Yash
A 100-watt solar panel can be right choice for people interested in outdoor activities.
The rising pollution levels and increasing awareness among people have generated interest in clean sources of energy.
And solar PV technology is one of them.
The solar panels in any solar power system do the most important energy conversion.
They absorb the sunlight and convert it into electricity.
They come in many sizes from as small as 5 watts to as big as 500 watts.
The 100-watt solar panels are compact, lightweight, and can be used for multiple options.
Therefore, they are popular among people who love outdoor activities like camping, trekking, and picnics.
We find 100-watt solar panels in boats, RVs, and homes.
Power, voltage, and current of 100-watt solar panel
A 100-watt solar panel will produce 100-watt under standard test conditions (STC).
These conditions are:
- The sunlight intensity falling on its surface is 1000 W/m².
- When the cell temperature is 25 ᵒC.
- The air mass index is 1.5.
The power produced under STC is P(max) or the nameplate power of the solar panel.
We say the 100-watt solar panel’s P(max) is 100 watts.
Also, the power is the product of voltage and the current.
I can write mathematically as:
Power = Voltage x Current P(max) = Vmp x Imp
Where:
- P(max) is the maximum power produced under STC
- Vmp = Voltage at maximum power
- Imp = Current at maximum power
Generally, A 100-watt solar panel produces 18 volts as Vmp and 5.55 ampere as Imp.
To give 18 volts x 5.55 amp = 100 watts at STC.
Power in real conditions
In reality, any solar panel produces less power than mentioned in its nameplate.
Reasons:
Because, all the mentioned conditions (sunlight intensity, the cell temperature, air-mass index, and the wind velocity) rarely have the exact values.
The weather, temperature, location, and the change in the relative position of the Earth and the Sun keep values varying every moment.
These variables make solar panels produce less power than mentioned in their nameplate.
When I consider these facts, the real power produced is somewhere around 70% of Pmax or the nameplate power of the solar panel.
Therefore, a 100-watt solar panel produces an average of 70 watts.
How much energy can a 100-watt solar panel produce in a day?
First, understand the relation between the energy and the power of the solar panel.
Energy produced in a day = Power of the solar panel x the average daily PSH
(Here in this case, we’ll take the real power produced by the 100-watt solar panel after compensating for the losses).
The energy produced by the solar panel depends on the sunlight in the location where it is installed.
Assuming the location receives an average of 5 Peak Sun Hours (PSH) in a day.
In that case, the energy produced by the 100-watt solar panel would be:
The energy produced in a day = 70-watt x 5 PSH
= 350 watt-hours.
If another location receives 4 PSH and the same 100-watt solar panel is installed.
The energy produced in a day = 70 watts x 4 PSH
= 280 watt-hours.
Therefore, the amount of energy produced by the solar panel depends on the average daily PSH of that location.
What a 100-watt solar panel can run?
The appliances it can run depend on the energy produced by it.
Which further depends on the PSH in that location.
Assuming, the daily average of 5 PSH,
A 100-watt solar panel after compensating for the losses produces 350 watt-hours in a day.
This amount of energy is suitable for running small electrical appliances that you do not want to run continuously
Which is sufficient to run:
- Laptop
- LED Bulbs
- Water Purifier
- Small fridge
- Fan
Points to keep in mind while buying a 100-watt solar panel
1) Efficiency
The highly efficient solar panels produce more power even in a limited space. They are more compact and lightweight than the less efficient solar panels.
2) Temperature coefficient of power
If you live in a hot region then it is advisable to look at the temperature coefficient of power of the solar panel.
It is the metric that tells us the amount of power a solar panel will lose when its cell temperature increases beyond 25ᵒC.
A low value indicates that the solar panel will lose less power than the one with a high value of it.
For example, a 100-watt solar panel with a temperature of power -0.30 %/ᵒC loses less power than another 100-watt solar panel with a temperature coefficient of power of -0.40%/ᵒC.
Therefore, for people living in hot climates, buying a solar panel that has a low value of temperature coefficient of power would be the right choice.
3) Strength
The solar panels will remain outside throughout their lives. They will bear the extreme weather conditions. Therefore, they need to be strong to withstand these extremities. The high values of wind load and snow load ratings confirm their strength.
4) Warranty
A good solar panel always comes with long warranties. So that the user has peace of mind and enjoys smooth electricity for decades to come.
A solar panel has 2 types of warranties: The product warranty and the Performance warranty.
The first one guards your solar panel against any manufacturing defect.
While the second one assures that the solar panel is going to produce a certain percentage of power after 25 years.
Best 100-watt solar panels for outdoor applications
Disclosure: The following post contains the affiliate links. This means that I will be compensated when you click the links below and buy the products. However, I feel that these products are best in their categories when it comes to solar panels for outdoor activities.
FAQ about the 100-watt solar panel
Q1: Do solar panels work in cloudy weather?
Yes, solar panels do work in cloudy weather but their performance is reduced significantly.
I have tested the performance of my solar panels in cloudy weather.
If you want to know about its details then check my post “Do solar panels work in cloudy weather?”
Q2: Can a 100-watt solar panel run a motor pump?
No, a 100-watt solar panel cannot run a motor pump which is used to withdraw water.
A motor pump has a power rating of 1 hp (1 hp = 746 watts).
Q3: How many solar panels do I need to go off-grid?
The size of the solar panels depends on the energy needs of the user and the sunlight intensity of the region.
The formula for sizing the solar panels after considering the losses is:
Solar panel size (watts) = 1.4 x Energy needs (W-hr)/Average daily Peak Sun Hours.
Q4: Does dust affect the performance of the solar panels?
Yes, when the layer of dust accumulates over the surface of the solar panels. It obstructs the path of the sunlight and prevents the solar panels from absorbing it.
I experimented with my dusty solar panels but my results were surprising.
Do check out my post “Does dust affect the performance of the solar panels?”
Q5: How many solar panels are required to power my RV?
The compact size and the light weight of the 100-watt solar panels are ideal for sizing it for your RV.
For meeting the basic energy needs of your RV like a fan, LEDs, Laptop, cell phone, small fridge, and a water purifier.
A 4 x 100 watts solar panel is sufficient.
However, if the energy needs are more then more solar panels or high-power solar panels are required.
Read: How to size the solar panels for your RV?
Q6: How long does it take to charge a 12-volt battery with a 100-watt solar panel?
Before charging the battery through the solar panel, a solar charge controller is needed between the two.
With a right-sized solar-charged controller, a 100-watt can charge:
- A 12-volt and 20 Ah battery in 5 hours
- A 12-volt and 40 Ah battery: 10 hours
- 12 volts and 100 Ah battery in 22 hours
(Assuming the place receives an average daily PSH of 5 where the solar panel is installed).
Conclusion
If you are considering using solar energy for outdoor activities then buying a 100-watt solar panel would be the right choice.
It is ideal for running small electrical and electronic devices.
Also, its compact size and light weight make it ideal for outdoor applications such as for RVs, boats, trekking, etc.
Tip: Always place the solar panel facing the sun so that it can capture the maximum energy and run the electrical appliances.
Keep the surface clean so that it can absorb the sunlight effectively.
