AllSpark 400W High Voltage Quad Fold Portable Solar Panel

The high voltage version of AllSpark's 400W quad fold runs at 36.5V instead of 18V. That suits two situations: a 24V, 36V or 48V battery bank, or a 12V setup where the panel needs to sit 5 to 15 metres from the vehicle because camp is in the shade. Higher voltage means less loss down a long lead without going to heavier cable.

If neither applies, the low voltage model is the better buy. It produces the same power in the same sun, copes better with partial shade because its panels run in parallel, and works with the DC-DC chargers most vehicles already have.

Check your controller first

Your MPPT or DC-DC charger needs to accept at least 45V on its solar input, listed on most spec sheets as maximum PV open circuit voltage. REDARC BCDC chargers top out at 32V and cannot use this panel. The Victron 100/30 and Tracer 7810CPN controllers can. Running all four sections in series with the optional adaptor lifts it to 73V, which needs a controller rated to at least 100V.

One panel, two vehicles

Unplug the supplied double adaptor and the panel splits into two 200W halves, each feeding its own controller. Add a second 5m Anderson extension cable and the 4WD and caravan charge independently, as long as both controllers handle the higher voltage.

Construction

The cells are A-grade 210mm shingle cells at 23.5% efficiency, overlapped with no ribbon busbars, which leaves nothing fragile to crack from corrugations. They sit under a Japanese ETFE laminate rated UV stable for 25 years, with four bypass diodes and an IP68 rating. With a quality MPPT in good sun, expect up to 28A into a 12V battery. It folds to 900 x 590 x 90mm and weighs 14.5kg with the cable and carry bag.