But being outdoors means having to deal with the weather, and the possibility of rain is always there.<\/p>\n
In this article, I want to share some of the waterproof and water-resistant solar panels I have found.<\/p>\n
As a full-time traveler myself I have used several panels in rainy weather, sometimes against the manufacturer’s recommendations.<\/p>\n
If you’re wondering how to connect any of the panels to your specific power station, please leave a comment and I’ll help you find the right adapter.<\/p>\n
What To Think About<\/h2>\n
When dealing with electricity, even if it’s just electricity produced by a solar panel, it’s important to do it safely. Especially when water is brought into the mix.<\/p>\n
Here are a couple of things to know.<\/p>\n
- \n
- Waterproof Vs Water-resistant<\/strong> – There is a difference between being waterproof and being water-resistant. One panel might have an IP rating that tells us that it’s safe to submerge fully in water, while another one has a rating that only means it can handle splashes of water. A fully waterproof panel has at least an IP67 rating.<\/li>\n
- The connectors<\/strong> – Not all solar panels use the same connectors, and most of them are not waterproof. I recommend using MC4 connectors because they use o-rings to keep moisture and dirt out. MC4 connectors are one of the most common connectors used on solar panels, so there are a lot of compatible adapters on the market for connecting power stations.<\/li>\n
- Tempered glass vs Fabric<\/strong>\u00a0– There are a lot of portable and foldable panels that become small enough to put in a backpack. These type of panels are often made with cloth and plastics, which will not hold up in rainy weather as well as rigid panels made with tempered glass and metal frames.<\/li>\n
- The sun can cause more issues than the rain\u00a0<\/strong>– Since the solar panel will (hopefully) see a lot of sun, it’s important to remember that the sun and the heat generated can do damage as well. The hotter the panel gets, the less efficient it is.<\/li>\n
- Cables and junction boxes<\/strong> – A solar panel can have several IP-ratings<\/a>. The junction box might be less waterproof than the cables, or vice-versa. Always read the manual and make sure you’re aware of which part can handle what.<\/li>\n
- There are no waterproof power stations<\/strong> – If your solar panel is plugged into a power station, the battery must be placed in a dry location. There are no waterproof power stations, and leaving one out in the rain will most likely ruin it. Use extension cables and your creativity to keep the power station out of the rain.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
Waterproof & Water-resistant Solar Panels<\/h2>\n
This article is mostly about waterproof solar panels, but I added some water-resistant panels to the table as well.<\/p>\n
Every panel on the table below has an IP-rating, I suggest reading this article on donewithwires.com<\/a> if these ratings are new to you to get a quick understanding of what it means.<\/p>\n
After the table, I’ll talk a bit about how to connect solar panels that use MC4 connectors to the most common portable power stations.<\/p>\n
\n\n<\/p>\n
\n\n\n <\/div>\n\n![\"HQST](\"https:\/\/m.media-amazon.com\/images\/I\/31C6m19rY6L.jpg\")
<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n![\"Renogy](\"https:\/\/m.media-amazon.com\/images\/I\/4177l+qe23L.jpg\")
<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n![\"Renogy](\"https:\/\/m.media-amazon.com\/images\/I\/41OK4j5rkHL.jpg\")
<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n![\"EF](\"https:\/\/m.media-amazon.com\/images\/I\/41HplFpQT7L.jpg\")
<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n![\"Renogy](\"https:\/\/m.media-amazon.com\/images\/I\/41zf4Uyx4oL.jpg\")
<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n![\"BLUETTI](\"https:\/\/m.media-amazon.com\/images\/I\/31O9EBtE3kL.jpg\")
<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n Product Link <\/div>\n\nHQST 50W Monocrystalline Solar Panel<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\nRenogy 100W Monocrystalline Solar Panel<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\nRenogy 100W Built-in Kickstand<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\nEcoFlow 160W Portable Solar Panel<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\nRenogy 175W Flexible Solar Panel<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\nBluetti 200W Solar Panel<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n Watts <\/div>\n\n50W<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n100W<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n100W<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n160W<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n175W<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n200W<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n Connectors <\/div>\n\nMC4<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\nMC4<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\nMC4<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\nMC4<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\nMC4<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\nMC4<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n IP-rating <\/div>\n\nIP65 (junction box), IP67 (connectors)<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\nIP65 (junction box), IP67 (connectors)<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\nIP65 (junction box), IP67 (connectors)<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\nIP67<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\nIP68 (junction box), IP67 (connectors)<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\nIP65 (junction box), IP67 (connectors)<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n Optimum Operating Voltage <\/div>\n\n18V<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n20.4V<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n20.3V<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n18.2V<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n19.5V<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n20.5V<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n Optimum Operating Current <\/div>\n\n3.01A<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n4.91A<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n4.94A<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n8.8A<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n8.89A<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n9.7A<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n Size <\/div>\n\n25.9 x 1.2 x 20.2 in<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n41.8 x 20.9 x 1.4 in<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n22.6 x 30.4 x 5.3 in (folded)<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n26.8 x 16.5 x 1 in (unfolded)<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n59.2 x 26.5 x 0.08 in<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n23.2 x 24.8 in (folded)<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n Weight <\/div>\n\n8.8 lbs<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n14.1 lbs<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n20.5 lbs<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n11 lbs<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n6.2 lbs<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n16.1 lbs<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n <\/div>\n\nCheck Price at Amazon<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\nCheck Price at Amazon<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\nCheck Price at Amazon<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\nCheck Price at Amazon<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\nCheck Price at Amazon<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\nCheck Price at Amazon<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p>\n
\n\n\n\n <\/div>\n\n<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n Product Link <\/div>\n\nHQST 50W Monocrystalline Solar Panel<\/a><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n Watts <\/div>\n\n50W<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n Connectors <\/div>\n\nMC4<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n IP-rating <\/div>\n\nIP65 (junction box), IP67 (connectors)<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n Optimum Operating Voltage <\/div>\n\n18V<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n Optimum Operating Current <\/div>\n\n3.01A<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n\n\n Size <\/div>\n\n25.9 x 1.2 x 20.2 in<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n - The connectors<\/strong> – Not all solar panels use the same connectors, and most of them are not waterproof. I recommend using MC4 connectors because they use o-rings to keep moisture and dirt out. MC4 connectors are one of the most common connectors used on solar panels, so there are a lot of compatible adapters on the market for connecting power stations.<\/li>\n