A portable solar panel does what a roof panel can't: you park the rig in the shade and set the panel out in the sun. Renogy makes three kinds. Solar blankets fold small, suitcases have a rigid frame and kickstands, and the E.Flex panels sit in between. This guide compares the Renogy portable panels we stock and explains what each needs to charge a power station or an RV battery.
The short answer
- Most watts for the space it packs into: the 400W solar blanket, about 16.5 x 15.8 in folded.
- Sturdiest, sets up on its own legs: a 100W/300W N-Type suitcase or the 220W/400W Lightweight suitcase.
- Charging an RV battery with nothing else to buy: the N-Type Solar Suitcase Kit, which comes with a Voyager 20A controller.
- A lighter fold-out panel for a power station: E.Flex 100W/200W.
Renogy portable panels compared
| Panel | Watts | Folded size (in) | Weight | Open-circuit voltage | Weather rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Solar blanket | 400W | 16.54 x 15.83 x 4.13 | 16.09 lb | 39.2V | IP65 |
| N-Type suitcase | 100W | 20.59 x 24.33 x 1.57 | 8.82 lb | 21.6V | IP67 |
| N-Type suitcase | 300W | 23.15 x 29.06 x 3.15 | 18.74 lb | 30.3V | IP67 |
| Lightweight suitcase | 220W | 18.11 x 28.74 x 3.15 | 15.87 lb | 23.3V | See listing |
| Lightweight suitcase | 400W | 27.9 x 33.7 x 3.15 | 30.25 lb | 47.2V | See listing |
| E.Flex | 200W | 25.0 x 21.1 x 2.2 | 17.6 lb | 23.40V | See listing |
| Suitcase kit with Voyager 20A | 100W | 27.17 x 15.59 x 3.15 | 17.42 lb | 21.47V | IP65 |
| Suitcase kit with Voyager 20A | 200W | 34.25 x 22.83 x 3.15 | 28.46 lb | 21.47V | IP65 |
Figures are from Renogy's user manuals and product pages. Weights are Renogy's panel weights, and our shipping weights can differ because they include packaging.
What a portable panel makes in a day
We plan on a panel delivering about 75% of its rating, multiplied by 4 to 5 peak sun hours. That allows for heat, angle and cable losses, and it is a planning assumption, not a Renogy figure:
| Panel | About per day | Share of a 100Ah lithium battery (1,152 usable Wh) |
|---|---|---|
| 100W | 300 to 375 Wh | 26% to 33% |
| 200W / 220W | 600 to 825 Wh | 52% to 72% |
| 300W | 900 to 1,125 Wh | 78% to 98% |
| 400W | 1,200 to 1,500 Wh | A full refill on a good day |
A portable panel can also beat a roof panel of the same rating. You can tilt it toward the sun and move it as the shade moves, while a flat roof panel just takes what it gets.
Blanket: the most watts in the smallest bag
The 400W blanket folds to about the size of a backpack (16.54 x 15.83 x 4.13 in) and weighs 16.09 lb by Renogy's figures. Unfolded it is 64.96 x 62.99 in, so it needs a patch of ground, a hood or a windshield. Attachment loops on all four sides let you tie it down or hang it. It is rated IP65, which Renogy describes as splash-proof, so treat it as a fair-weather panel rather than one to leave out in a storm.
Suitcases: a frame and kickstands
A suitcase has a rigid frame and built-in kickstands, so it stands on its own at an angle and survives being knocked around a campsite. The N-Type suitcase is IP67 rated, uses N-Type cells and carries a 3-year material and workmanship warranty. The Lightweight suitcase comes in 220W or 400W, and one version pairs the 400W with a 40A MPPT controller. The trade-off is bulk. The 400W Lightweight suitcase is 30.25 lb and unfolds to 111.8 in long.
Charging a power station
Renogy's manuals give one rule for every portable panel: the panel's open-circuit voltage must not exceed the power station's maximum DC input voltage. Check that limit on your station's spec sheet before you buy, especially for the higher-voltage panels: the 400W blanket at 39.2V and the 400W suitcase at 47.2V. If you wire two panels in series, add their voltages together. The blanket and the panel listing for power stations come with Renogy's 4-in-1 cable for the common station inputs.
Renogy's own PowerStation 2000 with a 220W portable panel is sold as a matched pair.
Charging an RV or house battery
A solar panel can't go straight to a 12V battery. It needs a charge controller set for your battery type, a battery fuse on the positive side and the right cables. Renogy's blanket manual says the same. You have three ways to do it:
- Buy the kit: the Suitcase Kit comes with a Voyager 20A PWM controller. The Voyager itself handles 12V or 24V, but Renogy's manual says a single suitcase kit on its own is for 12V battery systems.
- Use your existing controller: plug the panel into the RV's solar port or controller input, if the controller accepts its voltage. A PWM controller like the Wanderer Li 30A takes up to 25V. That suits the 100W suitcase (21.6V). The 220W suitcase and the E.Flex 200W (about 23.3V) sit close to that limit, and a panel's voltage rises in cold weather, so an MPPT is the safer pairing. The 400W blanket and the 300W and 400W suitcases are too high for it.
- Add an MPPT: for higher-voltage panels, a Rover Li MPPT accepts up to 100V. That covers every panel here.
Which should you buy?
- Power station owner, short on storage: the 400W blanket, after checking your station's input voltage.
- RV owner who wants to top up the house battery from a shady site: the Suitcase Kit (controller included), or a 100W/220W suitcase into your existing controller.
- Bigger array without a roof install: the 300W N-Type suitcase or the 400W Lightweight suitcase with an MPPT.
- Keeping a battery topped up in storage: the small E.Flex 30W or the 10W trickle charger.
If you have the roof space, see flexible vs rigid roof panels and compare against a roof kit in What size solar kit do I need? To size the whole system, use our RV solar and battery calculator. Every option is in the Renogy collection. Found it cheaper? We'll beat it.
FAQ
Can I leave a portable panel out overnight or in the rain?
The N-Type suitcase is IP67. The Suitcase Kit and the blanket are IP65, which Renogy calls splash-proof for the blanket. Check the Lightweight suitcase listing for its rating. Pack the blanket away in heavy rain, and secure any panel against wind.
Can I connect two portable panels together?
Yes. In series the voltages add; in parallel the currents add. Renogy's manuals show both. Keep the combined voltage under your controller's or station's limit.
Portable or roof panels?
Roof panels charge while you drive and need no setup. Portable panels charge in the sun while the rig is in the shade. You can also run both: a small roof array, plus a portable panel for shady sites.
Do portable panels need a fuse?
When charging a battery through a controller, yes. Renogy's manuals call for a fuse on the battery's positive side and a solar fuse. For its DC-DC chargers, Renogy sizes the solar fuse at 1.56 times the array's short-circuit current.