardware store. Keep in mind that there is a wide range of prices for every one of these items. You’ll get the best and lowest price for your Smart Solar Box if you’re willing to spend some time bargain hunting.
One final word of advice. If you decide to buy any used components to make your Smart Solar Box, make sure to test them before paying for them. It’s possible to save a lot of money by not buying new items, but don’t waste your hard-earned cash on something that doesn’t work.
What’s Included When You Buy Smart Solar Box?
As we mentioned earlier, Smart Solar Box is an informational product. That means that what you’re paying for is information. Here’s what you will get when you buy Smart Solar Box:
- Smart Solar Box. This is the main product, a 41-page manual that includes a thorough shopping list to help you buy the necessary components, color photographs of the Smart Solar Box building process, and written instructions as well. It’s an electronic book that comes in PDF format.
- 10 Easy Steps to Build Your Solar Panel. If you need more power than the Smart Solar Box provides, then this companion, 35-page manual will explain how to build your own solar panels to provide sufficient power for your family’s needs.
- Build Your Own Wind Turbine. Solar power isn’t the only kind of natural power you can harness to lower your electricity build. This bonus guide explains, in 10 easy steps, how to build your very own wind turbine, including instructions on how to wire the system to collect the power of the wind.
- Step-by-step videos. In addition to the written and illustrated manuals. Ryan Tanner has made four step-by-step videos that will show you the exact process you need to follow to build a Smart Solar Box of your own. Some people learn better if they can watch someone else complete a process, and these videos are ideal for that purpose.
All four of these items come in an electronic format. That means as soon as you pay for Smart Solar Box, you’ll be able to download the books and videos instantly and start assembling what you need to build your solar box and reduce your electric bill.
Does Smart Solar Box Work?
Probably the most important question you’re asking about Smart Solar Box is whether this product can deliver on its promises. If you buy the books and the components and build your own solar box, will it really reduce your electric bills and save you money?
The short answer is yes, it will. Of course, you’ll want a bit more information, so let’s look at some of the concerns you may have.
The first has to do with the quality of the instructional information. The main book and bonus manuals are all written in an easy-to-follow, engaging style. The photographs illustrate exactly what you need to do – as do the videos – and you don’t need to be an expert to be able to follow them.
Of course, the main concern is whether such a small solar box can really collect enough energy to make a difference. The average family home in the United States uses about 800 kilowatt hours of energy per month. That might sound like a lot, but a single, full-sized solar panel can collect 250 watt hours of energy in a single hour of exposure to full sunlight. In other words, even two small panels like the ones in Smart Solar Box can easily collect the energy you need.
The great thing about Smart Solar Box is that it will work whether you live in a large home or a small apartment. You’ll need to dedicate some space to store the components, but not much. Of course, if you have a very large home, you may need to build more than one Smart Solar Box to meet your needs.
The other thing we want to mention is that there is a bit of ongoing maintenance required to keep your Smart Solar Box working as intended. However, the work required is minimal. As long as you follow the instructions provided, you should be able to greatly reduce your electric bill.
Pros and Cons of Smart Solar Box
By now, you probably have a good idea of the pros and cons of Smart Solar Box, but let’s run through them, starting with the pros:
- Smart Solar Box is inexpensive and easy to assemble and can save you money on your electric bill
- You don’t need to be an electrician or solar expert to build your Smart Solar Box
- Smart Solar Box is made from easy-to-find components and tools
- It can work as well in a tiny apartment as it does in a big house
There aren’t many potential cons, but here are something to consider:
- This is an electronic product, and some people may prefer a physical book (but keep in mind you can print it out if you like)
- Some people may prefer a ready-made solar solution instead of something they must build themselves
- You’ll need to be willing to do some bargain hunting to keep your costs down
We’re inclined to believe that the pros outweigh the cons.
How Much Does Smart Solar Box Cost?
One of the best things about Smart Solar Box is how affordable it is. You’ll get all three manuals plus the four videos for a one-time price of $39.69. Keep in mind that you’ll also need to budget at least $200 for the components. If you decide to buy new components instead of used ones, your costs may increase a bit from this estimate.
Smart Solar Box comes with a 60-day money-back guarantee. If you try the product and you aren’t satisfied, you can simply contact the company to get a full refund.
Final Recommendation
Our final recommendation is that Smart Solar Box is worth buying. The easy-to-use instructions and affordable price make it a good investment for anybody who wants to reduce their electric bill.
To get your copy of Smart Solar Box today, please click here now.
