Renogy 100W Portable Solar Panel

Short Product Summary

The Renogy 100W Portable Solar Panel is a folding N-type panel that packs down to 584 x 572.5 x 40 mm, weighs 3.3 kg and stands up on its own adjustable kickstands wherever the sun is. Nothing gets drilled, bolted or bonded to your vehicle. You park in the shade, put the panel in the sun and run a cable between the two.

Why This Product

The single biggest limitation of a roof-mounted panel is that it goes wherever the vehicle goes. On a hot Kruger or Kgalagadi afternoon you want your caravan under a tree and your panel in full sun, and a roof panel forces you to choose. A portable panel solves that outright: set it out in the open, angle it at the sun, and move it twice during the day if you are chasing the last of the light.

It also suits people who simply do not want a permanent installation. If you are renting, if the caravan is going to be sold, if the roof is already full, or if you use solar three weekends a year rather than three months, there is no case for cutting holes in a watertight roof. This panel folds into its own case, lives in the boot or the nose cone, and comes out when you need it.

Set expectations honestly on two points. First, it is not a plug-and-play battery charger: there is no charge controller supplied, so you either run it into a power station with a solar input or through a separate MPPT or PWM controller to your battery. Second, a portable panel needs someone to put it out and pack it away, and it should not be left standing unattended at a busy campsite.

Key Features

• N-type cells above 25% efficiency – more watts out of a smaller folded footprint than the older PERC generation.
• 3.3 kg folded – light enough to carry one-handed to the far side of the site and back.
• Integrated carry handle and folding case – it stores and travels as one item, with the cables kept in the built-in pocket.
• Three-angle adjustable kickstands, 40 to 60 degrees – lets you tilt the panel properly at the sun instead of laying it flat.
• Kickstands with stake holes – peg it down so a Cape south-easter does not flip it across the campsite. Stakes are not supplied.
• MC4 output plus a 45W USB Type-C port – feeds a charge controller or power station, and charges a phone or tablet directly with nothing else connected.
• 14 AWG cable – thicker conductor means less voltage drop over the run back to the caravan.
• IP65 rated – dust resistant and splash resistant, so an afternoon shower is not a problem.
• Series or parallel expandable – add a second panel later when your power needs grow.

Ideal For

• Campers who want to park in the shade while the panel works in full sun.
• Caravan and camper owners who do not want a permanent roof installation or extra roof penetrations.
• Owners of portable power stations who need a proper solar input rather than a mains charge.
• Bush and overland trips where the vehicle moves every day and the panel goes out at each new site.
• Occasional users who need solar a few weekends a year and want it stored away the rest of the time.

Local Support from 4Matt Campers

4Matt Campers is a Renogy dealer in Cape Town, serving campers and caravanners across the Western Cape and delivering throughout South Africa. We can check that this panel's open-circuit voltage suits your power station or charge controller, help you pick the right controller and cable length if you are charging a 12V battery bank, and advise on whether one panel or two is realistic for your daily load. Give us a call before you buy if you are unsure what your setup will accept.

Technical Specifications

• Model: Renogy E.FLEX CORE 100W Portable Solar Panel
• SKU: RPP100EF-SE-G2-SA
• Maximum power at STC: 100 W
• Open-circuit voltage (Voc): 21.6 V
• Short-circuit current (Isc): 5.66 A
• Optimum operating voltage (Vmp): 18.8 V
• Optimum operating current (Imp): 5.34 A
• Cell type: N-type monocrystalline
• Cell efficiency: greater than 25%
• Folded dimensions: 584 x 572.5 x 40 mm
• Unfolded dimensions: 1145 x 584 x 3 mm
• Weight: 3.3 kg
• Ingress protection: IP65
• Output connector: MC4
• USB output: 45W USB Type-C port
• Cable: 14 AWG
• Kickstand: three-angle adjustable, 40 to 60 degrees, with stake holes
• Operating temperature: -10 to 65 degrees Celsius
• Certifications: CE and RoHS compliant, FCC, CA65, PSE, manufactured in an ISO 9001 certified facility

What's Included

• 1 x Renogy 100W Portable Solar Panel with integrated kickstands, carry handle and output cable
• 1 x User manual
• 1 x Warranty card

A solar charge controller is not included. Ground stakes are not included.

Optional Fitment & Upgrade Notes

• Charging a 12V battery: this panel must run through a solar charge controller. Connecting it straight to a battery will damage the battery.
• Charging a power station: check that your power station's maximum solar input voltage is above the panel's 21.6 V open-circuit figure before you plug in. Most units in this class accept it, but confirm rather than assume.
• Extension cable: a longer MC4 extension lets you park the caravan in the shade and still reach a sunny patch. Keep the run as short as practical to limit voltage drop.
• Securing it: the kickstands have stake holes. Buy ground pegs separately and use them anywhere the wind gets up.
• Expansion: two panels in parallel double your current at the same voltage. Confirm your controller or power station can accept the higher input current first.
• Placement: even a small shadow across the panel costs a disproportionate amount of output, so keep it clear of tow hitches, awning legs and guy ropes.

Complete Your Setup

Round out your off-grid kit: browse Solar Charge Controllers, Lithium Batteries, Inverters & Inverter Chargers and Electrical Accessories, or see the full Renogy range.

FAQ

Does it come with a charge controller?
No. The package contains the panel, a user manual and a warranty card. If you are charging a 12V battery you will need a separate MPPT or PWM controller. If you are charging a portable power station with a built-in solar input, no extra controller is required.

Can I really park in the shade and leave the panel in the sun?
Yes, and that is the main reason to buy a portable panel over a roof-mounted one. Use an MC4 extension cable to reach the sunny spot, and keep the run as short as you sensibly can to limit losses.

Will it charge my phone directly?
Yes. There is a 45W USB Type-C port on the panel, so you can charge a phone or tablet straight from it without a battery or controller in the circuit.

How is this different from the flexible panels you sell?
A flexible panel is bonded permanently to your roof and charges whenever the vehicle is in the sun. This one is not installed at all: it folds up, lives in the boot and gets deployed on the ground where you choose. Many owners run both, using the roof panel as a baseline and the portable to top up on shaded sites.

Is it safe to leave out in the rain?
The panel is IP65 rated for dust and splash resistance, so a passing shower will not harm it. It is still sensible to pack it away in sustained bad weather or strong wind, and it should not be left unattended at a busy campsite.