DOKIO Semi-Flexible Solar Panel 4X100W(400W) 12V Lightweight Monocrystalline for Caravan RV Boat Camper

Solar panels are officially rated using an unrealistic amount of light, you should expect to see around 65-75% of what's printed on the label, if the panels are decent. (I have seen this exact same panel type described as 200, 300, and even 400 watt each, haha yeah right whatever) Comparing with another 36 cell and also a 32 cell panel I already have, these perform slightly better than the other 36 and of course better than the 32. MPPT settles down right around 16v which is per spec on the label. Each panel was then producing around 4 - 4.5 amps at 16v, and quickly topped off the battery I had discharged a bit for testing, with all four together delivering around 16 amps to the battery. Also bear in mind they are quoting watts off the panel, NOT into your battery, so the unavoidable losses in your controller are NOT being accounted for in that "400w" spec.Surprisingly, these panels were about 1/2 the weight of my existing 36 cell panel, which were about twice as thick. Flexibility is good, but I'm not going to test/abuse them like you see in some of the ads where they roll them up like a rug, that's just asking for damage. My application for them is to be lightweight and rugged enough to quickly toss in the vehicle to go camping or whatever, (on top of the pile of stuff already loaded in the truck) without having to worry about damage in transport or lots of weight taking them out for setup, rather than say a glass solar panel. I was using a "Harbor Freight Special" but it was lower power, heavy, and extremely awkward to transport. This is SO much better.Solar panels don't produce continuous power due to clouds etc, so you will need a battery, and of course a controller. The trick is to find one that's MPPT *and* uses an efficient buck regulator. You'll get the less efficient PWM if you insist on going cheap. Try to find a controller with a meaty iron toroid inside, for a 10-15% boost in conversion efficiency over PWM. My tests were just using a cheap PWM converter, so I would have probably seen 1-2 amps more with proper buck conversion, but my only buck reg can't handle that much current. (the upgraded controller - an Epever 40 amp - hasn't arrived yet) I was averaging just under 75 watts from each panel (they differed slightly, maybe not the most consistent quality control here) measured with four independent power meters at the same time. I was only getting about 225 watts out the controller (that's 65w per panel) to the battery though but that was due to the lower quality controller I was using, that's not the panels' fault. I would expect at least 250 with a better controller. So, getting 75 watts from a "100 watt rated" panel I consider to be totally acceptable, especially considering the reasonable price. Individually these panels might go for $115-150 each, so this is a good deal. These measurements were made with full sun about 10 degrees off axis, located in Iowa on July 1, for your comparison.You will need the proper connectors unless you just plan on cutting the ends and splicing to the wires - I don't know the name of the connector but everyone just calls them "solar connector", buy a bag and make sure you mind your polarity, you're dealing with at least tens of amps. These connectors, as well as the panel, are waterproof, though I don't know their IPA rating, should be at least 3ft immersion, so fine for even heavy rain. These panels also have 8 attachment points to strap them down if you're semi or permanently mounting them somewhere. Be careful, they're black and will get quite warm during use. (cool them with airflow if you can, it will increase their energy production) Also use a decently thick wire, especially if running for any distance. I like to place my panels 15-20ft from the tents so I run #10 copper twin lead, which works great with those connectors. These panels do include low-drop schottky isolation diodes in the breakout box on the back, so you can place them in parallel without worrying about burning up a panel if it gets shaded. (the seller really should include this feature in the specs)All four panels shipped in a single modestly-thick cardboard box, with a few thin sheets of foam for protection. I would have liked to see more protective packaging, but they're supposed to be durable, and my panels arrived undamaged, so that's ok I guess? Hopefully your mailman doesn't attempt the Gorilla Luggage Test on them. Shipping (to USA) was VERY fast, only a few days, I was impressed, and I had the panels days before the new controller was due to arrive.Also pick up an inverter (I recommend Edecoa pure sine wave) if you need 120VAC power, and a Startech USB power hub (that runs off 12v) for charging your phone/tablet if you need them. I've also got a Ravpower USB power bank that I can charge off the Startech and use to top off my phone or my usb-c laptop when I'm hiking or overnight etc. Giving you some brand names here because with that stuff if you buy cheap you get cheap and won't get good results. These panels are a bit generic-ish, but appear to deliver the goods.And i have NO idea why they are asking me to rate the "Warmth" of this product... so I guess 5 star, since everything else is 5 as far as I can tell. Probably going to buy one more set of four, which may be a little overkill for my needs but owell, I like overkill.

If the panels were new, as advertised; they might have been fine. The ones this seller sent me were obvious returns that were damaged and heavily used. One had the lead cut off entirely, another had a broken corner (and a broken lead near it). Neither of them worked at all and the other two put out only a tiny amount of power. Not near 100W. This was just garbage sent to unsuspecting buyers.

I bought a few of the Dokio 100W flex cells 4 packs. This is my first time ever with a solar panel. My roof faces more east than south. I laid 8 of these on the roof and hooked them up in parallel. Connected a 12V100A battery and a 60A PWM charger. Hooked up a 50W/hr load to the inverter and let the system run.Next few days been mostly cloudy with rain. I am averaging 1700W a day production. I am seeing fluctuation but its staying around 450 to 480W and I seen 550W. The meter is recording spikes of 670W for 3 days running. Remember, my cells are no where close to aligned so I am very happy with the results. I am using 700W overnight. The cells come alive around 7am but dont make any real power until 8:30ish. By 11am on 3 partly cloudy days in a row my battery was fully charged. After that the cells produce around 250W.800W at %67 efficiency is 536W. I am seeing 450 to 480 with cells not aligned and a PWM controller.Next month am going to add 3 Batteries to my system and I have one more set of 4 Dokio cells. Change the controller to an MPPT and run it at 48V. Increase my load to around 200W/hr and see how they work. I am very confident I will see these panels, even not aligned produce what they are rated for.Its a month later and I have 3 sets of 4 Dokio flex cells in racks wired in series for 48V. Then those three racks are in parallel to the controller. After solar noon the meter is showing them producing steadily 720-750W for an hour which is over %60 efficiency and peaks of 800w. My 4 hour window averaged 620W which makes 12 Dokio flex cells a 2.5kw system.End of the day they did produce what they are suppose to produce. They seem well constructed, are light weight and for what I paid for them on Amazon here, $350/4 I believe they are worth it.

Super light, easy to store and install. 20% of advertized output on a good day. Disipates heat well, not durable but super easy to store and display rapidly. 340 watts was my best reading of output.

I purchased 4 of these panels and in direct sunlight, no shade, proper tilt they only produce about half of what they claim. Go with something else.Update: Seller did offer to refund or exchange, no questions asked. Product not up to par but customer service was very good.

I use this system as a portable unit for my Van's. I switch from one to the other and is been fine so far. Some people might say that they are not getting to wattage advertised, but I am fine powing my electronics and deep cycle battery.

Works well. Lightweight & flexible but seems well-built and packaged as well. Time will tell.

ordered multiple solar panels. after installing these i notice it looks like something is on them. it was burning and melting on my camper. now i have a hole in my camper and bad solar panels. Not sure why they would connect the wires together...