EcoFlow 100W Versatile Photo voltaic Panel Assessment Ranking
Abstract
As normal for EcoFlow merchandise, the 100W Versatile Photo voltaic Panel is superb. Construct high quality is superb, and the efficiency has been pretty much as good as anticipated. Whereas different manufacturers could have fractionally higher worth/efficiency, I’d want to stay to a good model like EcoFlow.
Execs
- Nicely-made, sturdy coating and IP68
- Straightforward to put in
- Good efficiency with claimed 23% effectivity
Cons
- Competing choices are fractionally cheaper
I’ve beforehand acquired the large EcoFlow 400W photo voltaic panel and the excellent 220W bifacial photo voltaic panel.
I’m notably keen on the bifacial panel as it’s much less cumbersome to arrange, and the bifacial design permits it to seize 220W on the first aspect and 155W rear aspect, theoretically. This implies you might be more likely to hit the height output than single-sided ones. Actually, I fairly simply achieved a 220W enter on the EcoFlow RIVER 2 MAX.
EcoFlow has now despatched me one thing somewhat totally different, the 100W versatile photo voltaic panel. That is designed to be mounted in place and is particularly focused at automobiles, permitting you to mount it flat towards the curvature of the roof of a automobile and minimise the extra weight.
Specification
- Weighs solely 2.3 kg / 5.1lbs, making it extraordinarily light-weight
- 258° flexibility, making it straightforward to suit to any floor
- An IP68 waterproof ranking for added sturdiness
- Universally appropriate
- 182 monocrystalline silicon cells with glass fibre and lamination course of
- Effectivity ranking of 23%
- Pre-cut eyelets for hanging or safe on to the floor with adhesive
- 3.3ft photo voltaic cable that
- Quick Circuit Present – 6.3A
- Most Working Present – 5.9 A
- Most Fuse Present – 15 A
- Most System Voltage – 600 VDC (UL)
- Open Circuit Voltage – 20.3V
- Most Working Voltage – 17.1 V
- Dimensions – 1055*612*25 mm
Design
There’s not quite a bit to say concerning the design, and I don’t have a substantial amount of expertise with versatile photo voltaic panels.
Aside from it being a giant black versatile photo voltaic panel, my preliminary subjective impression was that it appears a lot bigger than anticipated when evaluating it to the EcoFlow 400W Moveable Photo voltaic Panel.
Checking the size, it really works out about proper. The moveable panel is 1058mm tall and 25mm deep, after which 2365 vast.
A single versatile panel is somewhat shorter at 1055mm, the identical 25mm depth, then 612mm vast. So 4 panels could be 2448mm vast, so only a bit wider than the all-in-one moveable panel. This explains why the 400W panel is so unwieldy.
These panels then have six eyelets with a steel ring for straightforward mounting utilizing cable ties, and every panel has the standard MC4 photo voltaic connectors.
I didn’t need to check their flexibility an excessive amount of, however as you’d anticipate, there’s loads of flex with these permitting you to form them over curved surfaces should you plan to connect them down.
The panels have the identical sturdy coating you get on EcoFlow moveable photo voltaic panels, they state this I a complicated glass fibre and lamination course of, defending the panel and enhancing efficiency.
Set up
My set up is sub-optimal, to say the least. Versatile photo voltaic panels are actually designed for issues like RVs, campervans and boats, the place you’d glue down the panel, with the versatile nature permitting the panel to bend to the form of the roof of the automobile.
I now not have entry to a canal boat, in order that possibility was off the desk. I additionally dwell in a comparatively tough seaside city with not a lot of a again backyard and a home that’s positioned poorly for solar publicity. I don’t need to go away my arrange uncovered in our entrance backyard the place there’s extra solar publicity, as it might doubtless get nicked.
I initially wished to mount the panels on my storage roof with the plan to run my health club and networking merchandise semi-off-grid, however I’d must mount the panels on some type of body after which mount that to the roof with the assorted roof mount kits.
In some unspecified time in the future, I’ll do that, however for my preliminary evaluation, I mounted the panels down the wall utilizing out of doors screw hooks and utilizing the included cable ties by the eyelets. For somebody so incompetent, I’m fairly happy with the consequence, and it’s type of like mounted as EcoFlow present of their balcony photo voltaic setups. Hopefully, the northern gusts of wind received’t rip something off.
EcoFlow Balcony Photo voltaic Generator & PowerStream Microinverter
I used to be despatched 4 photo voltaic panels because the plan was to evaluation these with the EcoFlow Delta 2 Max and the brand new EcoFlow PowerStream Microinverter, which types what EcoFlow calls a Balcony Photo voltaic Generator or PowerStream Photo voltaic System.
The EcoFlow PowerStream Photo voltaic System, designed for balcony installations, when paired with a individually offered moveable energy station, allows you to harness solar energy each day and evening, resulting in decreased vitality bills.
That is mainly a DIY answer for a house photo voltaic panel system. You plug your photo voltaic panels, mains electrical energy and energy station into the PowerStream. Then, when used along side the EcoFlow sensible plugs, the PowerStream will intelligently distribute energy to your private home, permitting you to maximise photo voltaic utilization whereas avoiding an influence reduce.
Conventional inverters usually undergo from lowered effectivity as a consequence of shading or points with particular person panels. In distinction, the PowerStream Microinverter enhances the efficiency of every photo voltaic panel individually.
By reworking the DC vitality produced by every panel to AC energy instantly at its origin, the PowerStream Microinverter reduces vitality wastage, boosts vitality output, and elevates the overall effectivity of your photo voltaic setup.
The PowerStream Microinverter can convert as much as 800W most of the solar’s vitality into usable electrical energy.
The EcoFlow PowerStream Microinverter is appropriate with all the present EcoFlow moveable energy stations: DELTA Professional, DELTA Max 2000/1600, DELTA 2 Max, DELTA 2, RIVER 2 Professional, RIVER 2 Max, RIVER 2.
Efficiency – Collection vs Parallel Connections
As these are separate panels, I examined a single panel after which two panels collectively. When utilizing a number of photo voltaic panels, you will want to both wire them up in parallel or in sequence.
Simply to preface this, I’m not an enormous knowledgeable on photo voltaic panels, so I’d warn that my maths and figures might not be 100% correct. Please double-check earlier than following my steerage.
In sequence, they work as one large panel, and the voltage will increase per panel added. So with two panels in sequence, you’d have 2×20.3V for 40.6V. You will want to verify on the compatibility of your energy station. So, for instance, the DELTA 2 Max can solely settle for as much as 60V and 15A per port. So on this configuration, I’d need to use each the photo voltaic enter ports.
For parallel, they work as impartial panels and improve the amperage. So for the 100W versatile panel, that’s 5.9 A with two offering 11.8A. Once more, I’d have to make use of each photo voltaic inputs on the DELTA 2 Max if I wished to make use of all 4 panels.
Another methodology, when utilizing 4 panels or extra, could be to make use of a hybrid set-up. With this, you’d wire two units of two panels in sequence, then mix them with a parallel connection.
So, for the 100W versatile panel, you’d get a theoretical output of 40.6V and 11.8A for a attainable photo voltaic enter of 479W. This situation would permit me to make use of all 4 panels on a single photo voltaic enter port of the DELTA 2 Max. I may then use the second port with 4 extra panels for as much as 958W enter. The utmost photo voltaic enter this energy station can settle for is 1000W.
With the sequence connection, the 2 panels work as one unit, and this offers one of the best most efficiency. Nonetheless, if one panel will get much less solar publicity, it decreases the efficiency of each panels.
With the parallel connection, every panel works independently however the most efficiency is somewhat decrease. Attributable to my sub-optimal set up and the northern UK overcast climate, I plan to make use of parallel (or hybrid) for my system long-term.
Single Panel Efficiency
My preliminary testing was carried out with the Allpowers R600 moveable energy station. Poor planning on my half, all my EcoFlow energy stations had been totally charged, and we lastly bought a sunny day.
At 6:30 am after I first plugged it in, I used to be pleasantly shocked to get 13W enter. The solar was behind the home to the left, so there was no direct publicity in any respect, however the skies had been clear.
By mid-day, the panel was drawing 70W, and I seen it briefly hitting 80W earlier than I switched to connecting them in sequence. I used to be fairly impressed at it hitting 70W-80W, contemplating the panels weren’t optimally positioned, although I think when they’re on the roof, they are going to obtain this for longer and extra constant durations.
Double Panel Efficiency in Collection
Testing a number of panels, I used each the Allpowers R600 (in sequence) and the EcoFlow DELTA 2 (in parallel) to see if there was a lot of a efficiency distinction.
When utilizing photo voltaic panels in sequence, you simply want to attach the optimistic and destructive of 1 cable of every panel to one another, then the unattached optimistic and destructive to your regular photo voltaic to XT60 cable.
The efficiency did not enhance fairly as linearly as I had anticipated. Very first thing within the morning, after I set them up, I noticed round 23W after which a peak enter of 130W. The climate wasn’t fairly pretty much as good today, which can clarify the marginally decrease efficiency.
The 299Wh Allpowers R600 managed to get a full cost within the early afternoon.
Double Panel Efficiency in Parallel
With the panels in parallel, there wasn’t much-perceived distinction in efficiency. The early morning enter was round 23-28W, identical to sequence. I solely seen a peak enter of 125W, however I wasn’t repeatedly checking all through the day.
The EcoFlow DELTA 2 managed to cost from 0-60% all through the day.
If I had positioned the panels on my roof, had a home with a greater orientation or lived someplace sunny, then my outcomes would have been significantly better, however I’m nonetheless proud of what I achieved.
Hybrid Efficiency with 4 Photo voltaic Panels
I have not had an opportunity to check 4 panels linked with a mix of sequence and parallel but, as I would like some cables lengthy sufficient to attach all the pieces up. I’m hoping to have this arrange this week and can replace the evaluation as quickly as attainable.
The Delta 2 can settle for 11-60V, 15A with 500W max enter, so it ought to work nicely with 4 panels linked utilizing a hybrid method.
Value and Different Choices
The EcoFlow 100W Versatile Photo voltaic Panel has an RRP of £109, which is fairly priced for versatile photo voltaic panels. Most competing choices appear to be priced at round £100-£120.
Beneath costs are from the time of writing on 16/08/2023 and are prone to change.
On Amazon, the EcoFlow 100W is listed at £139 however has a £30 off voucher, so the identical worth because the RRP.
In case you plan to make use of a number of panels, chances are you’ll need to verify the voltage and amp rankings as they fluctuate barely and, subsequently, could fall out of vary of the facility station spec. It is usually really helpful that you just keep on with matching panels (or at the least matching voltage and amps).
General
As normal for EcoFlow merchandise, the 100W Versatile Photo voltaic Panel is superb. I don’t have any expertise with different versatile panels, and most photo voltaic panels seem to have comparable efficiency. As I primarily use my energy stations at residence, this panel is superior to the moveable panels as I really feel extra assured having them bodily hooked up to the wall moderately than moveable panels freestanding in my backyard.
It’s a bit laborious to arrange an goal check to verify effectivity, however I assume most manufacturers efficiently hit round that 23% effectivity mark. I’d solely be cautious if a panel is considerably cheaper than the opposite choices.
With the efficiency doubtless being just like competing choices, and every possibility priced inside round £10 of one another, it’s not actually attainable to make any grand claims about this being one of the best in the marketplace.
Name me a fanboy and biased, however I’d in all probability select the EcoFlow panels over a lot of the others I’ve listed purely as a result of I’ve been very proud of their merchandise, and they look like a dependable model, particularly compared to all the opposite random manufacturers I’ve by no means heard of.
I’m a UK tech blogger and have been within the business for over 10 years now, operating Mighty Gadget and its sister websites and contributing to different websites across the internet. I’m keen about all tech, together with cellular, wearables, and residential automation. I’m additionally a health fanatic, so I cowl as a lot health tech as attainable.
Final replace on 2023-08-18 / Affiliate hyperlinks / Photographs from Amazon Product Promoting API
