I'm curious if anyone out there has used a 160W solar panel, specifically the EcoFlow model, with their River 3 and other devices that only have a 100W input limit. My main question is: will those 100W devices be able to handle the 160W panel? Do they have built-in charge controllers that can limit the wattage, or am I going to run into issues? I'd prefer not to buy a smaller panel if there's a workaround. Would love to hear any experiences or recommendations!
3 Answers
It really depends on the setup. Typically, charge controllers adjust the voltage and current for efficient charging, but they don’t limit the wattage directly. It’s crucial to check the maximum input specifications of your devices. If they can tolerate the current from a 160W panel at a lower voltage, you might be fine. So, what are those maximum values you're working with?
You could also try partially covering the solar panel to keep the output under 100W. This might be a simple fix to avoid issues until you find a better solution!
Just a heads-up, while you won’t always get the full rated power out of the panel, it could still output around 130W. Most chargers can handle that, but it does depend on how they're designed. It’s usually safe as long as you’re aware of the max input they can handle.