I have 2 of each of these, they both perform VERY well. With clear skies both have shown wattage in the mid and even high 180s!!. The Bluetti is sturdier, and has more cord length that comes with it. I just bought a solar cable to attach to the AllPowers. Really like both of them, but definitely the lower price on AllPowers made it more affordable.
Craig - my research on the poly vs the mono is that in “lower” solar radiation, the mono performs better. That is, during “dark days”, the mono will have better performance. Also, I haven’t tested the performance difference when panel is not ideally pointed at the sun. In making a decision, another consideration is the battery type. Regards David
Thanks for the review. I have been doing some testing with my Bluetti and other solar panels and found in closer to ideal conditions, they are not too different, but in real life camping, we have clouds and shadows. When I tested partial shading performance, this is when the higher quality and more expensive panels really shine. Just a thought for future testing. These less than ideal situations are what I experience in my everyday usage. Keep up the good work.
Great review. I am presently in the market for a 200 watt solar panel for my Bluetti 500 watt solar generator. I have a 100 watt All Power panel now but I can only get 76 to 80 watts in perfect sun. If I drain my battery down lower than 30% I may not have enough to charge it back up to full, and this does happen now and then. Your review shows about 138 watts in hazy sun so that's better then what I was getting in perfect sun with the All Power 100 watt panel. I have had my All Power 100 watt panel 4 years and use it for camping off grid and it still works just fine. I rarely use or pay for hook-ups when I camp. I like going to place that are not overly populated. You are right about the cord length, too short. I ended up buying a 20 foot MC-4 cable to solve that issue. Anyway, from one Canadian to another, thanks for the info. Take care.
I have the AP200 watt ($215 CAD in June 2023 from Amazon) and when I used it last year, last time I camped (going again soon!), I got up to 165w into my EF River 2 Pro, which I have since returned the R2 PRO and upgraded to the Delta 2, for the same price as the R2 PRO!!!! (I love costco's return policy and the current sales prices on power stations....)
PET is probably referring to the same plastic used for common plastic bottles. Thanks for comparing these panels, these are exactly the two panels I was considering.
The allpowers won't work on Bluett EB3A to many volts. I wish somebody would have made a video on that, now I have to return it because I have no way to figure out how to reduce the voltage just a bunch of mumbo jumbo.
@5:04 3 meters is almost 10 feet long. I have the Allpowers panel and I believe that it's 2 meters long but I haven't measured it so I'm not positive. I ordered a Bluetti Eb55 and ordered the Allpowers immediately afterwards. I tested it out and it works great...
I just bought an allpower SPO35 too many apps for my Bluetti EB3A. Now I have to return it. What has a hassle? All the reviews show pictures of a Bluett implying that it would work on the unit, works on most solar generators except the one you happen to have, why doesn't somebody make a video on which ones they don't work on.
I also bought the SP035 based on advertised specs. Specifically open circuit voltage. My power station is the Pecron E1500LFP, which has input spec of 32 - 95V. Allpowers advertises output voltage of the SP035 is 50.6V. When it arrived, printed right on the panel, Open Circuit Voltage is 25.3V. It won't charge the Pecron. Their customer service is not great either.
It;s a pity you didn't show the front of the panels during the test? The reason is as you stated the Allpower make Polycrystalline as well as Monocrystalline panels. Theformer has a black face/surface, and the latter has a blue face/surface? There seems to be some confusion on Amazon UK where the description states Monocrystalline but in the description further it states Polycrystalline? I will be contacting the seller/manufacture for more unambiguous clarity? A very good review, thank you.
Craig, I would love to use this to supplement my house battery bank on my sailboat. Would I need a charge controller or could I connect directly to my battery bank? Thanks for any thoughts on this. I do not need or want a solar generator.
Although it came with battery clips, I don’t think it would efficiently charge a battery. If I were you id buy a cheap charge controller. You don’t need a large, expensive one if you are only plugging in a small amount of solar.
Craig I Just purchased the Bluetti solar panel loved your video very informative! My question off topic is I love the sailboat photo in this video what is it of? Did you take it? thanks
Reviewing this video later: I always use the portable solar panel as shade for the power station so the 3' cord length is no issue. A simple bent piece of cardboard salvaged from the shipping box will easily make up any 'shade deficiency' for the power station and a couple of small plywood pieces work well for sun-angles less than the attached legs. All lay together flat for easy transport. just a thot. ! rh
I have a Bluetti AC 200P Power Station - purchased for power outages - keep fridge running etc. I bought one Bluetti SP200 solar panel. Purchased both back in 2021 and never hooked up the solar panel until 3 weeks ago. It would not charge my power station. I contacted Bluetti and was told I had to have 2 of these panels to charge this power station. WHAT? Is that true? I watched your video and your charging with one panel. I'm upset as these are not cheap as noted in your video. Do I have to purchased another one just to recharge my charging station if we have long term power outage? Thanks, in advance, for anything you can tell me as I am totally unfamiliar with solar. I thought this was the way to go vs gas generator... questioning my decision.
Hi, I am in UK and was looking to connect to my caravan lithium battery. Can I just use the battery clips that come with the panel without a solar regulator?
Have you had the chance to try and compare the Allpowers 200w with Rockpals 200w? I think it could be a valuable match up to watch. Thanks for the very informative video.
If Rockpals wants to send me solar panels to test, I would. Unfortunately not every producer want to send products for review. Maybe because there are already a ton of reviews out there or because they are worried that if I compare it to the panels that have done well they will not compare well and that is bad for sales. ;-)
I would like to see this same test on clear skies. I wonder 💭 if you’d see the difference then? Sometimes name brand to name brand works best. They both do real good in those cloudy conditions. I honestly didn’t think either one would do as well as they did. 😮 PS: Please don’t use drugs! You might find yourself living in a van 🚐 down by the river! God, I love that skit.
It is hard to have a filming day with perfectly blue skies. It is unrealistic to test in those conditions anyway because most days are either hazy or partly cloudy in the real world. Or, just all day cloud, so a solar panel has to also be good in those conditions.
I bought the Bluetti EB3A and this AllPowers AP-SP-033 (18V 200W). Are they compatible? I read now that máximum input current in Bluetti is 8.5A, and AllPowers máximum power current is 11A. So could it damage the Bluetti? I have a very cheap solar controller. Can I solve the problem with it?
Anyone considering substituting portable panels for glass need to be very careful to read the fine print on most portables/folding panels. You cannot leave portables outside for extended periods. Why? They aren't rainproof. The fabric will absorb water. Not only that, the ETFE panel coating isn't too good on some brands & water will seep into the silicon cells. Don't be fooled by the sales description saying "IP68 waterproof" or "IP65 waterproof." That only covers the cable junction box, not the panel assembly. Contact the customer support for each brand & have them verify that the entire panel & wiring is waterproof IP67 or IP68.
Agree. I said they should only be used when there is sunny dry conditions. If you leave them out all the time you will find they wear out fast, unlike glass panels
Nice comparison . I truly wonder if the all powers is a better bang for your buck. I thing the bluetti in the long run is better simply because voltage drop was not taken into consideration since the cable length was 2 or 3 times longer to reach the solar generator. Even then, the bluetti beat the all powers . Even though it was only a few watts, in a day where solar peak hours is only 5 to 6 hours, it could mean the difference in charging your power bank to full where it can carry you to the next day depending on your use.
LOL. Ya I always feel the need to do everything in numbers the Americans can understand since 1/2 my viewers are from there. Luckily Canada, being so close to the US, is use to thinking in both numbers.
Never connect a solar panel directly to a car battery unless you want to fry it. The open circuit voltage of any average solar panel is around 21-24 volts it's max power voltage is around 18 volts. Unless you connect to two batteries in series thus making it effectively a 24 volt battery you'll toast your battery. I wish these panel companies would stop putting the alligator clips in the accessories, because there is always one dumb lemming that will try it. Try it and fry it.
True. The OCV is way too high for a lead acid battery. Many LiFePO4 batteries have BMS that will protect it from over voltage charges, so they should not "FRY".
@@Bowmans-Woods Oh for sure, if you are connecting to ANY power station it will have an MPPT controller built in that will only pull what it needs from the panels. For example I have a Golabs R300 which has a cap of 3amp. I could put a nuclear reactor on there and it will only pull 3amp. Hell I have some pretty high end panels to charge my ebike and it charges the R300 no problem because the MPPT in the Golabs is capped at 3amp 23.5v max. So as long as the input is not more than 23.5v it will charge just fine.
Buy the best , eco flow solar panel. Most efficient, most durable, most waterproof. Not sure why you didn’t add that , probably because you didn’t receive one for free
Hi! If my power station has Anderson charging characteristics 18-30W 8A max, is Allpowers 200W solar panel Ok with own power 11A to my station? Or 8A and 11A is critical and will damage station or panel ?
Your solar generator should have an over power shut off. So if it’s bringing in more Amps that your MPPT can handle, it should just limit it to the maximum it can handle or it won’t accept the charge at all. I don’t believe it would damage your solar generator if it is well constructed.
I just ordered an allpowers for my bluetti ac180 based on this review.
Glad to hear it.
I have 2 of each of these, they both perform VERY well. With clear skies both have shown wattage in the mid and even high 180s!!. The Bluetti is sturdier, and has more cord length that comes with it. I just bought a solar cable to attach to the AllPowers. Really like both of them, but definitely the lower price on AllPowers made it more affordable.
I was impressed with the ALLPOWERS performance, especially for the low price.
Thanks for this info. I am currently researching & shopping so this is very helpful to know.
Horse shit.
@@ladyketurahinwaiting - Also when panel is run-over by vehicle backing out of camp-site, which is the less expensive loss . . . . . ? ha - ha .
I just bought a pv420 for my ac200max which puts out 425watts on a clear day 😁
Craig - my research on the poly vs the mono is that in “lower” solar radiation, the mono performs better. That is, during “dark days”, the mono will have better performance. Also, I haven’t tested the performance difference when panel is not ideally pointed at the sun. In making a decision, another consideration is the battery type. Regards David
Thanks for your information on your comparison
Thanks for the review. I have been doing some testing with my Bluetti and other solar panels and found in closer to ideal conditions, they are not too different, but in real life camping, we have clouds and shadows. When I tested partial shading performance, this is when the higher quality and more expensive panels really shine. Just a thought for future testing. These less than ideal situations are what I experience in my everyday usage. Keep up the good work.
I agree. The Bluetti really seem to outperform in shade or cloudy conditions. Thanks for your feedback
Thanks for the good comparison between these products. I've been looking at these setups for power failures and storms lately.
Glad to help Glen. Now I have multiple Solar Generators. 1 for my boat and others for emergency power outages.
Great review. I am presently in the market for a 200 watt solar panel for my Bluetti 500 watt solar generator. I have a 100 watt All Power panel now but I can only get 76 to 80 watts in perfect sun. If I drain my battery down lower than 30% I may not have enough to charge it back up to full, and this does happen now and then. Your review shows about 138 watts in hazy sun so that's better then what I was getting in perfect sun with the All Power 100 watt panel. I have had my All Power 100 watt panel 4 years and use it for camping off grid and it still works just fine. I rarely use or pay for hook-ups when I camp. I like going to place that are not overly populated. You are right about the cord length, too short. I ended up buying a 20 foot MC-4 cable to solve that issue. Anyway, from one Canadian to another, thanks for the info. Take care.
Glad to have been of help. I was impressed with the 200w, especially for the price.
I have the AP200 watt ($215 CAD in June 2023 from Amazon) and when I used it last year, last time I camped (going again soon!), I got up to 165w into my EF River 2 Pro, which I have since returned the R2 PRO and upgraded to the Delta 2, for the same price as the R2 PRO!!!! (I love costco's return policy and the current sales prices on power stations....)
PET is probably referring to the same plastic used for common plastic bottles. Thanks for comparing these panels, these are exactly the two panels I was considering.
You are most welcome
The allpowers won't work on Bluett EB3A to many volts. I wish somebody would have made a video on that, now I have to return it because I have no way to figure out how to reduce the voltage just a bunch of mumbo jumbo.
Good video and revue, and with anything buy what you need and can afford, AllPowers has worked for me.
True. Get the best you can afford.
@5:04 3 meters is almost 10 feet long. I have the Allpowers panel and I believe that it's 2 meters long but I haven't measured it so I'm not positive. I ordered a Bluetti Eb55 and ordered the Allpowers immediately afterwards. I tested it out and it works great...
The Bluetti is what is long. Not the AllPowers.
1 shoe is 30centimeter
Great info!! But double thumbs up for the 'Living in a van, down by the river' skit reference. Back when SNL was actually funny :)
I loved SNL back then. Farley always cracked me up. RIP.
I just bought an allpower SPO35 too many apps for my Bluetti EB3A. Now I have to return it. What has a hassle? All the reviews show pictures of a Bluett implying that it would work on the unit, works on most solar generators except the one you happen to have, why doesn't somebody make a video on which ones they don't work on.
I also bought the SP035 based on advertised specs. Specifically open circuit voltage. My power station is the Pecron E1500LFP, which has input spec of 32 - 95V. Allpowers advertises output voltage of the SP035 is 50.6V. When it arrived, printed right on the panel, Open Circuit Voltage is 25.3V. It won't charge the Pecron. Their customer service is not great either.
@@johntabasz1219 Wire two panels in series to get VOC of 50.6, then it will satisfy the Pecron. Too bad the SP035 panels weren't spec'd properly.
It’s also an important to know whether the panels are wired internally parallel or series -plus- connection wires gauge.
True.
It;s a pity you didn't show the front of the panels during the test? The reason is as you stated the Allpower make Polycrystalline as well as Monocrystalline panels. Theformer has a black face/surface, and the latter has a blue face/surface? There seems to be some confusion on Amazon UK where the description states Monocrystalline but in the description further it states Polycrystalline? I will be contacting the seller/manufacture for more unambiguous clarity? A very good review, thank you.
Always hazy now? Why?
I think the Monocrystalinne is supposed to be longer lasting, better material for long life, sealed better(the panels). Interesting review!
I think monocrystalline is the better product. Just Poly is the more forgiving panel in low light or shadows.
Hey Craig, what are your plans for sailing videos this Spring?
We plan to do the circumnavigation of Lake Ontario, like we planned last summer, but didn’t get to do it because our transmission broke.
Isnt canada part of england and france both use meters
If it's good enough for Matt Foley, it's good enough for me!
OK? Not sure who Matt Foley is.
@@Bowmans-Woods Chris Farley's character name. The motivational speaker that lives in a van down by the river. LOL
I bought a Bluetti EB3A,if I buy the AllPowers solor panel will the cables match. Great job . Thanks
Sounds like a good match at an inexpensive price.
Craig,
I would love to use this to supplement my house battery bank on my sailboat. Would I need a charge controller or could I connect directly to my battery bank? Thanks for any thoughts on this. I do not need or want a solar generator.
Although it came with battery clips, I don’t think it would efficiently charge a battery. If I were you id buy a cheap charge controller. You don’t need a large, expensive one if you are only plugging in a small amount of solar.
Craig I Just purchased the Bluetti solar panel loved your video very informative! My question off topic is I love the sailboat photo in this video what is it of? Did you take it? thanks
Thanks. You mean the sailboat painting behind me? It’s a painting, not a photo.
I would love a review with clear sky to see the diference
I have used them in a ton of different conditions. Bluetti always does slightly better. But you pay more for them so it is a trade off.
Reviewing this video later: I always use the portable solar panel as shade for the power station so the 3' cord length is no issue. A simple bent piece of cardboard salvaged from the shipping box will easily make up any 'shade deficiency' for the power station and a couple of small plywood pieces work well for sun-angles less than the attached legs. All lay together flat for easy transport. just a thot. ! rh
I live in a Van . . . . down by the river . . . . . . .
LOL. I loved that SNL skit.
PET is polyethylene terephthalate. Plastic pop bottles from around the late 70's to now are made with PET.
I have a Bluetti AC 200P Power Station - purchased for power outages - keep fridge running etc. I bought one Bluetti SP200 solar panel. Purchased both back in 2021 and never hooked up the solar panel until 3 weeks ago. It would not charge my power station. I contacted Bluetti and was told I had to have 2 of these panels to charge this power station. WHAT? Is that true? I watched your video and your charging with one panel. I'm upset as these are not cheap as noted in your video. Do I have to purchased another one just to recharge my charging station if we have long term power outage? Thanks, in advance, for anything you can tell me as I am totally unfamiliar with solar. I thought this was the way to go vs gas generator... questioning my decision.
I would assume a guy could restore a faded panel similar to a headlight restoration. So the material really doesn't matter if you're handy.
Maybe but it’s better if it doesn’t fog up in the first place.
@@Bowmans-Woods obviously
Hi, I am in UK and was looking to connect to my caravan lithium battery. Can I just use the battery clips that come with the panel without a solar regulator?
I would connect a Solar controller to be safe.
Have you had the chance to try and compare the Allpowers 200w with Rockpals 200w? I think it could be a valuable match up to watch. Thanks for the very informative video.
If Rockpals wants to send me solar panels to test, I would. Unfortunately not every producer want to send products for review. Maybe because there are already a ton of reviews out there or because they are worried that if I compare it to the panels that have done well they will not compare well and that is bad for sales. ;-)
@@Bowmans-Woods Rockpals has discontinued their solar panel line.
The Amazon links aren't working
Really? Hmmmm maybe it is for the Canadian Amazon. I'll have to check
I would like to see this same test on clear skies. I wonder 💭 if you’d see the difference then? Sometimes name brand to name brand works best. They both do real good in those cloudy conditions. I honestly didn’t think either one would do as well as they did. 😮
PS: Please don’t use drugs! You might find yourself living in a van 🚐 down by the river! God, I love that skit.
Van Life, LOL. Im too old for that lifestyle anyway.
It is hard to have a filming day with perfectly blue skies. It is unrealistic to test in those conditions anyway because most days are either hazy or partly cloudy in the real world. Or, just all day cloud, so a solar panel has to also be good in those conditions.
I bought the Bluetti EB3A and this AllPowers AP-SP-033 (18V 200W). Are they compatible? I read now that máximum input current in Bluetti is 8.5A, and AllPowers máximum power current is 11A.
So could it damage the Bluetti?
I have a very cheap solar controller. Can I solve the problem with it?
Hello!!! New friend here!!! Connecting to your channel! Thank you!
Glad you found the channel.
Would have been good to see if one panel works better in partial shade. Cover one part of one and see if the different technology "Shines" through.
Partial Shade hurts all solar panels but folding less so than glass panels
Anyone considering substituting portable panels for glass need to be very careful to read the fine print on most portables/folding panels. You cannot leave portables outside for extended periods. Why? They aren't rainproof. The fabric will absorb water. Not only that, the ETFE panel coating isn't too good on some brands & water will seep into the silicon cells. Don't be fooled by the sales description saying "IP68 waterproof" or "IP65 waterproof." That only covers the cable junction box, not the panel assembly. Contact the customer support for each brand & have them verify that the entire panel & wiring is waterproof IP67 or IP68.
Agree. I said they should only be used when there is sunny dry conditions. If you leave them out all the time you will find they wear out fast, unlike glass panels
Nice comparison . I truly wonder if the all powers is a better bang for your buck. I thing the bluetti in the long run is better simply because voltage drop was not taken into consideration since the cable length was 2 or 3 times longer to reach the solar generator. Even then, the bluetti beat the all powers . Even though it was only a few watts, in a day where solar peak hours is only 5 to 6 hours, it could mean the difference in charging your power bank to full where it can carry you to the next day depending on your use.
Thanks for sharing
1 shoe is 30 centimeter, 1 cm is 1/100 of meter
3 meters is a little over 9 feet. Don't give the Brits any more ammo for the jokes about our refusal to use the metric system.
LOL. Ya I always feel the need to do everything in numbers the Americans can understand since 1/2 my viewers are from there. Luckily Canada, being so close to the US, is use to thinking in both numbers.
Shoes better for americans
Never connect a solar panel directly to a car battery unless you want to fry it. The open circuit voltage of any average solar panel is around 21-24 volts it's max power voltage is around 18 volts. Unless you connect to two batteries in series thus making it effectively a 24 volt battery you'll toast your battery. I wish these panel companies would stop putting the alligator clips in the accessories, because there is always one dumb lemming that will try it. Try it and fry it.
True. The OCV is way too high for a lead acid battery. Many LiFePO4 batteries have BMS that will protect it from over voltage charges, so they should not "FRY".
@@Bowmans-Woods Oh for sure, if you are connecting to ANY power station it will have an MPPT controller built in that will only pull what it needs from the panels. For example I have a Golabs R300 which has a cap of 3amp. I could put a nuclear reactor on there and it will only pull 3amp. Hell I have some pretty high end panels to charge my ebike and it charges the R300 no problem because the MPPT in the Golabs is capped at 3amp 23.5v max. So as long as the input is not more than 23.5v it will charge just fine.
3 meters is over 9 feet.
Yes. Did I say differently?
@@Bowmans-Woods yes sir you said 6 feet
Ok. Well that cord is certainly not 9’ long.
Buy the best , eco flow solar panel. Most efficient, most durable, most waterproof. Not sure why you didn’t add that , probably because you didn’t receive one for free
You are not wrong. Eco flow has never shown internet in me testing any of their products so I can’t speak to any claims of quality.
6 feet apart is better...lol
OK? Not sure what I said that was funny but I will take your word that it was hilarious. :-)
Hi! If my power station has Anderson charging characteristics 18-30W 8A max, is Allpowers 200W solar panel Ok with own power 11A to my station? Or 8A and 11A is critical and will damage station or panel ?
Your solar generator should have an over power shut off. So if it’s bringing in more Amps that your MPPT can handle, it should just limit it to the maximum it can handle or it won’t accept the charge at all. I don’t believe it would damage your solar generator if it is well constructed.