Solar Panel Recommendation?

[Owen Lucas]

I'd like to buy a small solar panel setup, possibly portable, to charge phones and batteries in case of a power outage. A 120v outlet would be nice to charge Eneloop batteries but not mandatory. Budget is $100.

Is there a premium or reliable maker for panels that I should purchase? I see a lot of strangely named manufacturers on Amazon so I do not know what a reliable brand may be.

 

[The Lube Guy]

This one is pretty okay: https://www.amazon.com/FlexSolar-Portable-Connector-Smartphones-Stations/dp/B092XDR3D5

If you double your budget you could get some serios solar portable power.

 

[Owen Lucas]

If you double your budget you could get some serios solar portable power.

Good point, budget increased to $200.

 

[The Lube Guy]

You could get a generator like this: https://www.amazon.com/MARBERO-Generator-Portable-Included-Emergency/dp/B0BZ7VFK25

And these solar panels: https://www.amazon.com/Monocrystalline-Efficiency-Charger-Motorhome-Off-Grid/dp/B0C8H8NFBM

All in, about ~$140.

[Edit]

You could even get the bigger generator and more panels, or just more panels.

 

[Owen Lucas]

Anker makes panels and batteries but they seem to have a pretty high return rate since there are a lot of renewed units being resold.

 

[The Lube Guy]

Anker may no longer strive to create a name for themselves, or they farmed out manufacturing, possibly just re-selling someone else's product.

 

[JeffKeryk]

Costco had a kit last time I was there...

 

[JHZR2]

My oldest and I made a little setup when we were all home at the start of the covid era.

Little metal framed panel, battery tender charge controller, 12v battery.

Used SAE plugs to couple it to any car too.

 

[thastinger]

Anytime you seek to design an off-grid PV system you HAVE to figure out your usage as the very first step.
If you want 3Kwh/day, that is a vastly different system than a .5Kw/day system.

"Portable" is hard to do, and even harder to do for 200 bucks. The 18V panels are expensive relative to the more prolific higher voltage homeowner panels.

You would be much better off with a deep cycle 12V 100Ah battery, or 2 6V golf cart batteries in series, and a 600W PSW inverter to hook to them.

 

[svtrit]

Jackery has some awesome solar powered units, but they are $$$$. I still want one though. You could power your fridge, freezer, lights, and charge your phone.

I’ve been looking into inverters to hook up to our cars for the next time we have an issue. I’ll probably have an issue again before I pull the trigger.

 

[Inked]

Jackery has some awesome solar powered units, but they are $$$$. I still want one though. You could power your fridge, freezer, lights, and charge your phone.

I’ve been looking into inverters to hook up to our cars for the next time we have an issue. I’ll probably have an issue again before I pull the trigger.

They have a great sale going on now.