How much realistic power can you get with a single 200 watt solar panel on Rooftop tent?

#rooftoptent #camping #solar #truckcamping #bluetti #brianwatersoutdoors
Calpha Solar 200 watt panel
www.calpha.com/products/200w-...
10’ mc4 extension cable
amzn.to/3SLuKVJ
Bluetti AC180T
www.bluettipower.com/pages/sw...
gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAiA8sauBhB3EiwAruTRJvEXSOtmjJSsTAxRq9yx9gOuvXru_Fu_LyBOLTmJPRYFTflRg7_D5BoC32sQAvD_BwE

[@PGcutty]

Nice upgrade Brian. See, I can spell Brain right! Darn it. Seriously, looking sweet!

[@Frankie23105]

This setup is legit! Best I’ve seen. Love it

[@BrianWatersOutdoors]

Thanks!

[@Shereejennifer]

You are having such a great time with this new set up! It's awesome to watch it unfold. 😊

[@BrianWatersOutdoors]

I am having a ton of fun with this new setup😀😀

[@williamgouldjr120]

Hey Brian, love to see you testing new equipment. Your passion to improve the camping experience is awesome.

[@BrianWatersOutdoors]

Thank you👍🏻

[@user-gy1ju3zz5w]

Your setup is just getting better and better all the time. I am very impressed! 👍🇺🇸

[@BrianWatersOutdoors]

Thanks!

[@Plee92]

Great test

[@BrianWatersOutdoors]

👍🏻👍🏻

[@rbljackson]

Looks like you would have room for 2 panels up there and be set up pretty good for a faster recharge rate. I was messing with my bluetti AC180 yesterday with a 160 watt Renogy flexible panel and was only able to get about 40 watts. Hoping better conditions will help

[@BrianWatersOutdoors]

I tried, but (2) of them hung over the side

[@user-nj8xr6yc6c]

This is Awesome!!

[@BrianWatersOutdoors]

👍🏻👍🏻

[@scooterhughes9118]

Hey Brian! The solar panel is a really good idea. You just won't get a full charge on a cloudy day. But I'm confident that on a clear sunny day, it won't take long for the power station to charge up. I'd definitely do the same thing on my rig also! Looking forward to your next adventure! Have a great week Brian!

[@BrianWatersOutdoors]

Thanks bud👍🏻

[@soniayoung7531]

Heyy Brian nice upgrade you're having so much fun with the new setup,hope everything works out well 😊

[@BrianWatersOutdoors]

😀😀😀

[@dmdavis4551]

Very realistic test, My system is much smaller than yours, there are always a lot of trees here. Used to have the stationary mount, Now have gone to the portable to chase the sun,. You are right pluses and minuses to each set up. Thank you for showing this test.

[@BrianWatersOutdoors]

👍🏻👍🏻

[@idontthinkso547]

"Pear salad" Been year's only we didn't have lettuce and had to grate our own cheese back then, but it was a favorite

[@BrianWatersOutdoors]

👍🏻👍🏻

[@DerekFowler1973]

Great test video! When I get the chance to get solar panels for the Gooloo 300w power station that I won in your giveaway, I may have to make my own test video! Good job!

[@BrianWatersOutdoors]

There ya go bud👍🏻👍🏻

[@bobamos3628]

33% on a larger battery is actually very good. Had that power station been something smaller, like many of us actually use, that percentage would have been much larger, relatively, to the smaller station. Also, you might want to place a sealed MC4 dummy cap on those cable ends to keep them clean and corrosion free. I am impressed with the performance of that panel.

[@BrianWatersOutdoors]

Good idea on the mc4 covers👍🏻

[@hoagiesherlin7732]

That was as real world as it gets

[@BrianWatersOutdoors]

👍🏻

[@retnav92]

Nice test 👍. Might have been a good day to run another test on the Shade Stopper panel too.

[@BrianWatersOutdoors]

Wish I would have had it when I did this test. I did buy another Shade Stopper, so I’ll test the output on two of the panels connected together

[@retnav92]

@@BrianWatersOutdoors 😎👍

[@3187rakkasan]

I mean…. You COULD fold the tent flat during the day/evening, even if you were at the campsite, if it meant getting a little extra wattage. Pretty cool…. I’m digging it! (Dean)

[@BrianWatersOutdoors]

👍🏻👍🏻

[@malcolmneal3857]

The 30% could get you out of a bind!! Have a great week

[@BrianWatersOutdoors]

👍🏻👍🏻

[@fscottgray9784]

I need to try similar test since our riggs are pretty similar and I am using a 200 watt Cigs panel on mine.

[@BrianWatersOutdoors]

👍🏻👍🏻

[@mrp55net]

I think for serious campers, CIGS is the way to go. I have 2 Renogy 150w CIGS panels installed permanently on my truck's cap. They are tough as nails, very efficient, light, and thin.. Total weight for both panels is about 13 lbs. Some non-Renogy CIGS vendors even tout their panels as offering hail protection for the vehicles. Of course, Texans don't have a hail problem, do they? (JOKE!) CIGS panels are also much more expensive than other panels, but competition will knock the prices down a bit. Nice warranties, too.

[@jasonbroom7147]

Nice real-world testing. I was hoping you would hop in the truck and turn it to face the sun a little more, to show what difference that would make, but are you going to do that while camping? Would you intentionally park facing south, to get optimal sunlight on the panel? Maybe, maybe not.

[@BrianWatersOutdoors]

Just all depends on the camp spot. I might move, or I might be stuck where I’m at👍🏻

[@nurseelliott4256]

I like testing stuff like this too. Lets you know what your setup capabilities

[@BrianWatersOutdoors]

👍🏻👍🏻

[@ourrvtravel]

Really like the setup Brian. What is the weight of the panel and does it possibly hinder the tent raising up or staying up with the added weight?

[@BrianWatersOutdoors]

Thanks! Panel weighs maybe 15lbs. Not much. I haven’t noticed anymore strain on the tent struts with the panel installed

[@tomseekins1627]

Pear salad..... Still can not get past video 😂😂 We use solar on our trailer, and it's a solid mount, and we get pretty good charge.

[@BrianWatersOutdoors]

Lolol👍🏻👍🏻

[@Steve-Goff]

👍🏻👍🏻

[@BrianWatersOutdoors]

👍🏻👍🏻

[@susanb8354]

How efficiently does the power station charge when it’s outside and cold? What was the air temperature during your test? I appreciate your posting of the results of this experiment. I’m new to power stations and I’ve been wondering about charging mine. I’ve been told power stations don’t like cold.

[@BrianWatersOutdoors]

As long as it’s now below freezing it does fine👍🏻

[@epaul1967]

How Noisy and how stable is it when traveling….?

[@BrianWatersOutdoors]

Not noticeable for me

[@ryanlongino6505]

👍👍

[@BrianWatersOutdoors]

👍🏻

[@SeanFoushee]

Great test. How much could you realistically run off that specific power station at 33% charge?

[@BrianWatersOutdoors]

All of my led lights, charge my phone 2 or 3 times, run my electric coffee kettle probably twice …and a few other small things

[@claysisson4627]

Have to change the name to Brian “Watt”ers Outdoors. :). Dad joke.

[@BrianWatersOutdoors]

lol. I see what you did there😉

[@iwatchutoobe1136]

I ordered the Top Oak with your code. Can’t wait to get it. Curious if you’re leaving it on the truck after each trip? Guessing it would ding gas mileage pretty bad when just running around

[@BrianWatersOutdoors]

Hope you like it👍🏻👍🏻

[@pamelaklemp5615]

Let's say it'sa nice sunny average hot day... would you still have your power station inside your truck with only the small rear window opened up? Would the truck's inside temperature be too hot for the long-term functionality of the Power Station? IDK but I'd be concerned it would overheat in the Texas or Florida temps... but I'd also be concerned about it "growing legs" if I left it outside too while fishing or elsewhere. I do have an on-board hard wired 300 Watt Inverter but haven't ever used it. I have mainly stayed with rechargeable batteries and 12V for my electrical needs. Now I'm thinking of a larger Power Station and one Solar Panel. I'm pretty much a minimalist so the smaller the better for me. I'm not knowledgeable about Solar 😢at all.

[@BrianWatersOutdoors]

No way would I leave it in the truck cabin in the summer. At worst I’d put it in my truck bed and roll-up the tonneau cover. But, in reality I’m typically close to my truck on these trips and do t need to worry about sticky fingers😉

[@pamelaklemp5615]

@@BrianWatersOutdoors oh my, I may have worded my question somewhat incorrectly. I didn't mean to offend you in any way. I'm just learning about Power Stations and you are very knowledgeable about them so I asked. It simply occurred to me that the power packs inside the Power Stations would mostlikely have a sensitivity to different temperatures, hot or cold. I'm truly embarrassed if I failed to ask my questions about it in the best possible light. 💕

[@clarencewiles963]

On a good day I would say + or - 1000 watts With the newest generation of panels getting over 500 watts and if they will travel safely would it make sense to get one ☝️

[@BrianWatersOutdoors]

👍🏻👍🏻

[@ramblinreiss]

what mounting bolts did u use in the track?

[@BrianWatersOutdoors]

Stainless m8 bolts

[@tommanning7337]

😎👍🏻👍🏻

[@BrianWatersOutdoors]

👍🏻👍🏻

[@carlkeiser3924]

Hey Brian, enjoyed the video. Was wondering if you used a charge controller or are you going direct from the panel to the AC 180?

[@BrianWatersOutdoors]

No, the AC180 has a built in MPPT controller

[@carlkeiser3924]

@@BrianWatersOutdoors Thank you. I will be buying some panels soon to charge my Bluetti. Looking forward to your next camp out.

[@esiebert7625]

Come to Phoenix, you’ll get 300w out of that sucka….😂

[@BrianWatersOutdoors]

👍🏻👍🏻

[@rwstarke]

You always park under the trees.

[@BrianWatersOutdoors]

😂

[@chevybeaglenox2402]

Seems like an expensive way just to charge a iPhone.

[@BrianWatersOutdoors]

Ok

[@seymourwrasse3321]

looks like you have room for 1 more panel

[@BrianWatersOutdoors]

👍🏻👍🏻