My pleasure mate, glad it was helpful! Stay subbed for more content - and check out Kings vs Redarc ruclips.net/video/AActNzBZ9FA/видео.html if you haven't already!
Thanks for the time creating this review. I went looking since I was suspicious their website has reviews for their hard panels but no reviews at all on their solar blanket! And product review only has 2 reviews on the 120w. Surely more people have bought them. Anyway, thanks :)
I had one of AK 1st generation 200W Solar blankets (10 x panels). It lasted about 11 months (used about 7 times in that time), and it simply stopped charging. Returned it to the 4WD Supacentre store, and was replaced under warranty after the store staff confirmed it was faulty - potential wiring issues. It was replaced with their latest gen (6 x panels), but they only replaced the blanket, & gave me back my old solar regulator and cables. This new blanket is working well so far (touch wood). And I've since replaced the original 20A PWM solar regulator with a 20A MPPT version I've also sinced purchased the AK 160W fixed solar panel and have it permanently mounted on my roof rack. This is connected to my Baintech Powertop 135Ah which is permanently powering my KickA$$ 75 Dual Zone Fridge/Freezer and several LED camp lights - plus the occasional inverter use. The 200w solar blanket is now only used as a backup solution, or when my 4WD is under shade.
Interesting you had a similar experience to me, Hammer Rocks. My original one was a v4 blanket which failed exactly the same way as yours, although I ended up fixing it as they didn't take it back - see ruclips.net/video/XyNpfqQ-4K8/видео.html. My replacement was a v5 blanket which is physically a bit larger than the v4 and has slightly lower output than the v4 when it was working. My replacement came with new PWM regulator, cables etc. I think a permanent panel's a good idea if you have a blanket to put out in the sun when you're shaded. Best of both worlds! Cheers, Greg
Yes bought a Kings 200 W solar blanket and after being used for 2 weeks it started to drop in amps and then basically only worked intermittently .Left it set up one day and when I came back 7 hours later there had been only 10 amps put back into the battery ..therefore 130 AH battery was down to 65% and fridge was using 4amps/hr. Told 4wd supercentre and after one month had to chase them up 3 times just for an answer about a replacement..
I test and review Solar blankets for various distributors. I can confirm everything that you have said. I also make a rather unique purpose built 12V system tester so that I can do repeatable testing. Just a word of caution for users, despite what one may think they are actually quite fragile. DON'T walk on them or drive over them. It causes microcracks which severely affects their output. My GoNo criteria during testing of 200W panels is 120W under ideal conditions. I test a few brands and the best I have seen is 140W which was on an expensive premium brand.
Thanks for the input Keith, great to have that verification. And I agree with everything you've said. The microcracking I mentioned in the Kings vs Redarc review is probably exactly what you're mentioning. It's a great shame the ratings are based on lab results rather than real world results. I would welcome your input on what I proposed in the latest solar blanket review at the 8-10 minute mark ruclips.net/video/o8rLVv2oCnQ/видео.htmlsi=PIXeJphrrhCNS3SM
Thanks for your informative review. I have one of these and only getting 74 watts so will be giving iti to a friend. Fortunately, it wasn't one that I bought as I found on a country road. Yesterday I bought two of the Kings 160 watt flexible solar panels on special for Australia Day at $119. Tested them both and getting 143 watts and 10.1 amps from each panel so they are giving great output. Anyone looking at buying solar panels use 156 watts/m2 to give u an idea of the expected output. Therefore use the L x W x 156 = wattage. Using that formula the Kings solar blanket was never going to achieve the wattage specified. This is omething that is very common on EBay as all the solar panels wattages are overstated. Even the Kings 160 watt panel is overstated based on it’s size, but in comparison with the $110 watt I considered them to be good value if I could get approximately 140 watts. At 143 watts and 10.1 amps they are the best panels I have bought to date. It is just a case now of how long they will last.
Great thanks for your valuable input into this conversation Toppy Cat. The consensus is starting to emerge that solar blankets aren't as powerful as similarly-rated panels, be they fixed, folding or semi-flexible like yours sound to be. I'm looking to test this hypothesis in future videos, but keep us posted on whether the output from yours change over time, or if they fail prematurely! Cheers, Greg
The voltage out of most solar panels is 21 volts. To work out the maximum amps out of a panel you need to divide Watts (200) by 21 to get a maximum current of 9.5A, but that's in perfect conditions. The output voltage is normally on the reverse of the panel, but it's not on the Kings blankets.
That's correct Derek. 4WD Supacentre rates the 200W blanket at ~10.5A which would be 19.5V, however I get 22V out of this panel normally so I suspect their specs are about as rubbery as their instructions and goods quality!
Great video Greg. I purchased a set Bluetti PV 350 Solar panel 350 W. In full sun the regulator was showing 350W to 410 W. One of the panels has a strip down the middle which appears to be different to all the other panels. Not quite sure if this is normal. Where would I go to clarify this question before going back to the Company.
Glad it was helpful Wayne. Without seeing a photo I couldn't say for sure but I wouldn't be too concerned given the power output is as healthy as you're saying. It could possibly be that panel's from a different manufacturing batch perhaps? The manufacturer would really be the best place to start on this if you want a concrete answer, I'd hope their support would be good as they're a premium brand. Good luck!
People with old Kings gear swear by it. That's because Kings used to be really great. Once they'd built a rep, their quality turned to shit. Now the new stock is garbage. Worthy of note is how heat affects solar cells. With heat, comes resistance, so voltage drop and lower power. In full sun these panels can get very hot, way above the recommended operating temperature. This is where fixed panels are an advantage because they dissipate heat way better and can be propped up off the ground for air flow.
Just bought the 200watt pannels with mppt charger and just plugged it into my caravan and on my renogy battery monitor it only says im getting 1.4 amps going into the batteries,that aint normal surely? However my batteries were pretty full,does this matter.
If the batteries are full: yes that's probably normal. The regulator monitors the battery condition and only takes what it needs from the panels, so if they're nearly full it'll probably be in trickle charge so you'll only get a small amount of current going in. This is why I always had my batteries below 50% in my tests. I would recommend you run your batteries down to 12.0-12.5v and give it another shot and you should get more current. If you don't then there's probably a problem somewhere, either the panels or the controller. Good luck! Greg
Yeah that sounds like the Hard Korr budget range without the 'crocskin' surface of the one I tested. The crocskin one worked really well, check it out if you've not seen it ruclips.net/video/pPy_5Lm-Mo0/видео.html
Well done Greg, you're the first person I've seen publically speak the truth about portable panels, 50% of the rated production is my experience also with many brands. I can't believe with all the 4x4 and camping experts on RUclips it's taken so long for someone to note this, shows how many people don't understand the basics. So many people say 'its making great amps' with no factual data actually shown. I really enjoyed your honest review with enough tech info to show me you know your stuff. Looking forward to the redarc review and seeing its output, I'm sure it'll be better but maybe still not reaching the rated power output? Let's see
Thanks very much Ryan, I appreciate your feedback and glad the review struck a chord with you! The Redarc one should be ready in the next couple of weeks, lots of data and footage to work through! Stay tuned and subbed!
You must be using cheap panels then as i achieve full rated output and higher with many panels including portable fold outs and blankets. But i buy genuine TUV tested and certified panels not ebay junk or online junk. A true TUV tested and rated panel WILL output its rating in the right conditions. This myth on you will never see full output comes from the cheap crud on the market and people coming to think that this is normal for solar and telling the next guys its to be expected.
hi.. In the manual it says "solar panel voltage is higher than the light control voltage" next to 'Steady ON' by the Solar panel icon. Both my solar panel lights are steady, not flashing. As, if they flash - 'charging is in process', according to the manual. Is there something wrong with mine? TIA
Hi Pip, Sorry for the delay. It's possible there might be something wrong with it, or at least something misconfigured, but without seeing the setup it's a bit hard to say for sure. Do you have any way of measuring the voltage or current? E.g. do you have a voltmeter you can put onto the battery and see if it starts climbing when you connect the regulator? That way you could verify if it's actually working or not. Cheers, Greg
You won't get maximum amps from the blanket unless your battery is a little flat or needs the current. 4WD Supacentre stuff is built to a price and not always reliable. And yes these panels are hard to get on the right angle, painful to be honest. Their 250W panel with legs is better for angled use but mine failed after being used only a handful of times. The 250W panel is supposed to be a premium panel which puts out more amps. Dealing with them is not always fun. I would be happy to pay more if it mean't reliability. Their 20a MPPT Regulator shows promise, the other ones are junk. I also use Redarc PWM controllers
I got the 200watt blanket, was putting out 109watt approx 8.3amp in hot WA sun. on my panels some of the silver strips in the front are not strait. they are at about 30-45 degrees some even do a u turn 180 degree. is this normal, I dough it.
Hi Gaz Ed, that type of output is about the best I've seen on mine. The silver strips were straight on mind, if you're not sure about yours contact 4WD Supacentre and see what they can sort out for you.
This was a really interesting video. My understanding is that solar panels/blankets are not meant to be put out in full sun as the direct heat overheats the cells and they fail. They are normally meant to be placed in slightly shaded as it isn't the direct sunlight they use for energy conversion.
Hi James, interesting, where have you heard that? What you're saying makes sense for longevity and reducing heat build-up, but you're not going to get much useable output from it. I find a slight bit of shading drops the output considerably, and in the outback you often don't have shade available. Also, solar panels are normally in full sun so I'm not sure why a solar blanket would be given different advice? I'm finishing off a video comparing my 3rd Kings blanket vs a brand spanking new Redarc blanket, so make sure you're subscribed as that should be along in the next couple of weeks.
@@TheMusingGreg Most of the solar panel makers have mentioned it. The direct sun can overheat the panels. It is why semi flex panels fail quickly - they build up heat underneath which they can't get rid of fast enough.
@@jameslawson8032 In the Redarc manual they certainly recommend that the blanket be out in full sun. They also say in the manual 'Do not permanently shade part of the blanket'. I agree it will probably last longer if the whole thing is in partial shade and nice and cool, but how much power are you going to lose if it's in partial shade? I'm glad you asked ;) - ruclips.net/video/djdiCAl_zc0/видео.html
@@TheMusingGreg Yes, so the understanding is that they do prefer direct light, but not the heat. The panels absorb photons from the sunlight. Not as much when in shade, but they do receive them. But if in direct sunlight and they heat up (like on a summer's day in Aust) then solar panels can build up too much heat and not work as efficiently. In fact solar panels can work really well in a light snowfall as the snow helps to keep the panels cooler. Germany is a good example of this. They produce huge amounts of solar energy without the sunlight we get here. It would be interesting to measure the surface temperature on you panel when it is next out in the sun, at different times of the day, versus its efficiency (how many raw Watts it is producing) When it gets over a certain temp you should see its output decrease (given same relative angle to sun). Also try it in different positions, say on the ground or of the ground where heat can dissapate better. Anyway. thanks again for an informative video, as it was good!
@@jameslawson8032 Cheers mate, yeah I actually did a basic test along those lines on Kings blanket #2 I think it was (my first 200W unit). When I poured cold water over it the output initially dropped, then as the water started to evaporate the output climbed by about 1A more than it'd been before for maybe half a minute until it started to heat up again and the output started dropping again. So I'm with you definitely that if you can get full sun but get rid of the heat it's the optimum. Unfortunately we can't easily do that so it's a matter of what's the least worse compromise!
Nice video I have 2 120w kings blanket panel for 4 years now I’m so happy my ones work great I just put my on top of the roof of my caravan when I setup I do run it through a victron mppt solar controller but maybe that makes a big difference
Thanks for the comment, glad your setup works well. What current do you get out of your Victron MPPT controller in full sun? I'm working on a video on the Kings MPPT controller and it's possible that could be the problem. Make sure you subscribe if you want to see the test video!
After reading many reviews I went for the 200W Ridge Ryder Solar Blanket from Supa Cheap Auto. More expensive than the Ebay cheapies but gets good reviews and comes with a quality MPPT controler in a solid metal case. With blanket flat on ground in full Sun I get 20 Volts from the blanket into the controller and a charge rate into the battery up to 10 amps. Although the controller reduses charging voltage to around 14V, if the raw blanket voltage of 20V is multiplied by 10A then this gives stated output of 200 Watts. I know, a bit of a dodgy way to calculate power. This could be why claimed Wattage for many panels seems overstated by some sellers? It depends how calculation is done.
Thanks for the tip Geoff. Nothing wrong with those calculations - if you're getting 20V @ 10A coming out of the panel that's your 200W. It's how I was doing the measurements on this test. I might add the Ridge Ryder to a list of candidates for a future test. Cheers!
@@TheMusingGreg My 200W blanket can deliver 10A at 14V from the regulator to the battery. This is a power rating of 140W, which is the important figure. Connecting the blanket directly to the battery (not a good idea) is unlikely to deliver 20V at 10A = 200W. I think it can be misleading to pay much attention to makers Watts claim. The only important figure is maximum Amps available out of the regulator and whether this is enough current to run equipment and keep battery charged.
Hey mate I see you said you tested the blanket with the mppt regulator but in the video it's still the pwm one. Just wanting to know what was the difference between the 2 controllers thanks
Hi Dale, I actually used both regulators at different stages of the video but there's not a great deal of difference in how these ones perform so it didn't make a big difference. MPPT regulators should provide more current into the batteries than a PWM regulator. The power output of PWM regulators is limited by the current coming out of the panel, even though the panel generates a lot of surplus voltage which the PWM regulator can't use. However in simple terms, a MPPT regulators takes that surplus voltage and turns it into extra current which is why they normally deliver more current output. Trying to explain the process here can be a bit wordy and techy if you're new to it, but if you check out ruclips.net/video/cdAkQCA5tuY/видео.html, 4WD Supacentre explain in some detail the difference. However ... don't be fooled into thinking their MPPT regulators will give you the sort of output they claim in that video - to date I am yet to see more than about half the figures they showed in the video, from either of the two Kings MPPT regulators units I have (including the one shown in their video). I am hoping to test some different brand MPPT regulators to see if other brands are any better - let me know and subscribe if you think that would be helpful! Cheers, Greg
@@TheMusingGreg thanks for the reply I have the 200w blanket but with the pwm controller it came with. I was keen to see how their mppt controller went.
@@daleroveglia114 Yep I started with exactly the same combo. In a range of conditions over many months on the road, I have typically seen about a 10-15% improvement from Kings' MPPT regulators over the PWM, which in my opinion isn't worth the $100 cost of the regulator. Other commenters here have said they've had over 15A from some other brand regulators (which would be about a 100% improvement), but without knowing their full setup I can't be sure if that's a result of JUST the regulator, or if the panel or other components are contributing. This is why I really want to test a few of these panels and regulators so I can make some impartial and qualified statements. I am trying to borrow some solar gear from a few retailers for this review but have had little interest from them so far. It would be much quicker to just buy all the stuff I need, but it's a very expensive test to fund out of my own pocket when I don't NEED three different brand panels and regulators just for my own use; and so far no-one has supported our Patreon channel supporter's account which could have made a difference :(. So I can't be sure if and when I'll be able to bring that test to RUclips, but it's something I'd love to do because there's so much misinformation and uncertainty at the moment.
Hi Damian, I got this off eBay. If you do an eBay search for 'anderson plug power meter' you'll find several sellers selling this or an equivalent unit. The thing I don't like about it is that if you don't plug it in in the right order (source then load, or load then source I can't recall which) it displays garbage on the screen. Sometimes you have to unplug it a few times to get it to display meaningful information before connecting the other connector. Cheers, Greg
Hi mate, for the extra $160 I would probably go with the 250W model, for three reasons: 1) the folding legs mean you can prop it up at the right angle a lot more easily, 2) it comes with a MPPT regulator vs the PWM on the 200W unit, and 2) since the real-world power from Kings blankets is so much lower than what they advertise, this '250W' version might just manage to reliably give you over 100W. See ruclips.net/video/AActNzBZ9FA/видео.html, the in-depth comparo of the 200W Kings vs the Redarc unit if you haven't already, as I go into some detail on power outputs which would be relevant to the 250W unit too. The only caveat is that the 250W version is physically larger than the 200W version when folded up as it doesn't fold into as many pieces - the 200W version is 55x38cm when folded, while the 250W is 67x55cm. But if you have the room when folded, I'd say go for it. Good luck! Greg
How much power you get out of your panels depends on the type of controller you have. If you can afford it, go with a MPPT charge controller. You'll get at-least 30% more power out of your panels than if you used a PWM controller, especially in overcast or low light conditions.
Hi Jess, yes you're right, but this was in fact using a Kings MPPT solar charge controller - see 4:49! I tried with the Kings MPPT and Kings PWM, and the MPPT only gave about 10% more output than the PWM. 4WD Supacentre agreed this was a problem and replaced the controller under warranty, but the new (updated) replacement unit was no better. I'll be testing some other MPPT controllers in a future video to see if it's the brand of controller.
Good review and very thorough but I’ve now opted for the Kickass panels. Although more expensive they are quality and I’d rather have that over price if I’m stuck on holidays with failed panels. Cheers pal.
The solar blanket itself should be fine, it's the controller which provides the charge to the battery, and different types of batteries require different charging patterns and thresholds. I would check with 4WD Supacentre to confirm, and ask them what might work as an alternative solar charge controller. However you might have to look at a specialist 12V / solar supplier if they don't have something instore that will do the job. Good luck!
The manual for the solar panel will say not to use it with lithium because it’s only a simple controller. The mppt might also only be designed for lead/ agm/ calcium, you need to check. Each battery type has a different charge voltage and rate. The controllers need to have the right profiles built in so you don’t go popping / exploding batteries
Thanks for the video, very informative and an independent source. Not sure that you did yourself justice by pouring cool water onto a hot panel. Thermal shock was likely the cause of failure from your second blanket.
Glad it was helpful! Look that's a possibility - the blanket didn't normally get that hot and given they're designed to be out in the weather you'd think they should be designed to handle changing temps. The output on that second one was already getting low and the panel was hotter than usual, so I think it was almost dead anyway.
@@TheMusingGreg. Thank you for your feedback. In general, how do you find Adventure Kings equipment? Is it worth the decreased cost, or just a waste of money in the long run?
@@bennidamole3703 I wish I could give you an objective answer on that, but so far I've not had any success sourcing more expensive products to do a comparative test. I would hope more expensive = better quality than Kings, but it's also possible they're simply more expensive for a similar product. Until I've tested them I couldn't say, but subscribe as I'm hoping to do some more testing in the months ahead on this sort of thing.
@@TheMusingGreg thank you. Already have subscribed and am enjoying your videos. I am definitely getting a lot out of them, especially since you are independent and not swayed. Thank you once again. Keep up the great work!
Hey mate how did you set up your multimeter to record that output? I have a 120w panel and suspect its been rubbish from the day I got it (now out of warranty but I've barely used it). Curious to run a test on it now. Thanks
Hi mate, I was measuring Current (amps) in this video. A drawing or video would be much easier than words but I'll have a go at explaining it! To measure current, turn your multimeter onto the highest Amps setting you have available (normally 10A or 20A) - note that you might have to plug the red probe into a different plug on the meter for the high current setting to work. Once you've got that done, you need to put your multimeter inline with the electricity flow - DO NOT put the meter directly across the positive and negative terminals of the solar blanket or the battery or it will damage the meter and whatever you're connecting it across - an ammeter acts like a dead short circuit. To do it right: on your regulator, find the positive wire going from the output of the solar regulator to the battery. Disconnect that wire. Then connect the Red probe of your meter to the terminal on the regulator where you just disconnected the wire, and connect the Black probe of your meter to the bare end of the wire you just disconnected from the regulator. You should be able to picture the current flowing out of the regulator, into your meter on the Red probe, through the meter, back out of the meter on the Black probe, and then on into the battery. So the meter measures the Current 'flowing' through that circuit. Ideally you'd check the Voltage across the solar panel too but that's not normally the problem. Hope this helps, I might do a video on this in the future to help out. Cheers, Greg
@@TheMusingGreg perfect, thanks a lot. I've seen videos of people doing it wrong but I noticed yours was setup differently. Thanks for that. Will give it a crack
@@TheMusingGreg so I did this. When the regulator kicks in it shows around 4amp briefly then quickly drops to 1amp and fluctuates between 0-1amp. I'm not sure if its reading correctly or that is all the panel is producing? Seems terribly low
@@offthemeynroad4054 Those low current readings could be normal if the battery you're trying to charge is already fully charged. If so, when you first connect everything up there will be an initial inrush of current as the battery voltage gets pulled up to exactly what the regulator's putting out, and after that it will just be trickle-charging it. If that's the case, get a 12V battery which isn't fully charged and try again. If everything's working as it should you should get some constant current flow. Another thing you could do is to have some load connected to the battery at the same time you're charging it, e.g. connect up a 12V flood light, or an inverter charging a laptop, or something to draw some current out of the battery and drop the voltage down a bit. If things are working correctly you should see the current increase as soon as you connect the load. Regarding the fluctuations: This is normal if you're using a PWM regulator (the blue regulator which comes with the blanket), regardless of whether current flow is high or low, because the regulator is pulsing current into the battery, rather than providing a constant flow of current like a MPPT regulator produces. Are you using a PWM or MPPT regulator? Let us know how you go! Cheers, Greg
@@TheMusingGreg thanks. I thought that may be the case as I tried it on 2 batteries which are fully charged. I will drain one a little and try again. I was using the PWM controller that it comes with. I have an MPPT that is hard-wired in the car and would be a lot more stuffing around to test on. Thanks for your help.
Thanks for honest review Greg - I’ve used a few Kings products and they’ve all failed or broken - absolute rubbish brand and will never buy from them again - yes they’re cheap but I’m not prepared to waste another $ on their dodgy products - John in SA
Thanks for your comment John, it's helpful knowing others have faced similar challenges. Ultimately I think we have to accept paying a bit more for things that last, and hopefully support local industries who produce them. Cheers, Greg (also from SA, currently on the road full-time)
@@TheMusingGreg all good Greg - I now pay a few $s more and have bought a Redarc unit built here in SA - a great state for me to return to and retire - enjoy your travels, John
Interesting John... I love Redarc's gear (my first job was in Lonsdale) but I looked at Redarc's blankets and they were about 10x the price! I can't really picture how they could be sufficiently better to justify that much of a premium!
Looks like you were only using using a pwm regulator? Never saw you using a mppt for that 7.5a. You should get way more than that if you were using the mppt
No I was using the MPPT regulator. I didn't end up having any footage of that because that wasn't really the purpose of the review, but both regulators performed about the same. I agree a MPPT should perform better than that. So do Kings, and they replaced it with their latest model, but it performed no better. So I'm still on the hunt for a good regulator!
Good video dude. Kind of crazy they can market them like this isn't it. I would love a blanket as our 160w folding panels are bulky and heavy. We only have a hatch back too! I just can't bring myself to buy a blanket if they are this bad though. It would be interesting to see how the others on the market perform.
Thanks mate. Yes a blanket is a good choice if you're short of space. I too would be interested in seeing how more expensive alternatives performed, but it's an expensive experiment when I've already got two! :o Kings are good with warranty when something goes wrong, and as I said if you're only using them from time to time they're probably going to do the job. We're using them most days as full-time travellers so they get a workout.
I have glass and two blankets from two other manufacturers. As per this video the blankets are way down in output (80w from 140w and 90w from 160w) both with victron mppt. My kings 160w glass are brilliant with mppt regulator, I can get 160w. I wanted to replace the kings glass panels with blankets but the blankets just not performing (and hard to face sun and have blown over in the wind etc) I am keeping /using the bulky glass.
@@ozkite Very interesting! Are you able to measure the output voltage and current from the panel and the blanket going into the regulator? I'd be very interested to compare the two sets of readings and see what electrically is the difference (if you can't easily, I'm currently in Perth if you are too). My blankets produce approaching the 200W (e.g. at best I'll get 21V and maybe 7A = ~150W), but the regulator just doesn't pull that current more than about 15% higher. Cheers, Greg
@@TheMusingGreg 140W rated Blanket = 4.49amps 17.46v 78 watts input into regulator. 160W rated Glass panels = 8.90amps 16.0v 144w input into the regulator. I used same cable and moved it between the two panels. Both panels have no inbuilt regulator, I am connecting directly to the solar array with a heavy duty lead and power meter. In this test the panels were connected to my Redarc BMS30 that was in boost mode. Lithium battery at 13.2v. (Perth 12:30 PM full sun on panels, same angle on both panels.) The Redarc BMS confirmed the figures that I read on my watt meter. (I can see the same panel voltage and wattage input from the solar input on the BMS display) Obviously difficult to get 100% out of panel due to variables like sunlight level/heat/etc. but when I compare the two panels in same conditions, the flexible/blanket is performing at only 55% of its rating and the glass panels are performing at 90% of their rating. I did individually test/shade each of the four panels of the blanket to ensure they are all working. (I lost 1/2 power from the blanket whenever 1 of the four was shaded (matches them being wired as two strings of two in parallel) I suspect all blanket/flexible panels perform similar as I used to have on loan a higher powered blanket and this was similar in performance loss as the blanket I have now. Noting that your blanket figures are slightly better at 73%. I have often seen 160w from my 160W glass panels in great sun and cool conditions. One point often not considered is the glass panels don't blow over in the wind and are easy to move to follow the sun. If you peg your blanket down its not easy to move (and the ground might be hard) Your video was a good review and test of the blanket. (and the 'repair' video you also did) Cheers Roy
@@ozkite Brilliant thanks Roy, very helpful information! This, and Toppy Cat's parallel comment, makes me think a video on exactly this type of comparison would be worthwhile. What do you think? Just have to get my hands on some suitable gear now!
Actually if you have a 100 amp hour battery you can only safely take it down to half the amps so 50 amps, if you are putting 5 amps in then it will take 10 hours to top up assuming you are not using the artery at the same time for a fridge and the fact you are using pwm controller it will never give you the full potential of the solar panel that the mppt controller will. With mppt controller I get anywhere between 10 to 12 amps
I've had my fair share of faulty second hand products from 4x4 kings...they don't refund or exchange. I've learnt not to purchase anything in the near future from kings
I've had plenty of faulty Kings products, but I've found they've been pretty good with covering things under warranty. That said I am still very cautious about buying anything Kings, as I've learned to plan for it to fail!
@@TheMusingGreg so far I have bought the kickass shower and the mppt controller and the travel oven and the vacuum sealer and its top quality. Pay alittle more for quality items that last or pay less for kings rubbish. The second I stopped buying kings I have never had to buy twice. Even the items I have bought like solar panels and mppt chargers the same as the kings ones out perform kings.
You are using a PEM (pulse width modulation) solar controller. I have the same Kings solar blanket and a MPPT regulator and the difference is night and day. I ordered the unit with an MPPT regulator and they shipped me a PWM. Upon realizing their mistake (and an email from me with photographic evidence) they shipped me an MPPT regulator in 48 hours.
Hi mate, yes as mentioned I started with the PWM regulator they provided, but then later in the test used the MPPT regulator I bought separately in May 2020. I have also got the current Kings MPPT regulator as a warranty replacement for the first one, which they agreed wasn't providing the output it should have been. Unfortunately the new one is no better, and neither of the MPPT's provide much more than about 15% improvement over the PWM.
Yep they're definitely not waterproof. In the repair video I've done on this you can see what's inside; along the bottom where the water would collect there's not much to get damaged by water but it could seep through layers of the panel and cause a problem if it got really wet and submerged.
There will always be voltage drop in cables but I tested this with both the 4m and the 10m cable supplied with the blanket and there was no measurable difference in output power. The issue is the blanket quality, not the cable.
You're correct, but I had separately tested a MPPT regulator which gave the results I mentioned. The purpose of this video was to test the blanket, not the regulator as that's coming in a separate video; but I wanted to mention the results I'd gotten from the MPPT just in case someone thought the blanket would perform significantly better with a MPPT regulator.
Agreed. However this test was with the Kings MPPT regulator which still only delivered about half the rated power in full sun. I've since gotten this replaced under warranty so I'll see what the new unit is like.
hey mate, i suggest you change the crappy controller it comes with, i have a 120w xtm blanket and draw 6.8/7a in full sun, it came with the same crappy controller, i changed it to a better one from jaycar
Hi mate, I've already changed the stock PWM unit to a MPPT version from Kings, but this has just been replaced under warranty. I'm yet to see how the new version works but I think the regulator is definitely a key part of the problem. Glad to hear the output you've gotten from yours with a good regulator!
So basically these blankets are shit that’s really what you’re saying in a roundabout way. (I know you have to be careful about what and how you say it, i dont). Ive been stitched with cheap panels before and it sucks. I’ve found higher voltage house panels work really well. I can get about 15amps from my Second hand 260watt panels and they are pretty decent in low light aswel. I wont go back to 12v panels again, too expensive for what they put out.
I wouldn't put it *quite* that way, but I certainly haven't been too impressed with Kings' stuff so far. What I don't know is whether more expensive brands are any better, so hopefully I'll be able to test that sort of thing in the future.
cheap crap like kings the max iv seen testing 4 of the 200w blankets with a victron mppt was 140w. 2x old and 2x new model. You WILL see full rated power from any panel or blanket if you buy a quality genuine TUV rated panel. For example, i have a hard korr 200w croc skin blanket which uses jinko copper back cells and i get full 200w at 15.03amps when testing with a victron 75/15 mppt which is current limited to 15amps so there is a chance it would peak a bit higher with a larger controller. and my sunpower high end grid panels flat on my van roof are 395w and i have seen 435w each from them in good conditions. The myth of solar panels never giving full output comes from many people buying cheap crap and then when asking why they only get 50-80% output are told by the next guy who owns cheap crap that its normal.
I have purchased 2 x 250 w adentute kings. Never got anything better than 0.25 rated powet out of them. They let me down in 100ks offshore on norhwest island with elec cooler. Fool am i. People purchase these for off grid trips. No way will i ever risk that again. Brand not recommended at all in my books. The cost - effort - impact of let down was not worth it.
I'm not surprised to hear that George. That's why at the end of the Redarc vs Kings video ruclips.net/video/AActNzBZ9FA/видео.html I didn't recommend Kings for mission-critical work, where the Redarc would be a better choice.
On what basis do you say that? Many folks who've commented on this video have reported similar problems with their Kings solar panels. I can't say everyone would have the same experience, but it appears I'm far from alone on this.
I am generally a strong believer in paying for good quality stuff, but when I was new to this niche I had just hoped the Kings' stuff might be cheap because of their volumes and more-direct-to-consumer model. So far their equipment hasn't lived up my expectations, and reinforces the value of paying a bit more. However one has to be sure whether a more expensive alternative is actually any better, or just more expensive because of a more expensive supply chain. I'd be interested in knowing which brands you've found to be worthwhile.
That's an option I'll definitely be looking at, although given the ratings are the same one could be forgiven for thinking the output would be the same.
Hi Greg, Just use the formula I have stated to determine the expected output of any panel whether it be an expensive one or a cheap one. If then u get over 75% of the calculated output you are doing well. Even some of the more expensive panels do not achieve their stated output as the area of the panel isn’t large enough. I just bought a flexible panel on EBay knowing full well that it was not going to achieve the the 300 watt output that they were stating. Once received I tested it and could only get 144 watts. Wrote back to the seller, stated a number of issues including that it could never achieve the output and asked for a return postage label. The replay came back asking if i wanted another or a refund and to keep the panel. The 160 watt Kings flexible panel is far better quality and produces the same output. I note that kings put out a number of videos relating to their solar blankets yet there don’t appear to be any showing the output. I think we all know why.
I'm certainly not very impressed with the product quality so far. It's great they're so willing to replace things under warranty but it's a shame the warranty's needed in the first place.
![[TESTED] KINGS vs REDARC solar blankets - shoot-out! 🤠](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/AActNzBZ9FA/mqdefault.jpg)
![[TESTED] KINGS vs REDARC solar blankets - shoot-out! 🤠](/img/tr.png)
We need more independent, honest and thorough reviews like these. Cheers mate.
My pleasure mate, glad it was helpful! Stay subbed for more content - and check out Kings vs Redarc ruclips.net/video/AActNzBZ9FA/видео.html if you haven't already!
Thanks for the time creating this review. I went looking since I was suspicious their website has reviews for their hard panels but no reviews at all on their solar blanket! And product review only has 2 reviews on the 120w. Surely more people have bought them. Anyway, thanks :)
Good on you for doing your research mate! Too many people rely just on advertised ratings and end up disappointed like I was. Glad it was helpful!
I had one of AK 1st generation 200W Solar blankets (10 x panels). It lasted about 11 months (used about 7 times in that time), and it simply stopped charging. Returned it to the 4WD Supacentre store, and was replaced under warranty after the store staff confirmed it was faulty - potential wiring issues. It was replaced with their latest gen (6 x panels), but they only replaced the blanket, & gave me back my old solar regulator and cables. This new blanket is working well so far (touch wood). And I've since replaced the original 20A PWM solar regulator with a 20A MPPT version I've also sinced purchased the AK 160W fixed solar panel and have it permanently mounted on my roof rack. This is connected to my Baintech Powertop 135Ah which is permanently powering my KickA$$ 75 Dual Zone Fridge/Freezer and several LED camp lights - plus the occasional inverter use. The 200w solar blanket is now only used as a backup solution, or when my 4WD is under shade.
Interesting you had a similar experience to me, Hammer Rocks. My original one was a v4 blanket which failed exactly the same way as yours, although I ended up fixing it as they didn't take it back - see ruclips.net/video/XyNpfqQ-4K8/видео.html. My replacement was a v5 blanket which is physically a bit larger than the v4 and has slightly lower output than the v4 when it was working. My replacement came with new PWM regulator, cables etc. I think a permanent panel's a good idea if you have a blanket to put out in the sun when you're shaded. Best of both worlds!
Cheers,
Greg
Thanks just bought the 200w this was useful . I’ll keep an eye on the performance
Good luck, I hope you get a better run out of yours than I did from mine!
Yes bought a Kings 200 W solar blanket and after being used for 2 weeks it started to drop in amps and then basically only worked intermittently .Left it set up one day and when I came back 7 hours later there had been only 10 amps put back into the battery ..therefore 130 AH battery was down to 65% and fridge was using 4amps/hr. Told 4wd supercentre and after one month had to chase them up 3 times just for an answer about a replacement..
I can't say I'm surprised about much of that! Thanks for sharing!
I test and review Solar blankets for various distributors. I can confirm everything that you have said. I also make a rather unique purpose built 12V system tester so that I can do repeatable testing.
Just a word of caution for users, despite what one may think they are actually quite fragile. DON'T walk on them or drive over them. It causes microcracks which severely affects their output.
My GoNo criteria during testing of 200W panels is 120W under ideal conditions. I test a few brands and the best I have seen is 140W which was on an expensive premium brand.
Thanks for the input Keith, great to have that verification. And I agree with everything you've said. The microcracking I mentioned in the Kings vs Redarc review is probably exactly what you're mentioning.
It's a great shame the ratings are based on lab results rather than real world results. I would welcome your input on what I proposed in the latest solar blanket review at the 8-10 minute mark ruclips.net/video/o8rLVv2oCnQ/видео.htmlsi=PIXeJphrrhCNS3SM
Thanks for your informative review. I have one of these and only getting 74 watts so will be giving iti to a friend. Fortunately, it wasn't one that I bought as I found on a country road. Yesterday I bought two of the Kings 160 watt flexible solar panels on special for Australia Day at $119. Tested them both and getting 143 watts and 10.1 amps from each panel so they are giving great output.
Anyone looking at buying solar panels use 156 watts/m2 to give u an idea of the expected output. Therefore use the L x W x 156 = wattage. Using that formula the Kings solar blanket was never going to achieve the wattage specified. This is omething that is very common on EBay as all the solar panels wattages are overstated. Even the Kings 160 watt panel is overstated based on it’s size, but in comparison with the $110 watt I considered them to be good value if I could get approximately 140 watts. At 143 watts and 10.1 amps they are the best panels I have bought to date. It is just a case now of how long they will last.
Great thanks for your valuable input into this conversation Toppy Cat. The consensus is starting to emerge that solar blankets aren't as powerful as similarly-rated panels, be they fixed, folding or semi-flexible like yours sound to be. I'm looking to test this hypothesis in future videos, but keep us posted on whether the output from yours change over time, or if they fail prematurely!
Cheers,
Greg
The voltage out of most solar panels is 21 volts. To work out the maximum amps out of a panel you need to divide Watts (200) by 21 to get a maximum current of 9.5A, but that's in perfect conditions. The output voltage is normally on the reverse of the panel, but it's not on the Kings blankets.
That's correct Derek. 4WD Supacentre rates the 200W blanket at ~10.5A which would be 19.5V, however I get 22V out of this panel normally so I suspect their specs are about as rubbery as their instructions and goods quality!
Great video Greg. I purchased a set Bluetti PV 350 Solar panel 350 W. In full sun the regulator was showing 350W to 410 W. One of the panels has a strip down the middle which appears to be different to all the other panels. Not quite sure if this is normal. Where would I go to clarify this question before going back to the Company.
Glad it was helpful Wayne. Without seeing a photo I couldn't say for sure but I wouldn't be too concerned given the power output is as healthy as you're saying. It could possibly be that panel's from a different manufacturing batch perhaps? The manufacturer would really be the best place to start on this if you want a concrete answer, I'd hope their support would be good as they're a premium brand.
Good luck!
People with old Kings gear swear by it. That's because Kings used to be really great. Once they'd built a rep, their quality turned to shit. Now the new stock is garbage.
Worthy of note is how heat affects solar cells. With heat, comes resistance, so voltage drop and lower power. In full sun these panels can get very hot, way above the recommended operating temperature. This is where fixed panels are an advantage because they dissipate heat way better and can be propped up off the ground for air flow.
I'm not surprised if older stuff was better, shame to hear but it's often the way. Yep my first 200W was toastingly hot when it failed.
Just bought the 200watt pannels with mppt charger and just plugged it into my caravan and on my renogy battery monitor it only says im getting 1.4 amps going into the batteries,that aint normal surely? However my batteries were pretty full,does this matter.
If the batteries are full: yes that's probably normal. The regulator monitors the battery condition and only takes what it needs from the panels, so if they're nearly full it'll probably be in trickle charge so you'll only get a small amount of current going in. This is why I always had my batteries below 50% in my tests.
I would recommend you run your batteries down to 12.0-12.5v and give it another shot and you should get more current. If you don't then there's probably a problem somewhere, either the panels or the controller.
Good luck!
Greg
@@TheMusingGreg thanks mate will do
Thx for this review. That panel looks a lot like the 200 Hardkorr Brand I purchased
Yeah that sounds like the Hard Korr budget range without the 'crocskin' surface of the one I tested. The crocskin one worked really well, check it out if you've not seen it ruclips.net/video/pPy_5Lm-Mo0/видео.html
By the way, at N43, in Canada; my experience is that 50% of an Equator based rating is typical; while the 200 Watt panels lay flat to the ground.
Cool that's helpful to know, thanks very much for sharing!
Well done Greg, you're the first person I've seen publically speak the truth about portable panels, 50% of the rated production is my experience also with many brands. I can't believe with all the 4x4 and camping experts on RUclips it's taken so long for someone to note this, shows how many people don't understand the basics. So many people say 'its making great amps' with no factual data actually shown. I really enjoyed your honest review with enough tech info to show me you know your stuff. Looking forward to the redarc review and seeing its output, I'm sure it'll be better but maybe still not reaching the rated power output? Let's see
Thanks very much Ryan, I appreciate your feedback and glad the review struck a chord with you! The Redarc one should be ready in the next couple of weeks, lots of data and footage to work through! Stay tuned and subbed!
You must be using cheap panels then as i achieve full rated output and higher with many panels including portable fold outs and blankets. But i buy genuine TUV tested and certified panels not ebay junk or online junk. A true TUV tested and rated panel WILL output its rating in the right conditions. This myth on you will never see full output comes from the cheap crud on the market and people coming to think that this is normal for solar and telling the next guys its to be expected.
@@magicmanspaz You might be interested in this. ruclips.net/video/AActNzBZ9FA/видео.html
hi..
In the manual it says "solar panel voltage is higher than the light control voltage" next to 'Steady ON' by the Solar panel icon. Both my solar panel lights are steady, not flashing. As, if they flash - 'charging is in process', according to the manual. Is there something wrong with mine? TIA
Hi Pip,
Sorry for the delay. It's possible there might be something wrong with it, or at least something misconfigured, but without seeing the setup it's a bit hard to say for sure. Do you have any way of measuring the voltage or current? E.g. do you have a voltmeter you can put onto the battery and see if it starts climbing when you connect the regulator? That way you could verify if it's actually working or not.
Cheers,
Greg
You won't get maximum amps from the blanket unless your battery is a little flat or needs the current. 4WD Supacentre stuff is built to a price and not always reliable. And yes these panels are hard to get on the right angle, painful to be honest. Their 250W panel with legs is better for angled use but mine failed after being used only a handful of times. The 250W panel is supposed to be a premium panel which puts out more amps. Dealing with them is not always fun. I would be happy to pay more if it mean't reliability. Their 20a MPPT Regulator shows promise, the other ones are junk. I also use Redarc PWM controllers
Thanks for the comment Dean. Yes what remains to be seen is if other brands are any better. I hope to bring some real data to answer that. Stay tuned!
for reliability, a glass panel with a spare regulator or mppt unit is tops. have heard so many failures with blanket types, of all qualities.
Yeah you're probably right Sue, I've heard similar. They just take up a lot of space which is the trade-off vs performance compared to a blanket.
I got the 200watt blanket, was putting out 109watt approx 8.3amp in hot WA sun. on my panels some of the silver strips in the front are not strait. they are at about 30-45 degrees some even do a u turn 180 degree. is this normal, I dough it.
Hi Gaz Ed, that type of output is about the best I've seen on mine. The silver strips were straight on mind, if you're not sure about yours contact 4WD Supacentre and see what they can sort out for you.
This was a really interesting video. My understanding is that solar panels/blankets are not meant to be put out in full sun as the direct heat overheats the cells and they fail. They are normally meant to be placed in slightly shaded as it isn't the direct sunlight they use for energy conversion.
Hi James, interesting, where have you heard that? What you're saying makes sense for longevity and reducing heat build-up, but you're not going to get much useable output from it. I find a slight bit of shading drops the output considerably, and in the outback you often don't have shade available. Also, solar panels are normally in full sun so I'm not sure why a solar blanket would be given different advice?
I'm finishing off a video comparing my 3rd Kings blanket vs a brand spanking new Redarc blanket, so make sure you're subscribed as that should be along in the next couple of weeks.
@@TheMusingGreg Most of the solar panel makers have mentioned it. The direct sun can overheat the panels. It is why semi flex panels fail quickly - they build up heat underneath which they can't get rid of fast enough.
@@jameslawson8032 In the Redarc manual they certainly recommend that the blanket be out in full sun. They also say in the manual 'Do not permanently shade part of the blanket'.
I agree it will probably last longer if the whole thing is in partial shade and nice and cool, but how much power are you going to lose if it's in partial shade? I'm glad you asked ;) - ruclips.net/video/djdiCAl_zc0/видео.html
@@TheMusingGreg Yes, so the understanding is that they do prefer direct light, but not the heat. The panels absorb photons from the sunlight. Not as much when in shade, but they do receive them. But if in direct sunlight and they heat up (like on a summer's day in Aust) then solar panels can build up too much heat and not work as efficiently. In fact solar panels can work really well in a light snowfall as the snow helps to keep the panels cooler. Germany is a good example of this. They produce huge amounts of solar energy without the sunlight we get here. It would be interesting to measure the surface temperature on you panel when it is next out in the sun, at different times of the day, versus its efficiency (how many raw Watts it is producing) When it gets over a certain temp you should see its output decrease (given same relative angle to sun). Also try it in different positions, say on the ground or of the ground where heat can dissapate better. Anyway. thanks again for an informative video, as it was good!
@@jameslawson8032 Cheers mate, yeah I actually did a basic test along those lines on Kings blanket #2 I think it was (my first 200W unit). When I poured cold water over it the output initially dropped, then as the water started to evaporate the output climbed by about 1A more than it'd been before for maybe half a minute until it started to heat up again and the output started dropping again. So I'm with you definitely that if you can get full sun but get rid of the heat it's the optimum. Unfortunately we can't easily do that so it's a matter of what's the least worse compromise!
Nice video I have 2 120w kings blanket panel for 4 years now I’m so happy my ones work great I just put my on top of the roof of my caravan when I setup I do run it through a victron mppt solar controller but maybe that makes a big difference
Thanks for the comment, glad your setup works well. What current do you get out of your Victron MPPT controller in full sun? I'm working on a video on the Kings MPPT controller and it's possible that could be the problem. Make sure you subscribe if you want to see the test video!
@@TheMusingGreg with good sun it gives me 12.7/16.8 amps with both 120w blankets
@@haroldtatow852 Wow that's what I would have expected! I see basically no improvement over the PWM. I reckon the Kings MPPT must be a dud!
After reading many reviews I went for the 200W Ridge Ryder Solar Blanket from Supa Cheap Auto. More expensive than the Ebay cheapies but gets good reviews and comes with a quality MPPT controler in a solid metal case. With blanket flat on ground in full Sun I get 20 Volts from the blanket into the controller and a charge rate into the battery up to 10 amps. Although the controller reduses charging voltage to around 14V, if the raw blanket voltage of 20V is multiplied by 10A then this gives stated output of 200 Watts. I know, a bit of a dodgy way to calculate power. This could be why claimed Wattage for many panels seems overstated by some sellers? It depends how calculation is done.
Thanks for the tip Geoff. Nothing wrong with those calculations - if you're getting 20V @ 10A coming out of the panel that's your 200W. It's how I was doing the measurements on this test. I might add the Ridge Ryder to a list of candidates for a future test.
Cheers!
@@TheMusingGreg My 200W blanket can deliver 10A at 14V from the regulator to the battery. This is a power rating of 140W, which is the important figure. Connecting the blanket directly to the battery (not a good idea) is unlikely to deliver 20V at 10A = 200W. I think it can be misleading to pay much attention to makers Watts claim. The only important figure is maximum Amps available out of the regulator and whether this is enough current to run equipment and keep battery charged.
@@TheMusingGreg try kt cable as well
Hey mate I see you said you tested the blanket with the mppt regulator but in the video it's still the pwm one. Just wanting to know what was the difference between the 2 controllers thanks
Hi Dale, I actually used both regulators at different stages of the video but there's not a great deal of difference in how these ones perform so it didn't make a big difference.
MPPT regulators should provide more current into the batteries than a PWM regulator. The power output of PWM regulators is limited by the current coming out of the panel, even though the panel generates a lot of surplus voltage which the PWM regulator can't use. However in simple terms, a MPPT regulators takes that surplus voltage and turns it into extra current which is why they normally deliver more current output. Trying to explain the process here can be a bit wordy and techy if you're new to it, but if you check out ruclips.net/video/cdAkQCA5tuY/видео.html, 4WD Supacentre explain in some detail the difference.
However ... don't be fooled into thinking their MPPT regulators will give you the sort of output they claim in that video - to date I am yet to see more than about half the figures they showed in the video, from either of the two Kings MPPT regulators units I have (including the one shown in their video). I am hoping to test some different brand MPPT regulators to see if other brands are any better - let me know and subscribe if you think that would be helpful!
Cheers,
Greg
@@TheMusingGreg thanks for the reply I have the 200w blanket but with the pwm controller it came with. I was keen to see how their mppt controller went.
@@daleroveglia114 Yep I started with exactly the same combo. In a range of conditions over many months on the road, I have typically seen about a 10-15% improvement from Kings' MPPT regulators over the PWM, which in my opinion isn't worth the $100 cost of the regulator. Other commenters here have said they've had over 15A from some other brand regulators (which would be about a 100% improvement), but without knowing their full setup I can't be sure if that's a result of JUST the regulator, or if the panel or other components are contributing.
This is why I really want to test a few of these panels and regulators so I can make some impartial and qualified statements.
I am trying to borrow some solar gear from a few retailers for this review but have had little interest from them so far. It would be much quicker to just buy all the stuff I need, but it's a very expensive test to fund out of my own pocket when I don't NEED three different brand panels and regulators just for my own use; and so far no-one has supported our Patreon channel supporter's account which could have made a difference :(. So I can't be sure if and when I'll be able to bring that test to RUclips, but it's something I'd love to do because there's so much misinformation and uncertainty at the moment.
Great video. Greg what was the amp meter device you showed? Any links to buy one??
Hi Damian,
I got this off eBay. If you do an eBay search for 'anderson plug power meter' you'll find several sellers selling this or an equivalent unit. The thing I don't like about it is that if you don't plug it in in the right order (source then load, or load then source I can't recall which) it displays garbage on the screen. Sometimes you have to unplug it a few times to get it to display meaningful information before connecting the other connector.
Cheers,
Greg
Thanks! A very useful video. I guess it is always the case that you pretty much get what you pay for.
Very true! Thanks for watching!
Mate the 250w model you mentioned has come down quite a way . Would you recommend that over the 200?
Hi mate, for the extra $160 I would probably go with the 250W model, for three reasons:
1) the folding legs mean you can prop it up at the right angle a lot more easily,
2) it comes with a MPPT regulator vs the PWM on the 200W unit, and
2) since the real-world power from Kings blankets is so much lower than what they advertise, this '250W' version might just manage to reliably give you over 100W. See ruclips.net/video/AActNzBZ9FA/видео.html, the in-depth comparo of the 200W Kings vs the Redarc unit if you haven't already, as I go into some detail on power outputs which would be relevant to the 250W unit too.
The only caveat is that the 250W version is physically larger than the 200W version when folded up as it doesn't fold into as many pieces - the 200W version is 55x38cm when folded, while the 250W is 67x55cm. But if you have the room when folded, I'd say go for it.
Good luck!
Greg
How much power you get out of your panels depends on the type of controller you have. If you can afford it, go with a MPPT charge controller. You'll get at-least 30% more power out of your panels than if you used a PWM controller, especially in overcast or low light conditions.
Hi Jess, yes you're right, but this was in fact using a Kings MPPT solar charge controller - see 4:49! I tried with the Kings MPPT and Kings PWM, and the MPPT only gave about 10% more output than the PWM. 4WD Supacentre agreed this was a problem and replaced the controller under warranty, but the new (updated) replacement unit was no better. I'll be testing some other MPPT controllers in a future video to see if it's the brand of controller.
Good review and very thorough but I’ve now opted for the Kickass panels. Although more expensive they are quality and I’d rather have that over price if I’m stuck on holidays with failed panels. Cheers pal.
Thanks for the comment Lee, it's always good to get recommendations of other products to look at.
I just brought this with the MPPT I have a 100Ah LiFePo battery but the manual says not to use with Lithium. Why wouldn't I be able to use it?
The solar blanket itself should be fine, it's the controller which provides the charge to the battery, and different types of batteries require different charging patterns and thresholds. I would check with 4WD Supacentre to confirm, and ask them what might work as an alternative solar charge controller. However you might have to look at a specialist 12V / solar supplier if they don't have something instore that will do the job. Good luck!
The manual for the solar panel will say not to use it with lithium because it’s only a simple controller. The mppt might also only be designed for lead/ agm/ calcium, you need to check.
Each battery type has a different charge voltage and rate. The controllers need to have the right profiles built in so you don’t go popping / exploding batteries
An excellent product review... thank you!
Glad it was helpful! Thanks for the feedback! Stay tuned (and subbed) for the Kings vs Redarc solar blanket comparison! ;)
Solid info, very helpful. Thanks for putting the video together
No problems Peter, glad it was useful! Make sure you subscribe so you don't miss more content like this!
Thanks for the video, very informative and an independent source. Not sure that you did yourself justice by pouring cool water onto a hot panel. Thermal shock was likely the cause of failure from your second blanket.
Glad it was helpful! Look that's a possibility - the blanket didn't normally get that hot and given they're designed to be out in the weather you'd think they should be designed to handle changing temps. The output on that second one was already getting low and the panel was hotter than usual, so I think it was almost dead anyway.
@@TheMusingGreg. Thank you for your feedback. In general, how do you find Adventure Kings equipment? Is it worth the decreased cost, or just a waste of money in the long run?
@@bennidamole3703 I wish I could give you an objective answer on that, but so far I've not had any success sourcing more expensive products to do a comparative test. I would hope more expensive = better quality than Kings, but it's also possible they're simply more expensive for a similar product. Until I've tested them I couldn't say, but subscribe as I'm hoping to do some more testing in the months ahead on this sort of thing.
@@TheMusingGreg thank you. Already have subscribed and am enjoying your videos. I am definitely getting a lot out of them, especially since you are independent and not swayed. Thank you once again. Keep up the great work!
Thanks very much for your support, I appreciate it!
Great video, thanks, it was really helpful 👍
No problems, glad it was helpful!
Hey mate how did you set up your multimeter to record that output? I have a 120w panel and suspect its been rubbish from the day I got it (now out of warranty but I've barely used it). Curious to run a test on it now. Thanks
Hi mate, I was measuring Current (amps) in this video. A drawing or video would be much easier than words but I'll have a go at explaining it!
To measure current, turn your multimeter onto the highest Amps setting you have available (normally 10A or 20A) - note that you might have to plug the red probe into a different plug on the meter for the high current setting to work.
Once you've got that done, you need to put your multimeter inline with the electricity flow - DO NOT put the meter directly across the positive and negative terminals of the solar blanket or the battery or it will damage the meter and whatever you're connecting it across - an ammeter acts like a dead short circuit. To do it right: on your regulator, find the positive wire going from the output of the solar regulator to the battery. Disconnect that wire. Then connect the Red probe of your meter to the terminal on the regulator where you just disconnected the wire, and connect the Black probe of your meter to the bare end of the wire you just disconnected from the regulator. You should be able to picture the current flowing out of the regulator, into your meter on the Red probe, through the meter, back out of the meter on the Black probe, and then on into the battery. So the meter measures the Current 'flowing' through that circuit.
Ideally you'd check the Voltage across the solar panel too but that's not normally the problem.
Hope this helps, I might do a video on this in the future to help out.
Cheers,
Greg
@@TheMusingGreg perfect, thanks a lot. I've seen videos of people doing it wrong but I noticed yours was setup differently. Thanks for that. Will give it a crack
@@TheMusingGreg so I did this. When the regulator kicks in it shows around 4amp briefly then quickly drops to 1amp and fluctuates between 0-1amp. I'm not sure if its reading correctly or that is all the panel is producing? Seems terribly low
@@offthemeynroad4054 Those low current readings could be normal if the battery you're trying to charge is already fully charged. If so, when you first connect everything up there will be an initial inrush of current as the battery voltage gets pulled up to exactly what the regulator's putting out, and after that it will just be trickle-charging it. If that's the case, get a 12V battery which isn't fully charged and try again. If everything's working as it should you should get some constant current flow. Another thing you could do is to have some load connected to the battery at the same time you're charging it, e.g. connect up a 12V flood light, or an inverter charging a laptop, or something to draw some current out of the battery and drop the voltage down a bit. If things are working correctly you should see the current increase as soon as you connect the load.
Regarding the fluctuations: This is normal if you're using a PWM regulator (the blue regulator which comes with the blanket), regardless of whether current flow is high or low, because the regulator is pulsing current into the battery, rather than providing a constant flow of current like a MPPT regulator produces. Are you using a PWM or MPPT regulator?
Let us know how you go!
Cheers,
Greg
@@TheMusingGreg thanks. I thought that may be the case as I tried it on 2 batteries which are fully charged. I will drain one a little and try again.
I was using the PWM controller that it comes with. I have an MPPT that is hard-wired in the car and would be a lot more stuffing around to test on.
Thanks for your help.
Great info to the point. Great video
Thanks Andrew, glad it was helpful!
Thanks for honest review Greg - I’ve used a few Kings products and they’ve all failed or broken - absolute rubbish brand and will never buy from them again - yes they’re cheap but I’m not prepared to waste another $ on their dodgy products - John in SA
Thanks for your comment John, it's helpful knowing others have faced similar challenges. Ultimately I think we have to accept paying a bit more for things that last, and hopefully support local industries who produce them.
Cheers,
Greg (also from SA, currently on the road full-time)
@@TheMusingGreg all good Greg - I now pay a few $s more and have bought a Redarc unit built here in SA - a great state for me to return to and retire - enjoy your travels, John
Interesting John... I love Redarc's gear (my first job was in Lonsdale) but I looked at Redarc's blankets and they were about 10x the price! I can't really picture how they could be sufficiently better to justify that much of a premium!
Looks like you were only using using a pwm regulator? Never saw you using a mppt for that 7.5a. You should get way more than that if you were using the mppt
No I was using the MPPT regulator. I didn't end up having any footage of that because that wasn't really the purpose of the review, but both regulators performed about the same. I agree a MPPT should perform better than that. So do Kings, and they replaced it with their latest model, but it performed no better. So I'm still on the hunt for a good regulator!
Good video dude. Kind of crazy they can market them like this isn't it. I would love a blanket as our 160w folding panels are bulky and heavy. We only have a hatch back too! I just can't bring myself to buy a blanket if they are this bad though. It would be interesting to see how the others on the market perform.
Thanks mate. Yes a blanket is a good choice if you're short of space. I too would be interested in seeing how more expensive alternatives performed, but it's an expensive experiment when I've already got two! :o
Kings are good with warranty when something goes wrong, and as I said if you're only using them from time to time they're probably going to do the job. We're using them most days as full-time travellers so they get a workout.
I have glass and two blankets from two other manufacturers. As per this video the blankets are way down in output (80w from 140w and 90w from 160w) both with victron mppt.
My kings 160w glass are brilliant with mppt regulator, I can get 160w.
I wanted to replace the kings glass panels with blankets but the blankets just not performing (and hard to face sun and have blown over in the wind etc)
I am keeping /using the bulky glass.
@@ozkite Very interesting! Are you able to measure the output voltage and current from the panel and the blanket going into the regulator? I'd be very interested to compare the two sets of readings and see what electrically is the difference (if you can't easily, I'm currently in Perth if you are too).
My blankets produce approaching the 200W (e.g. at best I'll get 21V and maybe 7A = ~150W), but the regulator just doesn't pull that current more than about 15% higher.
Cheers,
Greg
@@TheMusingGreg
140W rated Blanket = 4.49amps 17.46v 78 watts input into regulator.
160W rated Glass panels = 8.90amps 16.0v 144w input into the regulator.
I used same cable and moved it between the two panels. Both panels have no inbuilt regulator, I am connecting directly to the solar array with a heavy duty lead and power meter.
In this test the panels were connected to my Redarc BMS30 that was in boost mode. Lithium battery at 13.2v. (Perth 12:30 PM full sun on panels, same angle on both panels.)
The Redarc BMS confirmed the figures that I read on my watt meter. (I can see the same panel voltage and wattage input from the solar input on the BMS display)
Obviously difficult to get 100% out of panel due to variables like sunlight level/heat/etc. but when I compare the two panels in same conditions, the flexible/blanket is performing at only 55% of its rating and the glass panels are performing at 90% of their rating.
I did individually test/shade each of the four panels of the blanket to ensure they are all working. (I lost 1/2 power from the blanket whenever 1 of the four was shaded (matches them being wired as two strings of two in parallel)
I suspect all blanket/flexible panels perform similar as I used to have on loan a higher powered blanket and this was similar in performance loss as the blanket I have now. Noting that your blanket figures are slightly better at 73%.
I have often seen 160w from my 160W glass panels in great sun and cool conditions.
One point often not considered is the glass panels don't blow over in the wind and are easy to move to follow the sun. If you peg your blanket down its not easy to move (and the ground might be hard)
Your video was a good review and test of the blanket. (and the 'repair' video you also did)
Cheers
Roy
@@ozkite Brilliant thanks Roy, very helpful information! This, and Toppy Cat's parallel comment, makes me think a video on exactly this type of comparison would be worthwhile. What do you think? Just have to get my hands on some suitable gear now!
Actually if you have a 100 amp hour battery you can only safely take it down to half the amps so 50 amps, if you are putting 5 amps in then it will take 10 hours to top up assuming you are not using the artery at the same time for a fridge and the fact you are using pwm controller it will never give you the full potential of the solar panel that the mppt controller will. With mppt controller I get anywhere between 10 to 12 amps
Yes that's correct. As per 4:47, note that I was using a MPPT controller for all these tests, not a PWM unit.
I've had my fair share of faulty second hand products from 4x4 kings...they don't refund or exchange. I've learnt not to purchase anything in the near future from kings
I've had plenty of faulty Kings products, but I've found they've been pretty good with covering things under warranty. That said I am still very cautious about buying anything Kings, as I've learned to plan for it to fail!
I expect everything from kings to fail that's why I buy kickass.
I won't buy that brand as I find its brand name offensive. However it would be interesting to know if it performs any better in the long-term.
@@TheMusingGreg so far I have bought the kickass shower and the mppt controller and the travel oven and the vacuum sealer and its top quality. Pay alittle more for quality items that last or pay less for kings rubbish. The second I stopped buying kings I have never had to buy twice. Even the items I have bought like solar panels and mppt chargers the same as the kings ones out perform kings.
@@davidoconnor6051 Thanks for the tip David. Always good to have recommendations from others!
@@davidoconnor6051 kt cable is top notch also
You are using a PEM (pulse width modulation) solar controller. I have the same Kings solar blanket and a MPPT regulator and the difference is night and day. I ordered the unit with an MPPT regulator and they shipped me a PWM. Upon realizing their mistake (and an email from me with photographic evidence) they shipped me an MPPT regulator in 48 hours.
Hi mate, yes as mentioned I started with the PWM regulator they provided, but then later in the test used the MPPT regulator I bought separately in May 2020. I have also got the current Kings MPPT regulator as a warranty replacement for the first one, which they agreed wasn't providing the output it should have been. Unfortunately the new one is no better, and neither of the MPPT's provide much more than about 15% improvement over the PWM.
i bought a 200w today, I was warned that they are not waterproof.
Yep they're definitely not waterproof. In the repair video I've done on this you can see what's inside; along the bottom where the water would collect there's not much to get damaged by water but it could seep through layers of the panel and cause a problem if it got really wet and submerged.
the wire is too long from the source.. there is a voltage loss...
There will always be voltage drop in cables but I tested this with both the 4m and the 10m cable supplied with the blanket and there was no measurable difference in output power. The issue is the blanket quality, not the cable.
Mate you literally showed it plugged into the pwm controller when you showed the amps and watts
You're correct, but I had separately tested a MPPT regulator which gave the results I mentioned. The purpose of this video was to test the blanket, not the regulator as that's coming in a separate video; but I wanted to mention the results I'd gotten from the MPPT just in case someone thought the blanket would perform significantly better with a MPPT regulator.
You aren’t going to get the full 200w output using a PWM regulator or any panel
Agreed. However this test was with the Kings MPPT regulator which still only delivered about half the rated power in full sun. I've since gotten this replaced under warranty so I'll see what the new unit is like.
hey mate, i suggest you change the crappy controller it comes with, i have a 120w xtm blanket and draw 6.8/7a in full sun, it came with the same crappy controller, i changed it to a better one from jaycar
Hi mate, I've already changed the stock PWM unit to a MPPT version from Kings, but this has just been replaced under warranty. I'm yet to see how the new version works but I think the regulator is definitely a key part of the problem. Glad to hear the output you've gotten from yours with a good regulator!
So basically these blankets are shit that’s really what you’re saying in a roundabout way. (I know you have to be careful about what and how you say it, i dont). Ive been stitched with cheap panels before and it sucks. I’ve found higher voltage house panels work really well. I can get about 15amps from my Second hand 260watt panels and they are pretty decent in low light aswel. I wont go back to 12v panels again, too expensive for what they put out.
I wouldn't put it *quite* that way, but I certainly haven't been too impressed with Kings' stuff so far. What I don't know is whether more expensive brands are any better, so hopefully I'll be able to test that sort of thing in the future.
cheap crap like kings the max iv seen testing 4 of the 200w blankets with a victron mppt was 140w. 2x old and 2x new model. You WILL see full rated power from any panel or blanket if you buy a quality genuine TUV rated panel. For example, i have a hard korr 200w croc skin blanket which uses jinko copper back cells and i get full 200w at 15.03amps when testing with a victron 75/15 mppt which is current limited to 15amps so there is a chance it would peak a bit higher with a larger controller. and my sunpower high end grid panels flat on my van roof are 395w and i have seen 435w each from them in good conditions. The myth of solar panels never giving full output comes from many people buying cheap crap and then when asking why they only get 50-80% output are told by the next guy who owns cheap crap that its normal.
Thanks for the tip mate! I'm finishing up a Kings vs Redarc video so stay tuned for the results of that!
I have purchased 2 x 250 w adentute kings. Never got anything better than 0.25 rated powet out of them. They let me down in 100ks offshore on norhwest island with elec cooler. Fool am i. People purchase these for off grid trips. No way will i ever risk that again. Brand not recommended at all in my books. The cost - effort - impact of let down was not worth it.
I'm not surprised to hear that George. That's why at the end of the Redarc vs Kings video ruclips.net/video/AActNzBZ9FA/видео.html I didn't recommend Kings for mission-critical work, where the Redarc would be a better choice.
Funny no one else has problems with kings solar
On what basis do you say that? Many folks who've commented on this video have reported similar problems with their Kings solar panels. I can't say everyone would have the same experience, but it appears I'm far from alone on this.
Yes they do, Google on FB!
@@robertwilson1827 well there is your answer Facebook you must be one of the people who believes whats posted on Facebook lol fb is all fake news
@@Farmer2492 🙏
Everything Kings is shit.
I stick with pay more for quality stuff rule, usually ends up cheaper or less hassle in the long run.
I am generally a strong believer in paying for good quality stuff, but when I was new to this niche I had just hoped the Kings' stuff might be cheap because of their volumes and more-direct-to-consumer model. So far their equipment hasn't lived up my expectations, and reinforces the value of paying a bit more. However one has to be sure whether a more expensive alternative is actually any better, or just more expensive because of a more expensive supply chain. I'd be interested in knowing which brands you've found to be worthwhile.
well you might want to buy the panel and not the blanket
That's an option I'll definitely be looking at, although given the ratings are the same one could be forgiven for thinking the output would be the same.
Hi Greg, Just use the formula I have stated to determine the expected output of any panel whether it be an expensive one or a cheap one. If then u get over 75% of the calculated output you are doing well. Even some of the more expensive panels do not achieve their stated output as the area of the panel isn’t large enough.
I just bought a flexible panel on EBay knowing full well that it was not going to achieve the the 300 watt output that they were stating. Once received I tested it and could only get 144 watts. Wrote back to the seller, stated a number of issues including that it could never achieve the output and asked for a return postage label. The replay came back asking if i wanted another or a refund and to keep the panel. The 160 watt Kings flexible panel is far better quality and produces the same output.
I note that kings put out a number of videos relating to their solar blankets yet there don’t appear to be any showing the output. I think we all know why.
I hate watching people open up boxes
It's just done so people can kinda share the unboxing experience and see how it's all laid out inside.
@@TheMusingGreg Fair enough!
stay away from kings, spend the money. buy once not twice
That's certainly how I felt. Stay tuned and subbed for the Kings vs Redarc video to see what you get for 10x the spend!
I wouldn't buy adventure Kings anything!!! In fact I wouldn't use their stuff if you gave it to me....
I'm certainly not very impressed with the product quality so far. It's great they're so willing to replace things under warranty but it's a shame the warranty's needed in the first place.
This bloke hides his face lol. Celebrity
Haha hardly! I just prefer the videos to be about the content rather than the person.
@@TheMusingGreg lol you that good looking
@@Nightlifeimages Haha I wish! 😆
don’t touch anything with that name on it.
Haha yeah I've definitely moved past Kings now!