The Elecaenta 120W Panel Is Compatible With A Lot Of Power Stations
Elecaenta is a solar panel manufacturer I haven’t heard of a lot before, but from what I have heard they make great and affordable products.
I reached out to them and asked if they would send me a panel for a review. They agreed to it.
Related Product: Pair the 120W panel with the Elecaenta 200Wh Power Station (click to view on Amazon)
Now that I have been testing it for almost a month, I am ready to do a full review.
It looks like a solid product on paper, but how efficient is it really, and should you buy one for your power station?
Specifications – Elecaenta 120W Solar Panel
The Panel
The 120W panel is made up out of four 40W panels.
These are of the efficient monocrystalline cell type, which have become the standard on panels like this.
The panels have an ETFE coating, which is a lightweight, heat-resistant film that increases the overall durability.
Here are the power ratings:
- Power: 120W
- Voltage at Max Power (Vmp): 18V
- Current at Max Power (Imp): 6.66A
- Open Circuit Voltage (Voc): 23-25V
- Short Circuit Current (Isc): 7.2A
Connectors
The junction box in the big pocket on the back has a 45W USB C port, a USB A QC3.0 port, and a DC5521 cable (10 ft).
If you want to charge portable power stations, the DC5521 cable is the one to use.
For smaller devices that come with USB cables, the two USB ports are a quick and easy way to power and recharge electronics.
But you’re not limited to the ports on the junction box, since Elecaenta includes several DC connectors.
This makes it compatible with a lot of different power stations, and if none of the connectors are compatible, there is also a DC5521 to MC4 adapter.
As long as the charge controller in your power station supports the 18V the panel outputs, it will probably be able to recharge your specific battery.
If you’re not sure what connector to use, please leave a comment and I’ll help you out.
Design
To set up the panels for the best conditions when the sun isn’t directly above you, it should be tilted with the built-in stand.
It angles the panel from 45 to almost 90 degrees.
The way I do it is that I connect the panel to my battery, then tilt the panel while reading the input watts on the power station display.
That way, I will quickly know the ideal angle, and can come back to adjust it throughout the day.
The panel has a rubber handle that makes it easy to carry the panel both when folded and unfolded.
When folded together, two latches keep the panels in place. A large zipper pocket on the back holds all the included cables and adapters.
Size And Weight
The panel weighs 10.14 lb (4.6 kg).
It measures 20.5 x 14.2 x 2.2 inches (52 x 36 x 5.5 cm) when folded, and 65.4 x 20.5 x 1 inches (166 x 52 x 2.5 cm) when unfolded.
In The Box
In the box you are going to find the panel, four carabiners, a DC5521 to Anderson/XT60/8020 adapter, a DC5521 to MC4 cable, and 10 different DC connectors.
Power Stations Compatible With The Elecaenta 120W, Right Out of The box
It’s compatible with most power stations that don’t require a voltage above 20V.
Here I list compatibility with the most popular solar generator brands.
Some of these can charge through USB C, but this is about compatibility with the DC5521 output.
Links lead to the product page of the listed device on Amazon.com.
- Goal Zero (8mm/Anderson) – Every power station, like the Yeti 200X and larger
- Jackery (8mm/Anderson) – Every power station (must use the included solar adapter on the latest 1000 Pro and larger)
- EcoFlow (XT60) – Every power station like the Delta 1300 that does not require 24V panels.
- Bluetti (8mm/XT60) – Every power station like the AC200Max that does not require 24V panels.
- Anker (8mm/XT60) – Every power station like the Anker 521.
- Rockpals (DC5521/DC5525/XT60) – Every power station like the PS300 300W 280Wh
If you have a different model or have questions about a certain model from one of the companies above, please leave a comment down below.
My Review & Test Results
Like
Efficient panels
The panel is rated at 120W, and all of my power stations showed 104 input watts. This test was done in early February in southern Utah.
I didn’t expect it to reach 100W, so I was impressed and it shows that the panels are efficient. Note that every power station I tested the panel with had an MPPT solar charge controller.
I also did a USB C test by connecting my laptop, and it saw it as a 45W power supply. So that worked very well, and is the more efficient way to charge my laptop and phone.
A lot of connectors
It can be seen as a waste to include a bunch of cables and adapters most customers will not be using, but that it’s compatible with so many devices and power stations right out of the box is a plus.
As you could see in the list earlier, it’s compatible with the most popular power stations on the market. You often have to buy extra connectors, so that has to be considered if you compare the price of this panel against another brand.
The portability and built-in handle
For a 120W panel, it’s very portable. I like that it has four smaller panels next to each other, instead of a stacked pair of two.
It’s easy to fold and unfold, even for people shorter than me, that is 5’10”.
The built-in handle is reinforced with rubber, and feels good in my hand.
Don’t Like
The DC5521 cable is not detachable
If I am heading out on a trip where I will only charge my devices through USB, I am still going to be bringing the DC5521 cable.
That’s because it’s not a detachable cable, and it’s always going to take up space in the storage pocket.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it compatible with my portable power station/solar generator?
I made a list above that lists the most popular power station brands and whether or not it’s compatible with its products.
If the brand you have is not listed, please leave a comment down below and let me know which model you have.
How do I charge a regular 12V battery with this?
To charge an RV house battery or something like a car battery with this, you’re going to need a solar charge controller.
A solar charge controller regulates the voltage and amperage to charge a lead-acid or lithium battery safely. Not all charge controllers support lithium.
Here is a 20A solar charge controller by Acopower (click to view on Amazon) with MC4 connectors on one end and alligator clamps on the other.
Connect the clamps to your 12V battery. Red to positive, black to negative. Then connect the DC5521 cable on the solar panel to the DC5521 to MC4 adapter.
Now the panel can be connected to the charge controller. Start with the positive connector.
Make sure the positive (red) wire from the charge controller lines up with the positive MC4 male connector on the panel.
Can I connect two Elecaenta 120W panels together?
Yes, you can. Elecaenta sells a parallel cable for this that can be found here.
Can I plug this into the Solar-Ready port on my RV?
Leave a comment down below if you want help with connecting this to an RV solar-ready port. If possible, link to a picture of the port.
Sir,
I have purchased a Bluetti AC200P, it doesn’t have the expandable power option, I must buy portable solar panels, at least 360W to charge it. Please recommend a solar panel that is of good quality and affordable price, many are so extremely expensive.
Thanks.
Martin
Yes, how would this hook up to a zamp solar plug(sae)on an rv?
Hi,
That would require a solar charge controller and some adapters. Since the Elecaenta panel includes an 8mm connector, you should be able to use the same parts as in this article (click to view).
Hi,
is it correct yeti 200x can be charged with this panel?
VOC of Elecaenta is 23-25V and Yeti 200x DC input is 13-22V. Would this work?
Also, if a power station has DC input solar charging 18-24V (just like FlashFish A201), would this work?
Thanks!
Hi,
It’s likely that it will work because it has a working voltage of 18V, but I can’t promise that it does because of the higher open circuit voltage. Same with the FlashFish.