A folding panel turns your power station into a source of electricity that recharges itself during a long power cut. But not every panel works with every station: here's what to check, how much they produce in Spain and which models we recommend.
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A portable solar panel doesn't power your home directly: it plugs into the solar input of a power station and recharges it from the sun. It's what turns a battery that runs flat in a few hours into a system that can get you through a power cut lasting several days.
Unlike roof panels, it isn't connected to the home's wiring, so it's not affected by the anti-islanding protection that switches off self-consumption systems during an outage (we explain it in Do solar panels work during a power cut?). It needs no paperwork either: unfold it on the terrace, balcony or garden and plug it in.
There are three main types:
A panel's rating (100 W, 200 W…) is what it delivers in ideal lab conditions. In practice, it's best to work it out like this:
Energy per day ≈ panel power × peak sun hours × 0.7
"Peak sun hours" are the equivalent hours of full sun. In much of Spain they're around 5 to 6 on a clear summer day and 2.5 to 3.5 in winter. The 0.7 factor covers losses from orientation, temperature, cables and charging the battery itself.
| Panel power | Clear summer day | Clear winter day |
|---|---|---|
| 100 W | 350–420 Wh | 175–245 Wh |
| 200 W | 700–840 Wh | 350–490 Wh |
| 400 WTwo 200 W panels, for example | 1,400–1,680 Wh | 700–980 Wh |
These are approximate figures for a well-oriented panel with no shade. On cloudy days, output drops sharply. Even so, the key point is this: a single 200 W panel can put back 70 to 85% of a 1 kWh station's energy on a summer day. That's enough to keep the router, lights and phones going indefinitely, and it greatly extends how long the fridge can run if the cut drags on.
It's the most common mistake: buying a panel that doesn't match the station. Find the solar input section in your station's spec sheet and compare three figures with the panel's:
The panel's open-circuit voltage (Voc) must never exceed the station's maximum voltage. Leave a 10 to 20% margin: panel voltage rises in cold weather.
The panel's current (Imp, or Isc to be on the safe side) must be below what the station accepts.
If you connect more panel power than the station accepts, nothing serious happens, but the excess is wasted. With less, charging is slower.
Most panels use MC4, and stations usually have XT60, Anderson or DC inputs. Panels often include adapters, but check before you buy.
If you connect several panels:
Using the official figures for the ALLPOWERS SP033 panel (200 W, Voc 44.4 V, 5.45 A) and the SOLAX SE100 (100 W, Voc 24.48 V, 4.8 A):
| Station and solar input | Setup | Compatible? | Why |
|---|---|---|---|
| ALLPOWERS R60012–60 V · 8.8 A · 220 W | 1 × SP033 | Yes | 44.4 V and 5.45 A, within limits. 200 W, close to the maximum. |
| ALLPOWERS R150012–60 V · 13 A · 650 W | 2 × SP033 in series | No | They add up to 88.8 V, well above 60 V. |
| ALLPOWERS R150012–60 V · 13 A · 650 W | 2 × SP033 in parallel | Yes | 44.4 V and about 11 A, within limits. 400 W. |
| FOSSiBOT F2400Up to 50 V · 500 W, per the manufacturer | 1 × SP033 | Yes | 44.4 V, below 50 V, though with little margin in winter. |
| ALLPOWERS VOLIX P30011–30 V · 8 A · 110 W | 1 × SP033 | No | 44.4 V exceeds its 30 V maximum. |
| ALLPOWERS VOLIX P30011–30 V · 8 A · 110 W | 1 × SE100 | Yes | 24.48 V and 4.8 A, within limits. |
If you have a station from another brand, do the same check with its spec sheet. If in doubt, ask the manufacturer which panels it recommends.
We've chosen two ALLPOWERS folding panels sold in its official Spanish shop that cover most situations:
Our overall pick: lots of power per euro and compatible with 1 kWh-plus stations that accept up to 60 V. Two in parallel charge an R1500 in about four hours of good sun.
Check SP033 price
Light and waterproof. Its low voltage makes it compatible with small stations that only accept up to 30 V, and it's ideal for camping or a balcony.
Check SE100 priceSee all ALLPOWERS folding solar panels (affiliate link).
Don't have a station yet? You can buy the station and panel together in a kit, usually for less. For example, the FOSSiBOT F2400 solar kit in its EU shop, or the ALLPOWERS R1500 kits. Compare models in our power station comparison.
No. A panel produces direct current at a varying voltage, and appliances need a stable 230 V alternating current. It connects to a power station, which stores the electricity and converts it.
Yes, but it produces much less than in direct sun. On a heavily overcast day, expect only a fraction of its usual output.
Divide your station's capacity by the panel's daily output. For example, on a clear summer day a 200 W panel puts back 70 to 85% of a 1,000 Wh station, and two panels in parallel charge it fully, if the station accepts that power.
Yes, as long as the voltage, current and connector are compatible. Check your station's solar input specs and use the right adapter.
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