How Our USB Portable Solar Panel System Works - Off-Grid Living

Solar Panel Review. In this video we’re reviewing our 14 Watt E-Flex Portable Solar Panel and the Drifter Power Bank we use with it. We’ve been looking for a portable solar setup for the times when we’re not in our camper van, so we reached out to Renogy and asked if they could send us these 2 items to try, and to review. We had previously bought a 300 Watt solar system from Renogy in 2014 that we’re really happy with so that’s why we decided to try another product from them. We received both items in this video for free but we’re not being paid for our review and will be sharing our honest thoughts & opinions in this video.
The solar panel weighs 1.8 lbs and folds up into a portable bundle. The hard plastic panels are sewn onto a waterproof PVC material that has loops on all sides to hang it in different positions. There’s a voltage controller on one end with 2 USB ports, as well as a small pouch to hold USB cables.
The panel can charge 2 small devices at a time - things like smartphones, tablets, camera batteries, USB flashlights, etc. - pretty much any 5 volt device that can be charged with a USB cable. The panel is not powerful enough to charge a laptop though.
The E-Flex portable panel can also charge the Drifter battery pack (power bank), which can then be used to charge devices at night or later on.
We tested the panel outdoors in full sun, outdoors on a cloudy day, and indoors on a sunny day and the panel worked in all 3 situations, although it definitely produced less energy on the cloudy day.
Overall we’re very happy with the portable solar panel and with the battery pack, and we’re planning to take it with us on all of our upcoming trips. We’re also using it indoors while house sitting and visiting friends and family.
For more information about these products, you can visit the Renogy website here:
www.renogy-store.com/Renogy-14...
www.renogy-store.com/Drifter-1...
Thanks for watching!
Mat & Danielle
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Blog: www.exploringalternatives.ca
Facebook: /exploringalternativesblog
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Music & Song Credits:
All music in this video was composed, performed, and recorded by Mat Dubé of Exploring Alternatives.

[@bruceforster3709]

Just a little "tech" note for your subscribers; a Life Hack, if you will. Some of the newer phones will not charge straight from the folding panels. One way around this issue is really quite simple. Connect a usb battery-even if it's FULL- to your folding panel. Then connect your phone to the output port of the battery. Using my Goal Zero Nomad 13 & 20 Panels, I have found that the battery gives the phone the REGULATED current that it needs, while the Solar Panel keeps the Battery topped off. Kind of an electronic Two-fer. Hope this is useful to somebody.

[@grandadan]

Yes very good tip. Are there already some more powerful systems but still like this folding one?

[@swatiahuja6040]

nice.

[@eyelidman09]

You Guys are certainly going up in the world. Thanks for all your help and advice. Invaluable.🚐🌅

[@Aboutwings]

When I got my 14W solar panel from Anker (Pretty much the same thing) it was my first proper experience with solar power. And it still feels like magic to me! On my 20min way from the post office to the Van it charged my phone by 25% on a sunny afternoon. We don't have any electricity in the current van, so this little thing was a heaven sent to charge our phones, tablets, digital cameras and the powerbank. Either it was laying in the windscreen, on the roof, or I had it attached to my rucksack. I couldn't recommend it more. It's amazing. And considering, it only costs about $30-$50 USD, it really is accessible to everybody with an Amazon account...

[@grege.5687]

Looks like a pretty cool addition that will work well sitting on the dash of your van while cruising down the road :) Thanks for the video!

[@mohsinfareed1797]

THANKS VERY MUCH FOR YOUR EXCELLENT 3 VIDEOS ON SOLAR POWER . THEY WRERVERY WELL EXPLAINED AND ANSWERED QUESTIONS WHICH I COULD NOT GET FROM MANY VIDEOS I WAS WATCHING FOR HOURS.

[@manymoonstraveled]

Good to know!! Thanks!!

[@elctricalpower2061]

SOLUTE TO YOU SIR FOR SUCH A GREAT EFFORT, NICE VIDEO...

[@digitalscout]

That is really cool and light weight. Your right about letting a battery backup charge devices, I get tired of trying to find a outlet and having to keep up with a charger all the time is a pain.

[@jupiter0jupiter]

Great vid guys :) that solar panel is really cool. Leaving it on the dash board to charge would work great.

[@tabcan]

Excellent review. Thanks!

[@mrmagoo9901]

It's always useful to your viewers if when doing a review to also mention the price...no matter how good or bad a product is the price is important information in deciding whether its worth buying...thank you for sharing...peace...

[@Sailboatstory]

Looks like a pretty neat little gadget there. We might consider getting one of those to use on the sailboat.

[@brusveek]

Did you end up getting one for your boat? Looking for a good option on my new boat. KB

[@stormthrush37]

So cool! Thanks for sharing.

[@ExploringAlternatives]

+stormthrush37 You're very welcome, thanks for watching :)

[@JenShea]

Great review... Really helpful. Thank you. :)

[@ArkansasMike]

Nice review. I cant believe how affordable those are. That's a really great price.

[@annak6307]

Thank you for a great review and what a great price!

[@ExploringAlternatives]

+Anna K Thanks for watching, happy you found the review helpful =)

[@ajscilla]

Dragonetta how long does it take to charge anything

[@campingcarjoa]

That's a great little set up. I ordered a cheap one from china that looks almost exactly the same. It works but it definitely doesn't do the 20 watts that it advertised. Maybe 7 or 8 watts max on a very sunny day. I'll look into the E-flex next time around.

[@kenjboyd6233]

Great video, thanks!

[@TheDroopYJ]

I just got back from Haiti and was using a 12W panel from PowerFilm Solar in Ames, IA to charge my 12AH battery every day to charge my phone and tablet. Worked like a charm! Have wanted something like this for years, but never pulled the trigger. Will probably get a second one so that I can charge my laptop out in the field.

[@SolarizeYourLife]

The four panel, I like because you can rap the panel around the backpack, so one panel to the side, and two facing back...

[@leofaccenda7634]

i have the 7w version of that and its great and even in scotland it can charge a 5ah battery from flat to fully charged in 3 hours :)

[@mjallenuk]

Nice bit of kit ... thanks for the interesting review :o)

[@ExploringAlternatives]

+Matt Allen Thanks for watching, happy you enjoyed it :)

[@johncnorris]

Enlightening

[@davidsmith-ws4bz]

Renogy and Anker make excellent quality solar products.

[@ClearlySeen]

Pretty cool to be able to have that and carry it anywhere you go.. I wish I could carry my solar panels with me lol

[@lastchance4516]

than carry it

[@ajalvarez1387]

Matt you are awesome and I'm a fan of yours

[@ExploringAlternatives]

+AJ Alvarez Thanks AJ!

[@JourneytoaBetterLife]

Great review

[@ExploringAlternatives]

+Journey to a Better Life Thank you :)

[@jeremydryden7362]

love your videos

[@ExploringAlternatives]

+jeremy dryden Thanks so much!!

[@sirsupermamy]

very nice like

[@GatorLife57]

Thumbs up ! ENJOY....THE SIMPLE LIFE

[@Daniel-nd6pj]

Awesome Video!! What type of solar power do you guys have?

[@3DGEM3]

I just picked one up

[@PeaceboneGotFound]

Great review! Is any power bank or "portable charger" compatible with the Renogy solar panels?

[@davidhuot2867]

thanks for the video. What type of outlet you use in your van to charge your laptop?

[@qristv1912]

neat! keep up the good work. the Kirsten Dirksen channel is similar to this channel

[@heyster3]

maybe an update on your backpack contents with spring around the corner. winter backpack have specialized things which aren't included in spring/summer outdoor activities.

[@Renvaar1989]

I use a 27W portable panel with a QC 3.0 port and a 30,000mah battery bank with PD 18W quick charging (Can even charge my laptop). Seems to be a good combination for me.

[@apsutton336]

wow bargain a 13 watt heavy solar panel costs $200 here in oz and mine has just broken so!!! can't wait to order one at $40 unbelievable tks

[@ExploringAlternatives]

+Annette Sutton Yeah, it's surprisingly cheap for what you get. It has its limits put it's a great piece of gear to have! Thanks for watching :)

[@LindaMz24]

Hi. I watched the video with the closed captioning, but I don't remember seeing/reading how long it takes to charge a device or the battery pack. Can you tell me how long it takes? Thank you.

[@anonanon9367]

price? (btw- love u guys💗💗)

[@Japangirl2506]

Hi Thx for a nice review Tel me please I have a flash light 3.6 volts, 5 volts can damage it ? Thank you

[@Sasoon2006]

Why didn't you use any USB power meter to see how much current and voltage you get in all cases?

[@badarock177]

So smart! Do they ship to Brazil?

[@ExploringAlternatives]

+Badá Rock I think they do ship worldwide but you would have to check their website just to make sure. Best of luck and thanks for watching :)

[@philupshuis1]

Updates in 2019? :)

[@shantahsieh432]

I am sure you can still buy handbook with all info you need on INPLIX. Just google it.

[@cyclingwithkiwi3956]

i have got one but its not like that one

[@renelledaigle]

Awesome vid! Am I detecting a bit of a French accent there Mat?

[@ExploringAlternatives]

+renelle dangle Good ear Renelle! I do speak french :)

[@renelledaigle]

Jle savais! Je suis une Acadienne du Nouveau-Brunswick qui vit maintenant dans le west a Calgary. J'aime tellement vos videos. Ils me donne le gout d'asseiller ce style de vie!

[@erickmyhosh2719]

Merci. Aurevoir

[@AWildBard]

I'm curious to know what is your latitude?

[@salt5523]

What's the point of it being water proof if the usb ports are not covered?

[@hanilpani]

where is made?

[@kay19833]

At what amperage does it charge? if you don't have any idea what you are reviewing, just leave it for the experts.

[@matthewrodgers7137]

this would be interesting to throw on the dash of a car and see if it charges

[@shantelleadeline6053]

I found a detailed and accurate project on the Avasva website.

[@benshafer3124]

Great how much ???

[@bearlywork1816]

check the links

[@beezytalkingshit9319]

+ben shafer too much! They must be sponsored by renogy. they advertise a lot of stuff from them.

[@83mrhide]

I wonder if there's a light that can mimic sunlight to charge solar panels inside anyone know future van life builder

[@panickedjerzeegrl7622]

Your links won’t work...just an fyi

[@sanketdighe2840]

fights for juice

[@shantaymadison3808]

just use Avasva Solutions :)))

[@romanaangersbach1176]

Go to inplix page if you want to learn how to build it yourself

[@mikethemoneymaker]

Hmmmmm, Over $1.00 U.S. per Watt and then you still need to add in the Battery storage costs, no thanks.

[@topickwd]

Em I’m I’m sorry 😞 but but bunnmmmm