Solar panel recommendations for EcoFlow Delta 2

What brand solar panels would you guys recommend for charging the EcoFlow Delta 2?

https://us.ecoflow.com/products/delta-2-portable-power-station

 

Are you thinking of mounting fixed rigid panels on your rig, or are you looking for portable folding panels?

I "got by" for 5 years or so in my little travel trailer with a 100 Watt Renogy portable suitcase (2 50W rigid panels hinged together) until I installed the 600W rooftop system.

One of the guys on my Lance Owners forum who's very knowledgeable in solar stuff bought a couple of these 200W portables and last I heard seemed to be getting very good performance out of them.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0B9SMD8BC?ie=UTF8


The 200W portable weighs less than half what my 100W Renogy does. 11 lbs. vs. 26 lbs. Mine will probably outlive it, but it's a little clunkier.



The "soft" type of portable panels used to have problems with heat dissipation and efficiency loss, but I think that's been greatly improved.

The downside of portables is that you have to deploy them, keep repointing them to "chase the sun" for max efficiency while the rooftop system is always just up there doin' it's thing, and I was never comfortable leaving mine out unattended.

The upside of portables is that you can deploy them where you want, and keep repointing them to "chase the sun" for max efficiency while the rooftop system may not be getting full/direct sun.

 

They will be on the top of my travel trailer. The EcoFlow will be powering the air dryer heating element. I have to go up there and measure what space is available before I can do anything. I did find a guy locally that is selling two 100 watt Zamp/Dometic panels that look like the perfect size to fit up there. They are about a year old. He is asking $375 for both. They run about $1K for two of them.

 

If you are going with the foldable type panel, you can score fully refurbished EcoFlow panels on Ebay. Ebay handles the refurbished sales for EcoFlow. They ship directly from EcoFlow. Fully factory warrantied for 2 years. New warranty is only 1! I've bought two refurbashed EcoFlow 110W for $105 each! I recently bought a Bluetti AC200L with the new Bluetti B300K expansion battery and already scored some Ebay refurbished Bluetti foldable panels. They ship directly from Bluetti! This...is...the....way if not going rigid permanent mounting. Never mind. Didn't see your 2nd post. Ha!

 

Renogy or rich solar hard panels are probably your best bang for the buck. They can be had for ~$70 for 100w (at least that’s what I paid on scamazon) and should last about 20 years. I’ve had mine on top of the truck for almost 4 years now and they’re still pumping out the juice nicely.

 

Is that for just the panels or a complete kit with panels, controller, etc.?

Zamp is good quality but a little overpriced IMO. No way two 100W panels should be anywhere near $1k

Zamp has a 190W complete kit on their website for $800.

I have three 200W panels on my trailer made by Rich Solar that perform very well.

Rich Solar sells brand new 100W panels for $120, 200W panels for $240.
200W kit from Rich is $400

I was planning on doing 400W and had bought some 100W panels but decided to sell them and use 200W panels to get more watts with fewer holes in my roof.



The kits are convenient but if it were me (unless someone offers a kit with Victron controller) I'd get panels, cable, etc. separately and DEFINITELY run a Victron charge controller.
Get it one size up from what you think you need in case you ever want to add more panels.



I don't even try to conserve now that I've got lithiums and the 60-70 Ah's we typically use overnight (if it's chilly and we run the furnace @ 65º) are replaced by noon.

 

I don't know what kind of trailer you have, but most of the tiny bit I know about RV Solar I've learned from the Lance Owners of America forum I'm on.

VERY good resource for most anything RV related (Lance or not) and so many other subjects, Nice people and some really smart cookies on there.

There's a whole sub-forum for solar where you can read detailed write-ups on many peoples installs.

$35 for a lifetime membership to get into the section with the solar I think, but well worth it. Just an FYI if you want some good research material.
https://community.lanceowners.org/

 

I have a delta 2 and the extra battery. I run 6 100w renogy panels in a 2s3p to keep the voltage in line.

 

How do the Renogy panels do if you get overcast?

 

How do the Zamp or Rich panels perform is there is cloud cover? I know some panels will still provide some charging but I have no idea which ones.

 

How you wire the panels in cloud cover and shade matters equally as much as the performance of the panel. If you run all your panels in series under cloud cover or shade; you’re done. Series is great for keeping amperage low, allowing for smaller wires, but when it comes to smaller arrays.. that’s about the only major advantage.

 

So I can run 4 100 watts Renogys or Rich Solar in series and they will still provide some charging if it's cloudy? I'm overwhelmed trying to learn what I should get lol. There are so many brands and prices out there for panels. All I know is that I will be running the EcoFlow Delta 2 to power a 130 watt 1.1 amp heating element (Air dryer).

 

Yes, my panels work on cloudy days. Not as well as a full sun day, but more than enough.

I wouldn’t run all your panels in series. If it gets cloudy and the voltage drops on ANY panel, the voltage for the whole array stays at that voltage and your output is going to suffer. Think of it in the “weakest link” mindset. It’s best to balance it. Maybe do 2S2P. I run all 3 of my panels in parallel and use 10awg wire. Works well for me and if one panel is in shade/cloud coverage it’s no problem.

 

So the first trip out after getting the rooftop system installed was a really interesting demonstration of that.

We were camping down in Borrego (Southern CA desert) and it was clear but with BIG clouds that would blow over.

I have the Victron app and a smart shunt so you can see everything on your phone real time - output, consumption, state of charge, voltage, amps, draw, everything in real time or historically.

You could watch the output drop when a big cloud blew in front of the sun and then bump back up when it cleared.

This was in January, so the sun was about as low in it's arc as it gets.

I think the highest I saw that day was maybe 380W (out of 600W of panels mounted flat) and when a cloud would pass it'd go to 225-250W

That's why I opted to go with the 600W (three 200W panels) instead of the 400 (four 100W) I initially planned on. Cheaper to add a panel than mess with tilting brackets. Unless you're on the equator in July, you're rarely going to see the full "rated" output of your panels.

 

My three 200W panels are in parallel btw, better for shading.

 

Amazon has the Renogy 100 watt panels for $160 for a 2 pack. I don't know if 2 panels are enough or if it best to go with 4 panels since I'm in FL. It sounds like I should go with 4 and do 2 I. Series and 2 in parallel as you stated. Do I need a controller as well? I didn't see that mentioned anywhere when it comes to charging the EcoFlow.

 

Ecoflow should have a mppt charge controller built in. I would check the ecoflow specs and see what the input voltage specs are for it. You can decide on how to wire your array based on those specs and the specs of the panels you go with. If you have the real estate, panels are always a good option. I have 300w hard mounted and another 100w portable guy. You can also wire your ecoflow into your truck/trailer so it charges whenever you’re driving. You should be golden. Just make sure to buy in line fuses for your solar panels.

 

Will you be charging the trailer batteries too? If so you definitely need a controller, and if you get one get a Victron.

If only charging the Ecoflow, I THINK (and I could be totally wrong on this) but I think they have an internal controller. DO NOT take my word for this.

Also be advised some of these power stations have proprietary plug-ins for connecting panels so you may need some sort of adapter harness to connect your panels.

The Renogy's for example have MC-4 connectors, your Ecoflow connector cord may have something else.

2 panels would probably be "okay" (depends on your usage) but 4 would be twice as good!

If you have the room more watts will make up for less than ideal sun conditions, and mounting 200W panels instead of 100W means less holes in your roof.

 

Free electricity from the Gods!

Oh btw, I dunno' about Florida, but I bought the system for my trailer with the 26% tax credit I got back on my taxes for putting solar on my house, then I got another 26% credit back for putting solar on my trailer... Second house.

 

It will be just for the EcoFlow. Yes the unit does have a setting to control the charging wattage input when plugged in to the house so I assume it is the same for solar input.

 

On my list of things to do to our Lance before next summer...

• 3X200w panels
• Victron
• Lithium Batteries

 

Best thing I've done to the trailer since we bought it!

I started with two Grp 24's, got a 100W portable solar suitcase, somewhat manageable but problematic if we ran the furnace much or left to go exploring (I didn't like leaving the suitcase out unattended)

Upgraded to two Grp 31 batteries, much better but still same suitcase issue since we go do stuff during peak sun hours. Reasonable reserves but power was always in the back of my mind.

Added the exact things on your list and now the only time I think about power is to occasionally look at my Victron app and laugh like a Bond villain mad with power. Muah ha haaaa!!

 

A nice side benefit of the Lithiums is the minimal discharge while idle.

My storage is covered, and we haven't been anywhere in many months, trailer's been sitting with the PV array breaker and battery disconnect both turned off.

My old FLA batteries would have lost their charge by and needed tending now. I went out to check on the trailer on Saturday and the Lithiums were just sitting there juiced up and waiting... "Are we going camping now?"

 

I have the 220W double sided portable folding panels from ecoflow. Havent used much. Not impressed. Basically useless outside of direct full daytime sun. Wouldn't be good for your case of mounting on trailer anyway.

 

Output drops a lot, not sure if it's any better/worse than others.
Im using these panels because I already had them for use with our trailer when camping. If I was building a system I would buy 2 350w panels.

Anyone know a decent way to pass solar wires inside? Right now I'm using a flat cable through the window, not really ideal. But gets the job done.

 

This is the Zamp panel set that is for sale locally for $375. Thoughts?

https://www.zampsolar.com/products/...panel-kit-2-x-100?_pos=4&_sid=0da62d149&_ss=r

 

My installer used a cable gland.

This one was made by AM Solar who was one of the best RV solar outfits around, but my understanding is that they closed up shop. I'm sure there's other versions though.

Renogy sells one: https://www.renogy.com/renogy-solar-double-cable-entry-gland/

This route does involve a hole in your roof. I dunno' what trailer you have but you can usually get a roof schematic from the mfg.



The good part about using the entry gland and putting it where they did is that it's directly above an existing wire chase and very close to my battery compartment, so it probably cut the length of my wire run from panels to controller in half.







Thank goodness wifey was scared of me drilling holes in our perfectly good roof and suggested we just pay a professional, 'cuz I wasn't looking forward to doing the install, but had I gone with the initial plan of doing it myself, I probably would have come in through the frig vent and down, then across in one of the storage bays. This is how the Lance units that are done at the factory route it, and they put the controller by the frig with the other monitor for holding tanks, etc.

Not ideal as it lengthens the wire distance from charge controller to batteries, but with an upside of no new roof penetration since you just come through the side of the vent.











Forgot I still had all these pictures from when I was in the planning stages.

Trailers are all different in layout and routing, but the general principal is the same so maybe these will be of some benefit to someone.

 

So these are used? Did he install them?

Zamp is good quality but they're pretty proud of their stuff, their $750 kits are the same as what others sell for half that.

I mean $375 isn't bad but if it's used why not get brand new with warranty for less money?

Same kit from Rich Solar for $319

https://richsolar.com/collections/s...-for-solar-generators-portable-power-stations

 

They are a year old and he is upgrading to a bigger system. I saw the RS on Amazon but I'll look at the link that you have here. I looked at my TT and I have quite a bit of room. Being in Fl having panels that will still provide some power if it is cloudy will be beneficial as well.

 

Do they have an efficiency rating? Or do you know it. Kinda weird they don’t list that on the website. Even the cheapo companies do that. I like the fact that they are made in the USA but I’d be a little worried about them being low profile and black. Heat reduces the output of a panel. If you mount that directly on top of the camper without a way to breath cooler air in; you might be disappointed with the performance. Anyway, just my $.02.