9 Best Portable Solar Panels & Chargers (2024)
Definitive Review

Different Types of Portable Panel

A solar charger works by using light energy to produce electricity. Since the sun is the brightest source of light, we refer to it as a solar panel, but actually, they are known as photovoltaic cells.

Thin slices of silicon are coated with adjacent layers of phosphorus and boron, making them “n” and “p” types.

The “n” type has a surplus of electrons causing a potential difference (see above), and when both ends are joined, there is the flow of electricity. The power from thousands of these cells accumulates to provide 15-100 watts.

There are three types of photovoltaic cells in use – monocrystalline, polycrystalline, and thin-film.

The Bottom Line:

Monocrystalline cells have a single crystal making it better performing but also more expensive. They have high power output (relative to surface area) and are almost black.

A polycrystalline cell is made of many smaller crystals that are cut and arranged to have a larger surface area. This will be a bluish panel which is cheaper but not very durable. They are less efficient than a monocrystalline panel and provide less power per square inch.

Thin-film solar panels are made of cadmium telluride. Since they are only 0.3% of the thickness of the above types, they have better aesthetics. But they also have the least power output.

Features to Look Out For

Amperage, Voltage, and Watts. These are three terms you are continually going to come up against when buying a portable solar charger and also probably the most significant. We restrict this discussion to Direct Current.

Voltage Means A Potential Difference.

If there are more electrons at one end of a metal wire (negative pole) and less at the other end (positive pole), electrons will flow from negative to the positive pole. It’s like water flowing from a rooftop tank to a faucet ten floors below. The more the water, the more the pressure or, in our case, the more the voltage.

Amperage is the number of electrons flowing through the wire per second. It is measured in amperes or amps. It is similar to the liters/sec of water flowing through the pipe, joining the tank and the faucet.

Wattage is the work done by electricity. It is measured as Volt x Amps. So, 12 volts and 2 amps mean 24 watts.

Still with me?

The charging of devices is restricted by volts and watts. A solar phone charger produces about 10 volts and 1 amp (may vary widely 8-12 volts). Those 10 watts cannot be supplied through 1000 volts and 0.01 amps because it will destroy the phone.

…and you don’t want that.

HOWEVER:​

If you want to run a tiny refrigerator and few LED lamps besides charging a battery pack, you would need a 2 x 100-watt setup at least.

They also come with a variety of outlets.

These popularly include a 12 volt and 8 amps outlet for portable solar generators like Goal Zero Yeti 150 / 400 Power Station, Suaoki, and Jackery. There are also 2/3 USB ports for using gadgets.

If it is able to handle multiple devices at the same time, that is preferable. The bigger ones that are at least 40 watts can charge laptops.

There is also the matter of form factor.

They should fold to fourths instead of half making it easier to carry. There should be a carry handle.

Other important criteria include a warranty. A one year warranty is desirable there’s no doubt about that.

If you are going to take them along on a camping trip, they need to weigh less than 10 lbs, preferably.