@brainmist@summetj The hinges are pretty solid on the 200w model and at least the pictures look similar. The brace that comes out to angle it has also been very solid after about 2 years. The 200w Duracell also performs about 20% better than the 200w Predator floppy panels from Harbor Freight.
@brainmist Power stations, getting one that uses lithium iron phosphate batteries is the safer bet. If this is more intended to be a fixed installation, a hybrid charge controller/inverter + a couple batteries may be the way to go.
@summetj you would not believe how much I laughed at your video the other day when I saw you had the same battery station as me. Finding real reviews for it was impossible. Now seeing you posting here… I think I know where you got the battery pack from too.
But seriously it helped a bunch since I didn’t know if the kenwood had a built-in battery controll r for the solar input. I mean it SHOULD, but so many of these discount electronic devices are missing things that you should expect to be there that I can never assume anymore.
@brainmist I’ve only had it out to test it for the review, and one camping trip. It mostly lives in my shed in case a hurricane hits I can use it (and the kenwood powerbank) to keep the items in my fridge.
The solar panels (glass/aluminum) are heavy, and the hinges are metal. They look to be of reasonable strength for the application and I haven’t had any issues in the 2-3 times I’ve used it, but I could see how if you accidentally let the panels fall open their weight may wrench the hinges too much.
The Kenwood powerbank I used in the review video (also purchased from Meh) is a reasonable choice if you don’t need more than 800 watts. A few downsides I’ve had with it is that occasionally (once a month?) the inverter will turn itself off, even if plugged into the wall in “pass through” mode, so it’s not reliable enough to use 24/7/365 unmonitored to give backup power to a fridge or anything else critical. Also, it auto-switches from grid power to the inverter/battery quickly, but not quickly enough to keep my cable modem from rebooting, so if the power goes out, my internet “blips” for a minute until the cable modem comes back up, so it’s not a true “UPS” either.
The Jackery Explorer 2000 is a better “powers anything up to 15 amps” choice, but also costs a lot more.
@summetj
Maybe put a true UPS between your modem / router / computer and the power bank. I know that seems kind of like a belt AND suspenders sort of thing but that would help take out that blip if it’s too worrisome.
@chienfou Yah, but then I’d still have to replace the 12v Lead Acid battery in the UPS every few years.
I think I’ll just add a large LiIon 12v “drop in replacement” battery with integrated BMS from a medical cart to one of my existing UPS’s and call it good enough.
@chienfou@summetj I was one who had trouble with the hinges on the 200w model. They’re made out of the kind of metal that doesn’t bend, but instead breaks. Most of mine did break and I replaced them with ordinary steel hinges from Home Depot. I think either the original hinges were broken in transit by being dropped or set down too carelessly while folded – the hinges are on the bottom and there is no padding in the carrying case – or I did the same.
I can confirm that the 200w panels do not have a charge controller and from the pictures of the 100w model, it looks like it doesn’t either. I use my panels to charge my Kenwood power station for amateur radio field operation and it works well for that.
To use the panels with a Kenwood power station (I have the smaller ps: 512Wh/120VAC @ 600w), you’ll need a cable like this one for the 100w panels, but for the 200w panels it’s better to have one that can handle more power like this one. The power stations take an 8mm plug for solar panel input.
What’s Included?
Warranty
90 days
Estimated Delivery
Thursday, May 21 - Tuesday, May 26
I got one of these last time, happy enough with it for $80, but it is HEAVY duty.
@summetj That was a very thorough review!
I don’t know if you saw some of the previous sales’ comments; a few people had issues with broken hinges. Any thoughts on hinge durability?
And I’m wanting to get into solar a bit (my ReStore has also had panels show up); any recommendations on powerbanks?
@brainmist @summetj The hinges are pretty solid on the 200w model and at least the pictures look similar. The brace that comes out to angle it has also been very solid after about 2 years. The 200w Duracell also performs about 20% better than the 200w Predator floppy panels from Harbor Freight.
@brainmist Power stations, getting one that uses lithium iron phosphate batteries is the safer bet. If this is more intended to be a fixed installation, a hybrid charge controller/inverter + a couple batteries may be the way to go.
@summetj you would not believe how much I laughed at your video the other day when I saw you had the same battery station as me. Finding real reviews for it was impossible. Now seeing you posting here… I think I know where you got the battery pack from too.
But seriously it helped a bunch since I didn’t know if the kenwood had a built-in battery controll r for the solar input. I mean it SHOULD, but so many of these discount electronic devices are missing things that you should expect to be there that I can never assume anymore.
Either way thanks for a good review !
@Aetherwizard @summetj
Ya gotta love the meh community… don’tcha!
@Aetherwizard Thanks!
@brainmist I’ve only had it out to test it for the review, and one camping trip. It mostly lives in my shed in case a hurricane hits I can use it (and the kenwood powerbank) to keep the items in my fridge.
The solar panels (glass/aluminum) are heavy, and the hinges are metal. They look to be of reasonable strength for the application and I haven’t had any issues in the 2-3 times I’ve used it, but I could see how if you accidentally let the panels fall open their weight may wrench the hinges too much.
The Kenwood powerbank I used in the review video (also purchased from Meh) is a reasonable choice if you don’t need more than 800 watts. A few downsides I’ve had with it is that occasionally (once a month?) the inverter will turn itself off, even if plugged into the wall in “pass through” mode, so it’s not reliable enough to use 24/7/365 unmonitored to give backup power to a fridge or anything else critical. Also, it auto-switches from grid power to the inverter/battery quickly, but not quickly enough to keep my cable modem from rebooting, so if the power goes out, my internet “blips” for a minute until the cable modem comes back up, so it’s not a true “UPS” either.
The Jackery Explorer 2000 is a better “powers anything up to 15 amps” choice, but also costs a lot more.
@summetj
Maybe put a true UPS between your modem / router / computer and the power bank. I know that seems kind of like a belt AND suspenders sort of thing but that would help take out that blip if it’s too worrisome.
@chienfou Yah, but then I’d still have to replace the 12v Lead Acid battery in the UPS every few years.
I think I’ll just add a large LiIon 12v “drop in replacement” battery with integrated BMS from a medical cart to one of my existing UPS’s and call it good enough.
@summetj
Good plan
@chienfou @summetj I was one who had trouble with the hinges on the 200w model. They’re made out of the kind of metal that doesn’t bend, but instead breaks. Most of mine did break and I replaced them with ordinary steel hinges from Home Depot. I think either the original hinges were broken in transit by being dropped or set down too carelessly while folded – the hinges are on the bottom and there is no padding in the carrying case – or I did the same.
I can confirm that the 200w panels do not have a charge controller and from the pictures of the 100w model, it looks like it doesn’t either. I use my panels to charge my Kenwood power station for amateur radio field operation and it works well for that.
To use the panels with a Kenwood power station (I have the smaller ps: 512Wh/120VAC @ 600w), you’ll need a cable like this one for the 100w panels, but for the 200w panels it’s better to have one that can handle more power like this one. The power stations take an 8mm plug for solar panel input.
Welp, I didn’t pull the trigger in time. But I did really appreciate your summary.