By Aimii | 10 June 2022 | 0 Comments

Understanding The 100W Portable Solar Panel Kit

Most of the RVers invested or considered investing in solar power. They installed various watt solar panels. Among those panels, the 100w solar panels are the most popular.

It is conveniently sized, easy to replace, and best of all, portable. RVing beginners and camping lovers carry it as a necessary power supply. Experienced RVers take it as a backup for their existing solar power system. You can understand the 100w portable solar panel in-depth through six points.

What size & weight is a 100w portable solar panel?

The size and weight of 100w portable solar panels vary in different brands. As it is carried folded, we mainly check the folded dimensions. The typical size measure around 14.2 - 42.4 inches and weight 5.5 - 25.9 pounds. Among the popular brands Renogy, Jackery, and Rockpals, we got the data as follows.

Renogy 12V 100W solar panel is 42.4 x 20 x 1.38 inches, weight 14.3 pounds.
Rockpals 18V 100W solar panel is 14.2 x 20.5 x 2.6 inches, weight 10.8 pounds.
Jackery 18V 100W solar panel is 22.8 x 19.6 x 2.3 inches, weight 5.5 pounds.
Goal Zero 18V 100W solar panel is 26.7 x 21.7 x 3.7 inches, weight 25.9 pounds.

The smaller size and lighter solar panels are easier to carry in camping and RVing.

How much charge from a 100w portable solar panel?

In an ideal situation, a 100w portable solar panel can produce 100 watts at a peak. But actually, it depends on the location, orientation, and weather. Most of the time you won’t get optimal conditions.

According to some test data, it produces more than 400 watts per day in the south of America and only around 300 watts per day in the north of America. Where it works best is Arizona, New Mexico, and California, which can reach up to 480 watts per day. Of cause, the data can only be used as a reference, it was based on the perfect installation facing to the south, at its best angle, and unshaded works from 9 am to 3 pm.

Note that solar panels from different brands may have different solar efficiency.

Can a 100w portable solar panel charge your devices directly?

Due to the output voltage limitation of solar panels and the various input voltage requirement of electric devices, a single 100w portable solar panel can only power some small electric devices directly, such as smartphones, laptops, flashlights, USB mini fans, and regular USB battery chargers.

Since solar itself is inconsistent, it’s not good for most electric devices to be charged directly from an unregulated solar panel. We recommend you use a converter or something like that to power these sensitive devices, such as the XTAR EU4S. It is specially designed for solar panels. The multiple built-in protections ensure your charging safely.

You can NOT power the bigger appliances with a 100-watt solar panel, such as coffee maker, microwave, RV fridge, toaster, heat pump, and washer. The best way is to store the solar energy in your battery or power station.

Should I pair a 100w portable solar panel with a battery?

Yes, that’s a good idea. With the set, you can store energy and use enough electricity at night.

You need to estimate your energy demand first. What appliances do you plan to carry, what’s their total power rating, and how long do you plan to use them per day on your trip. Then you will know how many batteries you need.

There are mainly two kinds of batteries, lead-acid and lithium-ion. A single battery is 12 volt. If you are thinking of getting a lead-acid battery, keep in mind that don’t run below its 50% capacity.

Many experienced RVers have more than 2 batteries, 3-4 roof-mounted solar panels, and two or more backup 100-watt portable solar panels.

We have an article that discusses how much power you need in boondocking, in case you are interested.

What size of charge controller for 100w solar panel?

As the solar panel cannot be connected directly to your batteries, you need a charge controller and special electric wire.

When considering the size of the charge controller, you should pay most attention to the amperage, then the voltage. You may have already noticed on Amazon that most of the charge controllers listed the amps on their titles, say 30A PWM controller.

There is a formula to help you decide what size of a charge controller you need.

Total solar panel watts / battery voltage + 25% of safety margin = charge controller size

For example, you use a 100-watt solar panel and a 12-volt battery, then the charge controller size should be:
100W / 12V + 25% = 10.4 amps, rounded off to 10 amps

So, a 100w portable solar panel with a 12V battery needs a 10 amp charge controller.

How much do 100w portable solar panels cost?

A traditional 100-watt roof-mounted solar panel will cost around $79 to $89. While how much are the foldable and portable ones? A quick search on Amazon shows a range between $134 to $400 for a 100W Monocrystalline portable solar panel. The most rated ones are at the price of around $210 - $290, including the latest XTAR SP100.

XTAR SP100, as a 100w portable solar panel, quickly got lots of praise after its launch. Many testers found it could reach 110 watts in peak although it was rated as 100 watts. It’s amazing. The power efficiency is 23%, much higher than some other panels. Now it is only $269 on its official website xtardirect.com. After using the coupons, it can reduce to around only $249. A very good price!

In conclusion, 100-watt portable solar panels are perfect for RVing beginners learning how to start their green energy off-grid trips. It is also perfect for experienced outdoor adventurers to add power to their existing solar system in their full-time boondocking life.

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