Looks OK for the money, but could not see what type of solar controller that it uses, ideally you want an MPPT controller and to avoid the PWP controller type.
Have a look at the Renogy U.K. website, they are doing 10% off at the moment.
If you go on Eco-Worthy's website they are cheaper. We were looking at one but the control unit doesn't work unless you hook it up to a battery. The specs didn't make that clear but they came back quickly to my email.
I have an eco-worthy 100w panel that I need to get around to fitting on the roof, at the minute I just prop it up in the front window and take it home before we go away, used it all through winter and not had any issues with it nor the battery
i see they have two foldable models, i can see the commodity of the light thin one but probably to light in windy days and i dont see any clamping point to make sure that will not fly away, i guess the slightly bulkier model would be best , what do you thing guys .
Regarding the controller : from google....With a PWM controller the current is drawn out of the panel at just above the battery voltage, whereas. With an MPPT controller the current is drawn out of the panel at the panel “maximum power voltage” (think of an MPPT controller as being a “smart DC-DC converter”)
I am not saying that a PWM controller would not be suitable, but as Meguinnes explains, a MPPT controller will get the maximum energy from a solar panel, especially useful in the U.K. due to the poor weather, and is one of the reasons why PWM controllers are much cheaper than MPPT, as ever you pays your money.
My experience with both PWM and MPPT is that unless you are trying to squeeze the maximum out of a system the PWM is fine. Yes with MPPT you get a bit more charge into the battery but if you are running a system that the difference is critical you should maybe looking at either what you are using or getting a battery with a bigger capacity to cover low charge days. Most people on here will not be running their systems at capacity and who is to say that next week there might not be something that will replace MPPT. Chasing technology is fine but it needs to be done with a touch of realism as to what you are chasing - says me who has had panels since the days long before PWM when the charge regulation was done with a massive heat sink.
------------- 'A sure cure for sea-sickness is to sit under a tree'
Aye Meguinnes - I know the difference but for a simple portable set-up as linked I don't see way a PWM wouldn't be absolutely fine. MPPT seems a lot of extra cost for little gain.
I think what folk will have learned from this post is the difference between PWM and MPPT controller’s, which many would not even be aware of, but are now so they can to spend the extra or not depending on there budget.
There is more to Solar controllers than you might think, not even all MPPT controllers are equal, and again it boils down to your system requirements and budget, and sometimes there has to be a compromise made.
Meguinnes - I am thinking of purchasing the 60W version of this direct from eco-worthy, how did you find it ?
60W should be fine for us, we have limited battery use, are almost always connected to EHU and it would mostly to be used to keep the battery topped up over winter.
I finally got round to getting the 120W foldable Eco Worthy.
Foldable because I have 2 uses in mind for it :
1. It allows us the option of overnights without EHU in sunnier climes - for anything more than an overnight (or 2) we would always have EHU.
2. Mostly I have it set up to keep the battery topped up without the need to hook up at home. Since its not waterproof material, I have it set up inside the (South facing) van front window with the cable out the side window (the cable is small enough so the window can close fully too). Yes we dont get the same amount of charge with the panel inside but as its only topping up a battery that is hardly being used, it supplies more than enough.
120W because to be honest it wasn't a whole lot more than the 60W and it's easier to have too much than too little.
Anyone wanting to use it for these purposes I can assure it works perfectly and tops up surprisingly quickly. If you want something to sit outside for longer times or in the UK then go for something more robust.
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Topic: ECO-WORTHY 120 Watts Foldable solar panel
via mobile 30/7/2020 at 4:03pm
