EcoFlow Portable Solar Panel

A Practical Solar Panel

EcoFlow has developed a compact product for transport with small dimensions and a moderate weight of just 7kg. This portability is possible thanks to the foldable design of the solar panel for vans and campers. Indeed, once unfolded, the surface area is quadrupled, and the performance becomes very good. The solar panel being mobile/portable, it can be easily oriented to always maintain a good tilt and orientation.

Unlike a solar panel fixed on the roof of a van or motorhome, there's no need to park in direct sunlight just for a solar panel!

Setting up and connecting it is child's play:

• Take the solar panel kit out of its cover and unfold it.
• Use the cover as a support by securing the 4 corners with the provided carabiners.
• Connect the 3 plugs of the solar panel (to an EcoFlow battery, for example).
• That's it!

This ease of use is enabled in part by its universal MC4 cables and its compatibility with the EcoFlow range (including our River 2 Pro, of course!).

This affordable solar panel kit is also practical because it can be used and stored in very adverse thermal conditions, from -20°C to +85°C. From skiing to the sea, it adapts to all climates.

No tools needed, no complex electrical plan, no specific box, no special cables, just simplicity and results.

A High-Performance Solar Panel

In addition to its many practical aspects, it is primarily the efficiency and performance that have impressed us. Indeed, the efficiency of this 160W solar panel is 21% to 22%, placing it among the most profitable in the affordable solar panel market. The open-circuit voltage is 21.4V and the short-circuit current is 9.6A. Such scores are possible thanks to the technology and the type of cell used, known as monocrystalline silicon. The scientific explanation of this is provided in the last part of this page.

Thanks to its characteristics and compatibility with the entire EcoFlow range, our River 2 Pro battery could be fully recharged in about 5 hours (if weather conditions are excellent, of course). Furthermore, it is important to note that the solar panel kit can be connected to other solar equipment with or without additional components (like MPPT), so it will be useful to check on a case-by-case basis whether the connectors and technical specifications are compatible.

Also, for your information, if energy needs increase after purchasing the quick-charge solar panel, it is possible to complement the installation with additional plug-and-play solar panels connected directly to the first solar panel kit (also plug-and-play). This makes the installation even more efficient, and there is no need to repurchase the entire solar system for vans and campers (cables, panels, supports, etc.).

EcoFlow is now positioned as a reference in energy production and storage for nomadic use. This is why this type of solar panel is widely used for applications in boats, mountains, or for camper vans and converted vans.

Monocrystalline Silicon?

Monocrystalline silicon solar panels are relatively complex solar devices that exploit the photovoltaic effect to convert solar energy (photons) into electricity. They are made up of photovoltaic cells manufactured from a single crystalline structure of silicon, which gives the material a high degree of uniformity and energy efficiency. Compared to polycrystalline cells, they require less sunlight to initiate the reaction. The cost of manufacturing generally follows performance; therefore, monocrystalline panels are usually priced slightly higher.

For your information, you can usually recognize the type of composition by the color:

• Monocrystalline cells: very dark blue, almost black uniform color.
• Polycrystalline cells: bluish color but not always homogeneous.

When sunlight reaches the surface of the cells, it excites the electrons (-) in the crystalline structure of silicon. This excitation generates a flow of electrons/movements of electrons, thus creating a direct current (DC) inside the cell.

All these small quantities of electricity are then collected through series connections of all the cells (which also allows the total electrical voltage to increase).

The generated direct current is then routed and stored to an appropriate electrical component, such as our EcoFlow River 2 Pro battery, for example. It is only after passing through an inverter (or micro-inverters) (a component that converts direct current to alternating current, also integrated into our EcoFlow battery) that this energy can be used. The stock of electricity produced by the station can then be used for all the usual applications of traveling in a van, camper, caravan, or converted truck (coffee machine, shower, charging lamp, laptop charger, USB charger for smartphone, compression cooler…) or to reduce your bill if the installation serves you better during use other than in autonomy.

These solar panels are therefore designed and built to withstand bad weather during van, motorhome, camper, or converted truck journeys.

Even if the solar kit and photovoltaic panels generate good power (W), it is wise to select low consumption components with an energy rating close to A to maintain better autonomy/freedom once parked at a site.

Even without a connection to the grid, it will be possible to power your truck or camper with this solar panel installation and its support (provided). Coupled with an EcoFlow battery, for example, the installation will meet all your energy needs without requiring any work on the roof of your vehicle (an option that only requires simple steps such as connecting to the battery input).

The perfect compromise at a fair price for people with power and energy needs during their van stays.