Jackery SolarSaga 100W Portable Solar Panel for Explorer 240/500/1000 Power Station Review: The Best Solar Charger for Campers
"The Jackery SolarSaga 100W Monocrystalline Solar Panel is durable and if the sun is strong it's an ideal way of creating off-grid, clean, renewable power"
Hi everyone, my name is Rebecca Wills and I'm a digital nomad who travels the world in my two vans. One van is based in the UK and the other is in the US so I can explore all the nooks and crannies of this beautiful planet we call home. As a vanlifer and freelance web developer, I'm always keen to try out new tech so today I'm reviewing something very exciting: the Jackery SolarSaga 100W Portable Solar Panel for Explorer 240/500/1000 Power Station.
Now, I'm all about being prepared, which is why I'm so impressed with this solar panel. It can help me keep my power station filled with stored energy, secure in the knowledge that just in case I'm in a remote area or my batteries run low, Jackery has got me covered. As a technologically-minded person, I'm intrigued by the prospect of renewable energy and Jackery is a company that I trust to provide me with a quality product.
But does this solar panel live up to expectations? Or is it just a little too ambitious? Read on to find out my thoughts!
Features
Jackery SolarSaga 100W is the perfect portable solar panel for explorers! With high conversion efficiency up to 23%, it produces more energy even in hot weather. Foldable and tough with a TPE rubber handle, plus a kickstand to adjust the angle and get the perfect sunlight for your Portable Solar Generator. Thanks to the USB-C and USB-A outputs, you can charge multiple devices at once up to 5V,3A. It's ideal for outdoor adventures and even power outages! Get your Jackery Solar Saga 100W now and start exploring! Package includes 1 panel and you can get 24/7 customer support from Jackery.
Power Output 100 watts Weight 4.69 kgs Warranty 24 months Efficiency 23 % Waterproof IP65 Outputs / Connections USB A x 1, USB C x1 Folded Dimensions 610 x 535 x 35 cm Unfolded Dimensions 1220 x 535 x 5 cm
Highlights
The Jackery SolarSaga 100W Portable Solar Panel for Explorer 240/500/1000 power station is an ideal choice for outdoor enthusiasts who want to make the most of their great outdoors experience. This foldable monocrystalline solar cell solar charger comes with USB outputs for phones, allowing users to easily and conveniently charge their devices when they are away from home. With its high conversion efficiency of up to 23%, it is significantly more efficient than conventional panels and performs better in hot weather. It also features a TPE rubber handle and kickstand, making it convenient to carry with you and to adjust the panel angle to maximize its charge efficiency.
The remarkable features of the Jackery SolarSaga 100W demonstrate why so many outdoor adventurers have embraced it. The device has proven to be capable of generating more energy than chargers used at home, even with the presence of clouds. Moreover, with its multiple USB output ports, users can charge multiple devices at the same time. This portability and convenience has extended the outdoor experience for campers, providing them energy security in times of unexpected power outages.
One user who was especially impressed with the Jackery Solar Saga reported that it was able to provide 96w of power on its first four-day trip. Other customers described great features, such as the ability to keep a cooler running almost indefinitely with decent sun and the ability to charge smartphones and iPads for an entire week with the solar panel. Going beyond the reviews, the Jackery Solar Saga proves to be an invaluable item for outdoor adventurers, enabling them to push the boundaries of their exploration further with something as simple and efficient as a foldable solar charger.
Is this the best Solar Charger for you?
Check out our full roundup: Best Solar Chargers for Wild Camping and time Off-Grid
Concerns
The Jackery SolarSaga 100W Portable Solar Panel for Explorer 240/500/1000 Power Station is a wonderful piece of gear - for a price. The product promises a lot - portability and convenience of charging multiple devices from a single panel along with foldability to take it wherever you go. Unfortunately, several users have reported problems such as in limited sunlight and shadow substantially reducing power input, or one or both of their panels stopping to send any charge to the battery. Furthermore, Jackery's warranty is only applicable for 24 months, which makes it difficult to trust for campers whose main requirements are relying on a dependable source of power.
In spite of these issues, I found it very dependable in the variable British weather, and the Jackery SolarSaga 100W Portable Solar Panel does still produce power in sunny climates and is otherwise well designed. Furthermore, the product has received praise for the customer service, who have been known to promptly replace faulty units. All in all, due to its issues, potential buyers should carefully consider if the Jackery SolarSaga 100W Portable Solar Panel is worth the high cost and if the features justify the investment.
Should You Buy?
To summarize, the Jackery SolarSaga 100W Portable Solar Panel for Explorer 240/500/1000 Power Station appears to be have been designed for outdoor adventurers, particularly those who require a reliable source of power. The device is equipped with USB outputs, providing portability and convenience for users who may need to charge multiple devices simultaneously. High efficiency rates have been reported, capable of producing more energy than chargers used at home. Moreover, customers have highlighted the product’s customer service for replacing faulty units.
Despite all these positives, it is still important to consider the cost and reliability of the product. Several users have reported issues such as limited sunlight and shadow substantially reducing power input, or the panel failing to send any charge to the battery. In addition, Jackery's warranty is only applicable for 24 months, raising concerns for buyers who may not have access to its customer service.
If users intend to take their outdoor exploration to the extreme and require a reliable source of power, then the Jackery SolarSaga 100W Portable Solar Panel could be a worth-while investment. The device is portable, convenient, and most reviews suggest its high efficacy rates in sunny climates. However, if campers are looking for a cheaper and more dependable source of power, then they should research remain cautious and assess other similar options.
(Price When Reviewed: £272.99)
Rating
Rebecca Wills
1k FollowersSelf-professed vanlifer, digital nomad, blogger and freelance web developer. My van in the UK and my mobile home in the US aren't just places I live, they're my roving offices allowing me to work whilst giving me access to spaces that inspire me and feed my sense of adventure.
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Amazin Product.' Jackery SolarSage 100W Solar
This Jackery SolarSaga 100W Portable Solar Panel is an ideal accompaniment for those in possession of a Jackery battery. Charging the battery off of mains power produces an output of approximately 80w; however, taking advantage of the panel on a bright, cloudless day grants access to a steady stream of 100w, making it an exceptionally effective solution. In considering the cost-effective nature of the product, and the obvious satisfaction received from its flawless performance, it is without hesitation that this item is strongly recommended.
Impressive Power Output of Jackery SolarSaga 100W Solar Panel
I had resisted buying a Jackery panel for the last year and instead was using 120W foldable ones. They didn't end up being water resistant and even though they were rated 120W, they only ever produced around 90W in good light in August. I was pleasantly surprised to find the Jackery 100W panels providing up to 113W of power in strong sunlight, whilst my 120W one sat next to it and only managed 90W.
I ended up buying two of the Jackery panels and they work a treat. They can charge the Explorer 1000 in a whole day in summer; a real shame, that the Explorer 500 and 1000 have such slow and limited charging potential. The 500 is limited to 85W and the 1000 to only 135W - so even though the two panels can create 226W of power together, the maximum the batteries can be charged at is the forcingfactor in strong sunlight. Even on days that aren't so sunny, the panels still work excellent.
Great Solar Panel.
I'm really pleased with my Jackery SolarSaga 100W Portable Solar Panel for Explorer 240/500/1000 Power Station. It was expensive, as was the power pack, but it is very well made and appears to work incredibly well. Even when the sun is partially hidden by clouds, I'm still getting an input of 11w (my phone shows an output of 7w, so I'm still gaining more than I'm losing in the charging process). When I plugged it into the mains, I achieved an input of 64w, and the sun has been giving me the best result yet - 69w. It's worth noting that even a shadow on one corner of the panel will significantly reduce the output, so it's best to avoid that. Would I buy it again, if given the chance? Absolutely. This is a great addition to the leisure battery on my camper van and it provides me with more flexibility when we just decide to do a camping trip with a tent. I can still easily power a portable cool box and use an electric pump to inflate our paddle boards.
Great Buy.
I was doubtful to about purchasing this product, but I'm 100% glad I did. It works perfectly to provide free power to charge my Jackery. I was able to draw 68-70w on a mild day and highly recommend it.
Great Jackery Solar Panel.
I recently purchased the Jackery Explorer 1000 Power Station via Amazon UK in April and have just recently bought 2 x 100W Jackery Solar Saga Panels during Amazon Prime Day, a few weeks ago. I had originally decided against it due to cost and weather concerns here in the Outer Hebrides, which averages 300 days of rain and strong winds almost every day.
The solar panels are nicely constructed and arrive in good condition considering all the moving and shaking that comes with shipping. They quickly and easily connect to the Jackery 1000 using the connector supplied with the power station. What I really like is that I can charge any device directly by plugging into the USB or USB-C ports.
Although I had my original concerns about wind and rain, these solar panels have worked really well when used in my polytunnel where the light intensity is still enough to charge the power station with them, just at a slightly slower rate.
Despite them being unable to withstand the conditions of the Hebrides, I found these solar panels great additions to the Jackery 1000. Once you learn how to best use them, they are really useful for off-grid/camping/standby purposes. I would just suggest making them completely waterproof and reinforcing the leg stand for better use in the UK.
So Cool.
I use the Jackery SolarSaga 100W Portable Solar Panel in combination with my Jackery 1000 power station, and let me just tell you, it's simply amazing. Camping has never been easier, I'm able to keep my Outwell chiller running as long as I have decent sunlight - check out the video I took of me testing it out at home. Don't waste your time shopping around, just buy it already - I've even managed to keep my iPhone 13 and iPad Pro fully charged for an entire week with the energy generated by the solar panel. I'm definitely buying another to make sure I'm all set for a weeklong camping trip.
Great to Start With, Then Stoppd Working
When I got my Jackery SolarSaga 100W Panels, I thought they worked great. I managed to get an output of around 170W when I used them with my Explorer 1000 Power Station in full sun in the UK. Recently though, one of the panels stopped working. It wasn't charging my battery or even supplying power to the USBs. I only used them a few times and always treated them nicely. According to their website, their products are under warranty for 24 months so I contacted customer services. So far, they've sent me return labels and a replacement panel, and are in the process of sending me a second one. Not sure how I could give them a rating higher than 1/5 as far as the panels go, but the customer service is 5/5, so overall score of 6/10.
Incredible Product - Works Great.
I got this Hackery SolarSaga 100W solar panel with the Hackery 240 box. It worked awesome! It gave me like 96w of power on the first 4 days of my trip! We never ran out of the mains voltage and it had a USB plug in the back so you can use it without the box, which is sold seperate.
Quality, Efficiancy & Easy Use - Funct'l & Educat'l
I just bought this Jackery SolarSaga 100W Solar Panel and I'm loving it. It's great for powering my kids' devices, especially on a sunny day when it's providing a lot of juice. Plus it looks pretty smart and folds up nicely for easy storage. Even on not-so-sunny days it works great, just not as well as in full sunlight. I'd say it's great for taking with you on the go, be it camping, picnicking or even just to the beach. Definitely recommend this product for anyone looking to provide renewable energy and charge their devices at the same time.
Incompatible with Explorer 240: Jackery SolarSaga 100W
This is a great product if you're looking for emergency power, or to take it with you on trips. But be sure to check out the Jackery website first to see which versions of the Jackery Power Bank / Explorer will be compatible before you buy. I asked around here at Amazon and was told it should work with any explorer, so I got the Jackery 240 and this solar panel. But it turns out they weren't compatible after all. At least, on its own, it seems to charge up, but not very quickly if you're in the UK - that's why I got the Power Bank, it has a uesful display and helps you charge it up faster.