Oupes Transportable Photo voltaic Panel 100W
Finest light-weight transportable photo voltaic panel
Finest general transportable photo voltaic panel
The Jackery SolarSaga 200 is CNET’s favourite transportable photo voltaic panel, due to its mild weight and sizable photo voltaic charging capability. Although if this one would not suit your wants or funds, we’ve a lot extra choices to select from.
Transportable photo voltaic panels (and the transportable energy stations they’re typically paired with as photo voltaic turbines) mirror traits in rooftop photo voltaic panels and photo voltaic batteries. One huge one is that your choices as a client are quickly increasing. Whether or not you are in search of a photo voltaic panel to cost a battery whilst you’re tenting off grid or cost your cellphone or energy some instruments, there’s probably an choice for you. We have CNET’s picks for greatest photo voltaic panels beneath and some others that might nonetheless be a great match for you. We’ll additionally lay out how we made our picks, so that you could make one of the best determination for you.
Finest transportable photo voltaic panels of 2023
Jackery SolarSaga 200 (the biggest of their SolarSaga sequence) is my best choice for transportable photo voltaic panels as a result of it is extremely environment friendly and huge sufficient for loads of makes use of. It is also one of many lightest and least costly for its dimension. Pair it with the Jackery Explorer 2000 energy station, and also you get CNET’s favourite photo voltaic generator.
With a capability of 200 watts, it is massive sufficient to deal with most of your photo voltaic charging wants. 4 of those panels can fill Jackery’s 1,000-watt-hour energy station in 1.8 hours. Like all of the panels featured on this record, this one folds up. The folded panel is one-quarter the dimensions of its absolutely deployed dimensions. The SolarSaga 200 units the excessive mark for effectivity amongst transportable photo voltaic panels at 24.3%. It additionally had one of many highest watts-per-pound measures. (A 200-watt photo voltaic panel that weighs 30 kilos is not as helpful as one which weighs solely 17.6 kilos, just like the SolarSaga 200.)
The SolarSaga 200 is a little more costly than the opposite photo voltaic panels on the record, together with a number of the equally sized ones. It comes with a three-year guarantee that covers producer defects in the event you purchase it from particular retailers.
When paired with Jackery energy stations, your buy of a SolarSaga 200 has loads of room to develop. Jackery’s energy stations have a number of the highest most photo voltaic inputs of any energy station at present. If photo voltaic charging shortly is vital, you’ll construct as much as it.
At $299, the SolarPower One from Geneverse is a top quality photo voltaic panel that is inside attain for fairly just a few individuals. With a capability of 100 watts, the SolarPower One is available in at about $3 per watt. That is one of many higher marks for panels of this dimension, although bigger panels will sometimes value much less per watt, albeit extra general. Whereas this mannequin is a little more costly than picks we have had on this spot beforehand, we have seen a few of our favourite small, funds panels drop off the market.
SolarPower One has an effectivity score of 23%, which is towards the high quality of the panels we examined, although some bigger panels have greater charges.
This mannequin additionally packs plenty of energy into a comparatively mild package deal. At simply 9.1 kilos, it is one of many lightest 100-watt fashions we examined. Which means it will be simpler to benefit from the transportable nature of this panel and take it with you.
It is sensible {that a} photo voltaic panel with a larger charging capability is prone to weigh extra. Generally, that holds true. However some photo voltaic panels do a greater job of capturing extra daylight with out including a ton of additional weight. The perfect we discovered at packing charging energy right into a small package deal is Oupes with its eight-pound, 100-watt transportable photo voltaic panel.
This Oupes has 12.5 watts of photo voltaic charging capability for each pound it weighs. It is lighter than some panels which might be solely 50 watts. The Oupes 100-watt transportable photo voltaic panel has a good, although not top-of-the-line, 20% effectivity score. It is also cheaper than most different panels of comparable sizes. (It is a part of my decide for the greatest worth photo voltaic generator, the Oupes 600-watt photo voltaic generator package.)
If you happen to want quick photo voltaic charging on the go, there’s one panel that stands out above the remainder. Bluetti’s PV350 transportable photo voltaic panel has a large photo voltaic capability of 350 watts, so it could gather extra daylight and ship extra electrical energy to your units. It is 75% bigger than my greatest general decide, the Jackery SolarSaga 200. Apart from being huge, the PV350 additionally has a superb effectivity score of 23.4%. Whereas heavier than every other panel we thought of (30.69 kilos), on a pound-per-watt foundation, it is really one of many lighter choices.
As you may anticipate, the PV350 will set you again greater than different panels. For what you are getting, although, it is a truthful worth. For each greenback you spend — all 849 of them — you are shopping for 0.41-watt of charging capability. That tops our worth decide above, however the Oupes appeared extra inside attain and a greater match for extra makes use of.
Different transportable photo voltaic panels we examined
Biolite Photo voltaic Panel 100: The Photo voltaic Panel 100 is the primary bigger providing from Biolite, which has supplied smaller 5- and 10-watt photo voltaic panels for a short time. Its 100-watt providing is just about in keeping with the opposite choices right here however, with out reductions, it is a bit dearer to start out than others.
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Bluetti PV200: This 200-watt mannequin from Bluetti may have been the selection for one of the best all-around transportable photo voltaic panel, as a substitute of the Jackery SolarSaga 200. It is mild for its dimension and cheaper per watt than the Jackery. It has an effectivity score of 23.4%.
Anker 625: This 100-watt panel has an effectivity score of 23% and weighs 11 kilos. It is a bit heavier and dearer per watt than some others on this record, particularly of the identical dimension.
EcoFlow 110-Watt Photo voltaic Panel: The EcoFlow 100-watt panel matches our light-weight decide at 12.5 watts per pound. It is a bit dearer for its dimension than others, however has a great effectivity score and nice, appropriate energy stations.
Aim Zero Nomad 50: This bite-size photo voltaic panel has the smallest capability of any on this record. It is a good panel, however you may get only a bit extra capability for much less cash in just a few different locations.
Renogy Voyager: The 100-watt photo voltaic panel from Renogy is definitely a very good worth for its dimension. It is also quite a bit heavier than others, panels each its dimension and bigger.
How to decide on one of the best transportable photo voltaic panel
Discovering one of the best transportable photo voltaic panel for you actually comes down selecting the one that matches your wants and funds. Listed here are some belongings you may think about when in search of one of the best panels.
Worth
Worth usually traits with dimension: the bigger the panel, the dearer. If you happen to’re struggling to match worth throughout completely different sizes, shortly calculate the associated fee per watt of the panels you are contemplating by dividing the worth by the panels wattage score. For instance, you may get the 200-watt Jackery SolarSaga 200 for $699, or $3.50 per watt. Or, you may get the 350-watt Bluetti PV350 for $677 (when discounted), or $1.93 per watt.
Measurement
The panels we examined for this record ranged from 50 watts to 350 watts. A bigger panel will cost appropriate units quicker, however can even take up extra space, probably weigh extra and value extra (although not all the time). You possibly can calculate a standardized measurement for weight much like value per watt above. As an alternative of the worth, divide the load by the wattage score. For instance, the Jackery SolarSaga 200 weighs 17.6 kilos, which implies it weighs .088-pound per watt. Bluetti’s PV350 weighs .087-pound per watt.
Compatibility
You probably have your eye on a transportable energy station from a selected model, you will need to ensure that your chosen panel is appropriate. (Most corporations that supply each additionally supply them as a package deal.) You may also need to examine to see in the event you can daisy-chain a number of photo voltaic panels collectively earlier than deciding, particularly in the event you suppose your photo voltaic charging wants are going to extend sooner or later.
Use
What you propose to make use of your transportable photo voltaic panel for might be a very powerful consideration. Are you going to cost a transportable energy station with a capability of 250 watt-hours or two kilowatt-hours? Do you need to carry it with you over appreciable distances or simply from the automotive to your campsite?
Learn extra: Simply in search of an emergency backup? Try photo voltaic batteries and photo voltaic turbines.
How we take a look at transportable photo voltaic panels
Due to difficulties in getting correct knowledge within the lab, our rating of transportable photo voltaic panels depends extra on analysis and comparability of every panel’s specs than an precise testing protocol. The place specs weren’t publicly accessible, we reached out to corporations to get them. Then we in contrast them, discovering methods to make comparisons throughout completely different sizes of photo voltaic panels. The watt-per-pound and watt-per-dollar measures have been two methods we did that.
CNET editors additionally had hands-on expertise with these photo voltaic panels, so we may discover something out of the atypical or poorly made.
Transportable photo voltaic panel FAQs
What’s a watt in the case of photo voltaic panel dimension?
If you happen to’ve solely come throughout the measurement watts in a single place, it was in all probability lightbulbs. With lightbulbs, it measures how a lot vitality the bulb makes use of to mild up. A 60-watt lightbulb makes use of 60 watts to activate. Since photo voltaic panels produce, not devour, vitality, right here the measure is how a lot they’ll produce. A 100-watt photo voltaic panel, when it is working at full capability, can produce 100 watts of electrical energy at a time.
If you happen to’re charging a 300-watt-hour battery with a 100-watt photo voltaic panel, you may anticipate it to take three hours to completely cost it. 100 watts of electrical energy era instances three hours equals 300 watt hours. It is really a bit extra difficult as a result of charging the final portion of a battery usually takes for much longer than the primary half for type of difficult causes.
Why is not my photo voltaic panel charging as a lot because it’s presupposed to?
You obtain a 100-watt photo voltaic panel and plugged it into your energy station, which tells you ways a lot energy is flowing in. As an alternative of 100 watts, your energy station says 80 or 50 or one thing else. Is your panel damaged?
Whereas I am unable to rule out that your panel is damaged, photo voltaic charging will increase and reduces for lots of causes that should not have you ever sending your panel again to the producer.
Since photo voltaic panels convert daylight to electrical energy, how a lot solar will get to your panel has a direct impact on its manufacturing. Apart from the apparent components like clouds or shade, the angle of the solar or the angle of the panel to the solar may have an impact. You would attempt tipping your panel to face the solar extra straight.
Photo voltaic panels do not work as effectively once they’re sizzling. If it is a scorcher, you may see a lower in electrical energy era. If you happen to’re utilizing your panels in dusty spots, like a campsite, washing away any mud that settles on them may enhance their manufacturing too.
How briskly will a transportable photo voltaic panel cost my machine?
The reply to this query depends on components on each side of the equation: the photo voltaic panel and the machine.
How a lot vitality your photo voltaic panel produces relies upon straight on the solar accessible. A photo voltaic panel will cost a tool extra slowly on partly cloudy days than on clear ones. A unclean photo voltaic panel will cost units extra slowly for a similar motive. Something that will get between the panel and the solar means much less energy in your cellphone.
A bigger photo voltaic panel that may gather extra daylight may cost units extra shortly: A 200-watt photo voltaic panel can generate twice the facility of a 100-watt photo voltaic panel. It is not all as much as the panel, although.
Charging velocity can be restricted by your machine. Photo voltaic turbines, for instance, have a most photo voltaic enter allowable. Below the identical situations a photo voltaic generator restricted to a single 100-watt photo voltaic panel will not cost as quick as one that may connect with 4 100-watt photo voltaic panels. Additional, in case your machine helps quick charging it should outpace one that does not.