Suggestions for a 200 watt foldable solar panel?

descott12 · September 15

Hello all,
There are SO many options on Amazon now for a foldable panel. Just not sure which one to choose as the reviews are all over the place. I also noticed that some are 40 volt and some are 20 so that will definitely affect which controller to get as well. I was hoping to use one of the mini/mobile controllers but some are limited to 10 amp so that might be pushing it with a 20 volt panel.
Anyway, any suggestions/thoughts would be appreciated.
Cheers

AnOldUR · September 15

The limiting controller spec is not the amperage, it's voltage. Damage may result if the panel output voltage is too high for the controller, but the amperage rating is maximum the controller is capable of supplying to your battery regardless of the amps coming in from the panel.

Best practice is to buy a panel without an onboard controller and install a controller as close to the battery as possible. This will reduce voltage drop. When installed, our nuCamp trailers come with Victron products. For a 200W panel a 75/15 Victron controller will cover the requirements of most panel manufactures. That's a max of 75 volts allowed coming into the controller and it will output no more than 15 amps.

Sharon_is_SAM · September 15

I recommend getting 2 100 Watt panels instead of a larger 200 W panel. it gives you other options for carrying/storing them. We have been happy with our Renogy panels for eight years.

descott12 · September 15

AnOldUR said:

The limiting controller spec is not the amperage, it's voltage. Damage may result if the panel output voltage is too high for the controller, but the amperage rating is maximum the controller is capable of supplying to your battery regardless of the amps coming in from the panel.

Best practice is to buy a panel without an onboard controller and install a controller as close to the battery as possible. This will reduce voltage drop. When installed, our nuCamp trailers come with Victron products. For a 200W panel a 75/15 Victron controller will cover the requirements of most panel manufactures. That's a max of 75 volts allowed coming into the controller and it will output no more than 15 amps.

Thanks for the reply. I just put the victron 75/15 into my shopping cart. I like that I can view it with the Victron app with the other stuff. Good idea.

AnOldUR · September 15

@Sharon_is_SAM makes a good point that you should consider. Personally, I went the opposite route. I started with the 100W Renogy panel, but now use their 400W panel. It is bulkier, heavier and not as easy to handle, but not so much that it bothers me or makes a difference in setup time. The biggest drawback of the 400W for me is that it required a larger solar controller.

Something else to consider is the type of connection that you'll use. The most common has been SAE ports. I went that route because that's what I saw everyone else doing at the time. You may want to research Anderson PP15. I'm in the process of converting over to it.

WayneW · September 15

I second the suggestion by @Sharon_is_SAM. We just got two n-type 100w Renogy solar suitcases and I've been impressed by their output. We had a 100w Renogy solar suitcase w PWM controller and it performed great and was very reliable over the years. We recently sold that to a guy who was building out a van.

The new panels are MUCH lighter than the old suitcase and I now have the option of taking one or both panels with me, depending mostly on the local vegetation and weather predictions. I mounted a Renogy MPPT controller in the tub next to the battery.

Basil48192 · September 15

I also have been very happy with the Renogy panel. I bought the 200W suitcase. I do like the simplicity of just one suitcase, but it can be a bit bulky. I have a pick-up truck and it slide nicely into the back seat and takes up very little room.
The panel came with a controller, which I bypassed but left in place. I like the Victron products as well, so I added a second controller inside my propane/battery tub. It works great and I still have the controller that came with the panel in case anyone in my group needs to charge their batteries.

elbolillo · September 16

I personally like the EcoFlow panels. This is a good choice: https://us.ecoflow.com/collections/solar-panels/products/nextgen-220w-bifacial-portable-solar-panel?variant=41670394576969

Tabaz · September 16

I have a ten year old 200A Zamp suitcase. It weighs 45 pounds and is a bear to move around chasing the sun during the day. A nerd friend of mine suggested just plugging the trailer into my tow vehicle, turn it on, and use it to charge the batteries instead of solar. I was stunned at how little time it takes to top-off the batteries. This has proven to be a game changer. I no longer carry the Zamp. However, my truck is a Ford F150 with a huge alternator (so I've been told). Just something to consider.

Basil48192 · September 16

@Tabaz. That's a nice option!
However, I recently upgraded to lithium but did not replace my converter....so I need my solar controller to get the batteries up to 100% SOC. I'm guessing there are a lot of other people with the same issue.

elbolillo · September 16

@tabaz Most tow vehicles won’t provide enough charging for a battery bank. Especially if it is large and made up of LiFePo batteries.

pthomas745 · September 17

I have: a 2013 100 watt Renogy panel that can double as a bedroom door. Big and heavy. A 2019 100 watt Renogy panel that is smaller and ligher. Tried one of the thin panels designed to be placed on the roof of a trailer as a "stand alone" panel, and it broke after a year. But, light as a feather. Last year, I picked up an ACO Power 200 watt suitcase that yes, it a bit "bulkier" and weighs about 20 pounds...but folded up it takes less room than either of the 100 watt Renogy panels.

If you want the simplest, less spendy, no muss, no fuss, lightweight panels, these Dokio setups are the way to go. If every solar controller had "XT60" plugs, our lives would be so much easier. There are extension cables that can work from the panels to the controller available. You can connect easily with the battery clamps. The SAE cables, allegedly, since they are properly wired at the controller via the XT60 plugs, work in the trailer's SAE ports with no adapters, according to all reports. (I'd still use a multimeter to check every connection!) The 300 watt setup here is a steal for 180 dollars. And weighs 15 pounds.

https://www.amazon.com/stores/DOKIO/page/3F89A486-A183-4801-B8D4-65815CC0585D?is_byline_deeplink=true&deeplink=50BCC749-867B-4572-A7ED-3A3F27846148&redirect_store_id=3F89A486-A183-4801-B8D4-65815CC0585D&lp_asin=B07JPH4PHG

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Suggestions for a 200 watt foldable solar panel?

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