Portable Solar Panel Testing | Does This New Design Lead To More Power Output?

[@everydaysolar]

Calculate Solar Cost For Your Home - geni.us/solar_reviews DIY Home Solar ( as low as $1.26/Watt) - geni.us/project_solar Panels and Supplies Used EcoFlow 500W Modular - geni.us/R8rEw EcoFlow 400W Foldable -geni.us/i8Kc Power Analyzer - geni.us/s86J MC4 Crimping Kit - geni.us/gBJM27 DISCLAIMER: This video and description contain affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a small commission.

[@jimestes7096]

Have portable 375w. Output mirrors your results. Not happy, Minnesota full June sun. Just bought solid panels. Looking forward to better performance

[@junkerzn7312]

Oooh, I like those EcoFlow modular units. That's a nice design, and they are basically modern bifacial "hard" panels in a small form factor. Looks like a great portable solution. I would be a little careful, though, the 1.1mm ultra-thin tempered glass front won't be able to take a whole lot of abuse. That said, they're expensive. I'm seeing $900 on Amazon for four panels (500W)... that's $1.79/watt. Very, very expensive compared to a typical 100W hard panel on Amazon that clocks in more around $0.70/watt and as low as $0.50/watt. Not to mention bulk residential panels which are even cheaper when purchased in pallets. So don't get too excited. Portable panels are an expensive solution and a lot of people buy them for situations where they really ought to just be buying regular panels or residential panels. -Matt

[@DavidFaris]

at a certain price, you are not just paying for the panels but the features such as the adjustable stand and carrying case. Still expensive but not standard.

[@ThanksForTheLaugh]

@@DavidFaris One drop away or unexpected gust of wind from useless. EcoFlow decided to go pretty over utility. Kinda like their new hat😂 Their new nonBifacial 220 watt looks more practical

[@ThanksForTheLaugh]

The size makes them not very portable for many. Bouncing around on dirt roads would be a challenge given how fragile they are. Unexpected gust of wind would ruin your day. No glass panels like the new nonBifacial 220 watt panels for me.

[@aussie2uGA]

@@ThanksForTheLaugh The gust of wind does scare me as it appears they are individual panels and never lock together like the previous 400watt panels did.

[@boxster1970]

Another great and informative video. Very timely as I am considering portable panels to augment the solar on my camper van.

[@pigaman1]

I recently bought a ecoflow pro 3 with the 400 watt folding panel. On a Florida winter mid day I got 341 watts going to my Pro 3 for several hours. As it got more hazy, power dropped to 225 watts. Late in the day as the clouds got thicker, power dropped to around 155 watts. I was doing a test of the pro 3 at the same time. Was powering 2 fridges and my internet setup. The panel while inputing 345 watts was charging my pro 3. The pro 3 was outputting a little under 225 watts. Even at the lower input, the 400 watt panel was keeping my reserve power level at 81%. I am very pleased with the ecoflow pro 3 and the 400 watt panel

[@m.g.1371]

@everydaysolar so i have 2 observations. 1. The 400 wat panal was not setup in a similar way to the others. While its true that it diesnt have 4 stands to hold it strait you could have done something to make the test a bit more even in that regard. 2. You said you would test in the evening when the sun goes down but you didnt. 2 pm is still mid day...

[@mattfojtik7130]

I'm curious how much of this was due to the solar cells themselves, and how much was due to the flimsy 400W panels not being perfectly lined up with the sun.

[@carolmaplesden916]

I have those 400 watt panels and used them most of last summer boondocking and I could get pretty good solar from them on a good day and leaning agenst my rig So there that is I am looking for something better

[@sciglassblower]

Don't know if the flexible panels were loosing some collection due to the surface bending some? Nice that they sprayed the sky for you to get some man made white stuff in the sky!

[@DCamp-k6z]

Do you know what the total volts and amps is when the 4 125 watt panels are connected together, and do they fall into the acceptable parameters of the ecoflow delta 3 plus into 1 of the solar inputs? Thanks

[@redrockitinerant7776]

These four panels connect in parallel, with the output at 500 watts and 12 amps, so they can be plugged right into the Delta 3 Plus solar ports, either one, or do two sets plugging into both ports.

[@DCamp-k6z]

Thanks for the reply

[@geoffgilbert2152]

Since these are considered portable panels, how do the 2 compare from a storage space perspective? Do the 125 rigid panels take up a lot more space?

[@everydaysolar]

They break down to 2 panels per bag so for the set of 4 you will have 2 thin bags the same width (24") and length (46") of the panels

[@chancejensen9324]

Great video. VOC is actually 50v and not 60v. Other than that, awesome!

[@everydaysolar]

Nice catch and thanks for the correction.

[@donaldhoudek2889]

Congrats on hitting 50K subscribers. Great video

[@MrAgility888]

If your portable power station has a xt60 input, can you just plug these panels directly into the power station (without the M4 connector)? And do you have any recommendations on xt60 extension cables?

[@robertbryant173]

They come with an xt60i adapter that can connect directly into your power station.

[@AntneR1]

Scott, not sure what the best way to reach out to you. I really enjoy your content and have ventured into the realm of battery and solar this year. Maybe you can clear up a couple of things for me. I mounted 2-370W Grape Solar Mono Panels(41V VOC/11.5A ISC) in parallel on the flat roof of my patio. I have them set at the maximum exposure angle where at noon on a cloudless day the dot is dead ctr on my angle finder. I am connected to an Anker F3800 and HPP setup with 8 gauge PV wire at a length of 60 feet. As a reference, I live in South FL and the temps lately have been mild from 77 to 82 degrees. The most watts I've ever produced at noon has been 615W total. Over the course of a clear day, I'm getting about sun for about 6 hrs with an average total kWh of 2.2. Question 1: What's the best way to clean solar panels? Mild soap & water or is Windex okay(with or without ammonia)? Question 2: I've yet to see close to the 740W I should be able to produce with the 2 panels. Is this mfg not the best? I don't believe I'm getting a lot of voltage drop with my 8 gauge wire run. Any ideas? Thanks for your time and keep up the good work.

[@andrievbastichy8551]

Good video.. lloving those panels.. too pricey for me though

[@everydaysolar]

I actually really like the panels as well but agree I would only pay that amount if portability was a key feature I need.

[@ThanksForTheLaugh]

@@everydaysolar The size means portability should be in air quotes.

[@robertbryant173]

I have the new Ecoflow Modular’s panels. I want to mount them semi permanent in my yard. I was thinking about putting them on a piece of plywood and screwing a large washer over the feet. Anchoring the plywood into the ground. Any ideas?

[@everydaysolar]

If you just used tent stakes on the back adjustable stand that would keep them from blowing away.

[@Shawn-ts4jw]

I had a 160W bi-facial, returned it as it dropped to 0 Watts every 10 minutes. I use Victron mppt controller, and turns out, due to the back panel with no sun on it, it drops to 0 when the mppt scan runs. The normal 160W one works much better for me

[@everydaysolar]

Thanks for the feedback.

[@firetecher]

Have been using all sorts of PV panels over the past 30 years over a variety of situations and agendas. Only reason to focus on flexible panels is volume and/or weight agenda. They are horribly expensive for their power out, yet excellent for hiking one to a mountain peak, or outdoor recreation like car camping. Residential applications beg for framed panels at 20% the cost of flexible. And good luck with the supports offered with flexible in windy conditions.

[@andrievbastichy8551]

all powere 600w! have you seen it?

[@everydaysolar]

I have seen those but seems like those are the best for hanging off the side of an RV or similar purpose, right?

[@chancejensen9324]

I have three of those Allpowers 600w. It’s good to just lay on the ground and not chase the sun. Bad thing is the wires on the base are flimsy. Had to replace two via warranty.

[@andrievbastichy8551]

@@chancejensen9324 dang!

[@FelixtheMetalcat]

I am not surprised by the ratings on the 400 watt foldable panels. I have them and those numbers look about what I get. They were part of an Ecoflo package we bought and our very first solar panels. LOVE the Delta 2 battery but disappointed in the solar panel. I just ordered a new one from Renogy and I am expecting a better return.

[@parnasas]

great panels. But the BCA (benefit cost analysis) I think Harbor Freight wins

[@MrSkunks]

0 degree panel (lifted off the ground to simulate being mounted on a roof) vs different angles. Not at any one point but a full days production

[@Jakepp235]

How can we set these up in series?

[@ThanksForTheLaugh]

You would have to build a custom cable set. Wouldn’t be to difficult

[@gregpochet4812]

My AllPower 140kw foldable panels barely produce 70 kw. First one I owned, wouldn't get above 40kw. They sent me a new one. I connected the 2 together and I might get 100 kw on a full sunny , summer day. I think these foldable type of panels are not durable at all.

[@johnmal5975]

Personally the way the 400 watt panel support is designed it perplexes me how ecoflow has the gaul to sell that. It's literally designed to fail. I might cough up 10 bucks for that design but that's my limit on those.

[@andrievbastichy8551]

1:03 "a little flimsy" it looks like a starving cat. i think it was done intentionally to make the new product look even better.

[@everydaysolar]

Nope, that is what they usually look like 😂

[@MrAgility888]

Watch other videos reviewing the old panels and the major complaint will be they don't stand up straight.

[@ThanksForTheLaugh]

@@MrAgility888 many came up with some simple breakdown stands problem solved

[@DerekRhoads]

But the price sucks! $900 for 500W?

[@redrockitinerant7776]

$629 on Amazon right now

[@DerekRhoads]

@@redrockitinerant7776 So what! That's after a fake discount code. A $1.36 per watt.

[@adriftatlas]

That 400W panel is pretty bad. Doesn't even produce 75% of STC.

[@TheCornucopiaProject-bd5jk]

Making a side by side comparison with different efficiency ratings is … inefficient

[@cprpremiumhandymanservices3735]

Shop solar panel went out they said I hooked it up wrong I hooked it up in parallel just like the Ecoflow book says they refuse to honor the warranty Joke oh and by the way you can't hook up 2 with y connectors red to red pos to post bulk to black neg to negative!