If you are looking to buy a solar panel for charging anything from your home to any device on a camping trip, we wanted to give you some information on the different types of solar panels that you can go for.
We will talk more about the different types in terms of what they are made out of, so you have some information on what to look for to make sure that you get a good choice. We will also suggest our top three solar panels and they will give you different strengths depending on what you are trying to do, whether you are going camping and you are looking for something that will help you to charge all of your electricals.
Or maybe you are looking for something more powerful for RV camping, or even home backup.
We will now talk about some of the most common solar panels and how they work so you have some information on what to look for.
What are solar panels made from?
Monocrystalline Solar Panels:
This is the oldest method of making a solar panel. The way this work is by taking single crystal solar cells, then fuel silicon is formed into bars and cut into wafers. You will also be able to see the solar panels by looking at them. They will have a beehive affect or look like tiny cells.
The beauty of this method is that they will last a lot longer and they have higher efficiency. This is because the cell is composed of a single crystal which will ensure that you get a higher output. The only downside with this type of solar panel is that normally they cost a little bit more.
Polycrystalline Solar Panels:
You will find that these are mid-range panels and have the widest usage, you will also find that if you’re looking to save money these are the most affordable in terms of production.
Although, these are cheaper in most cases you will find that they do not last as long, and they have a lower efficiency and a shortened lifespan. If you’re looking at the Mono panels above, you should know that these will not generate as much electricity from the sun.
This is not to say that they are a bad choice it is just that the process is faster and cheaper in terms of manufacture and that makes the end product not quite as good but may be more cost-effective depending on what you are looking for.
Thin Film Solar Panels:
You will find that these solar panels as the name suggests are very thin and flexible as well is being low in profile. You will find that the cells for this are roughly 350 times thinner.
This would be more of a specialist use but it will give you a good idea of the different ways that solar panels can be constructed.
Conclusion:
Most of the information above pertains to home backup but it will help you if you have the knowledge even if you’re looking for a solar panel for a camping trip as you will be able to tell at a glance which one is most effective and make your decisions accordingly.
Here are some of the top choices that we have for you that will give you some great all-rounder solar panels:
#1 Jackery SolarSaga 100W Portable Solar Panel for Explorer 240/300/500/1000/1500 Power Station
This will give you a fantastic all-rounder for a solar panel and this one can be used for pretty much anything ranging from a camping trip to RV camping and even home backup for a short while.
Here are the main features:
Easy to install:
The Jackery SolarSaga 100W Portable Solar Panel is very easy to install and will give you something that you can use without any problems, if you’re looking for something that will give you extra energy then this is definitely one to go for as you will have no problems being able to configure this quickly and easily.
Lightweight:
You will also find that this is not too difficult to take with you on your travels because it remains remarkably lightweight especially when you consider the power that you are going to get from the solar panel.
Portability:
This was another area that was rated very highly for this product, and it will give you fantastic portability that allows you to manoeuvre this around and take it with you whenever you need it. This is great because sometimes when you buy a product like this you can be put off using it if you have to keep moving around with a very heavy solar panel. This particular product will give you tremendous portability and most people are very happy.
Charging power:
We think that this is where the Jackery SolarSaga 100W Portable Solar Panel gets all of the amazing feedback because it does give you some real charging power that does not use any electricity. If you’re looking for something that will backup and complement and electrical backup, then this would be fantastic for a camping trip and an absolute must have.
#2 Renogy 100-Watt 12 Volt Monocrystalline Solar Panel
This is a great choice if you want something that is very versatile and also has a very powerful solar panel, this would be great for small electrical items on a camping trip.
Here are the main features:
Weather proof:
You will find that the Renogy 100-Watt 12 Volt Monocrystalline Solar Panel has been built to be weatherproof so you don’t have to worry about weather conditions, and you will be able to use this without any issues.
Value for money:
Despite giving you something very powerful you will also find that you get great value for money with this, and we do not envision you having any issues with quality. This is definitely one to go for if you need to make sure that you have something very powerful that will also give you great value.
Easy to install:
Even though this is a powerful solution it is not complicated to set up, it comes with full instructions and out of the reviews that we had a look at most people found this very easy to install so we do not think that you will have a problem there.
Charging power:
This is the main thing that you are buying. If you need to get as much power as possible from a solar panel, then this is a really good choice.
Click here to check out the Renogy 100-Watt 12 Volt Monocrystalline Solar Panel at Amazon.com…
Click here to check out our review of the Renogy 100-Watt 12 Volt Monocrystalline Solar Panel…
#3 DOKIO 160W 18V Portable Solar Panel Kit
This is a great choice if you’re looking for something that is powerful but also cost-effective because the brand is not as well-known as some of the other choices.
Here are the main features:
Foldable
This solar panel photovoltaic packs 160W of power yet is only 0.9inch (2.4cm) thick and weighs only 9lb(4.1kg), making it easier to mount, transport, hang, and remove.
The Full Kit – Works straight out of the box
Solar charger for all 12V batteries, with its 18V optimum power voltage. Protection against overcharging, overload, short-circuit
Perfect for Outdoors
9.85ft (3m) cable length from panel to controller, For most power stations (Jackery, Goal Zero, Ecoflow, Paxcess) and 12-volt batteries(AGM,LiFePo4,Deep cycle batteries),RV,car,boat,trailer,truck,pumpa,camping,van,emergency power
High Power Efficiency
Powerful high conversion efficiency with high efficiency monocrystalline solar cell, you will get greater power efficiency even though the panel is smaller than a traditional model. Maximizes system output by reducing mismatch loss
Click here to check out the DOKIO 160W 18V Portable Solar Panel Kit at Amazon.com…
Click here to check out review of the DOKIO 160W 18V Portable Solar Panel Kit…
We hope this is given you all of the information that you need on the different types of solar panels and also some choices that you can look for if you’re looking for a good one.
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