I really like these long term reviews of products by real people under real conditions. It's so important to have this information before investing a lot of money in a product that you hope will last. Thanks for these videos.
I have these exact panels. Bought them based on your first review for bang/buck. I carry them in my semi & SUV, when out of the truck. Knowing the limitations & quality, I take care of them accordingly, they have performed satisfactory for me for two years. Portability, cost and performance have met my needs.
You can clearly see that these guys were abusing these panels. There's no way he only had those panels out four times. If anything they should be giving props to Dokio to basically keep giving them panels for free.
I think a follow up with any/most of the soft fabric folding panels is likely to reveal that they don't hold up to heavy/daily use and repeat UV exposure. Maybe they're better for the weekender/camper over the true nomad, where solid panels seem like a better route.
I've been living in my van 5 years and I've had these panels 2 years the still work and look great but I live in Portland and I don't let dogs we all all over then lmso
The old saying is proven out yet again: "The bitterness of poor quality lingers long after the thrill of the low price has faded." Old sayings become old sayings for a reason. 🙂 Thanks for the review!
I'm very grateful for this honest down-to-earth review. So hard these days to find such high-quality material with honest opinions, it's mostly superficial hype-talk and amazon affiliate links. Thank you very much!
I have a goal zero folding panel and I’ve had it a couple years it’s definitely holding up better than that. I don’t have it out every single day maybe 70% of days but no wear no fading and not damaged by some wind and moisture or anything like that. Charges fine. This is my experience anyway.
I bought based on earlier video, had since November. So far working, but take inside every night. I’m satisfied now and hope I’ll get a year or more from them. Thank you for the feedback. Always appreciate your suggestions.
Thanks for this. I bought a 300-watt set based on your earlier review, and have to say I've been very happy so far! They easily connect to my EcoFlow and charge it super fast. I do try to keep them clean and dry, with no issues after 2 months. We''ll see what happens after 9 months!
I also bought the 300-watt based on Bob’s previous review but I haven’t had the chance to use them yet. I also have the EcoFlow power station. I sure hope they hold up because yesterday was the last day I could return them through Amazon Prime 😬. I wish I would have known this sooner 🙁
@@larryc1616 Sad to say, they ended up not bringing in much juice after a couple more months -- like 80 watts in the full desert sun. So, alas, Bob was right in this video. I now have two panels on my minivan roof and a much smaller rockpals folding one that so far is awesome. Rated at 120 watts and brings in 112 -- more than the supposedly 300-watt Dokio. Hope this helps.
@juliereynolds5578 thanks for the update. I'm going to avoid dokio brand almost pulled the trigger. I guess the cheap price means cheap quality. For the Amazon prime sale I bought the delta2 and their 220w panel bundle for $920, but I want to buy more solar panels probably from Rockpalls, allpower or some other mid-tier reliable brands. Ecoflow, jackery and bluettie solar panels are too expensive IMO.
I just bought the Dokio 300. Will see how it holds up. I only will use them in hot desert sun maybe 3-6 months over the Winter. I think I’ll be proactive and use the UV protectant spray - carefully. I’ll try and remember to update here.
1:30 and 4:25 says lasted 9 months. Then says 3:12 "Put out 4 or 5 times". *4 or 5 times? 4 or 5 days, months? No way. He must mean 5 times he boon·docks at one location for a month or many months at a time. It sounds like 9 months of continuous (desert) environment 24/7 exposure. For part time camping for a week at a time, taken care of (not thrown in dirt) and folded and stored for inclemant weather they are fine. LONG TERM REVIEWS by others over 3 years shows they work fine and hold up for casual use, not full time rough service. I think this guy is rough on on gear and leaves them out 24 / 7 in all weather. Folding panels are NOT made for this type of full time service.*
my dokio 300 watt kit only put out 225 watts with mppt wired in 4s1p config when it was brand new. i let it lay out for about 3 months over the winter and its now down to about 160 watts. the fabric got destroyed cosmetically, which i dont care about tbh and is flaking all over the place, but seems to still hold the panels. the rapid degradation in performance is the most alarming and no one is talking about that.
These folding panels are NOT for permeant full time daily use. This guy is living off these and leaves them out I assume 24/7 in all Weather. I just bought the Dokio 220W and will be for camping. If it's bad weather they will come in. I am happy to hear about the GREAT customer service. I look forward to YEARS of service, since I will likely only use them 4 to 10 weeks a year. So by his account I will get 6 to 10 years of service from them? I suspect I will get more on the high end or past 10 years, because I take care of my gear....
@@reekkoh I ended up returning the Doko within return period to the "A" company because BLUETTI 200 watt panels went on sale. Thee BLUETTI at full price was hard to justify. They were too expensive to buy but had a great sale price slashed 50% or something. Got them and they out performed the Doko so I returned the Doko. At full price the BLUETTI is not so much better but near same price the BLUETTI is a no brainer. Sorry I did not buy two. I noticed on Solar stuff there are these sales with deep discounts. up to 50% for limited time. You got to jump on those.
I'm having the opposite happen. I have that same exact 200 watt folding panel and they are still in tip top shape and I'm going on a little over a year now. I've had them in the desert and here in Alabama. I do take really good care of my products though. If they ever do start fraying I'll duct tape around it lol 😂
You all missed the point of folding panels. They are for camping part time, not full time all weather use. There are reviews with 3 years of use and they still work fine and look good. Why do these look like they have been left in the desert for years, in dirt, dust and driven over? I don't know but they look abused and uncared for.
I have been using an Acopower 100W foldable hard panel with attached waterproof controller for four years. I leave it out in rain and windstorms and it’s still working great. Only thing, it doesn’t work with lithium (possibly if I call customer service they might tell me how). I know hard panels aren’t cool, but I don’t care about cool. Thanks for telling the truth Bob.
Thank you for this info! I bought a Dokio 300W folding solar panels for $357 in Jan ‘21 to charge my cheap no-name 1000w lifePo4 battery station. Ive only used it half a dozen times but so far, it works great, n I love it! I can charge my battery station to full in about 51/2 hrs in full sun, albeit, I’ve always left one bar of charge in it. After seeing how it doesn’t hold up in the hot sun, I am going to try gorilla tape over the edging to see if it will preserve the fabric. The only complaint I have is that because its very tall n floppy, it doesn’t stand at an angle. You can only lay it flat. Possibly, a couple of sturdy rods or piece of metal between the back of each panel and the fabric to at least make the panels rigid w/o compromising the prices too much?
If you have room, a folding laundry rack is very useful. You can lay them in different positions and prop your panels up and tie them to the rack. Most racks are lightweight but give enough weight to not get blown over if they are placed the long way (on their side?). Plus now you can dry your clothes, make a privacy screen. Set a table top on it for a counter, a place to hang a mesh bag for drying dishes, a place to clip a light to and many other uses. They are really versatile.
@@marlenen6130 thank you a million, Marlene! What a great unique idea! That sounds like it’s just the thing I need! I’ve been looking at all kinds of things n ideas for diy but it would have cost more than it’s worth n storage in my suv. I’m really excited to look some up for sizes. You’ve given me so many other uses for it! Thanks again!
I used a $21 @ Lowes 16" x 6' wire closet shelf. I cut it in half and then added a rigid locking system and 2 infinitely adjustable legs. About $25 total and very rigid and portable. The shelf has a 1" lip at the bottom that supports the panel of the ground.
This was informative. I believe that if I take very good care of them and store them properly, I can take them camping to make certain that I can have power solely for phone usage. HOWEVER, if they don't function well, I might need to purchase a more expensive variety.
Seems to me a little Scotchguard UV spray would have been a good idea for the fabric. It would be interesting to see materials, commonly used in Nomad life, compared with and without UV protection, starting with fabrics exposed to rain and sun. Thanks, Bob!
I was just wondering. Only used 3 or 4 times. How long were they outside (in use) each time? They don't look like they were put out for the day and then put away.
I don’t know about those Dokio panels, they don’t look well taken care of and they have definitely been used more than 5 times. You really need to keep them clean, at least!!
Thanks for the review. I just opened mine from Amazon and I felt it crack as I was opening the Velcro. It felt cheap and I can't see it surviving me. I think I'll go with back to a hard panel I can unmount easily, I hang out in the forest and sometimes you can't park in the sun and have to move the panel through the day as the sun moves through he trees.
I recently purchased a Bluetti EB70S bundle with 200wt solar panels... I have yet to try the panels because of the New England weather here... Looking forward to camping when it warms up and checking out my panels. I want to get the Bluetti AC200 bundle for our 5th wheel, but just can't afford it at this time. It's always good to know what panels work and what panels don't. 👍
Thanks for the long-term review. Those people are very dishonest on here and our house looking to sell the product and make money. I bought one of the 300W ones on Amazon, and when it came I could see it was inferior just from the packaging. Came in a single thickness cardboard box with just a quarter inch thick foam wrapped around not even all sides of the panel, an entire side of the package was not taped and was ripped on arrival. and all the cables were missing! I never even got to test it but I'm glad I didn't keep it based on other reviews I've seen. Returned it immediately. I will be looking for something more durable, less floppy, hopefully actually aluminum cased.
We used ours only on vacations so only for a few weeks overall. We found the seams to wbe weak and had to repair them. They still work though and in much nicer shape but they were used at most one month total. They were the cheapest solution at the time and for our light use an affordable solution. Yes, the fact that they don't have a stand means that you need to jury rig something to keep them at an angle for maximum production and they are big enough that it can be cumbersome. The charge controller is basic but I couldn't find an upgrade that I though was cost effective. Would I buy them again? Well they do what I need at the price that made sense, but I think it's fair to say that they aren't rugged enough for day to day month after month.
I think it really depends on your intended use. I wouldn't buy a cloth briefcase panel for long term sun exposure or a full-time power source/nomad use. However, they may be just fine for recreational RV users, or if they aren't going to be your 24/365 power source. I have them for recreational RV use, not my full-time power source. I use them gently and I realize the limitations of a briefcase panel with a limited lifespan especially due to the cloth backing and price.
Thanks, been waiting for this video for a while. I mentioned these panels in the facebook group many months ago and Tim, who I remember was happy with them in a previous video (he only had them for a week weeks at the time I think), was all, "please just wait for the video first!". So I did. In the meantime, I've decided I will probably either build my own portable panels or get flexible panels with metal frames.
wow, I have used my Dokio's here in Florida and they have been darn good (using MPPT controller), they are 2020 vintage) I only use them when camping, the fabric is still okay and they keep charging my LFP battery okay (150w kit) I do not use it all the time, the fabric is fine. I am using the SAE connector.
Hi Bob, could Tim give more detail on how he separated his panels? I have had the 300W for over two years and voltage is there but not the watts. I’d like to separate mine. Or how he tested the individual panels. Thank you!
I had a 110w folding Dokio panel that never put out more than 50w in perfect conditions. My other folding panels put out 90 to 100w in the same exact conditions. Dokios are cheap, but you get what you pay for. There's no backing to panels so they are floppy which can lead to cracks and makes them very hard to angle. The panels don't have an ETFE coating, and the surrounding fabric gets absolutely wrecked by constant sunlight as well, which you can see in the video.
What other brands? I'm in the market for my first portable panel to go with a EB55. Main power use is a cooler that uses about 36w when running and charging phones and running small led lights.
The Dokio 300w are great for recharging batteries like lawn mower, motorcycle, and car to refresh them. I have had them well into the 500watts running 2 in series. But they are unreasonably made.
Thanks Bob, so I was wondering, since Dokio’s affordability seems to cross over on other products they sell, what about their more rigid panels? They have a suitcase style rigid one I noticed?
Hi, i bought the 160w dokkio panel to feed my powerstation and they never gave me more than 30w with plenty sunlight and correctly oriented also I live in Spain lots of sunlight here. I tried them with two different powerstations with the same result.
@@elsenderotranquilo I really believe ANY of the name brand versions are better than Dokio. When I bought them I figured they would be 50% less than claimed, but 70% less is ridiculous. Though I just treat it as a 100 panel that is pulled out to charge the laptop or something or maybe use for trade later, but of course would never claim anything but it being an 100w panel. I am planning on going with Grape solar panels on sale, I can setup two 400 watt systems, one to charge batteries and the other to charge the power station. Some of the name brand versions are way over priced for me and I don't really need flexible versions.
Just in the nick of time! I was about to pull the trigger on these, used and through an Italian second hand commerce app- wow, saved, thank you…. Just one problem… it’s back to the drawing board as far as me deciding on a portable panel! Maybe there are better quality options, that would allow gradual expansion but what worries me about this honest feedback is that a lot of it seems to be part of the “portable” sub genre, if to a great extent that is the case than what should I look into? Smaller rigid ones, or rigid ones that weigh less? Or portable rigid ones if they are a thing? I’m very much new to solar, thank you so much for all your honesty and hard work with this channel:^)
Are those red borders on the panels plastic or rubber? If you already have a set, it might be worth researching is you can get some sun resistant paint that would stop the materials from degrading??
I had the same exact panels and had the same problems you experienced. I would not purchase from DOKIO again unless they drastically improve the quality.
maybe donate the old panels to someone who may be able to re-work them. I point my car south and put them over the front window, about perfect angle and I get shade.
I have dokio 220 foldable solar panels that I've been using for 4 years and just this week I started getting five Watts on a fully sunny day. I got new cables which weren't the problem because the battery charges via the car battery. Everyone's a day it might turn on and give me five Watts for about 15 minutes now. The exterior as stated is not weatherproof it will not withstand hot sunny days which is odd for something that's supposed to be out on hot sunny days.. I bought these after I purchased the gold zero 200 which literally is 50 lb and tremendous and I left it at my brother's house I couldn't even lift it he contacted me saying he is having trouble lifting it much less opening it and use it. So basically Tokyo is great if you're going to really maintain them waterproof them with a spray clean them accordingly and store them accordingly and you'll get maybe 4 years out of them.
i bought three of the dokio "300" watt kits. i returned two of them do to them lying about the specs, but one of the sellers said he would give me a huge discount if i kept one of them and gave me a full refund on the ones i returned, so i couldnt pass on this deal. the most i could ever get was about 220 watts in perfect sun with perfect angle. i also eventually rewired it for 4s1p, instead of the stock 1s4p config, so i could run a much longer cable with less than .5% loss. fyi, even with a shorter cable and wired in series and connected to a mppt controller, the most i could get was about 225 watts. another fiy, i built a stand to set this on, just to get the perfect angle while testing. i left mine out in the sun for about 3 months to see what it would do, and the sun destroyed the fabric, even though its flaking and falling apart, it still holds the panels good enough. my main concern is the degradation of performance. i think it now only produces about 160watts max, and this is with me using a hose to cool them down and clean them and let the sun dry them out and still only about 160 watts. they seem like a good deal until you start measuring the real performance and the fact that they get worse over time really bothers me, i was going to buy a few more for emergency purposes and or camping, but nope, i dont know exactly when i got mine, but it feels like it could have been no more than 2 years ago and in that time it really only sat outside for about 3 months, and it was winter time at that. i have since learned that many of these flexible panels have a issue with loosing performance over time for some reason, maybe the film they use to cover the cells starts blocking uv or something, i really dont know. i want to like them but, there are companies with much better deals that will sell you four 300 watt flexible panels for like $700, this would be great for emergencies and or camping, but i have a bad taste in my mouth with these flexible panels
I purchased a Dokio 100wt folding solar panel last Spring and it turned out to be absolute junk. It lasted three months of minimal usage then stopped putting out even 20 watts. Connectors are bad too. Thank for warning the rest of the world. 🌎😎
These long term reviews are great for determining the real value of something. Will you go back to the earlier videos to make updates in the description, the video, and/or as a pinned post? If uploading an update to your original video would mean starting over with your viewership numbers or perhaps hurt your ratings then a text update as a pinned post would do just as well. I haven't checked yet but is there a playlist for duds?
Off subject of this video question but.....has anyone heard from Robin (Creativity RV)? In the last video she posted she said she was taking a break from RUclips but would remain active on fb and insta. She hasn't posted anywhere since last September. Is she okay?
She posted a video a few days ago. Check her channel. She bought a truck camper (the kind that slides onto the bed of a truck) and she seems happy with it.
My Dokio panels arrived with a DOA controller. I contacted Dokio’s customer service in China to see about replacement. I am still without a replacement offer or solution fifteen days later. Brand new panels and I cannot use them without major modification. No customer service - no option to purchase replacement/repair parts. Keep this in mind when making your solar panel purchase. Caveat emptor!
I have the Dokio 100W. It is okay for charging cell phones but lousy recharging my 330 Rock pal solar generator. I thing the charge controller on the Dokio is is the less efficient one.
Um yeah, it literally says on the packaging that it is not for all weather or permanent installations. And used five times? Come on now really? Looks more like abused five times to me.
I really like these long term reviews of products by real people under real conditions. It's so important to have this information before investing a lot of money in a product that you hope will last. Thanks for these videos.
Check with experts...these guys ARE NOT experts!
@@goldmargoldmar4718 Field use case trumps "experts" on the corporate payroll.
I concur.
I have these exact panels. Bought them based on your first review for bang/buck. I carry them in my semi & SUV, when out of the truck. Knowing the limitations & quality, I take care of them accordingly, they have performed satisfactory for me for two years. Portability, cost and performance have met my needs.
How did you protect the material from the sun?
You can clearly see that these guys were abusing these panels. There's no way he only had those panels out four times. If anything they should be giving props to Dokio to basically keep giving them panels for free.
They were out 4-5 times. 80-90 days each of the times
@@AquaTech225 I know right ? Lmao
4 to 500 times. More looking like the accusation.
I love my Dokio solar suitcase. Been using them for over two years and they have been great. 220 watts
I think a follow up with any/most of the soft fabric folding panels is likely to reveal that they don't hold up to heavy/daily use and repeat UV exposure. Maybe they're better for the weekender/camper over the true nomad, where solid panels seem like a better route.
I've been living in my van 5 years and I've had these panels 2 years the still work and look great but I live in Portland and I don't let dogs we all all over then lmso
The old saying is proven out yet again: "The bitterness of poor quality lingers long after the thrill of the low price has faded." Old sayings become old sayings for a reason. 🙂 Thanks for the review!
~ Benjamin Franklin
I'm very grateful for this honest down-to-earth review. So hard these days to find such high-quality material with honest opinions, it's mostly superficial hype-talk and amazon affiliate links. Thank you very much!
I've been hoping to see this update.
Constant replacement shrieks inferior product to me.
I will pass on these.
Thank you Bob & Tim!
My Dokio suitcase has been wonderful with no problems and I have been using it for two years.
I love that y'all do honest negative reviews here.
I have a goal zero folding panel and I’ve had it a couple years it’s definitely holding up better than that. I don’t have it out every single day maybe 70% of days but no wear no fading and not damaged by some wind and moisture or anything like that. Charges fine. This is my experience anyway.
thanks Bob and Tim! Hopefully Dokio will see this and make some improvements, more UV stable materials.
With that they will raise the price. If you want nore quality gotta pay
I bought based on earlier video, had since November. So far working, but take inside every night. I’m satisfied now and hope I’ll get a year or more from them. Thank you for the feedback. Always appreciate your suggestions.
Not sure why my comment was deleted. I was giving my opinion, of my use of these panels after 2 yrs of use. My experience was positive.
Thanks for this. I bought a 300-watt set based on your earlier review, and have to say I've been very happy so far! They easily connect to my EcoFlow and charge it super fast. I do try to keep them clean and dry, with no issues after 2 months. We''ll see what happens after 9 months!
I also bought the 300-watt based on Bob’s previous review but I haven’t had the chance to use them yet. I also have the EcoFlow power station. I sure hope they hold up because yesterday was the last day I could return them through Amazon Prime 😬. I wish I would have known this sooner 🙁
OK update?
@@larryc1616 Sad to say, they ended up not bringing in much juice after a couple more months -- like 80 watts in the full desert sun. So, alas, Bob was right in this video. I now have two panels on my minivan roof and a much smaller rockpals folding one that so far is awesome. Rated at 120 watts and brings in 112 -- more than the supposedly 300-watt Dokio. Hope this helps.
@juliereynolds5578 thanks for the update. I'm going to avoid dokio brand almost pulled the trigger. I guess the cheap price means cheap quality. For the Amazon prime sale I bought the delta2 and their 220w panel bundle for $920, but I want to buy more solar panels probably from Rockpalls, allpower or some other mid-tier reliable brands. Ecoflow, jackery and bluettie solar panels are too expensive IMO.
I just bought the Dokio 300. Will see how it holds up. I only will use them in hot desert sun maybe 3-6 months over the Winter. I think I’ll be proactive and use the UV protectant spray - carefully. I’ll try and remember to update here.
Thanks for the review! I was thinking about buying them and I'm glad I decided to look for reviews first. I'll look for something else,
Thanks Bob. I’ve been waiting for this for a long time.
1:30 and 4:25 says lasted 9 months. Then says 3:12 "Put out 4 or 5 times". *4 or 5 times? 4 or 5 days, months? No way. He must mean 5 times he boon·docks at one location for a month or many months at a time. It sounds like 9 months of continuous (desert) environment 24/7 exposure. For part time camping for a week at a time, taken care of (not thrown in dirt) and folded and stored for inclemant weather they are fine. LONG TERM REVIEWS by others over 3 years shows they work fine and hold up for casual use, not full time rough service. I think this guy is rough on on gear and leaves them out 24 / 7 in all weather. Folding panels are NOT made for this type of full time service.*
my dokio 300 watt kit only put out 225 watts with mppt wired in 4s1p config when it was brand new. i let it lay out for about 3 months over the winter and its now down to about 160 watts. the fabric got destroyed cosmetically, which i dont care about tbh and is flaking all over the place, but seems to still hold the panels. the rapid degradation in performance is the most alarming and no one is talking about that.
These folding panels are NOT for permeant full time daily use. This guy is living off these and leaves them out I assume 24/7 in all Weather. I just bought the Dokio 220W and will be for camping. If it's bad weather they will come in. I am happy to hear about the GREAT customer service. I look forward to YEARS of service, since I will likely only use them 4 to 10 weeks a year. So by his account I will get 6 to 10 years of service from them? I suspect I will get more on the high end or past 10 years, because I take care of my gear....
I was thinking same thing. I use mine just for camping so anticipate they’ll last many years. Bought mine last month for $180
@@reekkoh I ended up returning the Doko within return period to the "A" company because BLUETTI 200 watt panels went on sale. Thee BLUETTI at full price was hard to justify. They were too expensive to buy but had a great sale price slashed 50% or something. Got them and they out performed the Doko so I returned the Doko. At full price the BLUETTI is not so much better but near same price the BLUETTI is a no brainer. Sorry I did not buy two. I noticed on Solar stuff there are these sales with deep discounts. up to 50% for limited time. You got to jump on those.
I'm having the opposite happen. I have that same exact 200 watt folding panel and they are still in tip top shape and I'm going on a little over a year now. I've had them in the desert and here in Alabama. I do take really good care of my products though. If they ever do start fraying I'll duct tape around it lol 😂
I think that’s the key -take better care of them
I just bought my suitcase panels. So if I duct tape the fabric will it protect it from the sun?
You all missed the point of folding panels. They are for camping part time, not full time all weather use. There are reviews with 3 years of use and they still work fine and look good. Why do these look like they have been left in the desert for years, in dirt, dust and driven over? I don't know but they look abused and uncared for.
Exactly
I have been using an Acopower 100W foldable hard panel with attached waterproof controller for four years. I leave it out in rain and windstorms and it’s still working great. Only thing, it doesn’t work with lithium (possibly if I call customer service they might tell me how). I know hard panels aren’t cool, but I don’t care about cool. Thanks for telling the truth Bob.
Wow !! I've had my 300 watt Dokio almost a year of daily use. I did buy an mppt controller because the one that came with is junk. But I love mine !
My controller jst stopped working
Do you think you could get some UV resistant tape and tape the borders around to protect the borders from the Sun
I would like to try and repair them.
A UV protectant spray would look cleaner
Thank you for this info! I bought a Dokio 300W folding solar panels for $357 in Jan ‘21 to charge my cheap no-name 1000w lifePo4 battery station. Ive only used it half a dozen times but so far, it works great, n I love it! I can charge my battery station to full in about 51/2 hrs in full sun, albeit, I’ve always left one bar of charge in it. After seeing how it doesn’t hold up in the hot sun, I am going to try gorilla tape over the edging to see if it will preserve the fabric. The only complaint I have is that because its very tall n floppy, it doesn’t stand at an angle. You can only lay it flat. Possibly, a couple of sturdy rods or piece of metal between the back of each panel and the fabric to at least make the panels rigid w/o compromising the prices too much?
If you have room, a folding laundry rack is very useful. You can lay them in different positions and prop your panels up and tie them to the rack. Most racks are lightweight but give enough weight to not get blown over if they are placed the long way (on their side?). Plus now you can dry your clothes, make a privacy screen. Set a table top on it for a counter, a place to hang a mesh bag for drying dishes, a place to clip a light to and many other uses. They are really versatile.
@@marlenen6130 thank you a million, Marlene! What a great unique idea! That sounds like it’s just the thing I need! I’ve been looking at all kinds of things n ideas for diy but it would have cost more than it’s worth n storage in my suv. I’m really excited to look some up for sizes. You’ve given me so many other uses for it! Thanks again!
I used a $21 @ Lowes 16" x 6' wire closet shelf. I cut it in half and then added a rigid locking system and 2 infinitely adjustable legs. About $25 total and very rigid and portable. The shelf has a 1" lip at the bottom that supports the panel of the ground.
@@capodad2u thank u, great idea!
This was informative. I believe that if I take very good care of them and store them properly, I can take them camping to make certain that I can have power solely for phone usage. HOWEVER, if they don't function well, I might need to purchase a more expensive variety.
Seems to me a little Scotchguard UV spray would have been a good idea for the fabric. It would be interesting to see materials, commonly used in Nomad life, compared with and without UV protection, starting with fabrics exposed to rain and sun. Thanks, Bob!
Was about to say the same thing on the us spray. But anything extra like that for anything that lives some in the sun can’t hurt
“Slightly better than terrible” 😂👍
I purchased two a 200w panel and a 220w panel. Both went bad within 4 months i needed a little over 400w. I was refunded in full
I was just wondering. Only used 3 or 4 times. How long were they outside (in use) each time? They don't look like they were put out for the day and then put away.
I don’t know about those Dokio panels, they don’t look well taken care of and they have definitely been used more than 5 times. You really need to keep them clean, at least!!
Exactly. Those panels have not been used only 5 times. I don't know what he's doing but he's doing something.
I spray some silicone spray on the fabric, prevents them from rotting and waterproof them
Thanks for the review. I just opened mine from Amazon and I felt it crack as I was opening the Velcro. It felt cheap and I can't see it surviving me. I think I'll go with back to a hard panel I can unmount easily, I hang out in the forest and sometimes you can't park in the sun and have to move the panel through the day as the sun moves through he trees.
Blessings to you brother. Band of Brothers and Sisters 🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
Many thanks Bob. I almost bought this but decided to check your channel first. Very glad I did
I recently purchased a Bluetti EB70S bundle with 200wt solar panels... I have yet to try the panels because of the New England weather here... Looking forward to camping when it warms up and checking out my panels. I want to get the Bluetti AC200 bundle for our 5th wheel, but just can't afford it at this time. It's always good to know what panels work and what panels don't. 👍
Thanks for the long-term review. Those people are very dishonest on here and our house looking to sell the product and make money. I bought one of the 300W ones on Amazon, and when it came I could see it was inferior just from the packaging. Came in a single thickness cardboard box with just a quarter inch thick foam wrapped around not even all sides of the panel, an entire side of the package was not taped and was ripped on arrival. and all the cables were missing! I never even got to test it but I'm glad I didn't keep it based on other reviews I've seen. Returned it immediately. I will be looking for something more durable, less floppy, hopefully actually aluminum cased.
I always enjoy product reviews. Thank you!
We used ours only on vacations so only for a few weeks overall. We found the seams to wbe weak and had to repair them. They still work though and in much nicer shape but they were used at most one month total. They were the cheapest solution at the time and for our light use an affordable solution.
Yes, the fact that they don't have a stand means that you need to jury rig something to keep them at an angle for maximum production and they are big enough that it can be cumbersome.
The charge controller is basic but I couldn't find an upgrade that I though was cost effective.
Would I buy them again? Well they do what I need at the price that made sense, but I think it's fair to say that they aren't rugged enough for day to day month after month.
Thank you for letting us know. I have been looking at folding panels and I will cross Dokio off my list.
My Dokio has been wonderful. I take good care of mine and for over two years they have provided all the power I need.
I think it really depends on your intended use. I wouldn't buy a cloth briefcase panel for long term sun exposure or a full-time power source/nomad use. However, they may be just fine for recreational RV users, or if they aren't going to be your 24/365 power source. I have them for recreational RV use, not my full-time power source. I use them gently and I realize the limitations of a briefcase panel with a limited lifespan especially due to the cloth backing and price.
Thanks, been waiting for this video for a while. I mentioned these panels in the facebook group many months ago and Tim, who I remember was happy with them in a previous video (he only had them for a week weeks at the time I think), was all, "please just wait for the video first!". So I did. In the meantime, I've decided I will probably either build my own portable panels or get flexible panels with metal frames.
wow, I have used my Dokio's here in Florida and they have been darn good (using MPPT controller), they are 2020 vintage) I only use them when camping, the fabric is still okay and they keep charging my LFP battery okay (150w kit) I do not use it all the time, the fabric is fine. I am using the SAE connector.
Thanks for the review!
I was just about to pull the trigger for one of these. thank you for saving me money.
Can you put a flex panel on dashboard to protect yet receive charging? Or does windshield glass limit charge?
You will lose some potential power, but could work well If adjusted well
Hi Bob, could Tim give more detail on how he separated his panels? I have had the 300W for over two years and voltage is there but not the watts. I’d like to separate mine. Or how he tested the individual panels. Thank you!
Cut em with a scissors an find the 2 wires leaving from each of the panels.
Honest review backed by extended use. Thx
I had a 110w folding Dokio panel that never put out more than 50w in perfect conditions. My other folding panels put out 90 to 100w in the same exact conditions. Dokios are cheap, but you get what you pay for. There's no backing to panels so they are floppy which can lead to cracks and makes them very hard to angle. The panels don't have an ETFE coating, and the surrounding fabric gets absolutely wrecked by constant sunlight as well, which you can see in the video.
What other brands? I'm in the market for my first portable panel to go with a EB55. Main power use is a cooler that uses about 36w when running and charging phones and running small led lights.
@@ryanoleston7136 I'm very happy with my 100w Itehil foldable panel which puts out 90+ in good conditions. They also make a 160w if you want more.
The Dokio 300w are great for recharging batteries like lawn mower, motorcycle, and car to refresh them. I have had them well into the 500watts running 2 in series. But they are unreasonably made.
I bought two of the 160 watts. I only put them out when I need to charge my large battery supply. I hope they'll last a while.
I don’t want to say I told you so 2 yrs ago, but I did. I have had good luck with the metal frame glass Rich solar panels.
Thanks for the update. I'm glad I was patient and did not purchase one. Very helpful !!
Just by looking at the threadbare Dokio panels therein lies a problem. Honest review, great advice. Thanks so much. 🐾🦋
I like mine they are working great I bought 2 300 watt ones
Thanks Bob, so I was wondering, since Dokio’s affordability seems to cross over on other products they sell, what about their more rigid panels? They have a suitcase style rigid one I noticed?
Hi, i bought the 160w dokkio panel to feed my powerstation and they never gave me more than 30w with plenty sunlight and correctly oriented also I live in Spain lots of sunlight here. I tried them with two different powerstations with the same result.
Same here, I bought the 300watt version and I only get about 80-100 watts at most. Harbor Freight panels will work better.
@@Firefly-101 Im going to buy the ecoflow 160w panels, I read good reviews. I think it will be easy they'll be better that those dokio trash.
@@elsenderotranquilo I really believe ANY of the name brand versions are better than Dokio. When I bought them I figured they would be 50% less than claimed, but 70% less is ridiculous. Though I just treat it as a 100 panel that is pulled out to charge the laptop or something or maybe use for trade later, but of course would never claim anything but it being an 100w panel. I am planning on going with Grape solar panels on sale, I can setup two 400 watt systems, one to charge batteries and the other to charge the power station. Some of the name brand versions are way over priced for me and I don't really need flexible versions.
❤Appreciate the honesty!
Just in the nick of time! I was about to pull the trigger on these, used and through an Italian second hand commerce app- wow, saved, thank you…. Just one problem… it’s back to the drawing board as far as me deciding on a portable panel! Maybe there are better quality options, that would allow gradual expansion but what worries me about this honest feedback is that a lot of it seems to be part of the “portable” sub genre, if to a great extent that is the case than what should I look into? Smaller rigid ones, or rigid ones that weigh less? Or portable rigid ones if they are a thing? I’m very much new to solar, thank you so much for all your honesty and hard work with this channel:^)
Thanks Bob.The only flexible panels i'd consider are the sunpower s .
Hello did you leave it in the rain? Those are not exposed to leave them in the rain.
Thank you. I almost bought them.
Thanks Bob. I’m currently looking at portable panels. Space isn’t my main concern. Quality is though. I’m looking at Zamp, but boy are they costly.
Silicone on the frame, Les that help ?
Thanks for this review, I just found someone selling a similar Dokio set and was curious if it was a good deal... best to stay away, I guess. Thanks!
I wonder if you lather sun screen on the fabric? Will it work? Not a joke.
Are those red borders on the panels plastic or rubber? If you already have a set, it might be worth researching is you can get some sun resistant paint that would stop the materials from degrading??
It's a vinyl cloth like fabric
@@dfgatorfan There should be something available at a hardware or paint store that could toughen those bits up.
Keep your panels clean! There is a lot of dust on those panels your holding!!!
I have the 200w panels did you have to return to the manufacturer? How did your replacement work?
Thanks for the review.l will look at different ones.
Does Dokio sale a 2 ring connector to batteries with the plug ins for panels?
I had the same exact panels and had the same problems you experienced. I would not purchase from DOKIO again unless they drastically improve the quality.
maybe donate the old panels to someone who may be able to re-work them. I point my car south and put them over the front window, about perfect angle and I get shade.
Thank you for this I was looking for a lightweight alternative to the bluetti ac200 because it's 15 lb and I'm riding a bike with it
I have dokio 220 foldable solar panels that I've been using for 4 years and just this week I started getting five Watts on a fully sunny day. I got new cables which weren't the problem because the battery charges via the car battery. Everyone's a day it might turn on and give me five Watts for about 15 minutes now. The exterior as stated is not weatherproof it will not withstand hot sunny days which is odd for something that's supposed to be out on hot sunny days.. I bought these after I purchased the gold zero 200 which literally is 50 lb and tremendous and I left it at my brother's house I couldn't even lift it he contacted me saying he is having trouble lifting it much less opening it and use it. So basically Tokyo is great if you're going to really maintain them waterproof them with a spray clean them accordingly and store them accordingly and you'll get maybe 4 years out of them.
Anyone have experince with the dokio hard framed panels?
i bought three of the dokio "300" watt kits. i returned two of them do to them lying about the specs, but one of the sellers said he would give me a huge discount if i kept one of them and gave me a full refund on the ones i returned, so i couldnt pass on this deal.
the most i could ever get was about 220 watts in perfect sun with perfect angle. i also eventually rewired it for 4s1p, instead of the stock 1s4p config, so i could run a much longer cable with less than .5% loss. fyi, even with a shorter cable and wired in series and connected to a mppt controller, the most i could get was about 225 watts. another fiy, i built a stand to set this on, just to get the perfect angle while testing.
i left mine out in the sun for about 3 months to see what it would do, and the sun destroyed the fabric, even though its flaking and falling apart, it still holds the panels good enough.
my main concern is the degradation of performance. i think it now only produces about 160watts max, and this is with me using a hose to cool them down and clean them and let the sun dry them out and still only about 160 watts.
they seem like a good deal until you start measuring the real performance and the fact that they get worse over time really bothers me, i was going to buy a few more for emergency purposes and or camping, but nope, i dont know exactly when i got mine, but it feels like it could have been no more than 2 years ago and in that time it really only sat outside for about 3 months, and it was winter time at that.
i have since learned that many of these flexible panels have a issue with loosing performance over time for some reason, maybe the film they use to cover the cells starts blocking uv or something, i really dont know.
i want to like them but, there are companies with much better deals that will sell you four 300 watt flexible panels for like $700, this would be great for emergencies and or camping, but i have a bad taste in my mouth with these flexible panels
Thank you for the update ..
Thank you. This is good to know. 👍😊
Great Idea,thank you for your very interesting vedio, God bless ❤
I purchased a Dokio 100wt folding solar panel last Spring and it turned out to be absolute junk. It lasted three months of minimal usage then stopped putting out even 20 watts. Connectors are bad too. Thank for warning the rest of the world. 🌎😎
Thats just for camping or emergency use. Not for daily long term use. Just get a glass folding panel.
Good info ! Helpful
Thanks
Wish this was out last September.
Bravo honesty
These long term reviews are great for determining the real value of something. Will you go back to the earlier videos to make updates in the description, the video, and/or as a pinned post? If uploading an update to your original video would mean starting over with your viewership numbers or perhaps hurt your ratings then a text update as a pinned post would do just as well. I haven't checked yet but is there a playlist for duds?
Thank you
I had these panels blow over in the wind and now one only put outs 20w and the other max 70w don't bent them and don't drop them they'll last
Off subject of this video question but.....has anyone heard from Robin (Creativity RV)? In the last video she posted she said she was taking a break from RUclips but would remain active on fb and insta. She hasn't posted anywhere since last September. Is she okay?
She posted a video a few days ago. Check her channel. She bought a truck camper (the kind that slides onto the bed of a truck) and she seems happy with it.
Good info.👍
Off Grid Trek is the best, but so expensive.
Thanks…was about to buy them. Maybe not now.
Ours have held up great for occasional use over two years. We don’t full time, though, nor boondock often.
My Dokio panels arrived with a DOA controller. I contacted Dokio’s customer service in China to see about replacement. I am still without a replacement offer or solution fifteen days later. Brand new panels and I cannot use them without major modification. No customer service - no option to purchase replacement/repair parts. Keep this in mind when making your solar panel purchase. Caveat emptor!
I have the Dokio 100W. It is okay for charging cell phones but lousy recharging my 330 Rock pal solar generator. I thing the charge controller on the Dokio is is the less efficient one.
@@Endless_Skyway_Adventures please educate me on the proper way to use. It
Orses fer courses I reckon reading comments 🌞🌞🌞🌞
My same ones are even worse than these at nine months. Used in Baja sun. I can't get in touch with dokio warrenty .
From my understanding these are for temporary use only. I think you would have to get hard panels.
Um yeah, it literally says on the packaging that it is not for all weather or permanent installations. And used five times? Come on now really? Looks more like abused five times to me.
I disagree with you Bob Wells. My Dokio suitcase has been wonderful and provided needed power for over two years.
I have to agree with you. Almost daily use and mine is still working fine after 1 year. Going on 2 years now.
I have Dokia. Same problems. They got chewed up, frayed and output decreased. Just didn't hold up. Disappointing.
I call BS on only being out 4 or 5 times. 4 or 5 times for a year each time?
Great day one. 2 years in mine are SHOT.