Compare Solar Panels

Find the perfect panel for your needs. Compare specifications, use cases, and pricing.

Feature 100W Panel 200W Panel
MOST POPULAR
300W Panel
Price R2,499 R3,999 R5,499
Power Output 100W 200W 300W
Weight 4.5kg (lightest) 7.8kg 11.2kg
Folded Size 53 x 35 x 5cm 61 x 41 x 6cm 68 x 48 x 7cm
Unfolded Size 140 x 53cm 163 x 61cm 204 x 68cm
Portability ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Excellent ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Very Good ⭐⭐⭐ Good
Cable Length 3 meters 3 meters 5 meters
Output Ports USB-A, USB-C, DC USB-A, USB-C, DC, Anderson USB-A, USB-C, DC, Anderson, MC4
Best For • Weekend camping
• Phones & tablets
• Small power banks
• Emergency backup
• Overlanding
• Camping fridges
• Laptops & devices
• Power stations
• Off-grid living
• Load-shedding backup
• Large batteries
• Multiple devices
Can Power • Smartphones (5-6 charges/day)
• Tablets (2-3 charges/day)
• LED lights
• Small fans
• Power banks up to 50,000mAh
• All 100W devices plus:
• Camping fridge (40-60L)
• Laptop (2-3 charges/day)
• Power stations up to 1000Wh
• 50-100Ah batteries
• All 200W devices plus:
• Large fridges (80L+)
• Multiple laptops
• Large power stations (1000Wh+)
• 100-200Ah batteries
• Fast charging
Charge Time (100Ah battery from 50%) ~10 hours ~5 hours ~3.5 hours
Trip Duration Weekend (2-3 days) Extended (4-7 days) Long-term (7+ days)
Ideal User • First-time buyers
• Light campers
• Backpackers
• Budget-conscious
• Overlanders
• Weekend warriors
• Regular campers
• Most popular choice
• Off-grid enthusiasts
• Full-timers
• Home backup users
• Power-hungry setups
Warranty 1 year 1 year 1 year
Delivery Free (SA only) Free (SA only) Free (SA only)
Action View Details View Details View Details

Quick Decision Guide

Still not sure? Use these quick decision points to choose the right panel.

Choose 100W If...

  • It's your first solar panel
  • You only camp on weekends
  • You mainly charge phones/tablets
  • Portability is your priority
  • Budget is under R3,000
View 100W Panel

Choose 200W If...

  • You go overlanding regularly
  • You need to run a fridge
  • You charge laptops and devices
  • You want the best value
  • You're not sure (safest choice!)
View 200W Panel

Choose 300W If...

  • You need serious power
  • Load-shedding backup is priority
  • You charge large batteries
  • You run multiple devices at once
  • You want maximum capability
View 300W Panel
Buying Guide

How to Choose

A simple guide to understanding wattage and selecting the perfect panel for your needs.

What Does Wattage Mean?

Wattage (W) is simply how much power your solar panel can produce per hour under ideal conditions. A 100W panel produces 100 watts of power per hour when facing the sun at the optimal angle on a clear day.

💡 Simple Example

If you have a 100W panel in direct sunlight for 5 hours, you'll generate approximately 500 watt-hours (Wh) of energy. That's enough to charge a typical smartphone about 25-30 times, or a laptop 2-3 times.

Important: Real-world output is typically 70-85% of the rated wattage due to factors like angle, cloud cover, temperature, and time of day. This is normal and expected.

3 Steps to Choose Your Panel

Step 1: List What You Need to Power

Write down all the devices you'll use during your trip or during load-shedding:

  • Smartphone: ~3,000mAh battery = ~11Wh
  • Tablet: ~7,000mAh battery = ~26Wh
  • Laptop: ~50-60Wh per charge
  • Camping fridge (40L): ~40-50Wh per hour
  • LED lights: ~5-10W per hour
  • Portable power station: Check capacity (usually 300-2000Wh)

Step 2: Calculate Your Daily Power Needs

Add up how much energy you'll use in a typical day:

Example for a weekend camping trip:

• 2 phones charged daily = 22Wh
• 1 tablet charged daily = 26Wh
• LED lights for 4 hours = 20Wh
• Total = ~70Wh per day

For this example, a 100W panel would be perfect (generates ~400-500Wh on a good day).

Step 3: Add a Safety Margin

Always choose a panel that can produce at least 50% more than your calculated needs. This accounts for:

  • Cloudy days and bad weather
  • Suboptimal panel angles
  • Morning and evening (lower sun intensity)
  • Unexpected extra device usage
  • Battery charging inefficiencies

Common Mistakes to Avoid

❌ Buying Too Small

The most common mistake! People underestimate their power needs or forget about cloudy days. If in doubt, go one size bigger. You can't add more wattage later without buying a second panel.

❌ Expecting 100% Output All Day

A 100W panel doesn't produce 100W all day. Peak output happens for 2-4 hours around midday. Morning and evening produce much less. Plan accordingly.

❌ Ignoring Weather Conditions

South Africa has great sun, but cloudy days happen. On overcast days, expect only 10-30% of rated output. Always have a backup plan or extra capacity.

Realistic Expectations

What to Expect in South Africa

Condition Expected Output
Bright sunny day, optimal angle 85-100% of rated power
Sunny but not optimal angle 60-80% of rated power
Partly cloudy 40-60% of rated power
Overcast/cloudy 10-30% of rated power
Morning/evening (low sun) 20-40% of rated power