Hi all, I’m new and still waiting for my 1st power station to be delivered (BLUETTI 200v2).
I will occasionally use it for camping (in a SUV, not RV) so I’m looking at some recommendations for some light weight foldable (or blankets?) solar panels when off grid (at home I can just recharge from the grid at US$ 0.35/KWh.) Since the 200v2 can take up to 1000W 60V 20A so I like to get at least 500W if that’s portable. Any preferred/reliable brand and model that you don’t mind to share your experience? Thank you very much in advance!
Ok, after looking around, it looks like a good candidate is " Renogy 200W Portable Solar Panel" (23.4V/10A) and I will be able to do either 2x200W parallel or serie for 400W and not more?
Edited: actually, it can be: 2xparallel(2x200W in serie) for 46.8V/20A to get 800W?
Another candidate seems to be Renogy 400W portable (47.2V/10A) then I can do 2x400W in parallel to get 800W, yes?
Lightweight foldable panels with high output do not exist. All of them are bulky and heavy. Source= ME I own 2 Bluetti PV350s, a Bluetti PV200, and a 350 watt solar blanket. I almost exclusively lay them flat unless I absolutely have to. You also need to consider IP rating if it rains (i believe Ecoflow 400W is IP68 while Bluetti one is not). Another thing is wind damage. If you do decide to tilt them, you need to stake them down. I used solarpivotpower strap and a stake to stick them to ground, otherwise they can blow away. I’ve had a few land face down and was fine, but it was touch and go a few other times.
Solar blankets are terrible for power production. You can’t tilt them. They are flimsy as all hell. I would never buy one ever again, unless it was a very lightweight one I could put on my windshield to achieve a “tilt”. Avoid any solar blanket above 150W like a plague.
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Thank you so much for your inputs. Ok, I remove “flex panel” from my list 
. Appreciate the sharing of your experience.
- I understand that I need to keep the total input V (open circuit) of the panels to be less than or equal to the input V spec of the power station.
How does the short circuit current of the panels fit into the equation? I know what it is, just not sure how it plays into the matching of panels to the generator.
It doesn’t really affect the MPPT controller, as you know it rejects anything past 20A, what is more so important is that you match panels together so they run optimally together or one isn’t way stronger than the other causing the 2nd one to burn up from heat. It’s partially why the Bluetti website offers you to buy 2 X PV350s for example.
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Thank you! I’ll either get the BLUETTI 350W or Renogy 400W portable. No rush. I have the 200V2 for a day and I really like it! The build quality is excellent. I used a flashlight to look around and even looked inside the connectors and couldn’t find any fault or mistake. The box that it was shipped in was the best that I have never seen: with all edges reinforced with external hard cardboard protectors! That’s just truly attention to details! I’m impressed.
Congrats on the AC200v2 — solid first power station. For SUV camping, I’d focus on portability over chasing the full 500W unless you’re staying put for a while, as 500W foldables get bulky fast. Bluetti, EcoFlow and Renogy all make reliable portable panels, and something in the 200–400W range is usually the sweet spot for travel. Easier to move, quicker to set up, and still plenty for topping up the AC200v2 off-grid.
I recommend the Bluetti Sora 500. It performs really well, even in dodgy UK ‘sunshine’ . I got a high of 468w into my Elite 100 in between clouds. It’s big when unfolded, but packs up smaller than any other I have found in the 400-500w range. It’s not cheap, I waited and got mine during a sale.
Shame its not available in the United States but having owned two of the newer PV350s I can already see how much of a pain in the rear this is going to be to set up. I bought two PV350s just so I didn’t have to tilt them. Double the weight and two panels, but a ton easier to set up. Nothing beats the original PV350 in terms of ease of set up for tilting. Here’s how everyone sets up their original PV350. Here’s a better way to do it. You can’t do this method with the newer garbage design. I care more about functionality over form. It’s incredible how out of touch marketing is with real world practical use. They care more so about how pretty or slick the item looks than how it performs. They depict people carrying their Elite 100 into the cave because everyone lugs a 30 lb power station into a cave LMAO.
Hallo Sealy,
I mostly transport my panels in a smallish bicycle trailer, so I was limited to a 200w panel that folded small enough, similar design to Bluetti’s PV60. So the folded size is an essential factor for me. When I saw the Sora would fit in the trailer I was very interested in it. I had to wait for a UK sale though, but that was ok as its only just getting to be better weather here.
It is quite large unfolded. The legs are in 2 parts (top / bottom) which slot together. I did set it up similar to in the 2nd video, although its a bit more complicated as you have to open and support the top part too whilst putting the legs together. I think 1 design improvement would be poppers rather than slotting together on the legs as it’s a bit too easy for them to come apart. The size of the Sora , and the leg design would also not lend it to use in any kind of wind, whereas my 200w panels are generally ok with a few bungy cords.
I’m a 5’4 not-so-young female and I can set it up and move it on my own after a bit of practice. I’m really glad to have a panel that can put out near 500w as having to spend all day out with a 200w panel could be a bit inconvenient, especially as I now have the Elite 100 which has more capacity than the 70 series Bluettis I was solar charging before.
The Sora 500 was out of stock in the UK for a while, but I’ve seen it on Bluetti’s ebay tonight. Maybe it will be available in your country soon?