Best Solar Panels Compatible With The Enginstar 298Wh

Charge Your Enginstar 298Wh Portable Power Station With Solar Panels

The Enginstar 298Wh is a portable power station, also known as a solar generator, that is perfect for camping and boondocking when you don’t have access to electricity. It runs electronics that require up to 300W, like CPAPs, tablets, TVs, coolers, speakers, lights, drones, fans, and laptops.

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With a 298 watt-hour battery, a cigarette port, USB ports, and two AC outlets capable of outputting up to 300W, it’s exactly what a lot of people are looking for in a portable power station.

Related Post: This Solar Panel Charges Both RV Batteries And Power Stations

Enginstar includes a wall charger with the 298Wh model, but you can also charge the battery with portable solar panels. Today I am going to help you find compatible solar panels, and show you how you can use panels that aren’t compatible straight out of the box with the help of an adapter.

Compatible Solar Panels

ENKEEO 50W Solar Charger, Foldable Solar Panel with MPPT Controller and TIR-C, DC, USB QC 3.0 and 2.0 Output Ports, Multiple Connection Cables for Smartphones, Laptops, Car Battery, Power Stations
Renogy 50W 12V Eclipse Monocrystalline Portable Solar Panel Built-in Kickstand
ROCKPALS Foldable Solar Panel 60W SP002 Portable Solar Panel Charger for Jackery/BLUETTI/ECOFLOW/Flashfish Power Station, IP65 Waterproof Solar Panel with QC3.0,USB-C for Camp/RV/Off Grid/Phone/Tablet
Renogy Solar Panel 100 Watt 12 Volt, High-Efficiency Monocrystalline PV Module Power Charger for RV Marine Rooftop Farm Battery and Other Off-Grid Applications, RNG-100D-SS, Single 100W
ROCKPALS SP003 100W Portable Solar Panel for Solar Generator and USB Devices, Compatible with Jackery/EF/Bluetti/Anker/Goal Zero Power Station, Foldable Solar Panel Charger for Outdoor Camping Travel
TWELSEAVAN 120W Portable Solar Panel for Power Station, 23.5% Efficiency ETFE Foldable Solar Charger with Adjustable Kickstands and QC3.0/PD60W/DC 4 Outputs for Outdoor Camping Van RV Trip
Watts
50W
50W
60W
100W
100W
120W
Open Circuit Voltage
21V
22.4V
18V
21.5V
18V
21.5V
Connectors
DC, USB
MC4
DC, USB
MC4
MC4, DC, USB
MC4, DC, USB
Requires Additional Adapter
Foldable
Weight
5.4 lbs
12.3 lbs
5.1 lbs
17.7 lbs
5.1 lbs
9.5 lbs
Size
19.9 x 14.1 x 2.4 in
23.4 x 20.8 x 1.4 in
13.8 x 13.4 x 1.8 in (folded)
41.6 x 20.7 x 1.4 in
64.5 x 20.5 x 1.2 in
20.5 x 14.4 x 1.6 in (folded)
ENKEEO 50W Solar Charger, Foldable Solar Panel with MPPT Controller and TIR-C, DC, USB QC 3.0 and 2.0 Output Ports, Multiple Connection Cables for Smartphones, Laptops, Car Battery, Power Stations
Watts
50W
Open Circuit Voltage
21V
Connectors
DC, USB
Requires Additional Adapter
Foldable
Weight
5.4 lbs
Size
19.9 x 14.1 x 2.4 in
Renogy 50W 12V Eclipse Monocrystalline Portable Solar Panel Built-in Kickstand
Watts
50W
Open Circuit Voltage
22.4V
Connectors
MC4
Requires Additional Adapter
Foldable
Weight
12.3 lbs
Size
23.4 x 20.8 x 1.4 in
ROCKPALS Foldable Solar Panel 60W SP002 Portable Solar Panel Charger for Jackery/BLUETTI/ECOFLOW/Flashfish Power Station, IP65 Waterproof Solar Panel with QC3.0,USB-C for Camp/RV/Off Grid/Phone/Tablet
Watts
60W
Open Circuit Voltage
18V
Connectors
DC, USB
Requires Additional Adapter
Foldable
Weight
5.1 lbs
Size
13.8 x 13.4 x 1.8 in (folded)
Renogy Solar Panel 100 Watt 12 Volt, High-Efficiency Monocrystalline PV Module Power Charger for RV Marine Rooftop Farm Battery and Other Off-Grid Applications, RNG-100D-SS, Single 100W
Watts
100W
Open Circuit Voltage
21.5V
Connectors
MC4
Requires Additional Adapter
Foldable
Weight
17.7 lbs
Size
41.6 x 20.7 x 1.4 in
ROCKPALS SP003 100W Portable Solar Panel for Solar Generator and USB Devices, Compatible with Jackery/EF/Bluetti/Anker/Goal Zero Power Station, Foldable Solar Panel Charger for Outdoor Camping Travel
Watts
100W
Open Circuit Voltage
18V
Connectors
MC4, DC, USB
Requires Additional Adapter
Foldable
Weight
5.1 lbs
Size
64.5 x 20.5 x 1.2 in
TWELSEAVAN 120W Portable Solar Panel for Power Station, 23.5% Efficiency ETFE Foldable Solar Charger with Adjustable Kickstands and QC3.0/PD60W/DC 4 Outputs for Outdoor Camping Van RV Trip
Watts
120W
Open Circuit Voltage
21.5V
Connectors
MC4, DC, USB
Requires Additional Adapter
Foldable
Weight
9.5 lbs
Size
20.5 x 14.4 x 1.6 in (folded)

Note: Scroll left/right on small screens to view all products in the table.

The solar panels that don’t have a green checkmark next to the “Requires Additional Adapter” are compatible with the Enginstar 298Wh directly out of the box. If the plug doesn’t look right, you will have to use one of the DC adapters that come with the panel.

It’s easy to connect either of the panels even for non-techies.

The Additional Adapter You Might Need

If the solar panel you’re considering has MC4 connectors and don’t include DC adapters, you’re going to need this adapter (click to view on Amazon).

ACOPOWER 5.5mm x 2.1mm with Solar Connector Female/Male for Solar Panel Connecting,220wh Generator DC Adapter

Check Price at Amazon

This adapter is for a solar panel that has a positive MC4 male connector, and a negative MC4 female connector. On the other side of it, there is a 5.5 x 2.1mm DC plug, just like the one on the Enginstar 298Wh power station.

The Limitations Of The Enginstar 298Wh

The Enginstar 298Wh has a 5.5 x 2.1mm input that supports inputs rated between 12V-25V. I listed the open-circuit voltage of each panel in the table above, and they’re all compatible with the Enginstar.

It’s unclear how many watts of input the Enginstar can handle, but similar power stations often max out between 30-60W. This doesn’t mean you can’t use a 100W solar panel with the power station, but that the solar charge controller inside will be maxed out and charge the battery as fast as possible.

Related Post: Best 1-300Wh Power Stations With MPPT

Even though the solar generator can’t generate the 70W a 100W panel might be generating, a larger panel is still a good choice since it will be able to max out the input even when the conditions are bad. Like in the early morning/evening hours and when it’s cloudy outside.

Enginstar doesn’t advertise what type of charge controller is used inside the 298Wh. That usually means it’s a PWM charge controller.

Frequently Asked Questions

How Can I Improve The Charging Efficiency?

The easiest way to improve the charging efficiency when using solar panels is to tilt the panel so it’s angled directly towards the sun.

This will especially have an impact in the morning/evening, wintertime, and when it’s cloudy.

How Long Will It Take To Charge The Battery?

It’s hard to say exactly how long it will take to charge the Enginstar since we don’t know the max input.

Enginstar advertises that it takes 10-15 hours with a 50W+ solar panel.  In their worst-case scenario (15 hours) they assume a 20W input and best case 30W input.

It takes 10-15 hours with a car charger, and 5-7 hours with the included AC outlet.

Please leave a comment down below if you have any questions.

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