Let's Talk 200w Portable Solar Banket.... Kings, Hardkorr, Itechworld, Redarc, Dune, XTM, Enerdrive

[@funk541]

Awsome video.....i was about to the pine on a dune and glad i saw your video first. Thanks.

[@Off.Track4x4]

Glad I could help, thanks for the comment 😀 If you want a good entry level battery I've been testing out LiTime Batteries, I'm that happy with them 2 of them are going in my new van. I've put a review up on one. kzbin.info/www/bejne/jWjXhZl-Z9eDlZYsi=h6xNUc65PwGfe1k8

[@michaelf5292]

Recently bought a VicOfroad/Sunyee Atem Power 12V 200W Flexible Folding Solar Panel Kit (with Blue Handles/Kick Stands $330 or so) and on my first use in late August got 172w out of it. Last week got 192w out of it. Fabulous piece of kit. My opinion. :-)

[@Off.Track4x4]

Holly shit!!! You got 192watts!! That is crazy efficient. My kings 200w only puts out 170w. I might see if I can get one for testing 😀 Thank you for the comment and recommendation Michael

[@michaelf5292]

I have a screen shot as proof if you're interested.

[@michaelf5292]

Small Video Clip - kzbin.infoqYqcm_3FtdU?feature=share

[@RonWalker-q4d]

What brand of MPPT would you recommend

[@Off.Track4x4]

Ooo that's a great question! If it's for a car set up I just use my DCDC charger which is hardkorr. But if it's for a van and you have alot of solar 3+ panels then I'd run a standalone MPPT. Victron and Kickass do a Bluetooth MPPT I'd buy one of them.

[@RonWalker-q4d]

@ thanks heaps mate. Was going to buy the xtm panel before I saw your video

[@uhaggar]

I've got the Hard Korr 200 watt solar matt and I usually use with the Redarc 25 Mppt controller, when I first got it I was getting up 13 amps from it, now after a few years I usually get around 7 amps, have thought about doing a Warranty claim but I always seem to be about to go on a trip and need it. I understand that the performance of most blankets or matt's tend to drop away quickly with time so I don't know if there is a better choice. A glass panel longevity is best if you can have one understand that won't work with camping in a tent, I have a caravan now so not an issue for me thanks for your video

[@Off.Track4x4]

Hey mate, thanks for watch and comment. Ive had a few comments about the hardkorr not living up to its standard, if you take the blanket back to where you bought it you can exchange it or get your money back same day. I bet your loving having the van, ours arrives in September 😁

[@uhaggar]

Thanks, maybe you are right, I just checked the receipt and not quite 2 years old yet I'll look into it this week. We are on our 4th van now which is very plush and will be our final van looking forward to 10 years exploring Oz. I hope you enjoy yours once you have set up the way you like you will love thanks again

[@Off.Track4x4]

@@uhaggar what van did you pick? Must be good if your saying this is your final van

[@uhaggar]

@Off.Track4x4 we got a Kedron Compact CP5 16, have just upgraded the electrics with big lithium, inverter and more solar should be everything we need 🤗

[@FZJ105R_LIVIN]

i got the kings blanket connected to my victron mppt, works a treat i also run it with my 170w hardkorr fixed panel ive seen 22amps coming from both during really good conditions mid summer

[@Off.Track4x4]

How long have you had your for? I'm interested in knowing how long they will last as 1 year warranty seems very low. Thank for watching as well mate 😁

[@FZJ105R_LIVIN]

@Off.Track4x4 for about 12months now I think I've only needed to use it afew times as the hardkorr fixed panel keep everything running mint , I run full victron gear 12-12 30 dcdc and 100-30 mppt Would I buy one again, prob not it's downfall for me is that it's not free standing .. I don't recommend throwing it on the bonnet or windscreen as it scratches the sht out of the paint

[@Off.Track4x4]

@@FZJ105R_LIVIN very interesting, when our van comes I'm going to be linking 4x solar blankets together for my charging when staying put for a few days. My thinking is same as the car, we will be looking to park the van in the shade so roof solar will be redundant.

[@petermcmurtrie]

I have a kings 200w blanket and get around 4amps and 100w from it in full North Queensland Sun, angled to collect maximum sunlight. Took back 3 others that performed even worse than this and gave up on them. A sales person at kings has told me the kings 200w blanket is their most returned item. My son bought me the Hardkorr 200w blanket which initially worked well but after about 2 years of part time use its struggling to the point where I'm lucky to get 3-4amps and 100 or so watts from it. Im camping again for 4 days this weekend and will be putting the Hardkorr to the test with my set up along with two other campers set ups to see what's happening. I have begun the warranty claim process.

[@Off.Track4x4]

Hey Peter, Thanks for watching and commenting. You seem to not be alone with the hardkorr issue which is sad they normally make good gear. Kings you are prepared it might break 😄 If it doesn't work this trip just ask for an exchange or your money back 👍

[@petermcmurtrie]

@@Off.Track4x4 Yeah the guy I talked to at Hardkorr said they are starting to see these issues with this Solar Blanket at about this age and has advised to send it back. He also said they had discontinued this solar blanket and are getting in a new one in June that uses better technology and materials.

[@flatlander6124]

What about leaving in the rain I'm getting about six amps to 7 out of mine

[@scottbrandon4759]

Are you going to do a reviews on fixed solar panel and compare them to other brands?

[@Off.Track4x4]

Hey mate, just took a look at all the big brands and compared them. Yep I'll do a fixed solar panels review as the winner was very interesting.

[@garylienert]

You are spot on with the need to get a good MPPT with Kings solar panels. I have previously had the Kings 200w blankets about 7 years ago. What you get when they are brand new compared with what you get 6 months later, is greatly reduced. But when comparing $ per amp output, they are still great value. I have then bought 2 x HardKorr 200w with crocskin solar panels. I was disappointed, both panels had delaminated very early, only getting about half of what they are rated for. My current set up, I have double the lithium battery capacity and just rely on dc-dc chargers. This works for me

[@Off.Track4x4]

G'Day Gary, Thanks for watching again and the great comment. Really you have used the hardkorr ones! That's interesting I was trying to get one from them to test with the king's, but it didn't end up happening. Disappointing to hear they delaminated I'm a real fan of their stuff. Did it happen inside warranty? I'd love to know how they treat warranty claims.

[@garylienert]

It probably did occur within 12 months, but I bought them from an online store, couldn’t be bothered with mailing them back and dealing with warranty claims, just put it down to a learning experience. I have just checked HardKorr website, it appears that the crockskins are discontinued, with the new version out sometime this month. Would be good if HardKorr gave you a solar panel to test out, as I think that the heat from the tropics, definitely affects performance compared camping in southern Australia

[@Off.Track4x4]

@@garylienert I'll reach out to them, they did tell me back in Feb I'd be getting one when they came back in stock but I never followed it up. I'll see if I can get my hands on the new one.

[@tonyryan9678]

(MPPT) Multi Power Point Tracking you keep leaving of the T sorry I'm anal as I work in the industry but great vids

[@Off.Track4x4]

Hey mate, thanks for watching and commenting, I'm a true Aussie lazy and shorten every thing hahah. was intentional

[@spud4242]

Maximum Power Point Tracking

[@Jay-uw2eb]

got to agree with the redarc rip off, I would add itech world to that as well !

[@Off.Track4x4]

Hello Jay, thanks for watching and commenting means alot 👍😊 Yeah I think if you buy redarc these days you have to much money and not enough brains. None of their products seem to be better then other companies half the price. And it can't be that much more expensive to make the stuff here.

[@Jay-uw2eb]

@@Off.Track4x4 Absolutely, for their prices you can buy 2 or 3 of the cheaper brands and if the cheaper one fails you would have a spare and still be ahead financially. I have a 300w generic solar panel on my Navara canopy roof that I bought 5 years ago from eBay and it still works a treat and only cost me $140 AUD with a 30Amp pwm solar reg that cost $20 from eBay at the same time. The most expensive part was the 120AH Fullriver AGM battery that cost me $300 locally at the time, zero problems with any of it. Of course there was the cost of wire and fuses etc

[@doinitmoggystyle]

Not sure if it means much but as far as I am aware, Itechworld are among the only ones that are able to be used in the rain... Kings and others say not to be wet

[@Jay-uw2eb]

@doinitmoggystyle no worries, I don't have to worry about blanket panels because I have 3 hard panels up top of my Navara giving me close to a kilowatt of solar.

[@Off.Track4x4]

@@doinitmoggystyle I would say that's because if it's raining you aren't going to be using a solar blanket 😜 That's a silly marketing move by Itech world who cares about an IP rating for a solar blanket.