Disclosure
This product was kindly sent to me by ALLPOWERS in order to review and share my experience and thoughts on using it. The company does not claim to review this article prior its’ release, everything that follows is a totally honest review. So let’s get into it.
Features and specs
The SP026 is a foldable 60W solar panel, consisting of 6 panels of 10W power each. It folds in a small size, relative to the power it can deliver and it weighs 2.4 kilograms. Its folded size is 38*25.5*7 cm, which resembles a briefcase to be honest, especially thanks to the included handle. It also makes it a great choice for carrying it in a backpack, which is something I was really interested in trying to be honest. Also, when folded all the included accessories, adapters, carabiners etc, can be stored in the zipped compartment, which as a cherry on top, can accommodate the S200 power station in a specifically designed pocket! It is made with durability in mind, as it is oriented towards outdoor use and it is also IP67 waterproof rated. Thanks to the high quality solar cells AllPowers uses, the SP026 is able to provide up to 22% conversion rates, in order to replenish your power reserves faster than ever before.
With a plethora of power outputs, it will be able to provide power to multiple devices, as it features 2 USB-A ports (5 VDC/3A), one USB-C port (5/912/15/20VDC 3A, PD60W) and one DC output (18VDC/5A). So regardless of the device type you want to charge, from smartphone to laptop, the SP026 will do the trick. There is another port I deliberately didn’t mention, that provides the SP026 the ability to be parallel connected with another similar solar panel and expand its sun harvesting power even more! This is a great feature, as with the included 5.5*2.1mm cable you can do that without the need to be tech savvy or without any complicated wiring. Lastly the SP026 will provide not only a great deal of power, but also peace of mind to the user. Overcharge prevention, overdischarge, reverse connection, high temperature and short circuit protection are there, to ensure proper gear charging functions without the chance of unpleasant surprises.
In use
As I have been using the SP026 for almost 9 months now, I will mention some of the applications I have used it for. As a landscape photographer I usually find myself outdoors and in need of battery recharging. Although it is not necessary to use it on every occasion, it gives me peace of mind to know that regardless of how much I shoot, I can extend my work schedule. My most used case scenarios have been day long hikes and overnight camping. There were also some multi day field trips and some other creative uses. Let’s get into it.
Day hikes This is what I do the most and I have used the SP026 almost exclusively on its own. I mean without the S200 or S300, as my power needs for the day are meant to be used within the day itself. As I do not plan to spend the night outdoors, I go through my batteries without being to worried. I use my camera/drone as much as I want, because I know I will be able to recharge them with ease. Of course I do use all my other devices like my cellphone, bluetooth speaker etc, if I am feeling like relaxing a bit more, between photography sessions.
Although a 60W solar panel might seems like an overkill for a single person’s needs, take into consideration that in cloudy weather it will come in handy. A larger surface area will be able to provide the much needed power in those circumstances. Also in wintertime when the day’s duration is shorter you will have less sunshine hours to use it, so the larger panel, again is a plus. I have used my 21W mini solar panel hundreds of times and I swear by it, but as newer devices have larger batteries the SP026 has served me even better. Needless to say, that in case I have company with me, either for photo shooting purposes or just for spending a day in the woods, the multiple outputs can cover the needs of more people.
Backup power Although not very common where I live, there have been times that a power outage makes our little daily charging chores difficult. Last summer an intense heat wave made daytime temperatures unbearable and it seems the power grid was overwhelmed. It is self explanatory, that no AC unit will run from a 60W solar panel, but thanks to the intense summer sun and the multiple output ports of the SP026, I managed to keep multiple devices running for several hours. The router was one of them, as other members of the family were working from home, as well as our cellphones, despite the fact that none of them was really low on battery. Each time a device was fully charged, I casually added powerbanks to the charging cycle just for redundancy purposes, although the grid failure was restored after a few hours.
Multi day field trips My most recent field trip was made in early fall and the SP026 and S200 was the perfect for it. I wasn’t in need for a heavy sleeping bag and super warm clothing, and most of the backpack was occupied by camera gear. The combo served me perfect as I managed to keep my gear charged and ready to use, without breaking my back by the added weight. I was charging my devices at night and I was harvesting the sun during breaks, which was more than enough for the trusty S200. The fact that I was able to carry it inside my pack and the S200 was easily stored inside the panel’s zipped pocket, made it super convenient and allowed me to keep things organized. It also allowed me to have my hands free for using the camera more and gave me confidence on rough terrains that I had to use my hands to get through. Before this gem, I had carried the SP020 a lot of kilometers and it wasn’t fun. I loved the outcome, but not the process of carrying it at hand so to speak…The SP026 introduced whole other level of carrying ease to me.
Disaster relief In one case I used the SP026 for disaster relief purposes during summer wildfires. The dual USB-A output was constantly occupied and was serving as a charging station for handheld two way radios. Volunteers and non profit organizations were using them for communicating with the fire department, as well as with each other. The USB-C was used for charging powerbanks and mobile phones and the 18VDC output was dedicated to the S300 for all the night charging necessities. Considering that each radio needed 5VDC/1A and most cellphones and powerbanks that we charged, required 15-18W input from the USB-C port, there were about 40 solid watts produced under the direct summer sun that were constantly charging the S300. All phones that required PD to be charged, were a low priority at the time. When the S300 was full though, we used its own ports for charging all those devices that were not in top priority, but in any case as we approached the night, I made sure to have the S300 fully charged.
Camping/glamping I consider both of these instances to be almost the same, but I use the term glamping in my own personal way, which I will explain below. So, you might go camping with friends and family and in that case you are the hero that provides power to sustain our spoiled way of life at camp. In a large group you might have to somewhat prioritize power consumption, but with smaller groups you have the ability to treat yourself with some careless usage, and that’s the type of glamping I am referring to. As I am generally power conscious, for me having a headlamp as my main illumination tool to get through the night, is totally acceptable. One the other hand, having a light string with 5 bulbs is a luxury which is nice to have now and then, but don’t necessarily want to constantly sustain. In case you are going camping solo though, I dare you to overpower the 60W SP026 for your common power needs and ask for more than that!
Ham radio contest For entertainment purposes some friends and I set up a ham radio contest. It was a day long and the goal was to communicate with each other under certain circumstances and restrictions. The SP026 was used deliberately to recharge the S300, as it was needed due to the fact that it is equipped with a cigarette lighter output socket. Most mobile transceivers use cigarette lighter plugs for directly powering them in a car and my own was no different. Although it would have been possible to solely use the S300 for all day long, I wanted to be safe and not drain the car’s battery, as well as to have the ability to settle in a place with a view and not limit myself sitting in the car all day. The radio was using 25W max when transmitting and although most of the time my duty cycle was around 5/5/90 (transmit/receive/stand by) there were times when it peaked around 20/20/60. After some of those intense sessions, the S300 was partially depleted and the SP026 came into play.
Who is this for
I find the SP026 to be the obvious solar panel choice for someone who spends many days and nights outdoors and wants to cover extended power needs. From the backpacker, to the outdoor working professional who relies on his own strength to carry his gear, the foldable design is a perfect for carrying it in a backpack. Being able to pack so small is what makes the difference with the SP020, which despite the fact it will deliver the same 60W power, it folds in half and cannot be fitted in a backpack.
Praising it over the small folded size for backbacking, doesn’t mean that van life enthusiasts, car campers etc, won’t have many reasons to opt for it over larger panels. It is clearly a matter of preference, power requirement and maximizing the use of available spaces in your vehicle. Lastly let me mention all the people that want to have a higher level of preparedness if circumstances or regional factors require it. Having it in your vehicle’s trunk, will take up a bit of space but it will go a long way in case you need it. Also if you already own an AllPowers power station already, it makes perfect sense to compliment it with such a versatile solar panel.
Conclusion
Having used the AllPowers SP026 for almost a year now, this long term review has been a very interesting one. First and foremost, it has made a huge impact not only on expanding my recharging capabilities outdoors, but also on the convenience of carrying it on my back. The fact that it fits inside my backpacks is awesome as I can have both hands free for the walking sticks. The power output is sufficient, for my needs at least, in the geographical region I usually work and that means I don’t need to weigh myself with larger output panels. It also complements great the S200 and S300 power stations, giving me the versatility to choose one over the other, depending on the situation of course.
I have greatly appreciated the existence of multiple output ports, as I mostly use them during daytime to recharge my devices. Also the different types of outputs provide a plethora of charging options right out of the box, for a wide range of devices, with the included cables and accessories. I cannot recommend the SP026 enough for outdoor and field work, as the form factor will provide a pleasant user experience and enough power for many applications.
If you are interested in the AllPowers SP026 solar panel you can purchase this or any other product from the EU AllPowers website, through the affiliate link, which provides a small comission for me, without no extra charge for the buyer.
AllPowers website
https://iallpowers.eu/?ref=dimoudimitris.com
SP026 Solar panel