Was looking for a solar panel kit to go with the power station I just purchased today, and bought this. Price seems ok compare to other places which are still around $200+
It didn't offer free shipping for some reason, for me it's extra $20, but I'm just going to pick it up.
I also used the ultimate card as payment..worked well for me.
Yeah was looking at them.. they look so flimsy. And gets expensive
Gross weight: 15.5kg
Factor in 1-2kg for packaging, still around 13 - 14kg. Hope you're OK with that.
Yeah i dont mind it. Dont think it will be moved around alot, i did look at other around 6-7kgs but price is still higher and unsure about the quality and brand.
Also cheap and work well though. Much easier to prop up and direct to the sun than the floppy blankets. About 1/4 the cost of equivalent wattage light ‘rigid’ panels.
YMMV but the extra 10kg and space didn’t justify spending $400 in my case.
But there are many advantages to a folding solar panel over a solar blanket, the first being that if/when it rains you need to be nearby with a solar blanket as
they are mostly not suitable in the rain. With folding solar panels you can store your battery/solar controller safely underneath the panel out of the rain.
I have a folding 120W solar panel permanently installed on my roof, it's been there for about 10 years without issue. This is not an option with a solar blanket.
Its a 12V 160W panel. But you only get a 12V 10A (=120W) PWM charge controller with it?
So its a 120W system. Unless you using it with a power station that takes input directly from the panel(s) and not using the charge controller, In which case the cost of the charge controller is wasted. You may as well just buy a panel.
Honestly i dont know too much about these, but its for
https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/881176?page=1#comment-1600…
If you haven't already bought that, you're too late.
If you have, it looks like from the images - I don't have access to the operating manual - you only need to connect a solar panel of the correct voltage to it. You don't need, and shouldn't use, a charge controller for charging 12V batteries. It contains the necessary and correct electronics to charge its own internal 22V battery.
I can't see the image of the device clearly enough to see whether a standard off-the-shelf solar panel is the right voltage, or they've made it so it only works with their own folding solar panel that they sell separately.
Are you sure it’s compatible? The power station has Andersen input of 8A, and that solar panel also says only for AGM?
Honesty, i got NFI.. i hope it does.
But it's not the PWM controller limiting the current flow to 10A, according to the spec sheet the Short Circuit Current is 9.19A, Voltage at Power Max 18V,
Current at Power Max 8.88A. So P = IV 159.84W= 8.88A X 18V. the solar panel only puts out 8.88 amps, this is under its 10 amp capacity.
So it wouldn't matter if you bought a 20 amp solar controller you're still not going to get more than 8.88 amps anyhow,
so don't throw out this no brand cheapy $2 solar controller, unless you have another one.
I think they calculated 12v @ 10amps to get 120w instead of 18v @ 8.88amps = ~160w
I think most would be using lithium based batteries these days so the charge controller would be piffed anyway
Is this a thing with modern Li batteries, just connect the panel start to the battery because it has a charging circuit built in ?
The point is that its PWM. So if its got 18V going into it, and you want 12V out, its going to throw away 1/3 of the solar panel's output to get that.
This 200w flexible panel would have been better if you have somewhere to store it. Fit brilliantly under matresses where they basically take zero room unlike a blanket. The weight saving is huge over a folding kit. . Only downside is you need a controller unless you are running a dcdc charger with this facility.
https://www.roadtechmarine.com.au/200w-flexible-solar-panel-…
I have this solar panel, I bought it from Jaycar. In fact I left a review for it on their website Rovin 200W Flexible Solar Panel $149
I was very impressed with it, for the $149 price tag. It doesn't come with any extras, so you need to supply a solar controller, cables etc.
Yes I bought two of them. Havent used them in anger. They are replacing 4 x100 flexible panels Ive has for 10 years. These cost me 1600 back in the day. The new 200w ones are a little heavier so they won't blow around as much
I assume these are suitable and directly plug into the power station in this deal?
https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/881176?page=1#comment-1600…
@mrXO: Looking at the specs I could find for that unit it says 7 amps max. The RTM panel outputs 11.5 amps. I gather this is what the inbuilt solar controller is rated to. A 100w panel would be more suitable. Tgin flexible 100w panels are now cheap as chips.
@feisty: Thanks. If I use the Anderson port, then in its 12A max. Got you.
Input port(DC 6530): 10-30 Vdc, 7 A, Max 210 W
Input port(Anderson port): 10-30 Vdc, 12 A, Max 240 W
So its no use buying a large panel where the max W is > then 210/240?
@mrXO: Nope, the anderson plug is too big. I happen to have a adaptor to put for the powerstation, its charging beautifully right now at 116w, referring the the one I post here sorry. Not the 200w one
Oops. I hadnt read your response properly.
That panel.lools perfect for the anderson input. I wouldnt put a bigger panel on as you are restricted by the 12 amp limit that 200w RTM panel is 11.5 amp. Pretty much spot on for what you need. Yes you could go larger in the hope your panel wouldnt always put out 11.5 amp. People do this in winter for when panels never achieve full output. Some solar controllers will shed excess input as heat but I dont think this will be that sophisticated. Im using two of those panels and they are great. Easy to store as they take up zero room yet heavy enough not to blow away in the wind.
Cheers
You're welcome. Good luck with it. Looks like a great unit at a phenomenal price you'll need one of these if you are going to make up your own anderson plug extension lead. Half the price of RTM and most other places.
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/404938710534?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mk…
Yes. Picked up the power station from mitre 10 and the solar panel from jaycar. Then got home and realised I also need that cable. Ordered via Amazon next day delivery as I could not want to wait for eBay long delivery time. Will see how the charging is like when I have it fully connected in the next few days.
These type of folding solar panels are heavy. Preferably get the solar blankets instead.