Inexpensive solar blanket comparison and performance

[Justinvv Member Find all posts View Profile Close Justinvv]

Cost effective solar solution for camping and touring. An inexpensive solar blanket, that performs.

When camping every one knows solar is a great way to go for keeping your batteries charged up, your fridge and lights on. But there are so many ways to go with solar panels. Some are over the top expensive, some are over the top with their unfounded claims.

I bought a $200 AUD solar blanket (not from Ebay) and pitted it against my good quality and expensive foldable rigid panels to see how it compared, and to show some of the things to look out for, and how to get the best performance.

[Tonz Member Find all posts View Profile Close Tonz]

interesting .

[Leethal Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Leethal]

One factor you did not try is cable length from the panel to controller to load (battery), my understanding is that the PWM controller will "lose" output with longer output cables whereas the MPPT controller will compensate for the voltage reduction better. It would be interesting to see the difference when the controller is connected at your bullbar as opposed to at the panel itself. Obviously the longer/thinner the cables the greater the effect.

Interesting electrical set up you too.

Lee