How We Tested Solar Panels For Power Station

By Sam Schild ⋅ Review Editor

You need to keep your tech charged while you're adventuring. That's why we put the top large solar panels through head-to-head testing to find out which are best. We tested how well each panel performed in power efficiency (turning sunlight into electricity), portability (how easy it is to transport), and ease of setup (how much work it takes to set up each model after you've brought it to that perfect patch of sunlight).

solar power station - not all portable solar panels are created equal, which is why we put... — Not all portable solar panels are created equal, which is why we put the top-rated options in a head-to-head test. Credit: Matt Lighthart

Power Efficiency

To test power efficiency, we set up every solar panel in the same open area with full sun exposure. Then we connected each panel to an identical battery and left them charging for 120 minutes. At the end of the testing period, we recorded how much charge each panel had generated in its test battery. Then we performed the test again and averaged the results. We tested in weather between 55-65 F, at an elevation of 6500, with clear skies.

We also compared the claimed watts to the actual measured watts generated in one hour. By dividing the actual watts generated in one hour by the claimed watts (solar panel "size"), we quantified each panel's efficiency.

solar power station - the number of watts a solar panel generates in one hour is often... — The number of watts a solar panel generates in one hour is often less than its claimed output, and this difference is what we've quantified. Credit: Matt Lighthart

Portability

To test portability, we weighed every panel using a luggage scale in our test lab. We also measured every dimension of these panels and carried them around during testing. We packed them in the trunk of our car, set up every panel, and did everything we could imagine one might while lugging around a portable solar panel.

Ease of Setup

To test ease of setup, we set up every solar panel. We recorded how long it took to go from folded to charging our portable power station. A lower setup time indicates a higher ease-of-setup score.

solar power station - we used a stopwatch to measure how long it actually takes to set up... — We used a stopwatch to measure how long it actually takes to set up these portable panels, because you don't want to fiddle with tech for long. Credit: Matt Lighthart