Renogy 200 watt off grid portable foldable solar panel suitcase reviews

Renogy 200 watt off grid portable foldable solar panel suitcase reviews

What is good in Renogy 200 watt solar panel suitcase? The Renogy solar suitcase is a ready to use mobile application. Improved leg adjustments allow you to tighten, loosen, and angle your suitcase legs with ease! The included Voyager controller allows you to monitor your system with its LCD screen and can be flush-mounted in your RV. Explore more in Renogy 200 watt off grid portable foldable solar panel suitcase reviews.

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Pros & cons

Pros

  • Compact, foldable design
  • Corner protected, durable frame
  • Highest efficiency mono-Si cells
  • Integrated charge controller for optimum power and safety
  • Mounting kickstand for quick and easy mounting

Cons

  • Expensive

Specs – Renogy 200 watt off grid portable foldable solar panel suitcase

200 WATT MONOCRYSTALLINE FOLDABLE SOLAR SUITCASERENOGY 20A VOYAGER CHARGE CONTROLLER
Maximum Power at STC: 200WNominal Voltage: 12 VDC
Open-Circuit Voltage: 21.8 VRated Charge Current: 20A
Short Circuit Current: 11.7AMax. PV Input Voltage: 26 VDC
Optimium Operating Voltage: 18.5VGrounding: Common Negative
Optimum Operating Current: 10.5ASelf-consumption: ≤8mA
Operating Temperature:: -40°C to 90°COperating Temperature: -40°F to 185°F
Dimension: 35.6 x 25.9 x 3.1 inDimensions: 6.38 x 3.82 x 1.34 inches
Weight: 35.9 lbsWeight: 0.88 lbs

Renogy 200 watt off grid portable foldable solar panel suitcase reviews

Build & design

The kickstands are long and easily accessible. An in-built charge controller makes it handy and safe. The glass, back-sheet, frame, and other components are of the best quality, especially the amazingly efficient monocrystalline cells. The panel weighs at less than 35 pounds and does not feel particularly heavy for the amount of power it can churn out. This makes it easy to fold-unfold or carry in one hand.

Frame

The frame is aluminum and fitted nicely on the laminated panel. It comes with protected corners and a fastened charge controller on the rear. The rear side of the frame also houses the adjustable kickstands for effortless mounting. 

Controller

This solar suitcase has a built in 20A controller, so no need to go to the trouble of buying a separate one. And you will save on the extra cable and the time taken to connect a separate controller. This combination provides an easy to use plug and play system. Because the Renogy portable solar panel already has a controller built in. You wouldn’t use it with a solar power station. The power station would usually also have a one already built in.

Charging

The charge controller has an easy to read display and two soft touch buttons for basic parameter selection such as current or voltage display. 

Rated at 17.7V of optimum operating voltage, it can supply power to all 12V units. The charge controller is rated for a maximum of 20A, and does a good job of overcharge protection. MC4 connectors on the wires can be easily connected and the same is true for the alligator clips.

The solar suitcase is compatible with several deep cycle battery types. The battery type you are charging can be selected with the touch of a button. The types of batteries that can be charged are:

  • Lithium-Ion
  • LifePO4
  • Gel
  • AGM
  • Flooded
  • Calcium

Renogy 200 watt off grid portable foldable solar panel suitcase customer reviews

WELL BUILT AND QUALITY STAND

Have not had the chance to use it but it is a quality built portable suitcase. Large sturdy frame with corner guards and bolted very strong and because of this the suitcase can be a little on the heavy side but it is a good trade off. Comes with a nice zipped soft cover for protection but folds with the panels out so you should be careful not to bang the outside of the case while transporting. Unfortunately I have ordered two but only one has arrived. I have called support and they were very quick to return my emails and am now awaiting the ware bouts of my second panel. I would definitely recommend this product and am myself debating whether to order another 2 or go with 2 flex panels.

By Richard Nickerson at Renogy

Alternate of Renogy 200 watt off grid portable foldable solar panel suitcase

Grape Solar 540W Off-Grid Solar Panel Kit

  • Watts: 540
  • Volts: 12
  • The High Points: The kit is great for powering small, location-independent consumption systems.
  • The Not-So Good: An expensive price point for relatively low wattage and no included battery bank.

Grape Solar’s unique 540W Off-Grid kit boasts minimal maintenance, easy installation and durability. With a price point that’s more expensive than most other similarly equipped kits, Grape Solar has a lot to prove. However, the well-reviewed system lives up to its marketing; buyers love their kits, no matter the price point.

Overall, the kit is best for off-grid systems like boats, RVs, cabins, sheds, vehicles and tiny houses. It’s not suitable for entire households as it only provides enough power to fuel small appliances and electronic devices. With USB ports and outlets, the system is easy to connect to.

Like the Renogy starter kit, Grape Solar’s kit doesn’t come with a 12V battery bank. This will need to be purchased separately. Otherwise, all essential hardware, including a charge controller, is included. This makes assembly a breeze as you don’t need to scramble to find the right parts for installation.

Reviewers love how easy the kit is to assemble. It comes with an instruction manual that explains the wiring and connectors. However, you will need to build your own frame/panel rack for mounting, which may be a nuisance for novice DIYers.

Even at the relatively high price point, buyers claim that the kit is a great value. With its high-quality materials and excellent customer service, Grape Solar’s solar panel kit exceeds expectations. This should be reassuring for anyone who is worried about investing in a more expensive kit.

The 540W rating is a good choice for those looking to fully power small appliances, like pumps, solar lights or laptops. It’s an “in-between†option as most kits offer 100-400W of power, or 1,000W+. Overall, the system can produce roughly 1,620W hours or 135A hours of charge per day.

The kit includes three 180W monocrystalline solar panels, which are the most efficient solar cells available. The panels are also built with an aluminum frame and sealed junction box, so the system is virtually weatherproof. Durability is an important consideration for solar panels, and Grape Solar hits the mark.

Along with the panels, the kit also includes a 40A Comet PWM charge controller. The PWM charge controller is not as efficient as an MPPT controller but it does the job. It also offers mobile monitoring which is great for those on the road.

While the kit does not come equipped with a 12V deep cycle battery which is necessary for operation, it does have a 15A inline-MC4 comparable fuse, a 1,800W pure sine inverter with two outlets and a USB port. The USB port is particularly useful for plugging in small devices.

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