The Kings 250 watt folding solar panel is my best bang for buck solar buy 2024

Amazing power output for the price. It quickly recharged my 600 watt EcoFlow RIVER Pro. Check if it's on special.

[@Xynudu]

Note: This portable panel performed exactly as expected. It was never going to do 250 watt and anything close to 200 watts was the most that could be expected. It didn't disappoint, and at 76 cents AU purchase price per actual watt of output, it is exceedingly cheap. It's indicated 79% efficiency was as good as the big brand names. 8 amps (25 Volts) output was right on the maximum solar input limit for the power brick. 197 watts is also the highest solar input achieved in any EcoFlow River Pro review. Cheers Rob

[@Bob.Jenkins]

I've taken your opinion on many things and not been disappointed yet - orders just been placed!

[@Xynudu]

Hi Bob. Here's a link to the video I originally watched which got me interested in this panel . kzbin.info/www/bejne/qXnXp2iurM2BY7s I went to check it over and was impressed enough to buy one. I don't think you will be disappointed. Cheers Rob

[@unintentionallyoffgrid]

@@Xynudu Thanks Rob ⚡⚡⚡⚡⚡

[@TwoWheeledDecaf]

Thanks for the video mate, great channel

[@Xynudu]

Glad you enjoyed it Cheers Rob

[@BenMitro]

Good to know Rob. Thanks.

[@RetroSteamTech]

Hi Rob. A perfect match for your EcoFlow. I have done a bit of research into some of these types of panels and you can usually take the manufacturers power output figures with a pinch of salt. I think that the fact that it produces nearly 200 watts is very good for the price. Cheers, Alan.

[@Xynudu]

Hi Alan. Yes, if you can get 80% of the rating you are on the money. Even the big brand names are about that. I stayed away from the mat type panels as they rarely produce good output and are prone to damage/trouble. I went for 250 watts, because I knew it would be less. It turned out a perfect match as you said. The name brand panels are actually even more expensive than I quoted. There's no way this panel can produce the quoted 20 amps either. I used 20 amp twin core cable to be safe, but 10 amp would have been fine. It was a great buy for the money. This is a tricky subject, as there are so many figures quoted, and voltages vary etc. Cheers Rob

[@mrdobalina3451]

I just bought one and put an inline power monitor on it and am getting comparable numbers to you. Winning.

[@Xynudu]

It's a good panel.

[@LukeB83]

Thanks for this review. Have a Bluetti and looking for a well priced solar panel...think I've found it

[@Xynudu]

The 26 volt solar panel output voltage should suit the smaller Bluetti bricks perfectly. Cheers Rob

[@chrisduckworth2022]

I have the same panel and it has routinely put out 250+ watts of raw power as measured by an inline power meter. Going into my DCDC charger, I get about 207W out of a 250W panel. I also have their 200W folding blanket and I struggle to get more than 100W out of it, even on a custom stand to allow for optimal orientation. Yeah, they are a bit heavier and bigger than the blanket.. but they deliver the power !! Given their modular nature.. ie they are 2 x 125W panels in parallel, I am watching for them to go back down towards that $149 mark again (that was my buy price on Boxing day last year) and will buy a 2nd folding panel. I intend to split one of the folding panels up and place one of the 125W panels as a fixed solar input on the roof rack as a maintenance panel. I'll take the remaining 125W panel and add it to the remaining folding panel, to make it a 3 x 125W array as my DCDC can take up to 520W of input. That should make for a pretty solid >300W panel for base camping, without any real concerns about sunlight duration or cloudy days. I have looked at both the 110W and 160W panels from Kings but the 160W is too big for my roof space and the 110W is under efficient for the size, compared to my plans for a 125W panel above, as well as getting better bang for buck by getting the extra 125W for not much more.

[@Xynudu]

Hi Chris. That 207 W doesn't surprise me. I was thinking it would be around there. The Ecoflow can't take more than 197 W apparently, even though the panel can do more. Great buy for $149. I stayed away from the folding blankets for the reasons you stated. Plus I think I read where a few had died prematurely. Thanks for the information. Cheers Rob

[@GlennMacdonald]

I have paired one of these to a victron MPPT and i get 230w on a good day. Heavy but fantastic !

[@Xynudu]

Thanks for the feedback Glenn. I maxed out at 197 watts, but it appears that is as much as the EcoFlow River Pro will take, the stated 200 watts max input is not achievable, so it is quite possible that the panel was putting out more than indicated. Even on an overcast day it was in the 140 - 160 range. Great panel, especially for the price. Cheers Rob

[@eyuptony]

Good to know Rob. What are the dimensions when opened up working as shown. It's got me thinking if it'll fit. Thanks for that.....Tony

[@Xynudu]

Hi Tony. It's 1000 mm deep, 1355 mm wide and 30 mm thick when open. Cheers Rob

[@Rabs73]

From the surface area it probably is close to 250w in lab conditions. Kings do serve a useful purpose. I would never go remote with one of their DCDCs etc but a lot of their stuff suits the budget. I have a few folding flexible panels from ebay. Advertised at 160w but impossible based on area but get 80 to 90w and they have been going for years and light weight. And about $1 per w

[@Xynudu]

I had been looking at cheap and secondhand solar panels for quite a while after getting the Ecoflow brick. There's quite a lot of rubbish out there apparently. I wasn't in desperate need for solar, but no one feels good about shelling out to the power companies ;) This unit caught my eye. I never expected 250 watt output for the money, but going by the video from the Norseman channel, 200 looked quite possible. Which it was. Cheers Rob

[@nobbysworkshop]

I'm sure you'll find that panel useful Rob. Strange thing, my wife just bought a small solar panel to charge her mobile phones. Works really well, even in our dull, cold weather, 3.5c at the moment. Too cold for the workshop. Cheers Nobby

[@Xynudu]

Hi Nobby. Those little panels for the phone work well. I have one, but generally just charge off the PC as it's faster. I suppose you have some snow over your way ? Cheers Rob

[@nobbysworkshop]

@@Xynudu buying the panel was something of an experiment, to save using mains power. It's slower, but it works. We've avoided the snow so far. It's mostly in Scotland, the North of England and the South East. We are in Buckinghamshire in the centre of England. It has been very cold though. 🥶 Has kept me out of the workshop. Only 3*c today. I'm on blood thinning medication, so I feel the cold more now. ALB mate. Cheers Nobby

[@thehobbymachinistnz]

Looks good Rob. So you can charge the brick while charging it, right?

[@Xynudu]

Hi Jon. Yes, you can AC or DC charge the brick while using it. Basically the DC power from solar input has priority over DC from the battery storage and is fed to the AC inverter for output. That way the 48 volt battery pack is not degraded/cycled as much and it extends the cells life span. Interesting subject. Cheers Rob

[@MrFactotum]

Great Rob, 👍👍👍👍 just wish we had some of that sun over here atb Kev

[@sidon1979]

Bought two, get between 180-200w per panel have them strapped together in parallel. Started rusting after the first day, they produce 20w each when any shade hits the panel. Cheap enough, if they last a year ill get my monies worth

[@Xynudu]

Where are they rusting ?

[@sidon1979]

@@Xynudu had a 200w one one from Kings before it took 6 months to start rusting, these ones started rusting after 1 day. The hinges and clips are steel not aluminium

[@eddie1330]

Hi. I'm a bit confused you say you could run your fridge freezer on it but it's only 25 volts Surely your fridge freezer is about 240 volts?

[@Xynudu]

Yes the fridge is 240 volts AC. The solar panel is feeding into an EcoFlow powerbrick which converts the 25 volt DC input to 240 volt AC using a 600 watt built in inverter. This is no different to converting DC to AC from a vehicle battery.

[@shadetreemechanicracing22]

The cheaper panels don't live up to their ratings. I'm getting ready to go off grid. The main problem with lower wattage panels is when you go larger you run out of room.

[@kenibnanak5554]

So with 8 of these I could run a 1,500 watt indoor electric space heater.

[@fokcuk]

Was it $149 direct from Kings?

[@Xynudu]

It was $149 collect from the 4WD Supacentre when on special.

[@closertothetruth9209]

even top quality panels Normal produce 75% of rated power, addvertised rated power is max power in perfect conditions, cold and a clear sunny sky.

[@Xynudu]

It varies. I have seen a few expensive panels that output the stated amount, probably because their 100% is actually the 75% you mention. IE they underrate the panel output to get the required figure. Cheers Rob

[@Rabs73]

Even the best home rooftop panels only reach about 80% in absolute ideal conditions and then only until they heat up

[@closertothetruth9209]

@@Xynudu yeh my genuine german made 100w panels put out 140w