Does this panel drain power from connected device like Suntactics panels when it doesn't get enough sunlight?
1607374
Sorry, I don't know the answer to that for sure. I used it in sunlight and saw positive gains, and left it plugged in without sunlight and it didn't seem like the phone drained any faster than with normal use. I can't say that I paid close enough attention.
1607375
It doesn't appear to. When I have used it and the sun wasn't available it just simply stopped charging.
1125781
No but the top/ "solar panel" is entirely inadequate in my opinion. 8 hours in direct sunlight to charge 2 AA batteries doesn't meet my needs.
559137
Yes! The solar power first goes to meet the home consumption. If there excess power from sun, it goes back to grid. So, if you turnoff all the power consumption in your home, you will see electric meter rotating backwards, giving credit.
166032
Not absolutely sure that I read this about the Sunforce or if from my Electronic background but this is a low voltage device and there is always risk of damaging it if you leave it connected especially in starting...
189159
This was a major question for me before I bought the inverter. The unit does not have a power switch, and the instruction booklet specifies that when no AC load is connected, battery drain is less than .4 A. I was using the inverter in a fire lookout with solar electric power. The solar regulator had a display that include source and load amperage at the .1 level, and I did several types of testing to see whether there was any apparent drain with no load. I never saw any current from the batteries indicated unless I had something charging. I used a Surface tablet PC, often for hours a day, and charge my camera batteries repeatedly. The inverter performed like a champ the whole time. I hope that answers your question. In case you're interested, the published conversion efficiency (12 VDC -&gt; 110 VAC) is 85%. That's impressive!
531384
I have the light part of the unit indoors during the day with the solar panel outside (wire run under door to front deck. I then use the power for light or cell phone charge at night. I have not tried charging the solar panel itself inside, if that is what you are asking.
1147716
Mine works fine using the solar. I did notice the charge doesn't last long after the sun goes down though.
1733860
I used mine connected to the cigarette lighter and my understanding is that the blue LED illuminates when the solar panel is exposed to the sun and therefore producing power...that is indeed the way it worked for me...until the entire unit failed within a year and too late to return for a refund. Maybe I got a bad one, maybe it's a poorly-made unit. I have not since tried to find a replacement but probably should.
333706
Providing all the panels are receiving direct sunlight it would work. Some devices may not charge if all the panels are not fully exposed to sunlight.
1069075
According to the manufacturer, no because the power output level should not affect the battery. However, the dead panel ended up draining my battery.
1579668
The specs are under highly controlled conditions rather than real world conditions. However, on a sunny day, with the panel aimed at the sun, and with a MPP controller, you should get something close to the rated power (maybe 80 percent of rated power or something like that). What might be happening to you is that your battery may be fully charged or nearly so. So the charge controller is limiting the current to 0.25A to avoid over-charging the battery. You could disconnect the panel from the charge controller (so the panel is not connected to anything) and check the short-circuit current and open-circuit Voltage. If those are ballpark OK, no real cause for concern. The specs are under highly controlled conditions rather than real world conditions. However, on a sunny day, with the panel aimed at the sun, and with a MPP controller, you should get something close to the rated power (maybe 80 percent of rated power or something like that). What might be happening to you is that your battery may be fully charged or nearly so. So the charge controller is limiting the current to 0.25A to avoid over-charging the battery. You could disconnect the panel from the charge controller (so the panel is not connected to anything) and check the short-circuit current... » Read More The specs are under highly controlled conditions rather than real world conditions. However, on a sunny day, with the panel aimed at the sun, and with a MPP controller, you should get something close to the rated power (maybe 80 percent of rated power or something like that). What might be happening to you is that your battery may be fully charged or nearly so. So the charge controller is limiting the current to 0.25A to avoid over-charging the battery. You could disconnect the panel from the charge controller (so the panel is not connected to anything) and check the short-circuit current and open-circuit Voltage. If those are ballpark OK, no real cause for concern. « Show Less
2259332
Hi. From my experience, power generated from solar panels falls off abruptly when the sun goes behind a cloud. Also, if the panel is not facing directly into the sunlight, the power is not optimum. Sun tracking systems boost power output about 40% from what I understand. -A
67081
no it does not charge when placed on the sun with something connected to it i just tried.
541426
You'll be charging from the battery pack not the panel it self. It goes sun panel battery then device. So it will be a continuous charge until those barriers are depleted. And they just recharge from the panels
1987317
Yes you can just make sure the solar collector panel will get sun to recharge or use an external collector plugged into the unit. Great for an interior shed or area with no sun if you have that external piece.
1597574
It depends on how often the light is triggered, and how much sun the solar panel receives when it's not rainy. If it's light, but overcast (or rainy) the panel will charge the light, but not as much as the panel in full sunlight.My panel and light are mounted in a location that does not get much traffic, and the light is not often triggered. I imagine that the batteries remain pretty charged, but I couldn't say what would happen if the light was triggered often, and the panel didn't receive full sunlight for a long period of time.
686119
You need to fully charged your Deep Cycle Battery. Connect your HQRP 30W Flexible Solar Panel and face it towards the sun where you have approx 8 to 10 hrs of sunlight daily . Also I have a Sunright 7 amp Solar Charge Controller for double protection of overcharging. I use it for my Battery Portable Solar Generator, and My RV's House Batteries (trickle charging)