I have the 400 watt EcoFlow panel. I agree the stand is worthless. But it’s pretty easy to set them up by leaning the panel against two aluminum lawn chairs. That’s what I do now and it works well.
I fully agree with this assessment. I have the panel but built a frame around it so it has some stability/ maneuverability. It seems to work well but I've never gotten the numbers shown in this video. Angle improvement needed?
Thanks! I wish I had seen this before I ordered the Ecoflow panels. Also found out the cables don't come with them and had to order twice to get the cables with the XT60I connector. Sure a lot to be desired in advertising and sales sites from them. The charge cables are only shown and have a price listed. When you order them they then put P/N on the invoice and no description except cables. Customer support told me I ordered the plain XT60 connection and I could order the other one. Really a lot of support! I like others think the cables should come with the panels for the price they are charging (no pun intended) live and learn.
GREAT, GREAT, comparison video. As always looking at your channel always insures that when I make a purchase of anything solar related it is always an informed decision. Great job!
what I found messing with these is the Ease of setting them up factors in when we are almost all near a comparable level.. I find myself just laying them flat alot or propped up against the vehicle.. being lazy.. vs chasing watts.. I have the ecoflow units. but that was an uneducated purchase back when.. however they are heavy for sure as you say.. thank you.. this is good info.. there is 2 or 3 top tier ports Durability is also a factor, for repeated use.. then the question of 400 vs 2x200 or 220BF..etc comes into play.. I actually choose to carry 2x220BFs with me most of the time in the MH with 8000 WH battery. fwiw.. thank you again.. excellent reviews.. Your reviews have saved me alot of money..
I have the Bluetti 420 and it's worked well. I routinely get over 420 watts at solar noon. My complaint with it is the kickstands only go as low as 35 degrees tilt and in Michigan in the summer I need 18 degrees. That being said I built a PVC frame with adjustable legs to support it. Frame comes apart for easy transport.
I have 2x 200W Eenour panels, and combined I see around the same 330W peak. I use them to charge my P2001. An interesting thing about the 200W model is 18V/36V (19.5V/39V on the new version) switchable voltage, for use in series. The older version also has USB A(18W) and C(60W) ports.
I have both the Bluetti solar panels, well I have a 350w Bluetti solar panel. I love that panel it is great. I do have 2 Ecoflow solar panels. a 220w and a 160w and I totally agree with you hands down the case being a stand is absolutely ridiculous! That being said, you can literally toss that EcoFlow panel in a river and the damn thing will still work amazingly well. The material it is made of like the Bluetti is top notch! A couple other of those solar panels I was surprised they didn't do so well. Not very familiar with them, but that being said, a couple of them do really seem like nice looking panels. All the panels with that fiberglass backing do show they have some good quality. I liked that last panel with the holding rod. That is pretty smart idea. I really enjoyed this comparison. One of the better ones I have seen in sometime.
Nice review. I got the Bluetti PV420 when they 1st came out. Haven't used them much, as I got them for use in my 5th wheel and as a backup power supply (I also bought the AC500 with 2 batteries). Figured I could use the AC500 in UPS mode at my house and then take the setup with me when I'm in the 5th wheel. It was refreshing to see the Bluetti did as well as it did, and I got it at a pre release price so even better.
I had the Bluetti 800w power station and when I got the Bluetti 350w solar panel I found out really fast that the panel was too powerful for that power station and it wouldn't even charge. I ended up a year ago last Black Friday and bought on eBay the EcoFlow Delta Max 1612w Power Station and got a 110w EcoFlow solar panel deal refurbished. I paid $700 bucks for all of it and boy, what a deal. it blew my Bluetti 800w Power Station out of the water! Bluetti can charge up to 200 watts and the new EcoFlow can charge up to 1600 watts which is insane, plus you know the exact percentage of your battery, plus downloaded an app that lets me not only see everything the power station is doing, but I can adjust the settings from anywhere!
He only ever recommends best units per highest priority. Depends what you value most. The Bluetti seems great for use in longer term setups where max power is priority, while the Eenor is best bang for buck and most portable due to the weight.
1) I have the Eco Flow 110w which uses the case for the stand also, and agree with you 100%...AWKWARD! 2) I was really hoping to see the Montek 400w panel in here. As I noted in a previous comment, it is only 20 pounds. I had contacted the CEO, Monte, and sent him your last review. He said he would contact you, but thought that 2pcs of his 200W foldable panels would be better (more sturdy), and they are 11.5lbs each. Hoping for next time.
@@Jasonoid I mentioned this to Monte, and he noted that when he launches the new suitcase power units (hopefully end of October) that he will probably send you one to test, along with a solar panel. He is super busy on this launch... it includes NCM and LFP models, both with expansion battery options. I would like to note that I really like your grading scale for these solar generator/power units...until the Montek review. It got dinged due to the higher W/H cost, yet, you did not make a new category for sealing. Sealing is difficult and costly, and you can not be the best sealed and the lowest cost. With that new category, the rest of the herd would have dropped in points, and the Montek would have been rated more accurately. Just my opinion. Looking forward to your review of the new Montek!
@@greensavant2573 I've updated my new grading system with feedback from more than 200 people and provided their opinion. It's quite a bit more strict vs the older version
I actually bought 2 x ALLPOWERS 400W panels. But you also need to buy converter cables and extra cables to reach out to your yard, if you want the power bank in your house. I also bought a 200W ALLPOWERS, but when we moved I sold that one on Ebay quite easily. I have 3 Anker batteries including a 767 with an expansion battery.
Really great content. Was going to go with the EcoFlow panel to go with my EcoFlow Delta Pro system but that PITA case/stand is no bueno. Bluetti looks solid. Very well-made comparison video and not overly technical.
Excellent video . really appreciate the time and effort you put into making this video. I plan to have 2x400w panels in parallel to compensate for the lack of shade free sunlight / cloudy days with a connected load of 200W~300W. Being in parallel VOC will not exceed the 60v limit for Ecoflow Delta 2 . I wonder if it is safe for Delta2 where intake limits to 15amps in scenarios of 700W+ production during sunny hours
You don't need to worry about having too many amps, you only need to worry about having too high of voltage. The Delta 2 will limit the amperage input automatically so having two 400w panels in parallel should be fine.
Great review. Perfect information if you need a light and portable panel. I prefer the much heavier and way less expensive hard panels. Keep in mind that I leave them up for months at a time in extremely windy conditions. Keep up the good reviews.
Nice one. I'm not in the market, having shot my load on the first new vehicle in ten years, but some of these look nice. If I were buying, I would consider some trust issues as well, and would probably choose Anker or Bluetti, with Allpowers in the basement. That Ecoflow looked like a chore to set up.
Love your in depth analysis! Glad to see both folded and deployed dimensions, as well as your evaluation of the kick stands. It might be subjective, but I would also like to find out how susceptible the panels are to being blown around by the wind, or how easily they could be anchored down to prevent damage from happening. Thanks for your thorough evaluation!
All of these solar panels are pretty heavy so they are less susceptible to flying away vs the smaller 200 watt versions. There's a great product made here in the USA that anchors any of these folding panels down, you can see that product HERE: ruclips.net/video/vRbQLbiL_Hs/видео.html
Amazingly thorough - thank you. I'm not in the market, but the Eenour would be my choice if I were. One variable I think would have been hard to account for would have been the angle of the panels. They all looked pretty even, so we'll call it good 😁
This is a spot on review with lots of great information. I ended up going with the Anker PS400 and I got it half price on Amazon during the Oct 9-10 sale. I also got the Anker SOLIX C1000 with it as a bundle half price.
I have 3 Ecoflow 400W panels. I live in Hawaii. It is summertime and on a clear day at peak sun...I get roughly 265w out of each panel. I will try cooling them down with water to see if that helps but I have been very diappointed in them.
Have you angled them properly using the can trick? (set a can on the panel, move it around until the shadow goes away completely, that means it's facing the sun exactly). Angle makes quite the difference on power output.
Amazing video, I have big anker power bank, And I also have the 30 watts anker solar panel. Also my car charger is a blazing fast 52.5 w also by anker. Most of the data cables I use are also from Anker. I love anker product. I would go with Anker becz for many years of trust in the robust and reliableness
i found putting the ecoflow case down below the panel is slightly better setup than having it hang from the edge of the bag, slightly above the panel. doing in grass makes it more possible to get a flatter setup rather than using the bottom clips of the case.
Thanks for passing along your Ecoflow panel suggestion but unfortunately I can't visualize what you mean. I wish there was a may you could share a photo of what you described. I own Ecoflow panels myself and hate them for the exact reasons described in this video. They are an absolute nightmare to set up.
Hi, great video. Do you think you can use the Big Blue for the Anker F3800, it has a 60v max? I see the actual voltage is less. Thanks & keep up the good work!!!
Just a comment on watering the solar panels. Not only are the panels being cooled but I believe the water droplets intensify the sun it receives temporarily. I had a sun shower that last about 35 min and it happened just after 6pm in late September, when there is normally very little production. During that sun shower, my solar produced about 1.5 kwh. On a sunny day without rain, it produced about .6 kwh at that same time of day during the few days before and after.
Superb scientific experiment - brilliant! Personally the AllPowers with IP67 rating and highest shaded output overall. at an amazing price was the clear winner to me.
Thank you for your detailed testing. None of these solar panels will stand the wind I have when I need these panels and all require a DIY external frame to hold them upright in a wind.
You have a couple options. This suitcase panel from Renogy is the best option right now. I love how it's a hybrid panel with a metal frame but doesn't have glass: ruclips.net/video/6XC0HSPMfJQ/видео.html You can also stake down these portable panels to protect them from the wind using this product: amzn.to/3Yuu22n
had the allpowers, cracked the first day of usage ecoflow failed after a very light rain thankfully since these were new so i was able to get both of these returned, but in my experience both were not great
@@Jasonoid yeah, it was a bit of a surprise-amazon customer service was very helpful thankfully the ecoflow 110w panels were fine however! the allpowers 400w panel i seriously doubt is ETFE, everything points to it being just a basic PET panel (with annoyingly long setup! i swapped them for the BougeRV CIGS panels, will let you know how those hold up!
It's not just the price that changes all the time, so does the quality. Many of these brands don't actually make the cells, they just buy whatever they manage to get the best deal on that week, so even the same model from the same brand can vary quite a bit. More established brands are more likely to enforce minimum specs (because they have more to lose), but don't count on it.
Thank you for comparing different portable 400W panel brands connected to the Anker Solix F2000. Still going to learn how to calculate solar input ratings
Excellent comparison video, I really hate that these are all so darn expensive, but they definitely would travel well and setup quick compared with less expensive conventional ridged panels! Great Video!!!!
Thanks for the video! As a future video idea, I'd love to see a test of amorphous solar panels in low-light and shaded conditions (tree branches when camping are my nemesis...), along with a comparison to more traditional folding panels like these ones. Home Depot sells some cheaper and low-wattage ones, and there's larger ones available from manufacturers like PowerFilm, REDARC, Off Grid Trek, etc.
I'm surprised you ddn't pass out making this video. You did such a good job Jasonid giving us a fantastic review that I think you should have your better half buy you a yummy lunch.
THANK YOU! This gives me peace of mind when I’m ready to buy a portable solar panel - and 400w is a nice option for higher capacity generators! I’m not spending another $250-300 for an extra ~30watts. The EENOUR is a winner in my book.
Another great detailed video! I was just thinking about upgrading my 3 panels to 1 400 watt, but think for the cost, i still stick with what i have. Keep up the great vids!
Great review, very very helpful and one of the best I've found on youtube. If you normalize the result for the PV420 -5% (420 watts) so we have a true apples to apples reading the PV420 comes out at 350.55 watts total.
Reading through some tests on overlanding websites were hilarious. The money they were willing to spend on substandard panels. I tested two Newpowa 100 watt, $100 flexible panels in series and they at times put out OVER 200 watts.
I’m in the market for a portable 400 watt panel set up.Have an Anker 757 and 767 with two LiFeP04 stand alone batteries that are connected together with its own inverter for backup. Have the Anker 100 watt solar panel but realize this is good for smaller devices or just topping off the power stations. Durability and overall ruggedness was not emphasized in this video, but the warranty, coating, and IP ratings should give some indication. So all in all very informative. I’ve not had the electricity go out in my area for over 24 hrs as yet. So the most I had to discharge the 767 was 42% running only the fridge before power was restored. The other 757 was running my internet and computer peripherals and hardly pulled anything, maybe 5%. I’m considering another 767 for the hot water heater, and possibly another 12v 100 mAH lifep04 battery. I’m also trying to figure out how to convert two older solar panels from 2005 to modern out connections.
I’m only going to be using solar power in case of a grid down. I think I’m gonna build me a decent “skeleton” using pvc pipe and fix it to be able to be partially disassembled for storage when not being used. Then I’ll spread the panel assembly out on the skeleton when I’m using it. I will create a feature in the design to be able to create different inclination angles. The rest of the time, my panel will be folded up and stored indoors as I’ll be keeping 120v ac hooked up for charging instead of the panels.
No recent changes on these models. Check out the Renogy 400w suitcase! It's more affordable, has a better warranty, and it's a great design! ruclips.net/video/6XC0HSPMfJQ/видео.html
So do you use actual numbers or the hypothetical numbers when planning out what panels and how many to get? For instance I just purchased a delta pro 3. The allpower for instance is pulling 37.4 volts but 45.3 voc. If you use voc then. you could only have 3 panels in series where as the actual numbers looks like you would use 4 panels.
You'll have to use the rated VOC of the panel so you don't go over the max input voltage. When panels are warm the voltage is lower than rated, when panels are cold, the voltage is higher than rated. It's good to give yourself some room.
Great video Jason! Very thorough. Glad I waited to see this review come out before I bought. I was pretty set on the Allpowers, but judging from the price, weight, and performance, now I think I may go with the Eenour's 🤔
Newbi to Solar and power stations, iv just purchased a anker f2000, so the question I have is does all the solar panels you tested fit directly into the anker or the anker solar connector without adapters. Thanks
Have had similar results with my EENOUR panels, and given the price I feel like it was a decent compromise. On a related (?) note, if you have a powerstation without an app, have you found a way to remotely keep an eye on it when you're charging with the panels to know when they are ready to be pulled? I mean I can walk outside every 30 minutes, but I have to think there ought to be some kind of bluetooth device to tell me when the battery is charged (extra credit for a device that will warn me if the battery is getting to 10% or lower as well). Thanks again for all the helpful videos!
I usually run my solar cables under the door so I can monitor the solar charging without having to go outside. You could also route them through a window seal depending on the design type of your windows. You could have a wireless wifi security cam thats looking at the screen so you know what it's at all the time. Not sure of any other options.
Great content as usual. You pack a lot of info in a quality video. Thanks for being so detailed. My BougeRV Flash 300 you graciously gave to me in a drawing is working beautifully still. Thank you again Jason!
Awesome video Jason! I've been waiting for this one! The EF panel looks like a nightmare to set up, and even when done, the stand looks mostly useless. I'm leaving toward the EENOUR due to weight. In have the Allpowers... Typically only get ~280W due to the heat in my area, but have seen it peak at 320s when temps were cooler. Got it at a great price, but it's very heavy! One more in your numbers, looks like your meter was misreading when you did the early measurements got the Allpowers and Anker. The Voltage and Current when connected don't at up to your measured power (i.e. 32.6V * 12.18A = 397W).
@@JasonoidAllpowers around @2:15, and Anker @4:00. The numbers are also shown in your spreadsheet. I think the voltage is right, but the current seems high.
Just curious what size would be next?? Not sure how they come?? 600 watt or 800 watt? Do they get too large physically at a certain point? (Sorry if these sound like stupid questions)
ALLPOWERS has a 600w 'solar blanket'... haha I don't think any bigger would be very portable. This size is probably as big as you wanted to go. You know my 1000w array is HUGE, but it is moveable at least.
I use two DIY solar suitcases made with 160w rigid panels, so 320w each. They weigh about 46# each and will do their rated output. Cost per "suitcase" is about $250. As long as you can move 46# easily, you'll save money with solid panels and have a much better warranty. Nothing to stop you from using 200w or larger as long as you can move them. If I always had someone to travel/camp with I might have used 220w panels when I built mine.
It’s invaluable. Can’t thank you enough. Bluetti’s sold out, and expensive, even on sale. Many are unwieldy. Are two 200Ws better, maybe? Connecting to a F2000 is a last question.
@@Jasonoid My senior community doesn’t have roof panels, yet. So, yes. If I wanted solar for recharge, it’d have to be portable. Thank you, kindly, though. While pondering a single 400W panel, I purchased two 200W after viewing them both on here. The smaller ones will be much more manageable. I just wish there was a longer cable for allowance from the garage to the driveway outdoors. Thanks so very much! Linda
@@Maineuser I just lean my 400w panels up against my house or fence, they don't have to be roof mounted. They are a bit heavy to move around so no worries. This solar extension cable will work for you: amzn.to/3ZZns6b
@@Jasonoid How very kind! （╹◡╹) Thank you! Your video on the 400Ws was really helpful. It helped me decide they were really too big and way too floppy. I’d wanted just one, but re-decided. For the 200Ws - same price as a 400W - then, I just went with the Ankers, at a good price, included in the bundles. (Amazon’s bundle was, amazingly, $400 less!). Two folded will be easier to store. Sometimes, I wonder if there aren’t hooks. So, I could just simply hang them outta the way on my SW-facing garage door? But now my set will come with that live 5-port parallel cable. If the F2600 cones with one 400W, I’m thinking I really would never need to fill the five slots? Anker was closed, as I’d spent all day on homework. Unsure if the single same cable used for the 400W can be used (in parallel?) to join two 200Ws - but two,of them? - like it would two 400s? Or had I heard there’s even another joiner cable involved? Then, at what point is this extension cable used?
I got the Anker 400 when I got my Anker c1000 power station. Just looking to add another panel since I can take up to 600 watts an wanted to see other options
Great video. I can't find the link to the results spreadsheet and graphs, nor can I find a new tab in the power stations data page. Please help. Thanks.
@@Jasonoid Thanks, I found the spread sheet. I really like the Ankor PS400 for several reasons, plus it is on sale. But I don't feel confident that it will work with my Bluetti AC180, which is rated at 12V - 60V, 500W / 10A Max. What do you think? I am a newbie. Thanks for your help.
Awesome video!! Question: Can I plug those straight from MC4 at the panel and bare wire at my inverter? I have a 24v / 3000 w PowMr. inverter I only use for power failures. It has two pv input screw terminals
Bigblue is currently £254 in the prime day event couldn't resist even though it was one of the lower performers the price per watt was lower than some of the budget 200w panels
great comparison! I was leaning EENOUR due to weight and price, but its no longer available. Sounds like Alllpowers or ecoflow are my option and both are on sale for prime day and cant decide. Will be temporarily setting them up for my van conversion so portability is key (allpowers points) but non etfe vs etfe =\
Thank you for the comparison. I would love to get the Bluetti PV420 but Bluetti is temporarily out of stock, what would you pick Bluetti or the Anker? Just got the Anker F2600.
I didn't like the partial shade test due to the various different usable surface areas for each panel. The way it was performed, each panel had a different percentage of area lost from the cardboard coverage.
I think people are misunderstanding the MAIN purpose to the shade testing in the video. The main reason was to make sure the whole panel didn't lose power if there was partial shade. The wattage output during shading was kinda just an extra fact gained. Due to the feedback in this video, in future videos I will be using an alternate shading technique to be more fair to each panel tested.
I have the ALLPOWERS and I got it for 340€ so about 350$... it's hands down the best foldable solar panel, it is super robust, I have tested in all conditions and I'm getting more power than in this test (330-350W not cooled).
Is there an all In one grid tie inverter that can be set to priority to grid 2nd to battery then auto switch to off grid when there is no power or mix priorities? hope this help for the next upcoming videos ❤
These aren't meant to sit out in the elements all day. They are meant to be used occasionally like during camping trips and during power outages. If you want to have something to be used all day, I'd recommend using glass rigid panels. Check out this video on how to find affordable 400w rigid panels: ruclips.net/video/pLRKljjaqMA/видео.html
Ecoflow is a great panel for those that need the power. Just consider the carry case stand as a last resort when you have no other option. Number of videos on YT on building clever portable stands for flexible panels.
I agree about the carrying case, good feeback. I made an aluminum frame for my Renogy flexible panels in this video: ruclips.net/video/LBel4dpbKqw/видео.html I think using PVC for a smaller setup would work just fine!
Fantastic comparison. Since you rep the Anker solar generator so much, will you do a video on how to max out the Anker's limited solar inputs with traditional non-portable solar panels? it's a bit of a challenge to plug in more than 2 panels into it.
I already did that on my full SOLIX F2000 review video, I got around 700 watts using normal glass solar panels. In order to get closer to the max charging amount you'll need panels with their peak power near 48v and 20 amps
They are more vulnerable to damage. Standing on them, putting heavy items on top of them. Folding them up aggressively... there are lots of things you could do to damage them and how would a company know if it was abused or not?
Finally someone made a video comparison of the 400 portables. Thank you!
Which one would you go with?
Great review, a comparable 400W single panel would be great to see included as well
Oh, that would be neat for the basic value aspect. I've seen some pretty compact four hundred watt rigid panels. @The_Funguseater
Thank you for taking the time to do this
Glad it was helpful!
I have the 400 watt EcoFlow panel. I agree the stand is worthless. But it’s pretty easy to set them up by leaning the panel against two aluminum lawn chairs. That’s what I do now and it works well.
I usually lean it up against my shed or fence and the panel works well.
I fully agree with this assessment. I have the panel but built a frame around it so it has some stability/ maneuverability. It seems to work well but I've never gotten the numbers shown in this video. Angle improvement needed?
Thanks! I wish I had seen this before I ordered the Ecoflow panels. Also found out the cables don't come with them and had to order twice to get the cables with the XT60I connector. Sure a lot to be desired in advertising and sales sites from them. The charge cables are only shown and have a price listed. When you order them they then put P/N on the invoice and no description except cables. Customer support told me I ordered the plain XT60 connection and I could order the other one. Really a lot of support! I like others think the cables should come with the panels for the price they are charging (no pun intended) live and learn.
GREAT, GREAT, comparison video. As always looking at your channel always insures that when I make a purchase of anything solar related it is always an informed decision. Great job!
Probably the best review from portable solar panels I ever seen.
what I found messing with these is the Ease of setting them up factors in when we are almost all near a comparable level.. I find myself just laying them flat alot or propped up against the vehicle.. being lazy.. vs chasing watts.. I have the ecoflow units. but that was an uneducated purchase back when.. however they are heavy for sure as you say.. thank you.. this is good info.. there is 2 or 3 top tier ports Durability is also a factor, for repeated use.. then the question of 400 vs 2x200 or 220BF..etc comes into play.. I actually choose to carry 2x220BFs with me most of the time in the MH with 8000 WH battery. fwiw.. thank you again.. excellent reviews.. Your reviews have saved me alot of money..
The panels aren't too bad to setup, with the exception of the EcoFlow having the horrible stand design.
Arguably the best and most informative 2024 comparison video to date. Liked
I have the Bluetti 420 and it's worked well. I routinely get over 420 watts at solar noon. My complaint with it is the kickstands only go as low as 35 degrees tilt and in Michigan in the summer I need 18 degrees. That being said I built a PVC frame with adjustable legs to support it. Frame comes apart for easy transport.
Do you have a pic of your frame?
@@tikoy1955 I do. Not sure how to share.
Email me at jasonoidllc@gmail.com
I was thinking of doing the exact same thing. Thinking abut using some pvc plumbing fittings and a length of pvc pipe
Great vid and comparison and that spreadsheet is extremely helpful.
I have 2x 200W Eenour panels, and combined I see around the same 330W peak. I use them to charge my P2001. An interesting thing about the 200W model is 18V/36V (19.5V/39V on the new version) switchable voltage, for use in series. The older version also has USB A(18W) and C(60W) ports.
Interesting! Thanks for sharing the differences between the panels.
I have both the Bluetti solar panels, well I have a 350w Bluetti solar panel. I love that panel it is great. I do have 2 Ecoflow solar panels. a 220w and a 160w and I totally agree with you hands down the case being a stand is absolutely ridiculous! That being said, you can literally toss that EcoFlow panel in a river and the damn thing will still work amazingly well. The material it is made of like the Bluetti is top notch!
A couple other of those solar panels I was surprised they didn't do so well. Not very familiar with them, but that being said, a couple of them do really seem like nice looking panels. All the panels with that fiberglass backing do show they have some good quality. I liked that last panel with the holding rod. That is pretty smart idea.
I really enjoyed this comparison. One of the better ones I have seen in sometime.
Nice review. I got the Bluetti PV420 when they 1st came out. Haven't used them much, as I got them for use in my 5th wheel and as a backup power supply (I also bought the AC500 with 2 batteries). Figured I could use the AC500 in UPS mode at my house and then take the setup with me when I'm in the 5th wheel. It was refreshing to see the Bluetti did as well as it did, and I got it at a pre release price so even better.
I got the same as you with the pre release. I was glad Bluetti did well.
I had the Bluetti 800w power station and when I got the Bluetti 350w solar panel I found out really fast that the panel was too powerful for that power station and it wouldn't even charge.
I ended up a year ago last Black Friday and bought on eBay the EcoFlow Delta Max 1612w Power Station and got a 110w EcoFlow solar panel deal refurbished. I paid $700 bucks for all of it and boy, what a deal. it blew my Bluetti 800w Power Station out of the water! Bluetti can charge up to 200 watts and the new EcoFlow can charge up to 1600 watts which is insane, plus you know the exact percentage of your battery, plus downloaded an app that lets me not only see everything the power station is doing, but I can adjust the settings from anywhere!
what brand would you say won overall. adding all factors in?
He only ever recommends best units per highest priority. Depends what you value most. The Bluetti seems great for use in longer term setups where max power is priority, while the Eenor is best bang for buck and most portable due to the weight.
1) I have the Eco Flow 110w which uses the case for the stand also, and agree with you 100%...AWKWARD!
2) I was really hoping to see the Montek 400w panel in here. As I noted in a previous comment, it is only 20 pounds. I had contacted the CEO, Monte, and sent him your last review. He said he would contact you, but thought that 2pcs of his 200W foldable panels would be better (more sturdy), and they are 11.5lbs each. Hoping for next time.
Yeah, he reached out but he never offered to send out the 400w panel.
@@Jasonoid I mentioned this to Monte, and he noted that when he launches the new suitcase power units (hopefully end of October) that he will probably send you one to test, along with a solar panel.
He is super busy on this launch... it includes NCM and LFP models, both with expansion battery options.
I would like to note that I really like your grading scale for these solar generator/power units...until the Montek review. It got dinged due to the higher W/H cost, yet, you did not make a new category for sealing. Sealing is difficult and costly, and you can not be the best sealed and the lowest cost. With that new category, the rest of the herd would have dropped in points, and the Montek would have been rated more accurately.
Just my opinion.
Looking forward to your review of the new Montek!
@@greensavant2573 I've updated my new grading system with feedback from more than 200 people and provided their opinion. It's quite a bit more strict vs the older version
@@Jasonoid You're the best! Looking forward to it!
Wow. So much info! Thanks for putting this together.
Glad you enjoyed it!
I actually bought 2 x ALLPOWERS 400W panels. But you also need to buy converter cables and extra cables to reach out to your yard, if you want the power bank in your house. I also bought a 200W ALLPOWERS, but when we moved I sold that one on Ebay quite easily. I have 3 Anker batteries including a 767 with an expansion battery.
Excellent review, and the spreadsheet with all the data in one easy to see chart is much appreciated
Thankyou for the video .. exactly what I needed to see .. the Anker is expensive but it is my choice ..
Really great content. Was going to go with the EcoFlow panel to go with my EcoFlow Delta Pro system but that PITA case/stand is no bueno. Bluetti looks solid. Very well-made comparison video and not overly technical.
Check out this option before you buy anything, it's a newer option thag wasn't around during this video!
ruclips.net/video/6XC0HSPMfJQ/видео.html
Good Job!! Amazingly helpful for a newbie.
I'm in Australia and I have had 425w coming out of mine! One happy customer. I've only used it a few times...
Nice, I'm glad you are enjoying it!
Excellent video . really appreciate the time and effort you put into making this video. I plan to have 2x400w panels in parallel to compensate for the lack of shade free sunlight / cloudy days with a connected load of 200W~300W. Being in parallel VOC will not exceed the 60v limit for Ecoflow Delta 2 . I wonder if it is safe for Delta2 where intake limits to 15amps in scenarios of 700W+ production during sunny hours
You don't need to worry about having too many amps, you only need to worry about having too high of voltage. The Delta 2 will limit the amperage input automatically so having two 400w panels in parallel should be fine.
Great review. Perfect information if you need a light and portable panel. I prefer the much heavier and way less expensive hard panels. Keep in mind that I leave them up for months at a time in extremely windy conditions. Keep up the good reviews.
Nice one. I'm not in the market, having shot my load on the first new vehicle in ten years, but some of these look nice. If I were buying, I would consider some trust issues as well, and would probably choose Anker or Bluetti, with Allpowers in the basement. That Ecoflow looked like a chore to set up.
Yes, it was a chore! haha Congrats on your new vehicle purchase!
Love your in depth analysis! Glad to see both folded and deployed dimensions, as well as your evaluation of the kick stands.
It might be subjective, but I would also like to find out how susceptible the panels are to being blown around by the wind, or how easily they could be anchored down to prevent damage from happening.
Thanks for your thorough evaluation!
All of these solar panels are pretty heavy so they are less susceptible to flying away vs the smaller 200 watt versions. There's a great product made here in the USA that anchors any of these folding panels down, you can see that product HERE: ruclips.net/video/vRbQLbiL_Hs/видео.html
Good job my man, loved your content, learned alot
Amazingly thorough - thank you. I'm not in the market, but the Eenour would be my choice if I were. One variable I think would have been hard to account for would have been the angle of the panels. They all looked pretty even, so we'll call it good 😁
Most of the panels kickstands were fairly level, only the bigblue were lower, and I couldn't get them to go more steep.
This is a spot on review with lots of great information. I ended up going with the Anker PS400 and I got it half price on Amazon during the Oct 9-10 sale. I also got the Anker SOLIX C1000 with it as a bundle half price.
I have 3 Ecoflow 400W panels. I live in Hawaii. It is summertime and on a clear day at peak sun...I get roughly 265w out of each panel. I will try cooling them down with water to see if that helps but I have been very diappointed in them.
Have you angled them properly using the can trick? (set a can on the panel, move it around until the shadow goes away completely, that means it's facing the sun exactly). Angle makes quite the difference on power output.
Great comparison, good review!
Amazing video, I have big anker power bank, And I also have the 30 watts anker solar panel. Also my car charger is a blazing fast 52.5 w also by anker. Most of the data cables I use are also from Anker. I love anker product. I would go with Anker becz for many years of trust in the robust and reliableness
i found putting the ecoflow case down below the panel is slightly better setup than having it hang from the edge of the bag, slightly above the panel. doing in grass makes it more possible to get a flatter setup rather than using the bottom clips of the case.
Thanks for passing along your Ecoflow panel suggestion but unfortunately I can't visualize what you mean. I wish there was a may you could share a photo of what you described. I own Ecoflow panels myself and hate them for the exact reasons described in this video. They are an absolute nightmare to set up.
Hi, great video. Do you think you can use the Big Blue for the Anker F3800, it has a 60v max? I see the actual voltage is less. Thanks & keep up the good work!!!
Yep, as long as the max voltage doesn't go over 60volts it will work without damaging the power station.
Just a comment on watering the solar panels. Not only are the panels being cooled but I believe the water droplets intensify the sun it receives temporarily.
I had a sun shower that last about 35 min and it happened just after 6pm in late September, when there is normally very little production. During that sun shower, my solar produced about 1.5 kwh. On a sunny day without rain, it produced about .6 kwh at that same time of day during the few days before and after.
Superb scientific experiment - brilliant! Personally the AllPowers with IP67 rating and highest shaded output overall. at an amazing price was the clear winner to me.
Learned a lot! Thanks man
Thank you for your detailed testing. None of these solar panels will stand the wind I have when I need these panels and all require a DIY external frame to hold them upright in a wind.
You have a couple options. This suitcase panel from Renogy is the best option right now. I love how it's a hybrid panel with a metal frame but doesn't have glass:
ruclips.net/video/6XC0HSPMfJQ/видео.html
You can also stake down these portable panels to protect them from the wind using this product: amzn.to/3Yuu22n
Thanks for doing an in depth, concise, mindful presentation. I would lean towards the EEnour panel.
had the allpowers, cracked the first day of usage
ecoflow failed after a very light rain
thankfully since these were new so i was able to get both of these returned, but in my experience both were not great
Crazy that two panels were broken that easily.
@@Jasonoid yeah, it was a bit of a surprise-amazon customer service was very helpful thankfully
the ecoflow 110w panels were fine however!
the allpowers 400w panel i seriously doubt is ETFE, everything points to it being just a basic PET panel (with annoyingly long setup!
i swapped them for the BougeRV CIGS panels, will let you know how those hold up!
It's not just the price that changes all the time, so does the quality. Many of these brands don't actually make the cells, they just buy whatever they manage to get the best deal on that week, so even the same model from the same brand can vary quite a bit. More established brands are more likely to enforce minimum specs (because they have more to lose), but don't count on it.
Thank you for comparing different portable 400W panel brands connected to the Anker Solix F2000. Still going to learn how to calculate solar input ratings
I can't afford a 400
Awesome 😎👍 Thank You Jason!!
No problem 👍
@@Jasonoid now to decide
Excellent comparison video, I really hate that these are all so darn expensive, but they definitely would travel well and setup quick compared with less expensive conventional ridged panels!
Great Video!!!!
Thanks for the video! As a future video idea, I'd love to see a test of amorphous solar panels in low-light and shaded conditions (tree branches when camping are my nemesis...), along with a comparison to more traditional folding panels like these ones. Home Depot sells some cheaper and low-wattage ones, and there's larger ones available from manufacturers like PowerFilm, REDARC, Off Grid Trek, etc.
Great suggestion! Thanks!
I'm surprised you ddn't pass out making this video. You did such a good job Jasonid giving us a fantastic review that I think you should have your better half buy you a yummy lunch.
Glad you enjoyed it!
Nice breakdown of panels. Thank you for great info.
THANK YOU! This gives me peace of mind when I’m ready to buy a portable solar panel - and 400w is a nice option for higher capacity generators!
I’m not spending another $250-300 for an extra ~30watts. The EENOUR is a winner in my book.
You're welcome!
Another great detailed video! I was just thinking about upgrading my 3 panels to 1 400 watt, but think for the cost, i still stick with what i have. Keep up the great vids!
thank you for making this video it helping me decide which pannel to conider buying
Great review, very very helpful and one of the best I've found on youtube. If you normalize the result for the PV420 -5% (420 watts) so we have a true apples to apples reading the PV420 comes out at 350.55 watts total.
I appreciate you busting your ass doing this review in the heat
Reading through some tests on overlanding websites were hilarious. The money they were willing to spend on substandard panels. I tested two Newpowa 100 watt, $100 flexible panels in series and they at times put out OVER 200 watts.
Thanks for the info. I just changed my mind about buying EcoFlow 400-watt panels. lol
Great video! Thanks for doing it.
I am super impressed with your video and love the excel work at the end!!!
I’m in the market for a portable 400 watt panel set up.Have an Anker 757 and 767 with two LiFeP04 stand alone batteries that are connected together with its own inverter for backup. Have the Anker 100 watt solar panel but realize this is good for smaller devices or just topping off the power stations. Durability and overall ruggedness was not emphasized in this video, but the warranty, coating, and IP ratings should give some indication. So all in all very informative. I’ve not had the electricity go out in my area for over 24 hrs as yet. So the most I had to discharge the 767 was 42% running only the fridge before power was restored. The other 757 was running my internet and computer peripherals and hardly pulled anything, maybe 5%. I’m considering another 767 for the hot water heater, and possibly another 12v 100 mAH lifep04 battery. I’m also trying to figure out how to convert two older solar panels from 2005 to modern out connections.
Great review. I wonder if you could use a tent pole for some of the other solar panels for stiffening?
I'm sure that would work, but the solar panel would need little loops for the tent pole to attach to each section of the panel.
Looked to me like the eco flow coulda used the stiffener bar more
Use percentages on your charts, as the chart performance may seem like big deferences or may not. Percentage allows better comparisons.
I’m only going to be using solar power in case of a grid down.
I think I’m gonna build me a decent “skeleton” using pvc pipe and fix it to be able to be partially disassembled for storage when not being used.
Then I’ll spread the panel assembly out on the skeleton when I’m using it. I will create a feature in the design to be able to create different inclination angles.
The rest of the time, my panel will be folded up and stored indoors as I’ll be keeping 120v ac hooked up for charging instead of the panels.
These reviews are so great! I have a 10amp max rating so seeing what panel puts out the most at 10 amps. Ecoflow looks to win for this.
Great review Jason!!!!
Thank you. This helps a lot. Do they modify these units very often? Is an update worthwhile?
No recent changes on these models. Check out the Renogy 400w suitcase! It's more affordable, has a better warranty, and it's a great design!
ruclips.net/video/6XC0HSPMfJQ/видео.html
I've got the Ampura 400w, it has a 3 bracket stands for the 4-panel
Great comparison, thank you
woow, that's very hard work, we appreciate your efforts
So do you use actual numbers or the hypothetical numbers when planning out what panels and how many to get? For instance I just purchased a delta pro 3. The allpower for instance is pulling 37.4 volts but 45.3 voc. If you use voc then. you could only have 3 panels in series where as the actual numbers looks like you would use 4 panels.
You'll have to use the rated VOC of the panel so you don't go over the max input voltage. When panels are warm the voltage is lower than rated, when panels are cold, the voltage is higher than rated. It's good to give yourself some room.
Great video Jason! Very thorough. Glad I waited to see this review come out before I bought. I was pretty set on the Allpowers, but judging from the price, weight, and performance, now I think I may go with the Eenour's 🤔
Thanks for watching! That's the main reason I do these videos, to find out which panel provides the best value and performance.
What a great job man ! Just what I’ve been looking for!
Newbi to Solar and power stations, iv just purchased a anker f2000, so the question I have is does all the solar panels you tested fit directly into the anker or the anker solar connector without adapters.
Thanks
Have had similar results with my EENOUR panels, and given the price I feel like it was a decent compromise. On a related (?) note, if you have a powerstation without an app, have you found a way to remotely keep an eye on it when you're charging with the panels to know when they are ready to be pulled? I mean I can walk outside every 30 minutes, but I have to think there ought to be some kind of bluetooth device to tell me when the battery is charged (extra credit for a device that will warn me if the battery is getting to 10% or lower as well). Thanks again for all the helpful videos!
I usually run my solar cables under the door so I can monitor the solar charging without having to go outside. You could also route them through a window seal depending on the design type of your windows. You could have a wireless wifi security cam thats looking at the screen so you know what it's at all the time. Not sure of any other options.
I use my older blink outside camera for monitoring stuff, good range, has night vision, and I just screen shot for an update
Haze, looked clear as a bell to me.
Great content as usual. You pack a lot of info in a quality video. Thanks for being so detailed. My BougeRV Flash 300 you graciously gave to me in a drawing is working beautifully still. Thank you again Jason!
Awesome video Jason! I've been waiting for this one!
The EF panel looks like a nightmare to set up, and even when done, the stand looks mostly useless.
I'm leaving toward the EENOUR due to weight. In have the Allpowers... Typically only get ~280W due to the heat in my area, but have seen it peak at 320s when temps were cooler. Got it at a great price, but it's very heavy!
One more in your numbers, looks like your meter was misreading when you did the early measurements got the Allpowers and Anker. The Voltage and Current when connected don't at up to your measured power (i.e. 32.6V * 12.18A = 397W).
What point in the video are you seeing those numbers? Too many numbers to just guess haha...
@@JasonoidAllpowers around @2:15, and Anker @4:00. The numbers are also shown in your spreadsheet.
I think the voltage is right, but the current seems high.
Well you'd think my clamp meter would be more accurate. Sorry about the confusion. I'd go with the wattage number on the Anker screen.
@@Jasonoid Looks like the measurements for all the panels after the first 2 are correct. Meter acting weird maybe. 😆 Thanks for taking all that data!
Just curious what size would be next?? Not sure how they come?? 600 watt or 800 watt? Do they get too large physically at a certain point? (Sorry if these sound like stupid questions)
ALLPOWERS has a 600w 'solar blanket'... haha I don't think any bigger would be very portable. This size is probably as big as you wanted to go. You know my 1000w array is HUGE, but it is moveable at least.
I use two DIY solar suitcases made with 160w rigid panels, so 320w each. They weigh about 46# each and will do their rated output. Cost per "suitcase" is about $250. As long as you can move 46# easily, you'll save money with solid panels and have a much better warranty. Nothing to stop you from using 200w or larger as long as you can move them. If I always had someone to travel/camp with I might have used 220w panels when I built mine.
It’s invaluable. Can’t thank you enough. Bluetti’s sold out, and expensive, even on sale. Many are unwieldy. Are two 200Ws better, maybe? Connecting to a F2000 is a last question.
Do you need a portable panel? If not, Residential 400w glass panels are super affordable right now!
ruclips.net/video/pLRKljjaqMA/видео.html
@@Jasonoid My senior community doesn’t have roof panels, yet. So, yes. If I wanted solar for recharge, it’d have to be portable.
Thank you, kindly, though. While pondering a single 400W panel, I purchased two 200W after viewing them both on here. The smaller ones will be much more manageable. I just wish there was a longer cable for allowance from the garage to the driveway outdoors.
Thanks so very much!
Linda
@@Maineuser I just lean my 400w panels up against my house or fence, they don't have to be roof mounted. They are a bit heavy to move around so no worries.
This solar extension cable will work for you: amzn.to/3ZZns6b
@@Jasonoid How very kind! （╹◡╹) Thank you!
Your video on the 400Ws was really helpful. It helped me decide they were really too big and way too floppy. I’d wanted just one, but re-decided. For the 200Ws - same price as a 400W - then, I just went with the Ankers, at a good price, included in the bundles. (Amazon’s bundle was, amazingly, $400 less!). Two folded will be easier to store. Sometimes, I wonder if there aren’t hooks. So, I could just simply hang them outta the way on my SW-facing garage door?
But now my set will come with that live 5-port parallel cable. If the F2600 cones with one 400W, I’m thinking I really would never need to fill the five slots? Anker was closed, as I’d spent all day on homework. Unsure if the single same cable used for the 400W can be used (in parallel?) to join two 200Ws - but two,of them? - like it would two 400s? Or had I heard there’s even another joiner cable involved? Then, at what point is this extension cable used?
Excellent review!
Thanks for watching
Good review! What time of the day was the test performed?
From about noon to 1pm.
HI, do you have video on solar blankets? thanks.
I got the Anker 400 when I got my Anker c1000 power station. Just looking to add another panel since I can take up to 600 watts an wanted to see other options
A very good video can be used for teaching the customers. 👍
Glad you think so! Thanks!
Great video. I can't find the link to the results spreadsheet and graphs, nor can I find a new tab in the power stations data page. Please help. Thanks.
In the video description
@@Jasonoid Thanks, I found the spread sheet. I really like the Ankor PS400 for several reasons, plus it is on sale. But I don't feel confident that it will work with my Bluetti AC180, which is rated at 12V - 60V, 500W / 10A Max. What do you think? I am a newbie. Thanks for your help.
@JohnBurkhart-q2k it will work just fine with the AC180 👍
@@Jasonoid Thanks for all you do!
Awesome video!! Question: Can I plug those straight from MC4 at the panel and bare wire at my inverter?
I have a 24v / 3000 w PowMr. inverter I only use for power failures. It has two pv input screw terminals
You'll need a battery for the inverter and a charge controller for the solar panels.
Great video. Thanks!
Bigblue is currently £254 in the prime day event couldn't resist even though it was one of the lower performers the price per watt was lower than some of the budget 200w panels
great comparison! I was leaning EENOUR due to weight and price, but its no longer available. Sounds like Alllpowers or ecoflow are my option and both are on sale for prime day and cant decide. Will be temporarily setting them up for my van conversion so portability is key (allpowers points) but non etfe vs etfe =\
I get it. Instead of watering the grass use it to lay solar for sustaining energy
Hi, txs for the fantastic comparison. I’m curious about your solar power, can Anker F2000 charge a Tesla 3 ? Thank you.
Thank you for the comparison. I would love to get the Bluetti PV420 but Bluetti is temporarily out of stock, what would you pick Bluetti or the Anker? Just got the Anker F2600.
I didn't like the partial shade test due to the various different usable surface areas for each panel. The way it was performed, each panel had a different percentage of area lost from the cardboard coverage.
I think people are misunderstanding the MAIN purpose to the shade testing in the video. The main reason was to make sure the whole panel didn't lose power if there was partial shade. The wattage output during shading was kinda just an extra fact gained.
Due to the feedback in this video, in future videos I will be using an alternate shading technique to be more fair to each panel tested.
I have the ALLPOWERS and I got it for 340€ so about 350$... it's hands down the best foldable solar panel, it is super robust, I have tested in all conditions and I'm getting more power than in this test (330-350W not cooled).
Great feedback! Thanks for sharing
Is there an all In one grid tie inverter that can be set to priority to grid 2nd to battery then auto switch to off grid when there is no power or mix priorities? hope this help for the next upcoming videos ❤
what is to expect with the longevity of those portable ? Sun is rought on plastic and textile, so Can it last many years ?
These aren't meant to sit out in the elements all day. They are meant to be used occasionally like during camping trips and during power outages. If you want to have something to be used all day, I'd recommend using glass rigid panels. Check out this video on how to find affordable 400w rigid panels: ruclips.net/video/pLRKljjaqMA/видео.html
Were all the connections the same or did you have to use any adapters?
All came with MC4
Ecoflow is a great panel for those that need the power. Just consider the carry case stand as a last resort when you have no other option. Number of videos on YT on building clever portable stands for flexible panels.
I agree about the carrying case, good feeback. I made an aluminum frame for my Renogy flexible panels in this video:
ruclips.net/video/LBel4dpbKqw/видео.html
I think using PVC for a smaller setup would work just fine!
Fantastic comparison. Since you rep the Anker solar generator so much, will you do a video on how to max out the Anker's limited solar inputs with traditional non-portable solar panels? it's a bit of a challenge to plug in more than 2 panels into it.
I already did that on my full SOLIX F2000 review video, I got around 700 watts using normal glass solar panels. In order to get closer to the max charging amount you'll need panels with their peak power near 48v and 20 amps
Good job. I wonder why these portable panels only carry 1 to 2 years of warranty and not 15 to 25 years as is typical with those rigid panels.
They are more vulnerable to damage. Standing on them, putting heavy items on top of them. Folding them up aggressively... there are lots of things you could do to damage them and how would a company know if it was abused or not?
Great test and table, Thanks!
Can you connect a 200W Anker Panel with an 420W Bluetti Panelle to the PowerHouse 767 via the adapter?
ANKER YES !
While they are not the cheapest you get what you paid for .
I also trust Anker; have yet to get a dog from them.
They do have the TWO year warranty vs only a one year on the EcoFlow and Bluetti!