AFFORDABLE 100w Folding Panel?! Testing the Pecron 100w Solar Panel

[@DYT-jx4jp]

Appreciate these (short is ok) videos on panels. I've taken a step back to adjust the power stations I own. Once I get that sorted out, I'll need to figure out the solar piece. These solar panel reviews will be very helpful when I get to that piece. Thank you!

[@johnmal5975]

I know I always say this to you but Pecron just makes good products that the middle class can afford. I like their style. Lol

[@garagejim1956]

Thanks, Jason Well done. A great option for camping and mobilty.

[@Jasonoid]

I agree! It's a great value for portable applications!

[@OnusBones]

That looks like a really good option for small to modest power stations. I think I've covered my current needs, but this one probably deserves a spot on my short list if I decide I need another one.

[@Jasonoid]

I can't wait till portable panels become more affordable. Options like this help bring in the competition!

[@johndeleo1929]

I have one of these solar panels that I bought with my Pecron E500LFP. It works really well. I usually get around 91 watts on a sunny day. Great idea about connecting them in series. I am assuming you can connect multiple together, like 3 of them.

[@Jasonoid]

Yep! As long as you have mc4 connection you can do series or parallel 👍

[@RandiG63]

I’m gearing up to camp this winter and trying to decide which panels would provide enough power to boondock Thanks Jason 👍

[@Jasonoid]

The only downside to these is the 5521 barrel port. What power station will you be charging?

[@joebloggs24]

I like your can trick, but you can also watch the shadow of the solar panel - it should be about the same size as the panel and cast a rectangular shadow

[@Jasonoid]

Thanks! That works well for horizontal angling, it's a little bit more tricky lining up the panel vertically. It can get pretty close though. Definitely multiple ways to do it 👍

[@ImASurvivorNThriver]

I like the price and the smaller size, but, I wish that it had the Mc4's on it. I have (3) 100w Renogy suitcase glass panels. Would i be able to connect these foldable ones to them? If so, how? Thanks for sharing. 😊

[@duaneevans6367]

Great information as always. How would you compare this panel to the Xtar series of panels? The XTAR SP100 100w Solar Panel was going to be my next purchase. At $260.00 for the Xtar I could purchase 2 of Pecron panels.

[@Jasonoid]

You'll definitely save money and get more wattage with the Pecron panels. It's kinda annoying that they don't have MC4 connectors and the adapters are kinda expensive. That's the only downside of these panels.

[@richeastmain4031]

I’ve found that I get the best panel alignment using French Style Green Beans, I’ll pick up a few of these panels and see if it works with them as well.

[@Jasonoid]

French style beans are the bomb, I was all out! 🤣 Next time maybe!

[@adriftatlas]

Been looking for a 100W lightweight panel for my Anker Solix C300 DC, which has an XT60. Almost makes one want to chop off the DC5521 and tack on an XT60 as the questionable warranty is only for a year. I've had DC5521 plugs with poor tolerances heat up with 5A. Renogy has their 100W Portable Solar Panel for $125 but it's also a bit heavier and bigger. Uses regular MC4 though. Anker is supposed to release a blanket style 100W panel that looks really tiny, but I seriously doubt it will be price competitive. It's high time the portable solar panel market went down in price. Why are residential 400W panels $200, but typical 200W portable panels are $400?

[@twloughlin]

Thanks. If I didn't have two 125W Elecaenta folding panels already I'd snap these up in a heartbeat. Pecron is IMO the best "off" brand of solar power stations out there. Great value for money.

[@Jasonoid]

They do offer a great value for their products!

[@shelley131]

Wow they are very budget friendly. Do you know if they are compatible with the solar saga panels because of the plug? I don't remember the size.

[@Jasonoid]

Solar saga panels have a 7909 barrel port, so with an adapter in the video description they will have the same port.

[@nullinterface2077]

Wish I'd seen this before buying a couple Renogy rigid panels earlier this week. On the other hand they're for contingency usage and work out of the box with my Bluetti stations so the added bulk isn't an issue.

[@joebloggs24]

Try a Chinese brand called Anfuote - portable solar panels for $1/watt approx. IP68 waterproof, MC4 connectors, Volts and Amps output designed for power stations.

[@nullinterface2077]

@@joebloggs24 Good to know. If I'm in the market again I'll check them out.

[@jasonbroom7147]

So, you're really paying $120 for the panel and two adapters. I like Pecron products but they'd sell a lot more of these if the panel terminated in MC4 connectors and they included an adapater to connect to their 5521 inputs.

[@Jasonoid]

I agree. I gave them that feedback so we'll see if something changes down the road.

[@frederickv.9300]

iT's time for a overvolting the solar panels talk. Winter time you get little watts on fixed panels. So add more panels? or fry your controller? Can you? What is too much?

[@Jasonoid]

The rule is this with over-paneling: -You can have more amperage available in your array, the power station will limit it automatically -You CAN'T have higher voltage than allowed or it will fry the controller. So feel free to connect more solar wattage than the controller will allow, but you have to stay under the max voltage or you got issues.

[@randysmith3959]

Ordered one of these this week to go with my e500 lfp. Also ordered an e3600 lfp. Haven’t decided what panels I will use for it. Do you have any recommendations as I want a portable panel/panels that are about 1200 watts.

[@Jasonoid]

Portable panels are extremely expensive for 1200 watts of power. I'd recommend using 400w residential panels on the E3600LFP. They cost around $150 per 400w panel right now.

[@johnroyer3191]

@@Jasonoid Jason, do you have a link to the 400 watt panels? Thanks, watch everything you post.

[@Jasonoid]

@@johnroyer3191 you'll find this video helpful: kzbin.info/www/bejne/pn21fJ-gn8akg6M

[@johnsutter8137]

@@Jasonoid Thanks!

[@einyv]

I just connected my 2 ecoflow 110w panels in series today and got between 186-193 Watts here in Phoenix. Not bad but setting up is a pain in the butt when the horrible case stand. I have no idea what their engineers were thinking. The most idiotic decision ever. Only reason why i wouldn't buy more panels from them and i want a decent 400 w.

[@chrissinclair8705]

Excellent video. I think these panels because of the cost and ease of setup would make a perfect option for say a small power station like I have. I have an Allpowers R600 299Wh that I use for my small devices that need to be charged everyday. Or buy a couple and be able to charge an ebike battery in a cost effective manner. I recently bought an Elejoy MPPT programmable step up boost converter and it works great to replace my aging MPT-7210A boost converter.(It's not MMPT no matter what it says on the unit) However with the Elejoy it's max output is 400w so you just have to be a little careful on what panels you are connecting it with. Do not over panel it as there is no amperage throttling setting on it, only voltage. So say for instance both my e-bike batteries will take at least a 4 amp charge at 54.6 terminal voltage that's around just over the 200w mark. I'm assuming it's a 5amp BMS in there. But with 2 of these panels in series or parallel you are getting around the 150-190 most probably realistically which is just under 4 amps so it can charge the e-bike battery safely for a reasonable price so in case of a disaster or a power outage you are always mobile. The only critique I can offer on this great video is to use a can of corn for the shading check on the panels. Green beans are fine but you get another .5w with corn, plus as a bonus you get to have some nice green beans with your dinner. A win win if you ask me. 🙂

[@Jasonoid]

I'll have to use corn next time! LOL

[@chrissinclair8705]

@@Jasonoid See? You are already winning!

[@TUKByV1]

Nice. Thank you.

[@Jasonoid]

Welcome!

[@woppini]

Excellent video as always. Ever thought about doing a video on all the adapters and plug types? MC3 MC4, 8mm, xt60 etc

[@Jasonoid]

There are HUNDREDS of adapter types. I usually try to get everything back to MC4 since it's the most compatible.

[@TheCornucopiaProject-bd5jk]

The price is great. It’s about time the folding panels start coming down. But a barrel plug? Seriously Percron? Are you sharing a factory with Jackery? And we need not just one adapter, but two. Insanity.

[@Jasonoid]

I've given them harsh feedback and the need of an included adapter, let's hope my words stick!

[@LittleSpot]

for which current and voltage are the barrel plugs rated? I would say it is dangerous to use this kind of high resistance plug design.

[@TheCornucopiaProject-bd5jk]

@@LittleSpot two in series is probably still ok.

[@TheCornucopiaProject-bd5jk]

@@Jasonoid what’s the chance of users replacing the cables at the junction box instead?

[@Schnorschel]

I just got this panel a few days ago in a bundle with a Pecron E300LFP and was disappointed to have practically no power generation (generator display shows 2-4W) when a cloud blocks the sun (this is in Florida), but 94W when not blocked. Since I'm completely new to solar panels I don't know what to expect. I thought I would get at least 10-20W. I'm wondering if the voltage drops below the minimum threshold of the charge controller when the sun is blocked, but then would the display show 2-4W?

[@Jasonoid]

I haven't tested the E300LFP so I'm not sure how it performs in cloudy weather. I'm thinking it's the power station not liking the lower voltage when cloudy.

[@Schnorschel]

Thanks for the reply. Would you mind testing the panel on a cloudy day and report back how much power you get when the sun is blocked? I see that the E1500LFP has an identical lower threshold on the 100W charge controller to the E300LFP, namely 12V. I would be really interested in how many Watts you're getting when clouds are blocking the sun.

[@rwstarke]

Will a can of 🌽 work? 🤣

[@bobjones9727]

Looks like a good deal on the panel. A slam dunk other than the fact that they make you buy an extra adapter to make to work on any power box. A marketing mistake IMO.

[@Jasonoid]

I know! Missed opportunity for just having MC4 on the panel. In my opinion they should have had MC4 and included an adapter to 5521 if you wanted it.

[@LittleSpot]

everything not MC4 on a panel is crappy. But maybe it was a cost reduction.

[@leemobai762]

Similar to Vtoman- crap

[@Jasonoid]

I didn't think so, but everyone is open to their own opinion. Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts!