Portable, Reliable, Sturdy, Stylish
I absolutely love these solar panels! I love the versatility since I can take them out when I go camping or keep them as an auxiliary power source on my sailboat, without the need to ever install them permanently. They are a little bigger than I anticipated but they are rated for 400W so the added size is expected, over let's say a 200W panel setup. Funny enough, these panels actually produce more power than some of my other permanently installed solar panels. The build quality is excellent, starting from the solar panels themselves to the carry bag. The color scheme is stylish and they look and feel premium. Using them does feel like using a top of the line product. The frame is sturdy and feels like it can easily withstand the outdoor elements. I also love the blue corner protectors that keep the panels a little bit off the ground and protect the edges. I've read and watched some reviews complaining that the kickstand is not adjustable, but it doesn't really bother me. I feel that having it adjustable doesn't add much and can lead to a potential weak point, breakage, or water sipping into the adjustment mechanism and leading to rust or other sorts of damage. The easier they are to use, the more reliable, and less prone to damage they are, the more points they score in my book. Since the build is mostly made of metal with very little plastic, they can be a little heavy. Personally, I consider the added weight a bonus since I don't have to worry that they will fly away with the wind, bend or break if something runs into them. If you're moving them short distances, such as from your car to your campsite, the weight is not an issue. The handles are also really well made and are constructed out of one piece of metal. They don't have any padding to make them softer which is good since you don't have to worry about the material rotting or going bad in the rain or snow. For longer distances, I move them using a collapsible cart/wagon which makes transportation a breeze. Connectivity is easy, just connect them to a charge controller and a battery and you are good to go. If you want to run your regular 110v appliances, just connect an inverter to the battery. Connect your coffee maker, toaster or any other electronics you like. It really is as ingenious and easy at it sounds. This solar panel is more than enough to power all of this. Just makes sure you have a good battery, good wattage on your inverter, and a good charge controller (recommend MPPT). Renogy makes all of these as well and I've owned several of them throughout the years without issues, but you can really use any brand you like, they are all inter-compatible (thank God). Price-wise, you get what you pay for. The cost spread out over years of use comes out to actually be low per year of use. At least, that's how I look at it and it makes sense to me when making this decision. If I buy a cheaper solar panel but it lasts me 6-12 months before the issues start appearing and I have to buy a new one every time, I'm actually financially better off by just buying this product. In terms of the enjoyment of use factor, every-time I use these solar panels it feels really good to use them. They are well made, reliable, and very pleasant to look at. Spread that enjoyment out over years of use and that makes me a happy camper (literally, pun intended). Read more
