If the panel is facing the sun all day would I be able to use it to power a video-game console. If not could you advise me on how to do that?
1685852
Yes it should run a game console very well on the panel during day and pulling from the batterypack at night . the best part about this kit is you can add extra battery for double run times.I
1106287
The light will turn on as soon as has some charge and disconnect from solar panel. Not sure if this is what you wanted but it is possible to use during day as long as solar is covered or disconnected from light.
644340
Yes and no. The better question is how the solar will be getting set up. If you use your panel to charge a battery and use the battery itself to power the light, then you will be golden, the panels will absorb what they need during day so when it gets dark the light can keep going off of the battery reserve. If you wanted to hook the light directly up to the panels THEN you would need the full 250watts, and it would only work in direct sunlight, you see? the goal is not to have enough power strictly from solar panels, but to have enough to charge a battery with the panels and use the battery with an inverter to power intended devices. Long answer short, buy a cheap deep cycle battery to hook an inverter up to, and hook your light up to said inverter, with this set up your light should work just fine. Hope that helps virtual pal.
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
1978779
Dear David. I have not done so, however the literature that came with mine indicates that you can "link up to 10 panels together for more power." There are however no instructions provided for doing so. My one phone call to Sun Force about a different matter was very responsibly answered, so you might call them. I see there is another response to the contrary by 'Daddio'. In passing, I use the panel and the charge controller that comes with it to maintain the charge in a 12-volt heavy duty auto battery that provides LED emergency lighting for my home. I've been very pleased with it. It would seem to me unless there are other considerations that it would be more economical, and present an easier mounting problem to purchase a larger (more power (wattage)) solar panel to begin with. Hope some of this helps. Randall
1162977
Yes, it works in the daytime. No, it won't work if turned off by the switch.
412102
Yes, that's true ~. 2x30watt panels = 60 watts going to your controller. Good luck & have fun capturing the Sun. :-)
1373853
I have not tried this and wonder why you want to unless you have too much power for one. They do make a controllers that works up to sixty amps. I don't know how you want to wire this. Using separate panels is the only thing I can guess. I use my meter every day to read the total amps going to my batteries and the voltage at any given time. The lights on the front of the controller tell you most things about the system but not the voltage or the current. The voltage tells you how close you are to a full charge. If you have two sets of panels you would need two controllers with two meters. Hope this helps. I have not tried this and wonder why you want to unless you have too much power for one. They do make a controllers that works up to sixty amps. I don't know how you want to wire this. Using separate panels is the only thing I can guess. I use my meter every day to read the total amps going to my batteries and the voltage at any given time. The lights on the front of the controller tell you most things about the system but not the voltage or the current. The voltage tells you how close you are to a full charge. If you have two sets of panels you would need two controllers with two meters.... » Read More I have not tried this and wonder why you want to unless you have too much power for one. They do make a controllers that works up to sixty amps. I don't know how you want to wire this. Using separate panels is the only thing I can guess. I use my meter every day to read the total amps going to my batteries and the voltage at any given time. The lights on the front of the controller tell you most things about the system but not the voltage or the current. The voltage tells you how close you are to a full charge. If you have two sets of panels you would need two controllers with two meters. Hope this helps. « Show Less
1468499
Its only a 5 Watt panel so no. Running something from a solar panel, without a DC battery, isnt practical anyway if you need any sort of a constant voltage.
373713
Afraid not. That solar panel can run the speakers all day long, but a smartphone can suck the life out of the Rukus' batteries pretty fast. Don't get me wrong, it's still great, but it's not going to power your beach party all day long.
1387338
You should be able to do it, if you have access to a southern exposure for maximum direct sunlight. Although it does charge in indirect sunlight, it won't obtain the full charge. It would be best to mount the solar panel on the outside in direct sunlight. However, if you have a window with a lot of sunlight, you could face the solar panel to the window from the inside, and may be able to avoid having to get permission to drill a hole in the wall or window jamb to run the power wire.
1961679
You can set the switch so that it runs constantly, which will allow it to be on during the day. But if you do that, it's no brighter than a real TV seen during the day, which isn't very noticeable. And of course, unlike a real TV where someone might be able to see the screen during the day, with this product there's no screen, so you have to position it so it can't be directly seen from outside.
2257961
If it comes to that, keep in mind that the power supply can be disconnected from the rear of the console. If facing the console, it's the big plug on the far right. I wouldn't recommend it, but it can thrown out on the table as the "nuclear option."
1729374
It could be done, but 50 watts probably wouldn't do the trick. You could tie together more than one panel, though, for more power, or use a larger panel. If you do buy solar and plan to use a lead-acid battery, spend a little more and buy a PWM controller. (Look at Sunguard controllers). It costs a little more, but you'll get more output from the same panel. Controllers are used to prevent overcharging lead acid batteries. So, in short, it can be done. I love the Instapark panels. I dropped one from my RV and replaced it with the same model. Still need to see if I can have the glass replaced. They are not fragile, though. Have fun. It's a project. It could be done, but 50 watts probably wouldn't do the trick. You could tie together more than one panel, though, for more power, or use a larger panel. If you do buy solar and plan to use a lead-acid battery, spend a little more and buy a PWM controller. (Look at Sunguard controllers). It costs a little more, but you'll get more output from the same panel. Controllers are used to prevent overcharging lead acid batteries. So, in short, it can be done. I love the Instapark panels. I dropped one from my RV and replaced it with the same model. Still need to see if I can have the glass... » Read More It could be done, but 50 watts probably wouldn't do the trick. You could tie together more than one panel, though, for more power, or use a larger panel. If you do buy solar and plan to use a lead-acid battery, spend a little more and buy a PWM controller. (Look at Sunguard controllers). It costs a little more, but you'll get more output from the same panel. Controllers are used to prevent overcharging lead acid batteries. So, in short, it can be done. I love the Instapark panels. I dropped one from my RV and replaced it with the same model. Still need to see if I can have the glass replaced. They are not fragile, though. Have fun. It's a project. « Show Less
426209
I'm sure you can let the sun charge it but I charged mine overnight because it gave it a full charge to start. It won't charge at night or cloudy days so best to start with a full charge.
1381606
It could presumably vampire a bit of electricity. I guess it depends on how easy it is for you to get to the plug. Not sure if it still draws power with the controllers off of it or not, you'd have to find that out from the manufacturer. I wouldn't think it'd be much so long as you don't keep the controllers attached where it is keeping the green light lit.
1697325
I'm sure it could... but it might take a while. I mean... It charges my Droid cellphone no problem in just over an hour when I am at a 0% battery. And the unit is in direct Sun light. I love this panel, no problems w/ it at all. I took a "risk" in buying the panel and that is one risk that I would take again. No issues so far and it does what it needs to do for my needs! Hope this helps.