Ready for the 10 best 5 Watt solar panel reviews?
They’re not just good for off grid applications, you can also attach them to an existing solar installation and take advantage of the power they generate!
The products include a lot of the same features: they are small, portable and lightweight. Plus, they use flexible amorphous panels to make them even easier to store and use.
There are also some unique features too like flexible lithium polymer batteries and built in lights.
If you need something to power some important piece of equipment, or to charge your cell phone, check out the 10 best 5 Watt solar panel reviews.
| Name | Category | Product |
|---|---|---|
| ACOPOWER 5 Watt 5W Monocrystalline Mono Solar Panel | Best Overall |  |
| ECO-WORTHY Polycrystalline Solar Panels 5 Watt 12 Volt 5w 12v Solar Module Home Charging | Budget Pick |  |
| SOLPERK Solar Panel | Upgrade Pick |  |
1. ACOPOWER 5 Watt 5W Monocrystalline Mono Solar Panel
Pros:
- Cheap
- Easy to mount
If you want to harness the power of the sun and have it on hand whenever you want to use it, you need a solar-powered device. This product from ACOPOWER is the best solar panel to buy if you want to save money. It charges your batteries for free in the sun, providing you with backup and power when you need it.
It’s perfect for off-grid charging and for charging your various 12-volt items like tools, laptops, phones, MP3 players, and GPS devices.
This solar panel is ideal if you want to keep your batteries charged for emergencies or to keep your home’s various electronics running without paying for the energy.
2. Sunway Solar Panel Car Battery Trickle Charger & Maintainer 5W 12V Solar Power Charger kit Portable Waterproof
Pros:
- Easy to install
- One year warranty
- Affordable
- Lightweight and portable
- Has overcharging protection
Cons:
- The maximum current is <0.1A
- Contains lead so is not approved by UL to directly charge a battery. It presently will be used in emergencies where the battery must be charged. Not recommended for charging of a vehicle over a long period. The battery should be charged in the application (car) using standard vehicle type charger.
The Sunway Solar Panel Car Battery Trickle Charger & Maintainer 5W 12V Solar Power Charger kit Portable Waterproof For Automotive RV Marine Boat Truck Motorcycle Trailer Tractor Powersports Snowmobiles Sports Equipment is designed with a maximum efficiency of >95%. It takes advantage of the solar energy and converts it into electricity using Gallium Arsenide solar cell technology.
With an overcharging protection function and waterproof plastic, it can be easily installed and not easily damaged by secondary pollution. It features a 12-month quality warranty.
3. SOLPERK Solar Panel
Solar power has really come a long way, and now there are many products available to help you use solar power to your favor.
The decrease in their price has been dramatic, so it is no longer a novelty to see solar panels for sale. You can learn a lot more about solar power in general by visiting a few solar power related sites, and we will be happy to advise you how to use it for your specific needs.
A very popular use for these solar panels is charging car batteries. If you have a battery that needs to be charged or maintained in your car, truck, boat or RV, it is likely that a solar panel such as the one described above is what you will want to use. The idea is to use an auto solar battery charger that is attached to your battery, or to the frame of your car, boat or trailer. Some models include both the solar panel and the charger in one unit.
4. ECO-WORTHY Polycrystalline Solar Panels 5 Watt 12 Volt 5w 12v Solar Module Home Charging
Pros:
- High efficiency
- There is a built-in MPPT controller and a charge controller in this device
- It comes with a 30-day warranty for parts and a full 12 months for the panels
Cons:
- There are reports of problems with the warranty
- It is a bit on the heavier side compared to others
This product is a good choice if you only need to charge batteries for small things like your phone, tablet, or laptop. It charges sun power or grid power, and comes with a battery that can be quickly and easily swapped out if you don’t have access to it for long periods of time.
This is generally a good system for using on a small boat, RV, or home charging system. It comes with a small, but strong motor that can be connected to a standard 12V battery. Installing the motor will be a relatively easy process, and you will find that it is great for efficiency with minimal effort when you are not charging anything.
5. ECO-Worthy 12 Volts 5 Watts Solar Trickle Charger
Pros:
- The ECO-Worthy 5-watt solar car trickle charger is made for hobbyists, car enthusiasts, boaters, RV dwellers, and for anyone who keeps 12-volt lithium, lead acid, and other rechargeable batteries, with a twelve-volt load, on hand.
- Has two 5-watts solar panel pcs.
- AC/DC adapter plugs directly into any 12-volt lighter socket for an easy solar installation.
- Durable, weather-resistant plastic polymer frame, and high-efficiency solar cells allow to charge at any outdoor location.
- Constant charge controlled gadgets (with circuit protection) will automatically detect and prevent an over-charge.
- It also includes 12-volt cigarette lighter socket plug, and cigarette lighter charger socket.
- It has a 4-inch adjustable legs.
- Includes a 12V input jack.
No instructions included. Some customers may find this somewhat frustrating.
Some customers experienced difficulty with the included socket. Some people just cut off the 12v connectors on the end of the cable and wired them directly to the panel.
6. Renogy 5W 12V Portable Solar Panel Battery Maintainer Trickle Charger
Pros:
- Easy and affordable to own
- Designed for people who are just getting into solar power and want to be able to maintain batteries.
- Designed to be taken anywhere, long camping trips, family outings, for emergency use
- Can be used for more than just car batteries, can be used to recharge laptop batteries, to power LED task lights, fan or just about any electronics.
- Fully charges the battery within a few hours of storing the solar energy
- 600mAh Polymer Li-ion battery, can be used to power electronics at the same time as maintaining the battery, designed to be used with both 12V and 24V batteries,
Cons:
- Not quite powerful enough to fully recharge dead batteries, that is why it is called a battery maintainer rather than a full-charge kit.
- When you buy this kit, you are not only getting the kit itself along with the promise that you will never have to worry about your batteries dying, you get a full 30-day money back guarantee and an 18-month warranty from the manufacturer.
- This kit is perfect for people who would like to invest a small amount of money and add to their personal power supply.
- For those who have dead batteries, this kit will definitely solve that problem, however, when you are purchasing the kit, be fully aware that this kit is not designed to fully charge a dead battery.
7. Waveshare Mini Solar Panel
Pros:
- Excellent Customer Reviews
- Withstands Extreme Weather Conditions
- Quick & Easy to Set Up
- Requires No Tools
- Can Be Replaced Easily
- 5W Solar Charger
- Compact and Handy Solar Charger
Cons:
- Folds Up Quickly After Use
- Can Be Difficult to Connect to Other Items
- May Not Charge With Cloudy Weather
- Slightly Bulky
This is another iPhone charger which is great for people who are into cycling or hiking. Rather than use the sun to charge, these panels charge from a combination of the sun, wind, and rain. This is great because it means that you don´t have to be in a sunny climate to turn the solar powered item completely into a sustainable energy source.
This has to be one of the most durable solar products on the market. It doesn´t break and it also withstands the elements. You can fold it up against a piece of metal and connect it to a USB port and see how the panel works.
What the Waveshare Mini Solar Panel does is it comes with a multi-function lithium battery charger that can be used to charge a wide variety of portable phones and other items.
8. Renogy Portable E.Flex Monocrystalline 5W Solar Panel
Pros:
- Easy to set up
- Environmentally friendly
- This is a great solar panel for hiking or for your tailgating parties
- This is a must have by anyone who loves to camp.
Comes in a pair with one carrying pouch and corner grommets on the pack to easily attach to the outside of a bag. Connects directly to any device with the included USB cord. Includes: solar charger, cable, and carrying pouch
9. SUNER POWER 6V Waterproof Deer Feeder Solar Battery Trickle Charger & Maintainer
Pros:
- Very easy to install
- Lightweight with a low profile
- Comes with all accessories and connectors
- No hassle lifetime warranty
- Very durable
- Excellent customer care
Naturally, the SUNER POWER is also a great charge controller for battery charging applications. So you can also charge your 12 volt batteries during the day with solar power. If you just need to trickle charge your batteries at night, this will work very well for you. It has two solar panels, one master and one slave. The master panels can function completely independently from the slave panels. The main controller even has the capability to work even if one of the panels is missing.
Sometimes the SUNER POWER doesn’t work in very cloudy areas. This is because when one of the panels is not receiving sufficient light, the other one tries to compensate for the deficit and absorbs more than its share.
You can tell that the SUNER POWER is a very high quality product by the fact that it comes with a five-year warranty that is considered rare for an auto-sensor solar control system.
10. NewPowa High Efficiency 5W 12V Poly Solar Panel Module RV Marine Boat Off Grid
Pros:
- Good looking product with a sleek design.
- High efficiency, well-made and sturdy.
- Not Overpriced when compared to other 5W solar panels.
- Lightweight, compact and portable.
- Very easy to install and mount.
- Guaranteed to work in low light conditions.
- Quick delivery
- Comes well packaged
- Easy to install
Cons:
- The connectors supplied are not of the best quality. Stoptech only recommends this product for mild weather applications. Due to the quality, there can be some extra maintenance requirements.
- It can only get a maximum of 0.12 amps at a specific angle.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
What is the highest rated solar panel?
While we took many factors into consideration, the three most important criteria in Best Car Battery Prices-Maintainers selection process were as follows: stability ratio (CID), efficiency, and battery life.
The ratio of battery to solar (VOC), the efficiency of the solar cell, and the quality of the various components go a long way toward making the best solar charger in 2017. So here is how we came up with our best-of list.
The highest rated solar panels were the set of most efficient and durable solar panels that would last longer than other brands. Only those that were produced with high-quality materials were included in the list. Each solar panel was tested for efficiency and durability. Only those products that passed the test and were extremely durable made it to the list.
How many volts does a 10 watt solar panel produce?
The maximum voltage that a 10 watt solar panel can produce is about 17 volts. This is common in small solar panel kits for off-grid applications. In order to charge a 12-volt battery, you need to use two or more panels. Of course, if you're using a low-voltage battery (such as one found in a motorcycle or scooter), you'll want to use a much lower wattage panel, or you'll over-charge your battery.
12-volt battery charging is one of the cheapest and most convenient uses for small solar panels, so that may be the best application for you.
What is the rating of a solar panel?
The rating of a solar panel is actually based on the maximum DC output and is called an open circuit voltage (Voc). It is the voltage of the solar panel under full sunlight.
In reality, the solar panels are not usually connected in a circuit, and thus, the panel voltage varies with the resistance of the load.
When you install a solar panel on your boat, you need a battery to store the energy. You will notice that the Vmp will be much less than the Voc because the battery is a very inefficient resistor.
So, to get a better idea of how well a particular panel will do for your needs, you'll need to consider the Vmp rating of the panel as well.
In the end, the Nominal Power or watt rating of a solar panel is pretty useless for your purposes. The Vmp or Voc is the most important number.
What is the best 12v solar panel?
The best 12v solar panel is the Renogy Monocrystalline 100 Watt 12v Solar Panel. It’s great for charging a 12 volt system.
The Renogy 100 Watt 12 volt Monocrystalline panel has been reviewed by a large number of customers. It has received a lot of praise for how easy it is to assemble and mount. Customers have also shown appreciation for the sturdy materials used to build the panel and the excellent performance the panel provides.
Conclusion
Many people are not yet aware of the benefits and uses of solar energy. One of the reasons is because they don’t know how to lower the cost of buying commercial solar power panels for home use. Furthermore, not everyone has the time and money in hand to go for top-end solar solutions. Below, we have included a list of solar products to be considered as the best solar panels at an affordable price.
Our Recommendation
| Name | Category | Product |
|---|---|---|
| ACOPOWER 5 Watt 5W Monocrystalline Mono Solar Panel | Best Overall | |
| ECO-WORTHY Polycrystalline Solar Panels 5 Watt 12 Volt 5w 12v Solar Module Home Charging | Budget Pick | |
| SOLPERK Solar Panel | Upgrade Pick | |