Renogy Eclipse 100-Watt 12-Volt Monocrystalline Solar Panel Review

Overall Rating 8
Portability 9
Compatibility 8
Durability 7
Ease of Use 8
Value for Money 7

Aniket

Written by qualified solar engineer Aniket. Last updated:

Our Verdict

The Eclipse series by Renogy is praiseworthy for the building of compact, highly efficient, and appealing solar panels. The 100-watt, 12-volt panel in this series is a striking product for a solar panel. It comes with clean black mono-Si cells with over 22% efficiency and no grid lines. It is noticeably smaller than regular 100W solar panels and also noticeably more attractive.

The panel comes with all essential features such as the toughened glass, aluminum frame, water-proof junction box and MC4 connectors. Our Renogy eclipse 100-watt 12-volt monocrystalline solar panel review covers these features and their implications in detail. If you’d like to see more, take a look at more of this year’s top portable panels.

Compatibility

Built with portability in mind, the panel is perfectly compatible with all of Renogy’s portable power stations. It can charge the Lycan or Phoenix series power stations in a few hours. MC4 connectors on the cables make it easy and safe to connect. Multiple panels can be chained together by joining the water-proof connectors effortlessly. Additionally, by introducing a charge controller in between, the panel can be connected to any 12V battery of any size or brand.

Durability

Solar panels are subjected to the elements for multiple decades. The eclipse 100W panel comes with IP65 rated water-proof junction box and rust-free anodized aluminum frame. It does, however, lack the corner protection like the eclipse 50W panel. This makes the frame and panel less strong than the eclipse 50W. The glass on the front is low-iron tempered glass, an important feature for prolonged life. The encapsulant and TPT back-sheet are best-quality and leave no room for complaints.

Close up of the corner of a Renogy Eclipse 100 Watt 12 Volt Monocrystalline Solar Panel

Easy Of Use

At less than 4 feet long and 2 feet wide, the panel causes no difficulty in handling. Its 15 lb. weight is lower than the regular mono or polycrystalline cell panels. The wire length is optimum and MC4 connectors are good quality, making series or parallel connections with other panels easy. Same is true for connecting to power stations or charge controllers.

Features

Like the other models of the eclipse series, this 100W, 12V panel by Renogy has its grid-less mono-Si cells as the main highlight. The cells come with metal back contacts that eliminate the grid-clutter on the front. The cells are also slightly more efficient than regular monocrystalline cells, making this the most compact 100W panel commercially available. Besides the cells, the black aluminum frame, bypass diodes and anti-reflective toughened glass are other important features we like. The corner protection and mounting kickstand are missing in this model, and we would certainly have liked it here.

Design

This panel comes with black mono cells without solar ribbons or grid lines running all over them. These are complemented with the black frame, creating a unique look. The back-sheet and junction-box are standard white and black, though a black TPT back-sheet would make the panel look sleeker.

front facing Renogy Eclipse 100 Watt 12 Volt Monocrystalline Solar Panel

What We Like

The 100W eclipse may not be as feature-rich as its 50W sibling, but it is still more advanced than the average solar panels in the market. Its sleek black frame and clean black cells give it a captivating look. The panel is compact and performs well even in poor conditions, thanks to positive output tolerance and bypass diodes. For moderate camping or other off-grid needs, this panel is a purchase you won’t regret.

Pros:

  • Highest efficiency mono-Si cells
  • Compact
  • All black finish makes it good-looking

Cons:

  • High cost
  • No mounting equipment
  • No corner protection

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