Can I Connect Any Solar Panel To A Grecell Power station?
Grecell is a fast-growing popular power station/solar generator brand that makes and sells both batteries and solar panels.
While they do make their own panels, you don’t have to use them and can use third-party panels.
So the short answer to the question above is yes. Some panels are going to be easier to connect than others, but with the right adapters, cables, and accessories you can connect almost any solar panel.
In this guide, we’ll explore the different Grecell power station models, their input limits, and the best solar panels to pair with them.
If you have any questions, please leave a comment and I will help you as soon as possible.
Grecell Power Stations: Models and Specifications
In the table below, I have listed every power station currently being made by Grecell. 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 |
HW01 (230Wh) | 8mm: 11-24V, 5A (100W max) USB C: 100W |
T300 (288Wh) | 8mm: 12-26V, 5A (60W max) |
P500 Mini (444Wh) | Anderson PowerPole: 18-23V, 8mm: 12-24V (80W max) |
T500 (519Wh) | 8mm & Anderson PowerPole: 12-26V (105W max) |
HW02 (460Wh) | XT60: 11-28V, 10A (200W max) |
T1000 (999Wh) | 8mm & Anderson PowerPole: 12-26V, 8A (155W max) |
T1 PRO (1126Wh) | Anderson: 12-60V, 15A (600W max) |
H2400 (1843.2Wh) | Anderson: 12-75V (800W max) |
S5 (5040Wh) | Anderson: 12-150V (2100W max) |
The voltage limit should never be exceeded. If you already have a panel with a voltage too high for the specific model, you could 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.
The max input wattage can, however, 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 Grecell 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 Grecell models, have built-in solar charge controllers. That’s a big reason they’re 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. In the table above I have specified whether the specific model uses an 8mm, Anderson or XT60 input connector. See what’s included with the panel you want to buy. A lot of the Grecell models have both the 8mm and the Anderson.
- Since all Grecell power stations include MC4 to DC adapters (8mm, Anderson, or XT60), you actually don’t need to purchase any extra adapters. Unless you plan on connecting two or more panels in parallel, more info about that can be found down below.
- 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.
Grecell’s Own Solar Panels
- Grecell S80 – MC4 connectors, includes MC4 to 8mm & Anderson adapter. Two USB A ports. Waterproof. 18V Vmp.
- Grecell SP-100 – MC4 connectors, includes MC4 to 8mm & Anderson adapter + extra DC connectors. 20V Vmp.
- Grecell SP-200 – MC4 connectors, includes MC4 to 8mm, Anderson, and XT60 adapter. 19.8V Vmp.
- Grecell UB-200 – MC4 connectors, includes MC4 to 8mm, Anderson, and XT60 adapter. 20V Vmp.
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 Grecell 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, both 8mm and XT60.
- Sunsul 100W – Includes several connectors compatible with different power stations, both 8mm and XT60.
- EcoFlow 110W – MC4 connectors, 18.4V Vmp.
- Elecaenta 120W – Read my review of this product here. Includes several connectors compatible with different power stations, both 8mm and XT60.
- Dokio 160W – Includes several connectors compatible with different power stations, both 8mm and XT60. Don’t use the included charge controller with Grecell 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.
- EcoFlow 400W – Read my review of this product here. MC4 connectors, 41V Vmp. Only compatible with the models that support 40+ input voltage.
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
- XT60 – Elfculb XT60 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.
also any issues with using megsun 100w rigid panel
thanks again