UPDATE 8/20/22!!! Looks like the Powerness 120 is now finally back in stock. The price has gone up from what I mentioned in the video, but still worth a look. Also, they appear to have updated the integrated cable to include 3 sizes of connector instead of just the 2, so the 5.5mm adapters might not be necessary if you have a power station that uses that. US Link: amzn.to/3CkupD9 Canada Link: amzn.to/3ACpTyE
@@VTtac802 The power voltage of SolarX S120 is 18V, and the maximum DC input voltage for Rockpals 300W is 15V. So SolarX S120 doesn't work on Rockpals 300W.
Customer service is very Important. I lost my power brick (stolen) at an event and purchased one from Amazon, worked about 5 min. I emailed Jackery to link me to one I could buy from them. Jackery said no problem and sent me one for free. Well that is a first, needless to say I’m a customer for life now...
💯With the margins that Jackery makes, I would expect nothing less than stellar customer service. They have the funds to hire employees specifically just for customer service.
Jackery has great customer service. It`s a different matter when you have issues with a Chinese product. You have to haggle with them and be relenless and after a few days they get world from the boss to help you out. I have a lot of free power stations and even a freezer because I complain about anything that isn`t exactly right and hound them for days on end in a battle of wills.
@@jaya.0069 I have used my Jackery 1002 and 200 during power outages, instead of firing up my home generator. The 1000 runs my 65" LCD, my Sound bar, my Starlink Satellite for a minimum of 8 hours. The 200 runs my laptop and controllers for 5-6 hours. Plenty of back up for short power outages in the home. I also use the 1000 [probably could use the 200 just as easily] to power my 200w Rumble bass amp, my studio monitor for gigs. I used 9% last gig, and we played for 4 hours. I am pleased w. Jackery for its intended purpose[s].
We have used the th-cam.com/users/postUgkxOTeIs0vv4_9B5hsmnLsk9r930uDQLu_Y for probably 30 hours with our camper and it’s been great! The noise level is really only noticeable when running the AC and other appliances like the microwave, hair dryer, or coffee pot. It’s not huge like other ones and it has wheels so even at 90lbs, I can move it!
Nice thing about the Jackery is it will fit on the dashboard of most cars, so you can charge it from inside your car while you go for a hike or something and not have to worry about security issues.
We have done the same trick with our Acopower 120W panel in the front window of our Toyota Sienna. Especially useful where the campsite is shady but the trailhead parking is sunny.
Btw , that little 3mm connector on the power ness can be used to charge other things , l just bought this panel and I have a battery car emergency jump starter and it fits that unit so I can charge my jump starter with the solar panel
Very informative! Thanks for the thorough comparison, I am a big advocate of details analysis of products. I don't like it when people say, "I like it, its good" without any explanation as to why its good. Keep on creating great content!
Here is the best and the cheapest way did it. What I did was get 2-50 watt solar Renegy panels. Then I got 2 hinges to screwed them to the solar panels so I can fold the panels together. Total Cost $120. Works for me!
I admit that as a senior citizen who doesn't speak the old power grid or the new power grid vocabulary, I have a hard time understanding why 100 watt solar panel only gives 23% efficiency. That doesn't make sense. But in spite of my inability to understand this new world, I did understand a whole bunch of what you said which was great. I subscribed, thank you.
I'm like you I'm 75 and doing my first Van conversition some people say just do two battery one for van and one for house with continuos silinoid and others say solar but what if there is no sun. I think I should have started this years ago. Also I'm woman lol
I feel your confusion. Let me help. Solar panels are given a power rating based on absolutely ideal laboratory conditions.... these are called "sun hours". In the real world they will actually do less power. You can calculate and get an actual real world estimate by finding a "Sun-hour Map" for where you will be using the panels..... It will give you a figure that represents the actual number of "full sun hours" per day at that location. (example: Hawaii gets 4.8 sun hours per day on average) then just take the panel wattage multiply by 4.8 and that will tell you how many watts of "juice" you can expect to get per day from that panel.
NMR - the 23% is the efficiency at converting sunlight into electricity. It's due to the chemistry of silicon. That's under ideal conditions. So if you are in partial shade, and you're only getting, say, 50% of full sun, you are getting 50% of that 23% ideal output. BTW, I'm 69. You can think this stuff through; you don't need to be a stable genius. /jk
Thanks for the video. I would be interested in a follow up in 6 months or a year. My concern with some of these products on Amazon is that they are just overruns from the Chinese factory with a different brand. On paper a lot of these panels look great, but I’m scared of them failing in less time than a more established company’s products. Thanks.
@@gary7vn sorry bud but most things i brought from china cme out deffective, cheap and completely different from the discription it has from amazon. Glad you love yours tho
One of the things your video makes clear, is the importance of correct panel angle. One of the things I want to look into panel tracking units. Devices you mount your panels on and they track the sun and maintain proper panel angle. Maybe you could do a video on one these devices?
We just bought an Oupes 600 watt unit you had reviewed, and we love it! Also, we got fortunate when we decided to purchase it, for the discounts amounted to $308 dollars plus free shipping. Thanks again for all your useful reviews!
I just bought the Jackery solar panel during Amazon Prime Days for $200 vs the regular price of $300. Just delivered. I was pleased with the $100 savings. I haven’t used it yet. I’ll try it out soon. Thanks for your info.
better than anything you have there is everything made by Ecoflow. they're solar panels and solar generators example: "The Delta Pro" far surpass other generators and smart batteries. (Although having a Delta Pro for camping or RV'ing or Van Life is extreme overkill) they come in very handy with a power output that is unsurpassed.
Great video, you are right that a lot of marketing can be difficult to wade through, but what a good price. That little LCD screen was also a nice little extra
The angle of the Powerness up against the tree was quite a bit higher than the Jackery, so I suggest you retest both using the exact same angle and you may find that the Jackery output is greater.
Thank you for this review. As a newbie researching via of watching camer van/van life videos, I have been trying to decide which solar panels and power banks to buy/ invest in. This helped me decide on the panels.
Thanks Cheryl! Yeah there are a ton of options out there and it's hard to navigate all that information when you're just getting into it! I've got several other panel videos you might find helpful. Good luck!
Great review thank you! Unfortunately I can't find them anymore. Maybe Jackery bought the competition ;-) I always thought they are way to expensive. Powerness proved that theory. I hope we can find Powerness panels in the future.
Thanks Catherine! I should have a new review up this weekend on a panel that I think I'd recommend OVER the Powerness (even if the Powerness was still available) :) Stay tuned for that! I did pin a comment with a link to the one I'm reviewing if you want to check it out in advance.
@@ReeWrayOutdoors very informative video, appreciate the time & detail you put into it. Yup, I'm totally happy with my purchase, it suits my needs perfectly.
First of your videos that I've seen and I enjoyed the content. I hope your channel gets more views so you can make more videos like this one. For example, I'd be interested in seeing multiple inexpensive panels compared to a giant single panel like the ecoflow 400 watt panel.
I purchased a combo of 2 Jackery 100W panels, Jackery 880, and Jackery 290 for $1145 free shipping from Costco. A good deal and the power stations are great.
Yeah for sure. The good thing about solar panels though is a general lack of moving parts so they should tend to be more reliable over the long term (theoretically anyway).
Thanks for the great reviews. Just subscribed to your channel yesterday. A few questions: 1) How would I connect 1 Powerness Panels to the EcoFlow Delta 2? How about 2 panels? Would like to place the panels on top of my patio cover. So I'd need some type of extension cable (16ft?) to reach from the panels to the EcoFlow Delta 2 inside my house. 2) You mentioned that the Powerness Panels have a built in cable USB-C cable. Can I remove that cable and use my own...again I'd need a long cable to reach from the top of my patio cable to ground level 8ft? 3) I have a Samsung Bespoke Fridge (30cu ft) and was wondering if I would be able to charge it for some number of hours in a blackout situation with the EcoFlow Delta 2? What key power specs/metrics about the Samsung Fridge would I need to know for me to do the calculation? Thanks in advance.
FYI Jackery changed their input jacks to a 8mm "thick" input. The center pin is a different size so you will either need to buy 2 of these and use Jackery's 2 into 1 connector, ask Jackery for a "thick to thin" adapter, or do a little splicing into a new end to make this work. Very annoying
I think that only applies to the newer 1500 and 2000 models though? Let me know if you know differently. In any case, I do appreciate the information! :)
They're definitely not water 'PROOF'...but water RESISTENT. Really, the thing you need to watch is to not allow the USB output module (usually contained in a fairly waterproof pouch...but not always) to get super wet. If you can do that, the panels themselves can handle a downpour. Also, SOME panels don't have these USB ouput modules at all, so these would be inherently even closer to 'waterproof'. I hope that helps. :)
This is my first exposure to ReeWay. It would be revealing to see a price comparison of current and 11/21. I am a nurse and appreciate technology but do not enjoy tech unless it is connected to my patient. Living on a hurricane coast, I want and need an alternate power source. If I were your sister, which portable solar power system would you suggest I invest in? I invite comments............
@Mari Cogan and all viewers, as suggested in comments to this good video, see if perhaps you just need an inexpensive very portable power brick. Suggested in this video, by @Genki Feral .. wondering why not just use one box - a car jump starter - instead of that power station... If your current budget and needs are to store power and to recharge phones and a laptop or other moderate-power-use device, the Powerness 120va portable photovoltaic(solar panel) collector, plus one or several power bricks may meet your SHTF WORL power-outage and portable power needs. Get a power brick with a high maximum amp output in order to be able to power higher-power laptops, and to be able to quickly recharge a drained car battery. Poweradd 35000mAh battery pack. Anker PowerCore 20,100mAh with 4.8A output, 12.5 ounces, $59.99 (7/30/2022) and Anker PowerCore 26800mAh portable, ($70 US, 7-30-2022.) Oh, see the 30,800 mAh portable charger with LCD display Power Bank Battery Pack PD QC4.0, USB typec, Mico USB, $20 US, 7-30-2022 that I just saw in a search. Or, Samsung 20,000mAh battery Pak, $49.99, 7-30-2022. Strive to get Lithium Ion Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4 or, simply, LFP) that is newer and better in many ways than older Lithium Ion, and far better than older NiCad. For larger light units, Lithium Ion, or where weight isn't a concern, and longer life, 3000, even 4000 charge and drain cycles, ...(LFP) LiFePO4 Lithium Iron Phosphate - increased power output, faster charging, 4x the life of simpler Lithium Ion. But LFP is heavier to tote around than Lithium Ion, which becomes significant in some situations, with the larger batteries, larger units.
I would like to have seen the Bluetti panels in this mix, I'm not sure many folks know about Bluetti, but I've been very satisfied with my panels as well as my solar generator... Thanks for the testing, and I appreciate your opinion, have a great day...
Thanks for doing this ☺️ I just wish you had done a shade capacity test too. Since not everyday will be as bright and good, and the jackery might do better then, especially when you saw how much change just the angle did... 🤔😉
@@macmcleod1188 I actually did just recently compare the 2 in sunny conditions and took a piece of cardboard to shade various parts of each panel. To my surprise, the Jackery output dropped by 50% if I even shaded a small portion of one side (panel]. The Powerness was noticeably better on this test with output only seeming to drop in proportion to the area shaded.
@@ReeWrayOutdoors yes, I recall that on some/ many panels If you shade any part of then it kills output for the whole panel. I forget why. Maybe the panel is wired serially?
I am trying to figure out which one to buy, What size to get ,blah blah blah it's giving me a migraine! 🤣💜 Now I'm going to go watch a couple more of your reviews. You sound like such a reasonable knowledgeable man so whatever you say that's what I'm going to get! 🤣 My problem is, that I'm mostly an urban camper and can't really go setting panels out around the city! 🥴
@@ReeWrayOutdoors Well I have the usual, phone, tablet, small laptop. But I also want to be able to power a small 12-volt refrigerator. Maybe 18 quarts. The ultimate would be a toaster, I do love my bagels! Thank you for answering me!
@@Debrajoy I'm actually testing a 12v fridge right now (48qt). You'd be surprised how long those will run off battery, especially if you don't need freezer mode. I think you're probably looking at something in the 500-600 watt range. But that won't get you a toaster, probably. That's likely well over 1000w draw!
I purchase used a Jackery 1000w & 100w panel for $800, only cycled a dozen times. I wanted a 2nd panel, if I can’t find another Jackery I’ll go with one of these Powerness panels. Great info, thanks for taking the time and effort.
I'd recommend checking out this panel: th-cam.com/video/WmuTlueElMo/w-d-xo.html. I think it's an even better deal than the Powerness. Also, this 100w panel from TOGO Power is a full-on clone of the SolarSaga 100w for way less money: th-cam.com/video/GdAS3yI2idc/w-d-xo.html
Thank you! But I think Jackery is more reliable. BTW, have already heard about the Creative Society international all-human project? In a couple of years we won't need that solar panels at all, if we unite now on the common basis of building the Creative Society! Pls learn more if you still haven't heard about it!
I have a truck and two cars . I have separate tools in each vehicle as well as phone charges and GPS . Little things like that are very easy to go missing on a dark night
Thanks!! Getting my TT in a few weeks and will be looking into a small investment into solar so I can start understanding it better. Probably one of a few things I have 0 clue about. New subscriber!!
I made a mistake. I bought the Vtoman 1800...so I guess I send my questions back to you as to which 200 solar panel would be best for it. I so appreciate your response on my last question. Cely in cocoa Beach
I feel like the thing this market is needing deparately is a small, foldable, motorized solar panel mount that can auto track the sun to keep your panels charging at maximum capability throughout the day.....Autonomously. Id love to setup a portable auto tracking array and walk away. Less solar would need to be carried around as a result.
@@ReeWrayOutdoors - The problem is I havent seen any designs that fold flat. Everyone is still mounting solar flat on vans/RVs with no 2D or 3D tracking arrays. Some people build bulky, custom 1 degree lifts. I've figured out several 2D mount designs that would be extremely low profile but I've got a busy 60hr per week job so not much time to tinker. Im hoping someone else will experiment and bring it to market. Im being lazy, haha.
@@ReeWrayOutdoors - Imagine this but scaled up to size. Imagine a solar panel in place of the license plate. This would give a full 2 dimensional operation. This is just one of several designs I think would work well for the purpose of solar tracking. Feel free to use the idea! License plate flipper: th-cam.com/video/1KMhqC_drpU/w-d-xo.html
After leaning the Powerness panels against the tree, was it the same angle as the SolarSaga panels? You mentioned the sun was low in the sky. Maybe the SolarSaga could have been made more perpendicular to the sun's rays in which case the efficiency readings would have been more equal. Just wondering.
!!!UPDATE 4/1/22!!! OK, since the Powerness 120 is now unavailable, I've found and reviewed what i think is an even BETTER option for you. Seriously! Check it out here: th-cam.com/video/WmuTlueElMo/w-d-xo.html
Yeah all sold out on Amazon. I didn’t find a website for that company so I’m wondering if they are just a private label reseller. That new panel you mentioned has gone up to $230. Possibly they’re taking advantage of all of the current interest.
@@stephenlight647 Yeah, it dropped off Amazon US right before this video blew-up. 😕 I just ordered the alternative panel that I've been recommending so I can confirm how it stacks up (I looks like it might even have a couple of advantages). I should have a review on it in a week or so. Fingers-crossed that it's as good as it appears...
There are tones of solar pannels out there that are way cheaper then those big brands. My 200watt XTM solar blanket was $370aud on sale. few years old now and going strong.
I recently was given an E bike. I plan on doing a lot of camping with the bike and I was wondering what would you suggest for a light weight solar generator that I could take along with me to charge up my batteries. Thanks good review
Looks like the different barrel connections is for different power banks. They show compatability with a hist of power banks from micro to macro sized but mention more than two connector sizes on the amazon site when i lokked just now.
One reason I bought the jackery with the panels was because harbor freight is literally around the corner from my place and they had a special sale going on for those immediately got em just in time to Hurricane Ian hit us and the whole neighborhood was out of power.
Wow that's incredible! The same thing just happened to me. 2 days before the one we just got hit by I got my Jackery. I didn't get a chance to charge it with the panel tho. I charged it the night before we got hit. Wouldn't you know we lost power 3 times for that storm. I was so grateful to have my Jackery. What an easy way to power up without lugging that big loud fuel guzzling generator out !
Do keep in mind though that the E300 will cap the input to something like 80W. But at least with this panel, this ensures you'll get max input in all but the worst conditions.
Is the Powerness water proof? That was a game changer for me. I purchased a 100 watt Dokio to go with my Jackery 500. Iwas considerabley cheaper but it is heavy.....and waterproof (I hope). The Powerness is certainly worth a try.
I'd actually skip the Powerness at this point, since it's hard to find and I do think there are better options out there. BTW - none of these portable panels are 100% waterproof. But they can certainly withstand a rain shower, and the ones without any integrated USB module are even more weather resistant since you don't have to worry about the open USB ports getting wet. I'd take a look at this one as a solid choice: th-cam.com/video/WmuTlueElMo/w-d-xo.html
It's probably just me, but I think I would have been able to concentrate more on the video, if I wasn't looking at your bright orange Mohawk hairstyle throughout 😂. Thanks for posting 👍🏻
I found panels that look exactly like the folding Jackery panels for 100 each but one is 100 watts and the other is 120. I ordered a second 100 watt after seeing the extreme hight quality, which I initially doubted for that price when I took a chance and ordered. The second one arrived and it was a few days later when I noticed it said 120 watts! Both have ETFE coating and 23% efficiency Sunpower cells. I`m not sure what happened but their status immediately changed to "sold out" before I could order one more. Maybe it was a mixup and pricing error? The great thing is they tested near the rated capacity...98 and 116 watts. I needed these for my solar power stations during hurricane emergencies which seem to happen regularly here in Louisiana. I`ve been hit hard by 5 hurricanes since 2005...two in 2020 back to back. I`m about to order a large 300 amp hour lithium battery and related componants for emergency solar 5000 BTU air conditioning for my camper. I can even run a 600 watt heater in Winter most of the day while the sun shines without draining the battery to save on my electric bill or propane if there`s a Winter storm power outage.
Assuming we're talking about portable panels, not generally any issues since they're most all 18V panels. Typically the only thing you need to be aware of is that the panel has the right connector to fit your Power Station. Some come with a variety of adaptor options and some don't - in which case you might need to buy an appropriate adaptor if the panel doesn't happen to have the same type your power stations uses. I'm reviewing another panel right now that has a cool trick up its sleeve and is also a 120W panel. Hoping to post that in the next couple of days. You might find that one interesting, depending on your power station!
Thanks JW! Their new pricing makes it a bit less compelling...and there are definitely some other very decent options on the market like the Elecaenta 120W: amzn.to/3KAuIMb which is really just as good (with more included connectors) and at a significantly lower price (US$190 after the $40 Amazon coupon). :)
I am a new chicken Mom. I’m trying to try to learn about solar panels. I want to use some to power lights and a heater on my chicken coop. Your video was very informative. Thank you for it. God bless you.
The problem with solar only application for heating a coop is the time you need heat the most is when the sun is down and you have zero output. Add a couple batteries or more and you can store all that energy. Batteries will definitely add a lot to the cost of your system.
I know! 😕 I've bought another panel that should be arriving tomorrow sometime that I'll be reviewing in the next few days. Looks like a very strong alternative with some advantages over the Powerness. Fingers crossed!
Possible to include the solar panel out put also in volts and amps in good sunlight under load? Watts is an easy comparison for people to understand. You probably know this, Volts x Amps = watts. A 120 watt panel in good conditions is how many volts and amps? Thanks. Nice video.
Hmm, I'm new to all the terms.. type C... type... wha? hehe. Maybe you can do a "solar panels for beginners" video so that these reviews make more sense to some of us :) Thanks for the review.
The Type-C vs Type-? is just referring to USB connectors that most of these PORTABLE solar panels include for directly charging things like your phone or tablet or other small USB devices - independent of the main output of the panel - which would connect to something like a Portable Power Station for recharging that device off-grid. I've been thinking about doing a video on how to pick the best Power Station...probably should add 'how to pick the best portable solar panel' as well! :) Now if I can just find the spare time! :P
I was eyeballing the Jackery generator with the panels, UNTIL. Prepper princess here on youtube was doing a review on it, turned out to be an actual life event(how ironic) she lost power, in Arizona. The jackery performed well initially, but when it came time for it to be charged, it failed. Overheated? who knows but when SHTF( like power outage in the desert) and the generator fails. Time to move on. Thanks for the review on the Powerness
I don't dislike Jackery as brand...but MAN they're expensive compared other options. And until this most recent crop of products (1000Pro, 1500 and 2000), the features have remained very much behind the competition. I like the changes they're making though, but they still come at a premium price.
My jackery panels look like the powerness as far as the build. They came with the Jackery 600w I received last week. I have 3 devices for emergency. Biggest is 2000. I am just learning. That one connector would work on my Titan 300. I had to look for an adapter that would work on on my Generack and jackey panels to connect to the Titan . Type c connector it was called??? My Titan didn't come with a panel.
Im nervous about purchasing a powerbank for a portable ac unit when i go camping in the coming months. Thats all its dedicated for. Will this run one? Ill be in the sun volunteering for EAA in Oshkosh 24 the WHOLE week. So i need something that charges quick so it can be good every night and keep my tent cool :)
Yeah, 😕 I pinned a comment with what looks like something possibly even better. I've just ordered it and will do a review on it ASAP to make sure it's as good as it seems. Thanks for the kind words! :)
Solor,controller, deep cycle battery,inverter and a casing for battery is all you need. If battery goes bad you just replace it but if jackery battery goes bad it isn't just replacing battery you have to replace the whole unit. If jackery or similar unit ever comes out with a replaceable battery setup then I would consider getting a unit
I have the solar sega 200 watt and 2/ solar sega 100 watt. It is amazing that I can get up to 74 watts on the 100 watt panel but the 200 watt panel only gives about 55 watts at best.The 200 watt solar sega panel is junk. The 100 watt panels are great.
Interesting!! I'm hoping to get started soon on a review of a 200W panel that might be a fantastic alternative to the 100w and 120w panels for many people. We'll see how it goes!!
Just found your channel today. I’m wondering if you have done any videos on portable generators and also the home generators. There is a company in Nashville Tennessee called tri State and to my knowledge they are the only home generator that is made in all parts in the US. All the others that you can get through Costco or Lowe’s or Home Depot all have parts coming from China and other places. So just wondering if there’s some head-to-head comparison’s on generators, home generators. thank you.
They stopped selling on Amazon US for awhile but I just got word they're going to start selling them again soon. I'll post an update as soon as I get the details. That said, I'd recommend checking out the video on the Elecaenta panel I posted a couple of months ago. It's a great alternative and might even be the better deal!
I think I have the most difficulty understanding just how many solar panels I would actually need to charge something like a power station like a Jackery Power Station 2000 Plus. What would work best if I’m looking to be able to power a small fridge for days on end? My wife is diabetic and I need a way to refrigerate insulin for days on end in case of a serious power outage. I’m not sure what works be my best and most economical way to accomplish this if I only can rely on solar to recharge and power a small fridge. I would also be willing to create a system to power a larger fridge if it wasn’t too cost prohibitive. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Certainly possible. The Solar Saga 100 is a very efficient panel. Also the only 100w I have that I've seen actually produce 100W (one time, got lucky I guess haha). It's also the most expensive panel I have, costing more than even the 2 200W panels I own. So that's my biggest complaint with Jackery panels.
Primary question: Is the Powerness 120 more sensitive to solar angle then the Jackery? I wonder if you would have put the Jackery at the the 38° would it have dropped to the 40 W output or stayed fairly high? Second: when you showed the 3.5 mm I thought right away I could charge my PC with this and many other things directly. I see your pinned comment addresses this. Good follow up. Last: great video and thanks.
Thanks for kind words! I don't think the Powerness is more sensitive to angle than the Jackery since they're both monocrystaline with ETFE coating. BUT I did notice the Jackery, despite its high efficiency, seems a bit more sensitive to faint shadows on the panel than many of panels I've tested. Not sure why that would be. Moot point though regarding the Powerness since it's not available in the US now. I've got more panel reviews coming very soon...a couple of great alternatives you might want to look at.
Here is a list of jacks or connectors for some portable power stations...-8mm : Jackery 160/240/300/500/1000, Goal Zero 160//240/300/500/100, BALDR 200/330/500 -5.5mmX2.1mm : PAXCESS 200/300/500, ROCKPALS 250/300/350/500, FLASHFISH 200/300 -5.5mmX2.5mm : SUAOKI, JOYZIS -3.5mmX1.35mm : MARBERO 88/167/83Wh -XT60 Adapter : EF ECOFLOW RIVER/RIVER PRO/RIVER MAX/ DELTA
Thank you! Understanding the jacks and connectors needed is the most difficult / confusing part for me in dealing with solar panels, and is a significant reason why I haven't bought one yet. Your comment helps remove a lot of my uncertainty. The next challenge is understanding adapters and extension cables so that the panel can be in the sun and the device being charged is in the shade. Any help/input on that?
@@Gwen3344 there should be plenty of choices on Amazon Gwen, you just need to know what mm connector size you need, like 8 mm for jackery or...? and the length you want.
It's the battery life I'm more worried about. With out a good battery life it's useless. And buying a new one probably cost as much as buying a new unit. And yes how long will the solar panel work until they fail compared to a good name brand like jackery. They say you get what you pay for. I would love to have a cheaper one to try these out before spending money on something that won't last or hold up to what you need it for that's why I haven't bought any yet. Been looking into building one and it seems way cheaper to do it. Don't know yet lol. I wish companies would send me these units to try out in the field and give my honest opinion about it because I would. I'm into the off grid living and survival situations training and staying out in tents for hunting. It seems these companies don't want to send their products to the people who are really out here off grid living and will test there products out. I'm not buying anything I think won't work well or hold up to your needs that could put you in a dangerous or life threatening situation. Can't have your gear failing you so don't buy cheap stuff or you'll regret it later out in the woods or wilderness.
Thank you for an excellent explanation! Forgive my ignorance: (1) What does it mean by 100W in the Jackery SolarSaga panel and the 120W Powerness panel? Is that the maximum amount of power they output per hour if they were 100% efficient? (2) What does it mean by 23% efficiency? (3) Do these panels work indoors behind the window?
Thanks for the kind words, Edward. So when you see a solar panel listed as 100W, that's basically its max rated output under (more or less) ideal conditions. 23% efficiency is referring to the quality of the solar cells and how much power they can produce in relation to their surface area. Currently, that's about as efficient as commercially available solar panels can get (and most portable solar panel spec actually are probably overstating their REAL efficiency!). Solar panels DO work inside behind a window, BUT the output they produce will most likely be SIGNIFICANTLY reduced if you do that....so that should be a last resort kind of thing.
I wonder if the 11% increase in power had something to do with the time of day. Earlier in the morning, the sunlight has to cut through more atmosphere and probably more humidity in the atmosphere.
First The Powerness S120 is unobtainium (out of stock). Second why get a 100W panel when you need 100W. Most will only get 75% of rated power on a good day. Slight oversize of panel is good. Last I got a Dokio 220 for $230. Love it. Foldable and my Power Station takes 150W (DBPower 500), which is over priced. The Jackery has jumped the Shark... cost too much, for value, features, performance. KEEP IN MIND all these power stations are just a BATTERY with an inverter and some software controlled charging front end, with connectors (USB, Cig lighter, AC Wall jack) into one package. NOTHING SPECIAL. Good quality battery, inverter and charging circuit is all you need.
@@ReeWrayOutdoors Great! Look forward to the review. I was all hot to buy Jackery everything.... Then I looked at other equiv 500W power stations. Saved $175, giving up no features (gaining actually) and giving up no performance with the new DBPower 505 vs, Jackery explorer 500. The panels DoKio 220W are nice, fully accessorized with jacks, cover, a good value. Also comes with battery controller to directly charger your car battery or other 12V battery. Jackery is $599 for a 200W panel. WHAT? That is $3 a Watt. Ha ha. They are pricing their selves out of business. Same with their power stations, not paying more than $0.50 to $0.70/Watt. It is a commodity. More than the Dokio but an option at $260 the ALLPOWERS 200W Portable Solar Panel Kit, Hey what do I know. I am a newbie. However scanning Amazon, seems to be nice panels. You have to do your research. Thanks for testing and reviewing. If you get a wild hair and want to test the Dokio or ALLPOWER that would be great. I will let you know how the DOKIO works out. I have not put it on an actual road trip test yet. This is my first effort into being a solar user. (Degree in Engineering I took solar energy course in 1985, but never tried to do more make a solar water heater, all thermal no electrons evolved). I am going to do 4-6 weeks of road trips and car camping this summer. I bought a Vevor 32Q 12 volt compressor freezer/frig, I look forward to having cold food and drink without buying ice all the time.
the claim of max power on a good day being less than rated is not true. When I setup my solar panels @ 1000 watts I witnessed 1004 watts on a good day. The specs by solar companies are accurate. Location determines individual experience. "NOTHING SPECIAL" - another false claim devaluing a product. Good luck making such an item with "just a BATTERY." That battery is lithium iron phosphate - not cheap. To make a portable product with the correct electronics that can withstand all sorts of conditions requires significant R&D Value is not determined by price alone.
UPDATE 8/20/22!!! Looks like the Powerness 120 is now finally back in stock. The price has gone up from what I mentioned in the video, but still worth a look. Also, they appear to have updated the integrated cable to include 3 sizes of connector instead of just the 2, so the 5.5mm adapters might not be necessary if you have a power station that uses that. US Link: amzn.to/3CkupD9 Canada Link: amzn.to/3ACpTyE
Would the new Powerness 120 with the included cables work with the Rockpals 300watt battery bank? Thanks.
Will it work with the river 2?
@@VTtac802 The power voltage of SolarX S120 is 18V, and the maximum DC input voltage for Rockpals 300W is 15V. So SolarX S120 doesn't work on Rockpals 300W.
@@laurennardo8226 Yes, SolarX S120 works on River 2.
4 panel works on my motorcycle/sidecar. 2 panel is too big.
Customer service is very Important. I lost my power brick (stolen) at an event and purchased one from Amazon, worked about 5 min. I emailed Jackery to link me to one I could buy from them. Jackery said no problem and sent me one for free. Well that is a first, needless to say I’m a customer for life now...
💯With the margins that Jackery makes, I would expect nothing less than stellar customer service. They have the funds to hire employees specifically just for customer service.
I love my Jackery products!
I lost my AC adapter too. Emailed Jackery and they sent me one as well. Stellar customer service.
Jackery has great customer service. It`s a different matter when you have issues with a Chinese product. You have to haggle with them and be relenless and after a few days they get world from the boss to help you out. I have a lot of free power stations and even a freezer because I complain about anything that isn`t exactly right and hound them for days on end in a battle of wills.
@@jaya.0069 I have used my Jackery 1002 and 200 during power outages, instead of firing up my home generator. The 1000 runs my 65" LCD, my Sound bar, my Starlink Satellite for a minimum of 8 hours. The 200 runs my laptop and controllers for 5-6 hours. Plenty of back up for short power outages in the home. I also use the 1000 [probably could use the 200 just as easily] to power my 200w Rumble bass amp, my studio monitor for gigs. I used 9% last gig, and we played for 4 hours. I am pleased w. Jackery for its intended purpose[s].
We have used the th-cam.com/users/postUgkxOTeIs0vv4_9B5hsmnLsk9r930uDQLu_Y for probably 30 hours with our camper and it’s been great! The noise level is really only noticeable when running the AC and other appliances like the microwave, hair dryer, or coffee pot. It’s not huge like other ones and it has wheels so even at 90lbs, I can move it!
Nice thing about the Jackery is it will fit on the dashboard of most cars, so you can charge it from inside your car while you go for a hike or something and not have to worry about security issues.
Awesome! I've not tried that yet. Will definitely give that a shot and see how it goes.
We have done the same trick with our Acopower 120W panel in the front window of our Toyota Sienna. Especially useful where the campsite is shady but the trailhead parking is sunny.
@@BSerrell4 Love it!
do you mean put the solar panel on the dash? if so good idea
@@dmc9791 yup!
Btw , that little 3mm connector on the power ness can be used to charge other things , l just bought this panel and I have a battery car emergency jump starter and it fits that unit so I can charge my jump starter with the solar panel
Was thinking wish I could solar charge my car jumper power pack. Thanks
My battery maintainer on my Hyundai generator takes that connector.
Good to know
still working well? I was wondering why not just use one box - a car jump starter - instead of that power station.
Helpful thankyou
I have the Jackery 1000 with a renogry 200 watt mounted on the roof to keep the Jackery charged up.
Works great.
What do you run with it??
@@jacobortwine7063 My 25 quart fridge and recharge small USB fans.
Very informative! Thanks for the thorough comparison, I am a big advocate of details analysis of products. I don't like it when people say, "I like it, its good" without any explanation as to why its good. Keep on creating great content!
Here is the best and the cheapest way did it. What I did was get 2-50 watt solar Renegy panels. Then I got 2 hinges to screwed them to the solar panels so I can fold the panels together. Total Cost $120. Works for me!
I admit that as a senior citizen who doesn't speak the old power grid or the new power grid vocabulary, I have a hard time understanding why 100 watt solar panel only gives 23% efficiency. That doesn't make sense. But in spite of my inability to understand this new world, I did understand a whole bunch of what you said which was great. I subscribed, thank you.
Thanks for the kind words! And Welcome! I hope to have another interesting option for portable solar reviewed and posted soon! Stay tuned!
I'm like you I'm 75 and doing my first Van conversition some people say just do two battery one for van and one for house with continuos silinoid and others say solar but what if there is no sun. I think I should have started this years ago. Also I'm woman lol
I feel your confusion. Let me help. Solar panels are given a power rating based on absolutely ideal laboratory conditions.... these are called "sun hours". In the real world they will actually do less power. You can calculate and get an actual real world estimate by finding a "Sun-hour Map" for where you will be using the panels..... It will give you a figure that represents the actual number of "full sun hours" per day at that location. (example: Hawaii gets 4.8 sun hours per day on average) then just take the panel wattage multiply by 4.8 and that will tell you how many watts of "juice" you can expect to get per day from that panel.
@@kd5txo thank you so much for that explanation. You have just helped out a multitude of people.
NMR - the 23% is the efficiency at converting sunlight into electricity. It's due to the chemistry of silicon. That's under ideal conditions. So if you are in partial shade, and you're only getting, say, 50% of full sun, you are getting 50% of that 23% ideal output. BTW, I'm 69. You can think this stuff through; you don't need to be a stable genius. /jk
Thanks for the video. I would be interested in a follow up in 6 months or a year. My concern with some of these products on Amazon is that they are just overruns from the Chinese factory with a different brand. On paper a lot of these panels look great, but I’m scared of them failing in less time than a more established company’s products. Thanks.
SO TRUE
yeah, I will definitely be doing that in the next 6 mo. or so! :)
Nothing wrong with Chinese tech.
@@gary7vn sorry bud but most things i brought from china cme out deffective, cheap and completely different from the discription it has from amazon. Glad you love yours tho
With solar panels being less expensive I suggest having more solar than you need. Winter sun can be hard to get so you want to make the most of it.
Completely agree!
Solar panels less expensive? prices increased a lot now
Solar needs light and heat so winter charging is almost useless.
@@jeremywhitesell2688 Do you own/have any solar panels?
@@JosEPh-zy3yr not on the house. But many for other uses.
One of the things your video makes clear, is the importance of correct panel angle. One of the things I want to look into panel tracking units. Devices you mount your panels on and they track the sun and maintain proper panel angle. Maybe you could do a video on one these devices?
Yeah, those are definitely intriguing! If I can get my hands on one without it costing a small fortune, I'd totally do that!
@@ReeWrayOutdoors Excellent!
@@ReeWrayOutdoors you can make them with a microcontroller, UV sensor, and a stepper motor. That was my project for a PLC class I took.
Years ago I knew a pilot that had one for his telescope and it was ridiculous expensive. Surely the prices are comjj in Ug down.
We just bought an Oupes 600 watt unit you had reviewed, and we love it! Also, we got fortunate when we decided to purchase it, for the discounts amounted to $308 dollars plus free shipping. Thanks again for all your useful reviews!
I just bought the Jackery solar panel during Amazon Prime Days for $200 vs the regular price of $300. Just delivered. I was pleased with the $100 savings. I haven’t used it yet. I’ll try it out soon. Thanks for your info.
Everyone dumping stocks money getting harder to spare ,company's getting rid of stocks of inventory asap
@@rodolphedrolet6994 My portfolio made a nice jump last week. Wall Street is doing better. This was a Prime Day limited deal.
better than anything you have there is everything made by Ecoflow. they're solar panels and solar generators example: "The Delta Pro" far surpass other generators and smart batteries. (Although having a Delta Pro for camping or RV'ing or Van Life is extreme overkill) they come in very handy
with a power output that is unsurpassed.
Great video, you are right that a lot of marketing can be difficult to wade through, but what a good price. That little LCD screen was also a nice little extra
Very cool! Jackery is great and I own 2 of their panels but I agree, had I known about these, I would’ve purchased them. Thanks for sharing!
The angle of the Powerness up against the tree was quite a bit higher than the Jackery, so I suggest you retest both using the exact same angle and you may find that the Jackery output is greater.
Thank you for this review. As a newbie researching via of watching camer van/van life videos, I have been trying to decide which solar panels and power banks to buy/ invest in. This helped me decide on the panels.
Thanks Cheryl! Yeah there are a ton of options out there and it's hard to navigate all that information when you're just getting into it! I've got several other panel videos you might find helpful. Good luck!
Great review thank you! Unfortunately I can't find them anymore. Maybe Jackery bought the competition ;-) I always thought they are way to expensive. Powerness proved that theory. I hope we can find Powerness panels in the future.
Thanks Catherine! I should have a new review up this weekend on a panel that I think I'd recommend OVER the Powerness (even if the Powerness was still available) :) Stay tuned for that! I did pin a comment with a link to the one I'm reviewing if you want to check it out in advance.
Before i watch your video, i purchased used a Jackery 1000 with a 100w panel for $800 total, and i love it.
Nice! Good price for that combo!
@@ReeWrayOutdoors very informative video, appreciate the time & detail you put into it. Yup, I'm totally happy with my purchase, it suits my needs perfectly.
First of your videos that I've seen and I enjoyed the content. I hope your channel gets more views so you can make more videos like this one. For example, I'd be interested in seeing multiple inexpensive panels compared to a giant single panel like the ecoflow 400 watt panel.
I purchased a combo of 2 Jackery 100W panels, Jackery 880, and Jackery 290 for $1145 free shipping from Costco. A good deal and the power stations are great.
I’d be interested to see how the panels perform long term. Sometimes you buy things and they work great for a few months then quit.
Yeah for sure. The good thing about solar panels though is a general lack of moving parts so they should tend to be more reliable over the long term (theoretically anyway).
Thanks for the great reviews. Just subscribed to your channel yesterday.
A few questions:
1) How would I connect 1 Powerness Panels to the EcoFlow Delta 2? How about 2 panels? Would like to place the panels on top of my patio cover. So I'd need some type of extension cable (16ft?) to reach from the panels to the EcoFlow Delta 2 inside my house.
2) You mentioned that the Powerness Panels have a built in cable USB-C cable. Can I remove that cable and use my own...again I'd need a long cable to reach from the top of my patio cable to ground level 8ft?
3) I have a Samsung Bespoke Fridge (30cu ft) and was wondering if I would be able to charge it for some number of hours in a blackout situation with the EcoFlow Delta 2? What key power specs/metrics about the Samsung Fridge would I need to know for me to do the calculation?
Thanks in advance.
FYI Jackery changed their input jacks to a 8mm "thick" input. The center pin is a different size so you will either need to buy 2 of these and use Jackery's 2 into 1 connector, ask Jackery for a "thick to thin" adapter, or do a little splicing into a new end to make this work. Very annoying
I think that only applies to the newer 1500 and 2000 models though? Let me know if you know differently. In any case, I do appreciate the information! :)
Are they waterproof for marine applications?
Thanks, your vids are "to the point " and very welcomed.
They're definitely not water 'PROOF'...but water RESISTENT. Really, the thing you need to watch is to not allow the USB output module (usually contained in a fairly waterproof pouch...but not always) to get super wet. If you can do that, the panels themselves can handle a downpour. Also, SOME panels don't have these USB ouput modules at all, so these would be inherently even closer to 'waterproof'. I hope that helps. :)
Thanks. Wish you’d touch on the weather resistance of this panel. One reason I don’t like the Jackery.
This is my first exposure to ReeWay. It would be revealing to see a price comparison of current and 11/21. I am a nurse and appreciate technology but do not enjoy tech unless it is connected to my patient. Living on a hurricane coast, I want and need an alternate power source. If I were your sister, which portable solar power system would you suggest I invest in? I invite comments............
@Mari Cogan and all viewers, as suggested in comments to this good video, see if perhaps you just need an inexpensive very portable power brick. Suggested in this video, by @Genki Feral .. wondering why not just use one box - a car jump starter - instead of that power station... If your current budget and needs are to store power and to recharge phones and a laptop or other moderate-power-use device, the Powerness 120va portable photovoltaic(solar panel) collector, plus one or several power bricks may meet your SHTF WORL power-outage and portable power needs. Get a power brick with a high maximum amp output in order to be able to power higher-power laptops, and to be able to quickly recharge a drained car battery. Poweradd 35000mAh battery pack. Anker PowerCore 20,100mAh with 4.8A output, 12.5 ounces, $59.99 (7/30/2022) and Anker PowerCore 26800mAh portable, ($70 US, 7-30-2022.) Oh, see the 30,800 mAh portable charger with LCD display Power Bank Battery Pack PD QC4.0, USB typec, Mico USB, $20 US, 7-30-2022 that I just saw in a search. Or, Samsung 20,000mAh battery Pak, $49.99, 7-30-2022.
Strive to get Lithium Ion Iron Phosphate (LiFePO4 or, simply, LFP) that is newer and better in many ways than older Lithium Ion, and far better than older NiCad. For larger light units, Lithium Ion, or where weight isn't a concern, and longer life, 3000, even 4000 charge and drain cycles, ...(LFP) LiFePO4 Lithium Iron Phosphate - increased power output, faster charging, 4x the life of simpler Lithium Ion. But LFP is heavier to tote around than Lithium Ion, which becomes significant in some situations, with the larger batteries, larger units.
I would like to have seen the Bluetti panels in this mix, I'm not sure many folks know about Bluetti, but I've been very satisfied with my panels as well as my solar generator... Thanks for the testing, and I appreciate your opinion, have a great day...
Yeah, I agree that Bluetti is a solid choice. I haven't personally gotten my hands on their products yet, but hopefully at some point!
Thanks for doing this ☺️
I just wish you had done a shade capacity test too. Since not everyday will be as bright and good, and the jackery might do better then, especially when you saw how much change just the angle did... 🤔😉
Excellent idea! I'll try this and report back! (once I get a day without rain!)
@@ReeWrayOutdoors might try on rainy day too. Worst case test over several hours.
@@macmcleod1188 I actually did just recently compare the 2 in sunny conditions and took a piece of cardboard to shade various parts of each panel. To my surprise, the Jackery output dropped by 50% if I even shaded a small portion of one side (panel]. The Powerness was noticeably better on this test with output only seeming to drop in proportion to the area shaded.
But having said that, the Jackery output (unshaded) was really phenomenal, peaking at 104w for brief moments.
@@ReeWrayOutdoors yes, I recall that on some/ many panels If you shade any part of then it kills output for the whole panel. I forget why. Maybe the panel is wired serially?
I am trying to figure out which one to buy, What size to get ,blah blah blah it's giving me a migraine! 🤣💜 Now I'm going to go watch a couple more of your reviews. You sound like such a reasonable knowledgeable man so whatever you say that's what I'm going to get! 🤣 My problem is, that I'm mostly an urban camper and can't really go setting panels out around the city! 🥴
Thanks for the kind words, Debra! What are you needing to power/charge?
@@ReeWrayOutdoors Well I have the usual, phone, tablet, small laptop. But I also want to be able to power a small 12-volt refrigerator. Maybe 18 quarts. The ultimate would be a toaster, I do love my bagels! Thank you for answering me!
@@Debrajoy I'm actually testing a 12v fridge right now (48qt). You'd be surprised how long those will run off battery, especially if you don't need freezer mode. I think you're probably looking at something in the 500-600 watt range. But that won't get you a toaster, probably. That's likely well over 1000w draw!
The small connector will fit to any size in a conversion kit if you have one.
The ToGo power is very much similar to the powerness. Little bit cheaper price, 100w versus 120w but I absolutely love it.
Yeah I'd say I prefer the the Togo Power 100w. Better leg configuration and the 2 panel design is just more convenient.
I purchase used a Jackery 1000w & 100w panel for $800, only cycled a dozen times. I wanted a 2nd panel, if I can’t find another Jackery I’ll go with one of these Powerness panels. Great info, thanks for taking the time and effort.
I'd recommend checking out this panel: th-cam.com/video/WmuTlueElMo/w-d-xo.html. I think it's an even better deal than the Powerness. Also, this 100w panel from TOGO Power is a full-on clone of the SolarSaga 100w for way less money: th-cam.com/video/GdAS3yI2idc/w-d-xo.html
Great video! Thanks for all the info. BTW...may I ask who you marched with?
I played snare drum with Cadets way back in 1985. Guessing you're a drum corps guy too? :)
Thank you!
But I think Jackery is more reliable.
BTW, have already heard about the Creative Society international all-human project?
In a couple of years we won't need that solar panels at all, if we unite now on the common basis of building the Creative Society!
Pls learn more if you still haven't heard about it!
I have a truck and two cars . I have separate tools in each vehicle as well as phone charges and GPS . Little things like that are very easy to go missing on a dark night
Thanks!! Getting my TT in a few weeks and will be looking into a small investment into solar so I can start understanding it better. Probably one of a few things I have 0 clue about. New subscriber!!
I like my Jackery Setup. Glad they have competition, make Jackery make better stuff
Yeah I must admit that my Jackery 100w consistent outperforms other 100w panels by a good 10%. I've just wish they weren't 50%+ more expensive!
I made a mistake. I bought the Vtoman 1800...so I guess I send my questions back to you as to which 200 solar panel would be best for it. I so appreciate your response on my last question. Cely in cocoa Beach
Did I answer your question? Or did you have another one for me?
I feel like the thing this market is needing deparately is a small, foldable, motorized solar panel mount that can auto track the sun to keep your panels charging at maximum capability throughout the day.....Autonomously. Id love to setup a portable auto tracking array and walk away. Less solar would need to be carried around as a result.
Yeah, that would be cool, for sure. The ones I've seen are in the $2K+ range (yikes!).
@@ReeWrayOutdoors - The problem is I havent seen any designs that fold flat. Everyone is still mounting solar flat on vans/RVs with no 2D or 3D tracking arrays. Some people build bulky, custom 1 degree lifts. I've figured out several 2D mount designs that would be extremely low profile but I've got a busy 60hr per week job so not much time to tinker. Im hoping someone else will experiment and bring it to market. Im being lazy, haha.
@@ReeWrayOutdoors - Imagine this but scaled up to size. Imagine a solar panel in place of the license plate. This would give a full 2 dimensional operation. This is just one of several designs I think would work well for the purpose of solar tracking. Feel free to use the idea!
License plate flipper:
th-cam.com/video/1KMhqC_drpU/w-d-xo.html
Something like that wouldn't be very portable.
After leaning the Powerness panels against the tree, was it the same angle as the SolarSaga panels? You mentioned the sun was low in the sky. Maybe the SolarSaga could have been made more perpendicular to the sun's rays in which case the efficiency readings would have been more equal. Just wondering.
Looks like Powerness has some of their own battery banks. They use the 4mm plug that is also on the cable
Thanks. I’ll supplement my Jackery with the powerless. Did you need a converter or adapter?
!!!UPDATE 4/1/22!!! OK, since the Powerness 120 is now unavailable, I've found and reviewed what i think is an even BETTER option for you. Seriously! Check it out here: th-cam.com/video/WmuTlueElMo/w-d-xo.html
Could you review this other one that you've mentioned? I wanted to find the powerness But can't find it anywhere.
Yeah all sold out on Amazon. I didn’t find a website for that company so I’m wondering if they are just a private label reseller. That new panel you mentioned has gone up to $230. Possibly they’re taking advantage of all of the current interest.
@@chrtravels Yeah, that new panel is $230, but there's also a $40 coupon there you can check that brings it down to an attractive $190! :)
Interesting video and well done. Unfortunately, the Powerness Panel has disappeared from Amazon and any other source I can find as of March 27, 2022.
@@stephenlight647 Yeah, it dropped off Amazon US right before this video blew-up. 😕 I just ordered the alternative panel that I've been recommending so I can confirm how it stacks up (I looks like it might even have a couple of advantages). I should have a review on it in a week or so. Fingers-crossed that it's as good as it appears...
Can't take my eyes off your KEYBOARDS Bro!!! (Fellow pianist)
That yellow tip cable is used for some laptops and wireless speakers.
There are tones of solar pannels out there that are way cheaper then those big brands. My 200watt XTM solar blanket was $370aud on sale. few years old now and going strong.
Do they have the same connections as the one showed here?
Thanks very much for sharing your thoughts on this Solar Panel…thanks…Brian in the U.K.
I recently was given an E bike. I plan on doing a lot of camping with the bike and I was wondering what would you suggest for a light weight solar generator that I could take along with me to charge up my batteries. Thanks good review
Did you know powerness added this video you made to their Amazon product page when you follow the link to Amazon in your description?
Looks like the different barrel connections is for different power banks. They show compatability with a hist of power banks from micro to macro sized but mention more than two connector sizes on the amazon site when i lokked just now.
One reason I bought the jackery with the panels was because harbor freight is literally around the corner from my place and they had a special sale going on for those immediately got em just in time to Hurricane Ian hit us and the whole neighborhood was out of power.
Wow that's incredible! The same thing just happened to me. 2 days before the one we just got hit by I got my Jackery. I didn't get a chance to charge it with the panel tho. I charged it the night before we got hit. Wouldn't you know we lost power 3 times for that storm. I was so grateful to have my Jackery. What an easy way to power up without lugging that big loud fuel guzzling generator out !
Both batteries only allow so much power from the panals. Plus, the folded jackery panal isn't near as clumsy to unfold.
Just baught this pannel for my Jackery 300. Amazon had a $40 off coupon, witch made this purchase $146.88. I can't wait to play with this.
Do keep in mind though that the E300 will cap the input to something like 80W. But at least with this panel, this ensures you'll get max input in all but the worst conditions.
@@ReeWrayOutdoors Thanks for the input. I live in the PNW, lots of overcast days hear. So this will be interisting.
Is the Powerness water proof? That was a game changer for me. I purchased a 100 watt Dokio to go with my Jackery 500. Iwas considerabley cheaper but it is heavy.....and waterproof (I hope). The Powerness is certainly worth a try.
I'd actually skip the Powerness at this point, since it's hard to find and I do think there are better options out there. BTW - none of these portable panels are 100% waterproof. But they can certainly withstand a rain shower, and the ones without any integrated USB module are even more weather resistant since you don't have to worry about the open USB ports getting wet. I'd take a look at this one as a solid choice: th-cam.com/video/WmuTlueElMo/w-d-xo.html
Thanks for the review 💪👍yeah price on the Powerness is WAY up 279 now.....not such a good deal any more..... I'll stick with jackery......
So, its more efficient but needs to be poinfed straight to the sun for it to really works?
It's probably just me, but I think I would have been able to concentrate more on the video, if I wasn't looking at your bright orange Mohawk hairstyle throughout 😂. Thanks for posting 👍🏻
Hhahahaha
Lmao! 😂😂😂
Thumbs up for the mohawk, still don't know what the video is about I been laughing too much.
I didn't notice until I read your comment. Good call lol!
Are there any generators and/or panels not coming out of China?
what about the rockpals panels which I found for 169.99 for 100 watt.
Good price! It's not the best performing 100W panel I have, but for that price, it's a solid option.
I found panels that look exactly like the folding Jackery panels for 100 each but one is 100 watts and the other is 120. I ordered a second 100 watt after seeing the extreme hight quality, which I initially doubted for that price when I took a chance and ordered. The second one arrived and it was a few days later when I noticed it said 120 watts! Both have ETFE coating and 23% efficiency Sunpower cells.
I`m not sure what happened but their status immediately changed to "sold out" before I could order one more. Maybe it was a mixup and pricing error? The great thing is they tested near the rated capacity...98 and 116 watts.
I needed these for my solar power stations during hurricane emergencies which seem to happen regularly here in Louisiana. I`ve been hit hard by 5 hurricanes since 2005...two in 2020 back to back.
I`m about to order a large 300 amp hour lithium battery and related componants for emergency solar 5000 BTU air conditioning for my camper. I can even run a 600 watt heater in Winter most of the day while the sun shines without draining the battery to save on my electric bill or propane if there`s a Winter storm power outage.
Sorry just a beginner. There are no issues with mixing & matching of brands, etc. of the batteries & the solar panels?
Assuming we're talking about portable panels, not generally any issues since they're most all 18V panels. Typically the only thing you need to be aware of is that the panel has the right connector to fit your Power Station. Some come with a variety of adaptor options and some don't - in which case you might need to buy an appropriate adaptor if the panel doesn't happen to have the same type your power stations uses. I'm reviewing another panel right now that has a cool trick up its sleeve and is also a 120W panel. Hoping to post that in the next couple of days. You might find that one interesting, depending on your power station!
Great! Good Job.
Awesome report! will very much consider this item for purchase ,(2) in future.
Thanks JW! Their new pricing makes it a bit less compelling...and there are definitely some other very decent options on the market like the Elecaenta 120W: amzn.to/3KAuIMb which is really just as good (with more included connectors) and at a significantly lower price (US$190 after the $40 Amazon coupon). :)
What built in LCd on the panel, that is awesome, nice panel too I haven't heard of that brand, thanks for sharing man.
I am a new chicken Mom. I’m trying to try to learn about solar panels. I want to use some to power lights and a heater on my chicken coop.
Your video was very informative. Thank you for it. God bless you.
The problem with solar only application for heating a coop is the time you need heat the most is when the sun is down and you have zero output. Add a couple batteries or more and you can store all that energy. Batteries will definitely add a lot to the cost of your system.
@@elektrofry
Thank you for your response.
Good information, however, it's too bad the Powerness is currently unavailable :'(
I know! 😕 I've bought another panel that should be arriving tomorrow sometime that I'll be reviewing in the next few days. Looks like a very strong alternative with some advantages over the Powerness. Fingers crossed!
Possible to include the solar panel out put also in volts and amps in good sunlight under load? Watts is an easy comparison for people to understand. You probably know this, Volts x Amps = watts. A 120 watt panel in good conditions is how many volts and amps? Thanks. Nice video.
Hmm, I'm new to all the terms.. type C... type... wha? hehe. Maybe you can do a "solar panels for beginners" video so that these reviews make more sense to some of us :) Thanks for the review.
The Type-C vs Type-? is just referring to USB connectors that most of these PORTABLE solar panels include for directly charging things like your phone or tablet or other small USB devices - independent of the main output of the panel - which would connect to something like a Portable Power Station for recharging that device off-grid. I've been thinking about doing a video on how to pick the best Power Station...probably should add 'how to pick the best portable solar panel' as well! :) Now if I can just find the spare time! :P
Thanks for video. Just ordered my panel .
You should check out the Harbor Freight 100w briefcase panel. I just picked up a second one, and w/coupon got it for 149.99. Much more sturdy.
Damn.. that Poweress is $100 more than when you shot this video. Crazy times!
I was eyeballing the Jackery generator with the panels, UNTIL. Prepper princess here on youtube was doing a review on it, turned out to be an actual life event(how ironic) she lost power, in Arizona. The jackery performed well initially, but when it came time for it to be charged, it failed. Overheated? who knows but when SHTF( like power outage in the desert) and the generator fails. Time to move on. Thanks for the review on the Powerness
I don't dislike Jackery as brand...but MAN they're expensive compared other options. And until this most recent crop of products (1000Pro, 1500 and 2000), the features have remained very much behind the competition. I like the changes they're making though, but they still come at a premium price.
My jackery panels look like the powerness as far as the build. They came with the Jackery 600w I received last week. I have 3 devices for emergency. Biggest is 2000. I am just learning. That one connector would work on my Titan 300. I had to look for an adapter that would work on on my Generack and jackey panels to connect to the Titan . Type c connector it was called??? My Titan didn't come with a panel.
Im nervous about purchasing a powerbank for a portable ac unit when i go camping in the coming months. Thats all its dedicated for. Will this run one? Ill be in the sun volunteering for EAA in Oshkosh 24 the WHOLE week. So i need something that charges quick so it can be good every night and keep my tent cool :)
Great video. Just found your channel. Powerness panels no longer available :(
Yeah, 😕 I pinned a comment with what looks like something possibly even better. I've just ordered it and will do a review on it ASAP to make sure it's as good as it seems. Thanks for the kind words! :)
I tried to find them as well, no luck.
Lets go Bearcats!! I live in Clifton. Great review. Excited to check out the new video
Im in the beginning stages of starting vanlife. All this is very informative. Id love any input or assistance I could get.
Solor,controller, deep cycle battery,inverter and a casing for battery is all you need. If battery goes bad you just replace it but if jackery battery goes bad it isn't just replacing battery you have to replace the whole unit. If jackery or similar unit ever comes out with a replaceable battery setup then I would consider getting a unit
Thanks for sharing , that,s good quality info.
I have the solar sega 200 watt and 2/ solar sega 100 watt. It is amazing that I can get up to 74 watts on the 100 watt panel but the 200 watt panel only gives about 55 watts at best.The 200 watt solar sega panel is junk. The 100 watt panels are great.
Interesting!! I'm hoping to get started soon on a review of a 200W panel that might be a fantastic alternative to the 100w and 120w panels for many people. We'll see how it goes!!
@@ReeWrayOutdoors I find the 2/100 watt panels work WAY BETTER then the 200 watt. The 200 watt is not very good.
I returned my 200 watt solar sega. I found d it very poor. Sticking with the 2/100 watt panels instead
Just found your channel today. I’m wondering if you have done any videos on portable generators and also the home generators. There is a company in Nashville Tennessee called tri State and to my knowledge they are the only home generator that is made in all parts in the US. All the others that you can get through Costco or Lowe’s or Home Depot all have parts coming from China and other places. So just wondering if there’s some head-to-head comparison’s on generators, home generators. thank you.
Is Powerness out of business? Amazon states it’s not available. Same everywhere else.
They stopped selling on Amazon US for awhile but I just got word they're going to start selling them again soon. I'll post an update as soon as I get the details. That said, I'd recommend checking out the video on the Elecaenta panel I posted a couple of months ago. It's a great alternative and might even be the better deal!
YEA THAT CHARGES JUMP BOXES FOR CARS WHAT A GREAT ADDITION !
I think I have the most difficulty understanding just how many solar panels I would actually need to charge something like a power station like a Jackery Power Station 2000 Plus.
What would work best if I’m looking to be able to power a small fridge for days on end? My wife is diabetic and I need a way to refrigerate insulin for days on end in case of a serious power outage. I’m not sure what works be my best and most economical way to accomplish this if I only can rely on solar to recharge and power a small fridge. I would also be willing to create a system to power a larger fridge if it wasn’t too cost prohibitive.
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
I live in Florida is there a way to get a extension cord for the solar panels so I don't have to leave the battery in the sun?
Absolutely you can. Should be able to find them on Amazon since they use fairly common connectors
Just a thought, but maybe if you had re-aimed the Jackery it would have hit 85 also.
Certainly possible. The Solar Saga 100 is a very efficient panel. Also the only 100w I have that I've seen actually produce 100W (one time, got lucky I guess haha). It's also the most expensive panel I have, costing more than even the 2 200W panels I own. So that's my biggest complaint with Jackery panels.
I have a 120 watt progeny solar panel. Works great 👍🏻
Thank you for doing the research for us! Great video!
Primary question: Is the Powerness 120 more sensitive to solar angle then the Jackery? I wonder if you would have put the Jackery at the the 38° would it have dropped to the 40 W output or stayed fairly high?
Second: when you showed the 3.5 mm I thought right away I could charge my PC with this and many other things directly. I see your pinned comment addresses this. Good follow up.
Last: great video and thanks.
Thanks for kind words! I don't think the Powerness is more sensitive to angle than the Jackery since they're both monocrystaline with ETFE coating. BUT I did notice the Jackery, despite its high efficiency, seems a bit more sensitive to faint shadows on the panel than many of panels I've tested. Not sure why that would be. Moot point though regarding the Powerness since it's not available in the US now. I've got more panel reviews coming very soon...a couple of great alternatives you might want to look at.
@@ReeWrayOutdoors Yes, for sure. Thank you for the speedy reply.
I realized that you could get the exact same angle for comparisons if you put one panel on top of the other.
I got used hatd panels. Two 250 watt for 200 bucks or a 400 for 150 bucks. I got the two for 200 and get 475 watts in series.
Here is a list of jacks or connectors for some portable power stations...-8mm : Jackery 160/240/300/500/1000, Goal Zero 160//240/300/500/100, BALDR 200/330/500
-5.5mmX2.1mm : PAXCESS 200/300/500, ROCKPALS 250/300/350/500, FLASHFISH 200/300
-5.5mmX2.5mm : SUAOKI, JOYZIS
-3.5mmX1.35mm : MARBERO 88/167/83Wh
-XT60 Adapter : EF ECOFLOW RIVER/RIVER PRO/RIVER MAX/ DELTA
Excellent! Thanks for adding this info!
Thank you! Understanding the jacks and connectors needed is the most difficult / confusing part for me in dealing with solar panels, and is a significant reason why I haven't bought one yet. Your comment helps remove a lot of my uncertainty. The next challenge is understanding adapters and extension cables so that the panel can be in the sun and the device being charged is in the shade. Any help/input on that?
@@Gwen3344 there should be plenty of choices on Amazon Gwen, you just need to know what mm connector size you need, like 8 mm for jackery or...? and the length you want.
@@gordeng4001 Okay. I think I'm clear, and a lot closer to making a purchase. Thanks Gordon!
Will the powerness hook to the solar saga and use those two to charge my Jackery 1000?
It's the battery life I'm more worried about. With out a good battery life it's useless. And buying a new one probably cost as much as buying a new unit. And yes how long will the solar panel work until they fail compared to a good name brand like jackery. They say you get what you pay for. I would love to have a cheaper one to try these out before spending money on something that won't last or hold up to what you need it for that's why I haven't bought any yet. Been looking into building one and it seems way cheaper to do it. Don't know yet lol. I wish companies would send me these units to try out in the field and give my honest opinion about it because I would. I'm into the off grid living and survival situations training and staying out in tents for hunting. It seems these companies don't want to send their products to the people who are really out here off grid living and will test there products out. I'm not buying anything I think won't work well or hold up to your needs that could put you in a dangerous or life threatening situation. Can't have your gear failing you so don't buy cheap stuff or you'll regret it later out in the woods or wilderness.
No argument here! Sounds to me like you need to start a TH-cam channel!! ;-) (not kidding)
noticed the Cincinnati shirt. I grew up in hyde park
Nice! There's a great REI there now that I love to go to a couple times a year.
Thank you for an excellent explanation! Forgive my ignorance: (1) What does it mean by 100W in the Jackery SolarSaga panel and the 120W Powerness panel? Is that the maximum amount of power they output per hour if they were 100% efficient? (2) What does it mean by 23% efficiency? (3) Do these panels work indoors behind the window?
Thanks for the kind words, Edward. So when you see a solar panel listed as 100W, that's basically its max rated output under (more or less) ideal conditions. 23% efficiency is referring to the quality of the solar cells and how much power they can produce in relation to their surface area. Currently, that's about as efficient as commercially available solar panels can get (and most portable solar panel spec actually are probably overstating their REAL efficiency!). Solar panels DO work inside behind a window, BUT the output they produce will most likely be SIGNIFICANTLY reduced if you do that....so that should be a last resort kind of thing.
@@ReeWrayOutdoors Thank you for your explanation! Much appreciated! 🙏
I wonder if the 11% increase in power had something to do with the time of day. Earlier in the morning, the sunlight has to cut through more atmosphere and probably more humidity in the atmosphere.
The Jackery panel looks smaller though. How does it compare in watts/area to the other one?
First The Powerness S120 is unobtainium (out of stock). Second why get a 100W panel when you need 100W. Most will only get 75% of rated power on a good day. Slight oversize of panel is good. Last I got a Dokio 220 for $230. Love it. Foldable and my Power Station takes 150W (DBPower 500), which is over priced. The Jackery has jumped the Shark... cost too much, for value, features, performance. KEEP IN MIND all these power stations are just a BATTERY with an inverter and some software controlled charging front end, with connectors (USB, Cig lighter, AC Wall jack) into one package. NOTHING SPECIAL. Good quality battery, inverter and charging circuit is all you need.
Yeah, I'm trying to get the scoop on what's up with availability on this panel.
I've got a panel coming in soon that might be interesting. We'll see. Video coming soon. Haha
@@ReeWrayOutdoors Great! Look forward to the review. I was all hot to buy Jackery everything.... Then I looked at other equiv 500W power stations. Saved $175, giving up no features (gaining actually) and giving up no performance with the new DBPower 505 vs, Jackery explorer 500.
The panels DoKio 220W are nice, fully accessorized with jacks, cover, a good value. Also comes with battery controller to directly charger your car battery or other 12V battery. Jackery is $599 for a 200W panel. WHAT? That is $3 a Watt. Ha ha. They are pricing their selves out of business. Same with their power stations, not paying more than $0.50 to $0.70/Watt. It is a commodity.
More than the Dokio but an option at $260 the ALLPOWERS 200W Portable Solar Panel Kit, Hey what do I know. I am a newbie. However scanning Amazon, seems to be nice panels. You have to do your research. Thanks for testing and reviewing. If you get a wild hair and want to test the Dokio or ALLPOWER that would be great. I will let you know how the DOKIO works out. I have not put it on an actual road trip test yet.
This is my first effort into being a solar user. (Degree in Engineering I took solar energy course in 1985, but never tried to do more make a solar water heater, all thermal no electrons evolved). I am going to do 4-6 weeks of road trips and car camping this summer. I bought a Vevor 32Q 12 volt compressor freezer/frig, I look forward to having cold food and drink without buying ice all the time.
@@gmcjetpilot as it turns out, it IS the ALLPOWER 200W that I'm reviewing soon! Haha great minds... lol
the claim of max power on a good day being less than rated is not true. When I setup my solar panels @ 1000 watts I witnessed 1004 watts on a good day.
The specs by solar companies are accurate.
Location determines individual experience. "NOTHING SPECIAL" - another false claim devaluing a product. Good luck making such an item with "just a BATTERY." That battery is lithium iron phosphate - not cheap. To make a portable product with the correct electronics that can withstand all sorts of conditions requires significant R&D
Value is not determined by price alone.