If you’re looking for a solar panel to add to your current power backup then EcoFlow has a range on the market. Most notable are their portable models which means these don’t get mounted to your roof but rather carried around and packed up when you’re done. This specific model is a 220W Bifacial panel that folds up and fits snugly into a portable carry bag.
These portable solar panel solutions come with some pros and cons. The good is that you can carry them around and move them about to get the best sun depending on the time of day. The bad is that they can often be a pain to set up, and they are also quite limited in charging which means they won’t work if you have larger batteries that require huge amounts of input to keep going.
Watch the video review of this EcoFlow product below:
This specific model is a 220W-rated unit. Like other EcoFlow products, the brand wants this experience to be simple so in the box, you get the unit packed into a carry bag, some clips, a wire and some manuals.
The carry bag also doubles up as the mount for the solar panel when you set it up but I will get to that in a bit. The EcoFlow 220W Portable Solar Panel is also IP68 waterproof which means it can withstand rain and water. Then again, why would you have the solar panel out in the rain when there’s no sun during a storm? Perhaps it’s there in case it starts raining and you can’t get to it before it gets wet? Regardless, it is a nice feature to have if you think it will help.
The unit itself is pretty heavy. When packed in the bag, it totals around 10Kgs. The bag is handy for carrying this around and the panel itself unfolds into the full-sized unit which is 82cm tall and 183cm long. So just under 2 meters. The bag also doubles up as the kickstand for the solar panel so without it, you’ll have a tough time keeping it up. There are four panels attached to one another with a flexible material. The left-most panel contains the MC4 connector for the solar unit which gets plugged into the power backup.
To set it up, I had to remove the panel from the bag and secure it to the two inner panels on the unfolded unit. The inner two panels include four holes which are linked to the bag’s clips. Two clips are at the top and two are at the bottom. Once connected, the bag was automatically opened and supported by the panels at 45 degrees. This provides the optimal angle for absorption.
Tests and Performance
This is a monocrystalline panel which is great for a few reasons. It has an incredibly long lifespan of up to 30 years before it starts to degrade. Monocrystalline also has a more efficient charge.
This EcoFlow 220W Portable Solar Panel is also bifacial which means both sides of the panel can capture the sun’s energy. Of course, one side will predominantly be facing the sun and the back side is used for extra absorption.
There’s also a catch to this. The backside of the unit will in no way capture as much energy as the front. That’s because it is facing away from the sun. The backside relies on reflected light to absorb as much energy as possible. Reflected light also changes depending on the surface the panel is on. If it was on a white floor, for example, we all know white absorb more sun so this would increase the charge.
In my tests, I wanted to see just how far this EcoFlow Solar Panel could take both the Delta 2 and the EcoFlow River 2 Max. The panel itself is rated at 220W but you can get slightly more from it thanks to the back panels which absorb slightly more rays.
EcoFlow promises a 23% conversion rate for the 220W panel. What this means is that you’ll never get 220W of charge power from the panel. You’re likely to get around 160W to 190W at the max. The same goes for the backside which has a 40W rating. This means it can provide a little extra charge of around 25W during perfect conditions. Of course, “perfect” means a very sunny day and the panel should be on a bright surface so the back panels can absorb rays properly.
But even if you can’t provide a bright surface for the unit, the back panels will do their best to help increase the charge even if it is slight. So think of this panel as a 360-degree solar solution – terms and conditions apply.
Other things to consider when using this panel are the weather and even the temperature. Cooler weather actually helps solar panels absorb more energy. Hotter weather, on the other hand, isn’t as effective due to the heat produced during the conversion. So mid-day sun in winter is a best-case scenario for a solar panel.
We have some great winters in South Africa. Even though it has been cold, I had a few sunny days where I was able to test out the EcoFlow 220W solar panel.
Testing this was pretty easy. I placed the unit on my lawn because it was likely the best spot. I didn’t have very bright surfaces elsewhere. I connected the solar panel MC4 connectors to the included wires in the panel’s box and then plugged that into my River 2 Max and Delta 2.
I also discovered that the stand acts as a great place to store the charging unit. It is shaded and the weight also acts as a counterweight in the case so the wind won’t blow the panels over. Not sure if EcoFlow intentionally made it this way but hey, it is likely the most useful part of the stand carry bag.
EcoFlow River 2 Max and Delta 2 + Solar Panel
The River 2 Max, which I recently reviewed, is likely the best companion for this panel. It has a 512Wh battery which is half the capacity of the Delta 2. This means this unit can charge up much faster. During my tests, in optimal conditions, the panel charged the River 2 Max at around 180W. This would recharge the entire unit in just over three hours.
The Delta 2, on the other hand, took a bit longer because it is a bigger battery. The panel would take around 6-7 hours to fully charge the unit.
There were times when the solar panel didn’t produce the same energy. Cloudy days and even a slight haze were a hamper on charging. However, the panel still produced around 100- 130W of power. In thick clouds, this dropped down to 50W which of course, would be a challenge to charge. So even if it is cloudy, you should still use this outside but it all depends on the intensity of the sun and how thick the cloud coverage is.
After spending a few days with the unit I was quite impressed by how versatile it really is. It is also a perfect partner for other EcoFlow products. This panel is for someone who needs alternate ways to charge portable power solutions but at the same time, can be used as a great but limited solution to disconnecting various parts of your home off the grid.
Keep in mind that this product is also expandable so users can link more of the same or even higher wattage models to extend the performance on offer. I think most importantly, this product is great for those who need to charge on the go thanks to its awesome portability.
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