“I know you are eagerly waiting at home to go out on the first chance you get. We all were like that. I had to stay about one year since my last camping trip to go out because of this pandemic situation. During the whole time at home, I spent planning my next camping trip.”
In the past, electricity would be the least of our concerns when are planning a camping trip. But now days have changed a lot since then. There are electronic devices that we can not afford to lose even when we are camping. Your smartphone, tab, or laptop come first in the list of those devices.
There are few methods campers use to generate electricity in the remote woods. A diesel generator was one of the choices. But it had many drawbacks. High fuel consumption, heavy machinery, and loud noise are a few reasons that made diesel generators incompatible.
I was looking for a more eco-friendly solution to charge devices while I’m on my camping trip. I knew solar panels are worth trying solution. Some reasons made me committing to that decision.
- Can they generate enough power
- Do I need to buy a separate power storage unit
- If there is a panel that can generate enough power, how big will it be?
While worrying over these doubts, I found BigBlue 100W Portable Solar Panels Kit on Amazon. Still, I was a little skeptical about buying it. After seeing all the positive customer reviews and a 4.6-star rating, I quickly placed an order.
First Impression
BigBlue Solar Panels Kit came in a black suitcase-like bag. Folded dimensions of this bag were 16.5 x 14.3 x 1.9 inches. Although I read about this in the item description, the compact size of it still surprised me. This bag has a rubber handle to make it easy to carry on your camping trip. The weight of the BigBlue Solar Panels Kit was 8.8lbs (4kg).
Then you have to unfold the bag and place solar panels facing towards the sun to get an output. You can find kickstands to elevate the solar panels from the ground. Using these kickstands, you can effectively get the maximum sunlight onto your solar panels. Unfolded dimensions are 70.8 x 16.5 x 1.2 inches.
Testing the BigBlue 100W Portable Solar Panels Charger
The first thing you have to know is this solar panel kit does not come with a power station. But unlike other solar panels, BigBlue Portable Solar Panel can charge your devices directly without storing the power in a power station. This feature is the best part of the BigBlue Portable Solar Panel.
There are two DC outputs you can directly use to charge your devices in this solar panel kit.
- 5V USB Type Output
- 45W USB Type C Power Delivery
From the first USB port, you can charge up any smartphone-type device.
The second 45W USB – C power delivery is capable of charging more larger devices such as laptops. You can see some compatible devices on the following list.
- Type-C NoteBook
- Mac book
- iPad
- iPad Pro
- iPad mini
- DJI Mavic 2
- Nintendo Switch
Some Specifications You Would Find Useful
- Open-Circuit Voltage(Voc): 21V
- Maximum Working Current(Imp): 5.55A
- USB Output Voltage: 4.75-5.45V/3A(Max)
- QC3.0 USB Output: 5V3A/9V2A/12V1.5A (Max)
- DC Output Voltage: 12-18V/5.5Amax
- Type-C Output: 20V/2.25A Max
Charge Your Car Battery
Imagine a situation where you end up with a dead battery in a remote place. It’s one of the worst situations anyone can face. But if you have a BigBlue Solar Panels Kit with you, you are not in trouble anymore. This portable solar panel charger comes with an Alligator Clip Cable. Using these, you can charge any 12V battery you find on a car, motorcycle, boat, marine, tractor, RV.
Compatible with Many Power Stations
You can indeed charge up most of your smart devices directly using this Portable Solar Panels Kit. But if you have a power station, you can use AC power devices on your camping trip. BigBlue Portable Solar Panel comes with a 10 in 1 adapter kit and a DC to Anderson cable. Having these two you connect, you can connect your solar panels to almost all the power stations.
- Compatible with BigBlue Power Stations
- 5.5 x 2.5mm DC to DC cable for Suaoki 400wh portable generator.
- 8mm DC connector for Jackery Explorer 240/160/500, Goal Zero Yeti 150 / 400 Power Station
- 3.5 x 1.35mm DC connector for Suaoki S270/ENKEEO S155/Paxcess 100W portable generator
- 5.5 x 2.1mm DC connector for Rockpals 250W/PRYMAX 300W portable generator
Have No Worries about Safety
One of the main concerns of using solar panels to power up our devices is their unreliable power output. Such events can fry circuits in our smart devices. With overcharging, overheating, and short circuit protection, you can connect any smart device to the USB ports without any worries.
High Energy Conversion
One reason that campers do not take solar panels to their camping trip is low power output. In other words, it would take ages to charge your devices even under sunny conditions. But BigBlue Portable Solar Panels use Monocrystalline solar panels. Monocrystalline solar panels have enhanced efficiency, quality, and reliability compared to conventional panels. They perform better in low-light conditions as well. The energy conversion comparison between general and BigBlue solar panels is 14% to 21%.
Long-Lasting and Water Proof
Monocrystalline solar panels tend to last longer than other solar panels. Besides, that manufacturer offers a 24-month warranty for these solar panels. That means this is a worthy investment for many more future outdoor trips to come. BigBlue portable solar panels have IPX4 waterproof ratings, which means they can withstand a water splash.
What’s in the Package
- 100W solar panel charger
- DC-Anderson cable
- DC-DC cable
- Battery clamps
- 10-in-1 connector for different connection ports
The Bottom Line
Smart devices have become a part of our lives now. So having a renewable and free energy source to charge them is an advantage for you. With BigBlue portable solar panels, you don’t even need a power station to charge the devices. In my opinion, this a long-lasting investment you can do for all your outdoor trips.
Read More Our Review:
- Why Buy Renogy 100 Watts 12 Volts Monocrystalline Solar Starter Kit?
- Why You Need Jackery Solar Saga 100W Portable Solar Panel?
- Why You Need A HQST 100 Watt 12 Volt Monocrystalline Solar Panel?
