Customer Reviews With Photos

First of all- don't get me wrong, this is a decent solar panel which come with many cable adapters and folds nicely. It is a bit awkward though opening the 4 support legs, you sort of have to fight keeping them from closing. But... you will NEVER get 200 watts out of it. In sunny southern California in the middle of a very bright sunny day and angled directly at the sun, the most I was able to obtain is 147 watts.

This review is for the Kimbluth brand 10 AWG, 25 foot, XT60i solar extension cable. This is regular 2 conductor 10 gauge wire with MC4 solar connectors on one end and a female XT60i on the other. The fit and finish of the cable is excellent. The nuts on the MC4 connectors are on super tight. Heat shrink tubing is over the back of the XT60 to the cable to offer strain relief and some purchase when disconnecting. The product listing claims that the center pin of the XT60 is grounded. It is not. It is a shame, because this is otherwise an excellent product.

I took 8 pictures with some closeups to show details. The printing on the cables is fairly easy to see and read in the pictures. The cable measures 37" from tip to tip of the XT60 connectors and seems to be of excellent construction. It is pretty flexible but not like some cables that have very fine strands and silicone insulation that will practically hang limply. This cable is stiff enough that it will retain its shape somewhat. That can be a bit of a nuisance if the red and black wires decide they want to retain different shapes since the red and black wires are completely separate for the entire length of the cable. I know that some people prefer this and others find it a hassle but they can always be wrapped with tape to keep them together if someone desires whereas separating cables that are built attached isn't a good idea so this setup with the two wires separated provides the most options. It is also convenient if you want to install a fuse or monitor inline in the cable. The wire is 10AWG and the insulation is rated to 105°C according to the info that is printed on it. The printing that is on each of the wires reads: E336285 9u AWM 1015 10AWG VW-I 105°C 600v c9u AWM I A 105°C 600V FT1 ZHONGZHENG -LF- <where the "9u" and "c9u" are the closest I can type to those symbols> This is useful for connecting components in my portable solar setup, but some people will have hobby or charging uses for heavy gauge wires with XT60 connectors.

It quickly became clear to me that reviewing a solar panel is more involved than reviewing a toaster! I have a "decent" basic knowledge of electricity, but I must say I've learned a LOT more since purchasing my four 175 watt (@ 20 volts, 9 amps each) Renogy Solar Panels for my Promaster Van. 1) Order "Must Have" Items to attach to van/RV roof without drilling holes and allow future removal : Eternabond 3"×50" 1 roll - use sparingly. Velcro,15' x 2" Industrial Self Sticking, 1 box per panel. See pictures. OK, You will probably need to drill ONE necessary hole to bring the final two cables to the inside- also get an entry gland for that. The Velcro should be attached in strips on the raised roof ridges. Renogy says an insulated layer is unnecessary. After 3 months of searing heat, and some rain, all four panels are still secure. 2) Purchase the max wattage, and max # of Panels that will fit up on your van/RV roof. Get the BEST and as MANY Solar Panels (and MC4 connectors, cable, and Y branch adapter) you can afford- you don't want to regret your buying decision on every future road trip, especially after all your work installing these panels. A good crimper like the WISS Solar PV Cable Crimping Tool will help a lot. Incidentally, Renogy has EXCELLENT Customer Support. Contact them with ANY questions. 3) Install an EVEN NUMBER of panels, so you can connect your setup in a "series and parallel combination"(Google that to view examples). Per Renogy, they should all be of equal size/power. 4) With 4 175 watt panels, I put 1 pair in series, I put the other pair also in series, then I put these two sets of pairs in parallel, so I now had a series parallel COMBINATION that yields 40 volts @ 700 watts, but only 17 amps, going to the Yeti or charge controller. Always Remember, WAV: Watts=Amps x Volts. (My 3000X Yeti will allow a max of 50 volts and about 1000 watts of charge). If you put ALL 4 of your 175 watt panels in parallel, you'll have an output of only 20 volts and 37 amps, and your panels won't start to charge your batteries until direct sunlight hits them. The high amperage will also cause your cables to get very hot. If you use the series AND parallel combination, you'll get 40 volts and only 17 amps, which means you can use smaller wiring (10 gauge) that won't overheat. You will also see charging as soon as daylight starts until dusk. You'll achieve the SAME charge rate of rated watts either way! Speaking of advertised panel wattage claims, you'll find that the time of year, where you are parked, air quality (smog/haze), and of course, time of day, WILL AFFECT the rate of charge. Don't panic if you don't get the listed wattage, it's a fact of life! Realistically, expect about 80% of the listed watts rating, on average. It definitely helps to keep them clean. Hose off and squeegee them after it rains. The dust does not disappear after rainstorms, but instead makes a muddy layer up there. Do not get hung up on "positive" and "negative" ends when you build your 'array' of panels, just have your multimeter with you the whole time and make sure you correctly identify the positive and negative final ends that are connected to the batteries. 5) If your Van/RV has 6 or 8 little T posts on the roof, you'll get a LOT of peace of mind attaching each panel to the posts. Use some 1/16" wire rope cables to connect to a grommet anywhere on the panels parameters that you can. After driving around with these 4 Renogy Flexible Solar Panels on my Promaster for 2 months +, I am very happy overall. Their super thin, light design makes them ideal for zero wind drag, and they are absolutely INVISIBLE from ground level. They are a solidly built and well performing panel, and I am glad I made the investment to get the best Solar Panels available.

I bought 9 sets of these panels. They are packed so well in boxes of 4 (thick and heavy styrofoam separating them from eachother and the box sides) and come wrapped on an actual pallet, which shows me how much HQST cares about their product and customers. They say these are new design and the data sticker is different from the one on the advertisement. This is just a few more volts and little less amps, which works for me. Will review once up and running, but look and seem good.

Update 10/7/24: After a whole month of fall weather, it's obvious that this panel is quite useless without strong full sun. You may as well pack it away after the summer. It is so disappointing and puzzling that this panel that performs so well in full sun becomes powerless with the slightest shade. There are much cheaper and better performing alternatives that provide year-round utility. It's only worth 2 stars at $60. Update 9/23/24: At noon under a very overcast sky, the panel could barely produce power to turn a small fan. It could not charge the Ecoflow power station directly. While I did expect drop off at low light, this is much worse than expected. Downgrading to 4-star. Update 9/21/24: Today, last day of summer, at 1.30pm, clear sky, panel pulling 51W steadily charging EcoFlow power station directly (without controller). Very satisfactory. In late summer (2 days to fall season) afternoon sun at a northern US lower 48 locale, not 100% clear sky, I caught glimpses of 54 Watts when charging an Ecoflow power station directly with this 60W panel. I have no doubt that under full summer sun, this panel can pull 60W easily. However, the power output dropped precipitously when the clouds came in. The poor performance under low light is disappointing, but seems to be a common with flexible panels. The flexibility is more a gimmicky thing. However, the light weight is certainly a big bonus in portable situation. The silicone caulk holding the wire connection case is hardly a thing of beauty, though the solar cells look reasonably neat. Because this panel delivers on its rated power output with a reasonable price tag ($60 for 60W), this is a 5 star buy for a highly portable panel.

I bought a new charge controller in the process of troubleshooting what turned out to be another problem, but after using this one, found it to be very satisfactory. The display shows status of input and battery charge in real time, and the device does a good job of maintaining my off-grid system.

The AtlanTec AT2300i is a reliable and efficient inverter generator. It’s lightweight and easy to carry, making it perfect for camping and emergencies. The gas-powered engine runs smoothly and quietly compared to others I’ve used. It provides stable power for my sensitive electronics without any issues. The fuel efficiency is impressive, lasting hours on a single tank. The setup was simple, and the pull-start works effortlessly. Build quality feels solid and durable. Overall, a great investment for portable power needs!

I tested this in January, so it's not the most direct sunlight. I did adjust the angle until the current maxed out. With a clear sky, I measured 670mA using a 6.3W load resistor. This should read about 1000mA for a 5W output, but shows closer to a 2.8W output. These weren't ideal conditions, but I don't see it reaching 5W even with an ideal load and sunlight. The cameras need ~5W max and spend most of their time in standby mode using less than 1W. If you only check the cameras infrequently, this would work. If you check them frequently or stream video a couple hours a day, I would suggest another option.

I love it 😍

Purchased this panel to use for my Van. Brackets affix easily to the panel pre-drilled holes. Connections are super simple, and actually pulls over 100W when charging. In full summer sun it pulled close to 140W and that is without any angle toward the sun. Really happy with this panel. Charges my Goal Zero Yeti 1500 when i'm not plugged in and keeps my battery topped off and charging when we drive or are parked. I haven't had to plug in to shore power in forever. Really Happy with this Renogy Panel.

It tested fine in my car charging a charge bank on a very cloudy day. Fully charged by lunch. I'll know more once I tested in the field.

Maybe you're considering buying this like I was to crimp the ends yourself to save a dollar or two. It works correctly but it was a project to crimp the cables. I had to use a replacement male metal contact after the included one was unusable after two bad crimps. By the way, to date, I crimped about 20 MC4 cable ends in my life and this was the worst experience. Granted, it works correctly in the end, but it took some effort and aggravation. If you're trying to save money like I did to do-it-yourself, go for it. Hopefully your experience will be better than mine. I would not buy this particular cable set again.

I got the 15-foot L14-30 to SS2-50R extension cord to use with my generator. I personally find SS2-50 connectors to be easier to work with than L14-30 due to the handle. I also think they're a bit safer than L14, because the ground pin in the center makes contact with the target inlet BEFORE any hot blade makes electrical contact. There's really nothing I can do about the socket that's on the GENERATOR, but I can absolutely choose my preferred outlet+plug type for its entry point on my house. The cord is ETL-certified. ETL doesn't have the public relations budget & consumer outreach of UL, but it's accepted by American insurance companies and most (if not all) building code jurisdictions in the US. Basically, UL developed the test standards, ETL applies them, and the end result for consumers is the same. The cord conveniently includes a carrying strap and adapter ring to facilitate more secure attachment to some inlets.

portable battery charger for outdoor activities. Pretty compact and useful for people like me who are enjoying the camping overnight. Multiple outputs and lights.