18-Watt Folding Monocrystalline Solar Panel with 8-Amp Charge Controller

The main selling point for me was the fact that I don't need to buy any special adaptors to connect this solar panel to my boat's trolling motor battery.It's a 55lbs thrust trolling motor on my little boat and when connected (via clamps like jump starting your car that comes with this product) directly to the battery, I can scoot around all day. Normally, I could only go about 2 hours and kill the battery. With this, I can push to about 5-6 hours or so. After that, I would have to give the battery a break. Let it fully charge back up (a lot more hours) and go back out.If you need some juice to get you somewhere on a sunny day, this is the way to go.

Last update,I contacted nature power and advised several factors which effects on out put power, in short, naturepower says that about 0.4A is still ok considering many many facts,(location on the earth, air mass etc).That's logically true I think but then why my 20W solar panel makes more than its specification under thisHouston TX full sunlight. If the advice it true, nature power solar panel is really useless.I guess internal wire and 12ft wire are too thin or maybe my unit had defects.I returned and go refund and spent for bigger solid flame panel. no more folding panel.====================================================UP date,First It's looking nice and I liked it. I tested Isc (short circuit current) it made only 0.39A after all.On the other hand, my other 12V,7.5W monocrystalline makes Isc 0.6A under the same sun light condition.Contacted nature power and advised several points and Isc should be around 1.2A but anyway it makes onlyIsc 0.4A and he also started wondering about it. I suspect wiring are too thin for 12ft.Anyway, it didn't work as advertised and I returned it. I was expected very much on this product so I amquite upset.If you want to try this product,ask other users for Isc, it should be 1.2A or at least 1 A.I guess maybe this product won't work as it is advertised because if some internal wiring were wrong,I would be able to find it by grabbing connections. I tried it but nothing was changed.so maybe thathow it is made.I'd like to ask other users for Isc. If this my one was the only bad unit, I'd like to have a good one, butI totally lost the trust on this kind of product, folding type solar panels.The seller, first replied me 'We do not accept any open item return' but I told the reason andthey accepted the return.The return item must be received by them within 30days from delivery to you, be careful about it.I am waiting refund now.===================================================I got is a few day days ago and I am trying to figure out its property.It looks well made but there's only 2 hook up holes as it is shown on picture.First I didn't care about it but it is actually hard to use, it should have those holesat least 4 or 6.Wiring is too thin to have spec 18W and 12 feet wiring from the panel is goodlength for doing anything, but again wiring is too thin for 1 A.(18W) panel.April 21,2013 Houston TX, it is a gorgeous day, really full sun light.This panel, at the connector of 12feet cable from the panel, gives onlyOpen circuit voltage, 19.8V and Short circuit amp 0.34A.Depends on the panel angle, it changes to 0.31-0.39A but never hit even 0.4A.It is 18W panel means so that it sould give at least 1A at 18V.I put in a fridge for a while to let it cool down, and tested again, then voltagehit Voc20.2V and Isc 0.42A,My another panel which is actually 7.5W, 12V monocrystalline and a half size of thisNature power 18W panel, is actually makes Voc15.6V and Isc 0.55A.I doubut the Nature power 18W is something wrong.If the panel spec is really 18W panel, the cause making such reduction of currentis I guess only such thin wiring. I can't see internal wiring which connecting panelto panel but I can touch and feel it is also quite thin.I'll ask customer support for suspicious cause and may try replacing or return to amazon.

i like it and good quality also easy to carry. good for me when i go out side when no electricity.

I like the product a lot. It meets the advertized information and is easy to take with you any time and anywhere

This product received was a damged product. Not a single day it worked.

Unit was delivered on time and worked as described, power clips and output wiring were on the light side.

Purchased this panel to charge my EMCOMM radio box that has a 12 volt, 35AH battery. I bought an adapter cable to go from the output of the charge controller to Anderson powerpole connectors for the battery. Folds up into a small package that fits inside the EMCOMM box. I decided on this panel because of the 12VDC output that other panels did not provide. Works great so far.

I bought this because I live off the grid, and I need something charge my laptop. I was excited to use it and tried on a full-sun day to make sure I gave it the best chance possible. Nothing happened. My laptop was 'plugged in, not charging' the whole day. Off or on, I couldn't get the charger to give it any power, or even to hold it's charge from the energy coming off the charger. It was very disappointing!

One of the six panels was defective. I found that it would only give a current when it was bent. I have no idea whether it was damaged during manufacturing or in shipping. Needless to say I was unable to charge a laptop as was advertised as the charging indicator would just flash (indicating the current was too low). If I had received a working model i believe it would charge laptops as the voltage was sufficient BUT I seriously doubt the 1 amp rating as the five working panels in series produces 0.4A at 18V. However, I connected the five panels to a car charger to get 5V at 1A under direct sunlight which is perfect for charging phones.

The item I have received appears to be non-operational whatsoever: no output voltage detected whatsoever no matter what has been tried.Albeit, the rate "I hate it" does not put across the impression of the product accurately enough: it just needs to be replaced insofar as having it operational by the announced spec would make me most happy.

Ordered Nature Power 18-watt Folding Panel in May. The Panel turned out to be deffective on my first outdoor trip in June. Contacted the manufacturer and sent it for replacement on July 3 (delivered to the manufacturer on July 7). Did not get replacement until September 1 (and still waiting...).

Excellent purchase

Fast efficient