Jackery Solar Panel: Definitive Review (2024)
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Today, you’re going to see our favorite solar panel – the Jackery 100W Portable Solar Panel 2024– tested to its limits and we’ll tell you exactly why it came out Top of our TopNotch polls.
We loved it so much we awarded it TopNotch Editor’s Choice in its category.
We took this solar panel, along with the top 10 best solar chargers on the market today, for a road trip that took us off-grid to test them to their limits…
In this Jackery Solar Panel review, we’ll discuss:
- It’s versatility, portability and durability
- It’s charging power and capacity
- Charge interruption recovery
- Lots more…
Not only that, we have a side-by-side comparison with its lead competitors…
…and we’ll let you into the secret of how it works with the Jackery 240 and 500 power stations.
(I’ve written a full Buyers Guide for you – more on that later).
As usual, we’ll start with Our Verdict…
- Manufacturer: Jackery
- Panel Type: Monocrystalline
- Power Output: USB & DC
- Output Capacity: 100W
- Weight: 9 lbs
Bottom Line : Combining portability with efficiency, this solar panel is a great choice – offering you a continuous power supply when heading off-grid
Pros
- Lightweight and portable
- Very easy to set up
- A higher conversion efficiency
- Offers USB connectivity
- Full range of safety features
- Comes with a long extension cable
Cons
- The price is on the higher side
- Waterproof construction would have been slightly better
Our Verdict: Jackery Solar Panel
This portable solar panel from Jackery perfectly blends lightweight convenience with performance – a great choice when you’re looking for steady power in a remote location.
Heading out with your RV for some camping?
Taking your kids out in the Wilderness for the weekend?
Out with the buddies on a hunting trip?
The Jackery Solar Panel’s a great choice for powering all your gadgets.
The lightweight design is pretty lean and the best part is…
…it can be used to charge a whole range of electronics through twin USB ports and the addition of a DC port.
Brilliant.
Want to know what our review team liked most?
They thought of everything…
The unique foldable design of this solar panel.
And the fact that it comes with a carry handle.
There’s also an adjustable kickstand as an added advantage.
And here’s the little known secret.
Jackery 240 and Jackery 500 are portable power stations with batteries. This panel can be connected with any of them to build a complete power generating and storing unit…
Kind of a mini power station.
After we charged this panel under the full sun, it delivered close to 75 Watts on a bright day.
Now that’s impressive!
Moreover, the plug-and-play functionality is extremely convenient for outdoor use as well as in your home during a power outage.
As a downside, the panel is not waterproof which restricts its outdoor use a bit.
The price is also quite steep…
But if you want quality, reliability and plenty of power, it’s worth every dime…
… converting solar energy to clean power has never been this easy.
After the standard tests, our team didn’t hesitate to mark it as the TopNotch Editor’s Choice.
So let’s get to work and uncover what made it our TopNotch Editor’s Choice.
Related: 9 Best Portable Solar Panels
Our Analysis, Comparisons & Test Results
Did I tell you we went for a road trip through a few National Parks and camped out to test the top solar panels on the market?
It was a fun (ahem, work) trip!
We had all the time in the world to dissect these panels and test them against the various metrics we chose.
Turns out that with 100 w of power, this panel is not only capable of powering the smaller equipment like lights, but can also juice up your bigger ones like a 45 w laptop at the same time as boiling a kettle for a coffee.
Are you using a solar panel and want something with a larger capacity?
Then you’ll love the Jackery 100 w.
So let’s get started.
Value For Money
First of all, let’s check out precisely what this Jackery Solar Panel has to offer.
Well, 100 Watts of rated power with a cell efficiency of 23 percent.
In addition, the cells are designed to provide a life cycle of more than ten years.
Brilliant.
Value For Money Rating
Beyond that, it’s working temperature range is also impressive.
It can function smoothly between -10 to 65 degrees Centigrade.
Want to know something interesting?
We used the panel on an overcast day and it still delivered about 15 Watts. Even though the charging rate was slow, the performance was really impressive without any direct sunlight.
Another point our team loved about this solar panel was the ease of setting it up.
What about the safety features?
Over-power protection.
Surge protection.
Short circuit protection.
It’s all there.
To top it all, there are USB A and USB C output ports for easy connections.
The fact is, there’s not much to complain about the features and the performance of this mini powerhouse.
Charge Interruption Recovery
Picture this:
It’s a cloudy day in the Blue Ridge Parkway National Park and we (the TopNotch team) were locked and loaded and ready with ammeters and voltmeters to test our Jackery for charge interruption recovery.
Charge Interruption Recovery Rating
In fact, the clouds made our task easier.
So what were the results?
The Jackery 100w solar panel took about 15 seconds to deliver a full output when the weather changed from cloudy to sunny.
Not the quickest…
Clearly, the high quality of the solar cells along with the Top-Notch conversion efficiency makes the recovery time reasonable.
But here’s something really interesting.
The recovery time is balanced enough to ensure none of the smaller devices get damaged by a sudden power upsurge.
When we moved the panel from bright light to inside the RV, we had to reconnect the batteries to start the charging.
To be honest, this only happened once and we considered it a minor issue.
Charging Speed
The simple truth is that the charging speed will depend on what you’re charging.
In our tests, we used this Jackery to charge a MacBook and a Jackery Explorer 240 power station.
In addition, there was also an external battery pack of 10,000 mAh
Charging Speed Rating
So how did it fare?
In fact, it performed very smoothly when kept under bright and direct sunlight.
Under the bright sun, the MacBook charged from 0 to 45% in four hours. The Explorer 240 charged to 40% at the same time.
News Flash: The total time the Jackery 100 w solar panel took to charge the Explorer 240 power station under the full sun was around six and a half hours.
But there’s one small catch.
We noticed that under the cover of clouds, the charging speed dropped. The Explorer 240 charged to 4% in around 4 hours while the MacBook charged from 0 to 12% at the same time.
The pouch at the back of the panel was super useful for holding small electronic devices while charging.
The fact is, small touches like that do enhance the overall user experience.
Do keep in mind that you need to adjust the angle of the panel towards the light for the best results.
Also – make sure the surface of the panel remains clean and dust-free.
Multiple Device Charging Speed
A capacity of 100 Watts should definitely be ample to charge multiple electronics simultaneously.
And, no doubt about it, the Jackery SolarSaga excels when it comes to this test.
Multiple Device Charging Speed Rating
While connecting the Jackery with the Explorer 240 power station, we also used it to charge a phone and a camera battery through the two USB outlets.
And the good news is…
…The panel delivered a steady charge to all the devices with the help of the bright sun. The speed fell during periods of cloud cover, but no more than we expected.
We noted that the advanced technology, including the use of monocrystalline solar panels, optimizes the overall performance.
The result?
The panel emerged as one of the top performers for charging multiple electronics simultaneously.
Durability
When it comes to choosing a top-class solar panel, we know durability is not something you should compromise on.
The fact is…
…we dragged this panel through a week of outdoor adventures where it bounced and bumped at the back of the RV.
Durability Rating
It happily took all the shock and vibration (we left it loose) with no issues.
This panel opens up like a book and comes with a storage pouch. We found the pouch very durable, even though it tends to get dirty.
In addition, the kickstands are hard wearing too.
Before we go any further, you should understand – the Jackery isn’t waterproof.
When it rained heavily during our trip, we had to remember to bring it inside the RV (hmmmm).
So, if you’re looking for a weatherproof panel, why not check out the Newpowa.
So, does the fact that the Jackery is ultralight affect its durability?
Not at all.
Let’s also remember how it performs in extremes of temperature.
How so?
Thanks to the polyethylene terephthalate (PET) material used in manufacture the Jackery can cope with large temperature variations.
Weight & Portability
To tell the truth, this is one of the lightest 100 Watt solar panels we’ve had the pleasure to test.
And the convenience of the folding design is something we loved.
By now you might be wondering about the handling of the panel.
The handles are well built and mean that carrying the panel safely is super easy.
Weight & Portability Rating
Here is something else we really liked.
The panel also has holes in the corners which you can use to attach it to your backpack.
If you’re looking for the perfect combination of power and portability, the Jackery solarsaga 100w solar panel is a Top-Notch choice.
Conclusion: Jackery Solar Panel
So what makes this solar panel so special?
At this point, you’ve probably realized that when we review solar panels the final score is based on performance over all the metrics.
The Jackery 100w solar panel may not be a perfect performer in individual metrics. However, its steady overall performance makes it stand out from the competition by a mile.
Let’s start with the simple facts.
The panel is lightweight and we found it super easy to connect and use.
Cables and extension cords are all included.
And the USB ports, DA port and the kickstands are a brilliant touch of innovative design.
We really enjoyed the ample charging capacity of the panel and its ability to charge multiple devices smoothly.
What’s more?
The 100 Watt capacity is just right for groups like us, heading out for a long outdoor trip.
Add to that the advanced technology of the solar cells and the high conversion efficiency…
…and you can see you have a real winner on your hands.
Is there a panel that ticks the boxes and performs as well as the Jackery Solarsaga 100w solar panel?
The answer from the TopNotch team is – well, no.
At the end of the day, we’re confident about awarding it our TopNotch Editor’s Choice.
Indeed – we’ve made our choice.
It’s time for you to make yours, will the Jackery 100w solar panel be on your shopping list?
