What Are Portable Solar Panels Advantages And Disadvantages?


It seems very difficult to find a product or anything in the market that has no disadvantages attached to it. I bet nobody would brag and say that he/she has found a-product on the market that is 100% efficient and has no disadvantages in terms of product efficiency and work output. 

The increase in solar energy has resulted in more and more portable solar panels have been designed to meet the demands of the growing population that strives for more efficient electrical generating products. Portable Solar panels are not a new thing. 

Manufacturers have worked tirelessly, improving and redesigning portable solar products to achieve maximum efficiency output. Despite all this, it is still impossible at this stage to get one portable-solar panel that has just all the pros without cons.

It is always good to analyze products based on their disadvantages, by which; genuine improvements can be identified; by the manufacturer for improved production efficiency and effectiveness, and likewise choosing the right portable solar panel.  


On a side note! If you’re in need of a reliable and high-performance portable solar panel, We strongly recommend the Jackery SolarSaga 100W  Portable Solar Panel  (Amazon Link).

With a high conversion efficiency and foldable design, this solar panel is easy to transport and set up, making it perfect for outdoor activities like camping, hiking, and RV trips.

The US solar cell technology used in this panel ensures that you get the most efficient and reliable solar charging possible.

There is also a 60W option that is more affordable (Amazon Link)


As Bonnie Raitt Quotes, solar power is the last energy resource that is not; owned yet – nobody taxes the sun as of yet.

That is remarkably true in terms of solar energy. But does this guarantee that the products manufacturers are producing are 100% effective? No cons attached?

Well, let us move on and weigh out the advantages and disadvantages of portable solar panels. But first, let us look through the pros of portable solar panels before addressing the cons, which is imperatively hard to go unnoticed.

THE ADVANTAGES

Advantages

1. Easy Setup

Portable solar panels are relatively quite easy to set up. There are not many technical requirements needed to set up the device. Anybody can surely get the portable-solar board to work as long as there is sunlight. 

Compared to a standard solar panel, portable solar panels do not need installation procedures or require specialists to do the installation; there is no drilling on rooftops for mounting hardware.

There are no technical specifications that should worry you to keep in mind to keep the panel at maximum efficiency. 

A Goal Zero 100W Monocrystalline Portable Solar panel (Foldable Panel); can be operated by simply-unfolding the device and placing it in sunlight. That is it. How simple it is with portable solar panels. You just put the device in sunlight and let it do its job.

2. Portable

Being portable makes portable solar panels more compelling when going off-grid. Most portable solar panels come in loads going from 17.6oz/0.5kg to 317.5oz/9kg. Contrast with a standard roof solar board: portable solar panels are way lighter and portable. 

Also, this makes them appropriate for people and families going off-grid. They are incredible for outdoors, climbing, going fishing, etc. Their lightweight makes them considerably more invaluable. You can undoubtedly pack it into your backpack or carry it with you. Check out our take on How much do Portable Solar Panels weight?

Besides, you can easily adjust the portable solar panel angle; to match the angle at which the sun faces. By simply tilting and turning the portable-solar panel board can significantly increase the rate at which it charges the battery.

3. Maintenance

Person In Red And Black Doing Maintenance Jobs

Portable solar panels cost nothing to operate once purchased. There are no additional costs that should worry you. You can analyze the benefit of having a portable-solar panel board compared to a power generator or standard rooftop solar panel. 

The latter requires additional maintenance costs and also requires a specialist to do the maintenance job. Portable solar panels are just the right fit for everybody.

Since they are portable, maintenance should not be a problem. Should there be any form of defects or damages caused to the panel board, it can be easily spot on sight. 

There is no need for climbing rooftops to check for cable lines or wiping debris off the surface. A portable solar panel will always be where you are and not on the roofs.

Solar panel maintenance is unfathomably quick and easy. It boils down to standard cleaning. You need not bother with any uncommon equipment, which implies you can keep your panels working at their best while you are out and about.

The best ideal opportunity to clean your panels is in the early morning or night, as they can get exceptionally sweltering during the day.

4. Noise

Do you love being presented to noisy commotions? On the other hand, live in zones that; are overwhelmed by those sketchy noisy generators? 

Indeed, I wager none of us needed to invest energy breaking our ears to these old noisy machines. With solar panels, there is no requirement for noisy making generators. That should preclude the noisy-part.

5. Environmentally Friendly 

Green Pine Tree In Tilt Shift Lens

Solar panels are more environmentally friendly, meaning; there is minimum pollution. With portable solar panels, there is no trace of carbon dioxide produced. Therefore, it is even better than inhaling those dark blue fumes from those old crappy generators. 

Also, check out if Can Solar Panels Be Recycled? Is It Worth It !

6. Cost

Adding a Goal Zero Boulder 200 Watt Briefcase Monocrystalline Solar Panel to your RV is a reasonably good idea compared to a rooftop panel because you are skipping the installation part, often which is very expensive. Cost-wise, portable solar panels are cheaper compared to rooftop panels.

Whether you live in an RV or a fully furnished apartment, a portable solar panel does the same compared to a rooftop solar panel, both convert energy into electricity.

You can still get your cuppa coffee hot, get water warmed up, and charge your phones, electrical devices, turn on lights, and so forth, all at an affordable cost as compared to a rooftop solar panel. 

To be more specific, the price range for most portable solar panels ranges from $20.00 to $1995.00. For example, an Enerplex Packr Executive Solar Powered Backpack costs $28.99 on Amazon; this one is great for portable electronics such as phones, wireless earbuds, and cameras. 

On the other hand, a Solar Flex 100W Expansion Portable solar panel costs $640.00. It does provide a powerful charging solution for batteries. In contrast, it is used better in RVs, Work Trucks, Long-Haul Trailers, and sleeper cabs.

Solar Flex 100W Expansion Portable solar panel is bendable; the high-productivity monocrystalline cells produce more power per square foot than some other flexible panels available on the market to date.

Also, check out What Solar Panel To Use For A Campervan? Size VS Appliances!

7. Higher Efficiency Rating

Two Electronics placed side by side

On most events, portable solar panels are-normally monocrystalline. Hence, there is a somewhat higher efficiency rating.

In the manufacturing process, the silicon is shaped into bars and later cut into wafers of monocrystalline-cells. Strangely, the term monocrystalline infers the utilization of single-crystal silicon.

Because of the single-crystal silicon, electrons move all the more openly about, hence, give more force from the board to the appliance charged.

A Goal Zero Nomad foldable monocrystalline 50W portable solar panel has a higher efficiency rating. The Nomad 50 has an underlying 8mm charging link and a USB port and has four monocrystalline panels encased in a defensive wall in an area that folds down to a compact profile.

8. Room For Customization 

The requirements and needs of household owners may change. To address such change: portable solar generators offer space for customization. There are additional items that you can add to portable solar generators to expand their usefulness.

Such incorporates solar fans and lights. You can add to your portable solar panel to keep you open during power blackouts. You can likewise; put resources into solar ice chests to guarantee your fridge capacities while the power lattice is down.

9. Flexibility

To wrap things up: a portable solar generator offers flexibility. You can even utilize it to kick off your vehicle. Regardless of whether it is for indoor or open-air use, you can anticipate that a portable generator should perform all the more consistently contrasted with its fuel-powered partner.

With all that being said, let us move on and consider the disadvantages of portable solar panels.

Also check out our article on Are Portable Solar Panels Worth It? Portable panels Vs generators

THE DISADVANTAGES

Disadvantages

1. Reliability

The reliability of portable solar panels applies to two different topics. The first one is large electronics and appliances.

If you are trying to charge those devices from a solar panel directly; that is most likely not going to work; because there is not enough power coming from the solar panel for you to charge these things or run certain appliances like that. 

I recommend adding a battery so that it can charge the battery from your panel directly, and then if the battery is large enough, it can apply that power to a larger appliance or device. 

The second reliability issue comes from not necessarily rain but cloudiness. When it is cloudy, you are not going to get as much power to the panels. However, this is mostly applicable to those living in those areas that are cloudy for most of the year.

You can get more solar panel coverage. Surely this will help you get that same amount of power you would typically get if you had a sunny day.

To address all these issues, scientists and engineers are working on a space solar system. For more on this, check out our post ” Do Solar Panels Work Better in Space? (Space-Based Solar System!)

2. Pollution

Old Factory Release White Smoke Pollution

This part of the point may surprise people who do not know the process of creating solar panels. Portable Solar panels provide clean energy, but the manufacturing process is not clean. It is typically toxic.

The PV cell manufacturing process incorporates various hazardous materials, the vast majority of which used to clean and sanitize the semiconductor surface.

These synthetics utilized in the overall semiconductor surface; incorporate hydrochloric corrosive, sulfuric corrosive, nitric corrosive, hydrogen fluoride, 1,1,1-trichloroethane, and CH3)2CO.

The amount and type of synthetics used relies upon; 

  • the kind of cell, 
  • and the measure of cleaning that is required, 
  • and the size of the silicon wafer. 

Also, check out “How Much Oil Does It Take to Make A Solar Panel? Is It Really Clean Energy!

3. Expensive

Solar panels are expensive, but portable ones are a little bit more expensive than fixed solar panels. Now my yes is because; there is more engineering involved. 

The manufacturing process of a portable solar panel is more complicated than a fixed panel, and such undoubtedly raises the price. Some examples of companies that have expensive portable solar panels include Goal Zero and Jackery. Now, these companies produce high-quality, great panels. 

They just come at a price. So the price is a non-issue, I would recommend Goal Zero Nomad Series panels or maybe even the Boulder Series.

4. Space Requirements

Another inconvenience with portable solar panels is that; some suitcase-style solar panels require space. A suitcase board is not a foldable one. For example, an HQST 100W Monocrystalline is a suitcase board style. 

So if you are looking for a greater portable solar board that can move around more-effectively and not outside or climbing, the HQST brands are ideal, even though they require space.

Another issue would be; if you live in an urban area where you do not have enough room to unfold the portable panel and put it back out to get some sunlight. In such a case, make a point to check the measurements for folded and unfolded.

5. Only Works When Parked

Portable Solar Panel On A Pole

Another crucial point. An obvious disadvantage with portable solar panels. Now, this is applicable if you are moving around in your RV, Work Trucks, and Long-Haul Trailers, and sleeper cabs. 

If you had them up on the RV rooftop, they do collect the solar energy all the time as you are driving throughout the day. 

Parking at a Walmart, or Flying J, or rest area for the night, you will probably not bring the panels out and set them up just for the one night at those places. 

However, if you had the panels-up on your rooftop, you stopped early enough when you park for the day, you will be able to capture even more sunlight at these locations. 

You know it is nothing better than, I guess shop at Flying J and still creating power without running your generator.

6. Protecting The Panels

If your panels are up on the roof, for the most part, nothing is hurting them, or nothing is bothering them, they are up out of the way, there is no chance for somebody to walk into them, knock them over, or anything like that which may damage the panels. 

Moreover, since you need to place them for maximum efficiency-you also need to be careful where you place them. Factors such as wind or animals may get in the way unexpectedly and cause minor or major damages to your panel.

With a portable panel set up in an open area, you are taking them out of storage, setting them up, you’re bringing them around outside doing all your connections compared to if the panels were just up on the roof, then you are done. 

Once you park, there is no setup or anything like that. So portable solar panels could be considered cumbersome and that aspect, not everybody wants to add steps to their set up and break downtime. You will also find the ease of adjustability and trying to capture the most out of them.

7. Cells Are Expensive

Budget Costs Dollars

Portable solar board cells are expensive to make. By and large, solar panels cost more cash than cutting edge panels. The establishment of solar panels adds to the general expense. Nonetheless, you can generally get great deals on portable solar panels.

Organizations like Rockpals, Jackery, and Goal Zero usually sell different solar panels by size and type. In the residential and commercial space, most solar power organizations offer arrangements to pull in customers and buyers. That does not change the way that these solar panels are still moderately exorbitant.

Final Tip

Even the latest and best portable solar panels in the market today do have their advantages (pros) and disadvantages (cons). However, portable solar panels are a good match for those involved in off-grid activities.

A portable solar panel is not everybody’s thing. But for those who would love to take some special moments away from their homes, it is worth the price. 

Despite the pros and cons, a portable solar panel does contribute a lot towards providing a clean environment free from atmospheric pollution. 

If you think about buying a portable solar panel, then a word of advice, do your research. Generally, this does not necessarily mean you have to go over and write down 10,000 words about your findings; you have to view the different types of portable solar panel products. 

Look at the specs, what are the features available, is the size necessary? Or do you need an inverter? Relate your research-based on your situation. It is not worth searching for a Goal Zero Boulder 100W Monocrystalline Briefcase if you can only afford a Goal Zero Nomad 5W Solar Panel.

Likewise, an HQST 190W Monocrystalline portable solar panel or a Renogy 100W 12V Mono if you do not have an RV. It is always best to seek and check out the manufacturer’s website for specific information. 

Sometimes, the underlying features are only available through the manufacturers’ website or company. Do keep in mind what works for others does not work for you. 

Finally, you need to be able to identify the advantages and disadvantages of portable solar panels. Once done, you can be sure to choose a product that suits your needs.

sherifjallad

I am a very well-experienced techie civil engineer who’s extensively interested in solar panel technology and even more captivated by the potential of solar panels in supporting individual residential units.

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