Can I Connect Any Solar Panel To An EBL Power station?
EBL makes power stations and solar panels in different sizes. The question is, do you have to use EBL panels or are there any compatible third-party panels?
The answer to the second question above is: Yes, as long as the panel’s voltage is compatible with the solar charge controller in the power station.
In this article, I will list every current EBL model along with their input limits, teach you how to figure out whether a panel is compatible or not, list adapters required (if any) to make the connection, and recommend a lot of different solar panels.
If you have any questions, please leave a comment and I will help you as soon as possible.
EBL Power Stations: Models and Specifications
In the table below, I have listed every power station currently being made by EBL. If yours is missing, let me know by leaving a comment.
For a solar panel to be compatible with a power station, it must have a compatible voltage. That means the working voltage of the panel must be within the input limits of the power station. You can learn how to find the input limits of your power station here, or see the table below.
The solar panel voltage is a bit easier to find, and you can learn how to do it here.
| Power Station Model | Input Limits |
| Voyager MP330 (288.6Wh) | 8mm: 12-24V, 5A |
| P300 Mini (269.36Wh) | Anderson: 18-23V, 5A (60W max), 8mm: 12-24V, 5A (60W max) |
| P500 Mini (444Wh) | Anderson: 18-23V, 5A (80W max), 8mm: 12-24V, 5A (80W max) |
| MP500 (519.4Wh) | Anderson: 12-26V, 8A, 8mm: 12-26V, 6A (105W max) |
| Voyager MP1000 (999Wh) | Anderson: 12-26V, 8A, 8mm: 12-26V, 8A (150W max) |
| 2200W T1 Pro (1126.4Wh) | Anderson: 12-60V, 15A (600W max) |
| H2400 (1843.2Wh) | Anderson: 12-75V, 25A (800W max) |
The voltage limit should never be exceeded. If you already have a panel with a voltage too high for the specific model, you can use a DC buck converter like this (click to view on Amazon). It’s an adjustable power supply module that lets you reduce the voltage from 10-65V to 0-60V, and up to 12A. It requires some tinkering, and I don’t have any experience with them, so if this is something you would like to do I am going to have to refer you to the product manual.
However, the max input wattage can be exceeded with most power stations. The charge controller will not send more than the amperage limit to the battery, but it’s able to regulate it. Note that you should always check with the manufacturer of your power station whether it is ok or not. You must usually exceed the amperage limit to reach the max input wattage. You can read more about that in this article.
Solar Panels – What You Need To Know
Now that we know the input limits of the EBL power stations, it’s time to select a solar panel.
There are a couple of things you need to know before doing so, and these are true for all of the different models above.
- Most power stations, and all EBL models, have built-in solar charge controllers, which is why they are often referred to as solar generators. The charge controller regulates the electricity produced by the panel and charges the battery at a safe speed. Because of this, you should not connect a panel that has an external charge controller. You want to make a direct connection between the panel and the input, with nothing in between except for maybe extension cables. If you already have a panel with a charge controller, see if it’s possible to bypass it.
- To make the connection between the two, you must either choose a panel that comes with a connector that is compatible with your specific model, or use an adapter. See what’s included with the panel you want to buy.
- Every EBL power station include an MC4 to DC adapter, which mean they’re ready for compatible third-party panels that use MC4 connectors right out of the box. All you need to do before making the connection is to make sure it has a compatible voltage.
- If you have or plan to buy a panel that doesn’t use MC4 connectors, you’re going to need a different adapter. Please leave a comment and let me know what connector the panel has, and I will help you find the correct adapter.
- I’ve mentioned it earlier, but the most important thing is that you find a panel with a compatible working voltage. Read this article to learn what to look for.
Solar Panel Recommendations
There are a lot of different type of panels, and I have written an article that talks about the pros and cons of each that you can read here.
Below I have listed panels from popular and reliable brands, but these are obviously not the only options you have to choose from.
EBL’s Own Solar Panels
- EBL Apollo 100W – MC4 connectors, 20V Vmp. Includes an MC4 to Anderson and 8mm adapter.
- EBL Flexible 120W – MC4 connectors, 21.7V Vmp.
- EBL Apollo 200W – MC4 connectors, 19.8V Vmp. Includes an MC4 to XT60, Anderson, 8mm, and Aviation adapter.
Rigid Panels
- Renogy 50W – MC4 connectors, 18.6V Vmp.
- Newpowa 70W – MC4 connectors, 20.41V Vmp.
- Renogy 100W – MC4 connectors, 20.4V Vmp.
- Megsun 160W – MC4 connectors, 18.2V Vmp.
- Renogy 200W – MC4 connectors, 19.2V Vmp.
Flexible Panels
- Xinpuguang 50W – MC4 connectors, 19.8V Vmp.
- Renogy 100W – MC4 connectors, 20.7V Vmp.
- Eco-Worthy 130W – MC4 connectors, 20.05V Vmp.
- BougeRV 200W – MC4 connectors, 17.1V Vmp.
Portable Panels
- Renogy 100W – MC4 connectors, 18V Vmp.
- Renogy 200W – MC4 connectors, 20.4V Vmp. Bypass the charge controller before connecting it to your EBL power station.
- Renogy 220W Lightweight – MC4 connectors, 20V Vmp.
- Renogy 400W Lightweight – MC4 connectors, 40V Vmp. Only compatible with the models that support 40+ input voltage.
Portable Flexible Panels
- Togo Power 60W – Includes several connectors compatible with different power stations, including Anderson and 8mm.
- Sunsul 100W – Includes several connectors compatible with different power stations, including Anderson and 8mm.
- EcoFlow 110W – MC4 connectors, 18.4V Vmp.
- Elecaenta 120W – Read my review of this product here. Includes several connectors compatible with different power stations, including Anderson and 8mm.
- Dokio 160W – Includes several connectors compatible with different power stations, including 8mm (no Anderson). Don’t use the included charge controller with EBL inputs, but you can use it to charge external 12V batteries like an RV or car battery.
- Renogy 200W – MC4 + USB A and C connectors.
Connect Two Or More Panels Together
To increase the charging speed, you can combine two or more panels. If this is something you would like to do, I suggest reading this article that go through the different ways to how that is done.
Extension Cables (Optional)
Here are my recommendations when it comes to extension cables.
- MC4 – Geosiry 12 AWG Solar Panel Extension Cables
- 8mm – iGreely 8mm Extension Cable
- Anderson – Elfculb 10 AWG Anderson Extension Cable
Related Articles
Here is a list of articles that answer frequently asked questions related to this. If you have a question that hasn’t been answered, please leave a comment and I’ll get back to you as soon as possible.
- Do power stations by X come with solar panels?
- What kind of solar panel should I buy?
- How fast will a solar panel recharge my power station?
- How to improve the efficiency of my solar panel?
- Do solar panels work when it’s cloudy?
- How to find the input limits of a power station?
- How to connect two or more solar panels together
- Can I exceed the watt input limit of a power station?
- Solar charging: How long will it take?
- Can you connect a solar panel from a different brand to a power station?
Please leave a comment if you have any questions. Share information about your specific setup, models and/or plans, so I can help you as much as possible.
