Portable solar panels are a fantastic choice to many people because they are a remarkable resource. The market is full of portable solar panels which are pinned “best” but if you want to test new gear, the best way is to have it during your thrilling adventures.
Recently, I reviewed the Jackery SolarSaga 100W, a foldable solar panel with a high conversion speed of up to 23% and its awesomeness. Today, we shall review another product from Jackery and see what it has to offer. By the end of the review, you will have known which suits you best.
About Jackery SolarSaga 60w
Founded in Silicon Valley, CA in 2012, Jackery is a solar company that is motivated to provide economic-friendly solar power energy to people like you who love outdoor activities. The firm introduced its first lithium portable power station in 2015 and has, for long, offered travellers reliable solar power energy solutions.
Enough about the manufacturer! So, what do we know about the Jackery SolarSaga 60W portable solar panel?
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The SolarSaga 60-watt solar panel from Jackery was among the newest products in 2019. Like the 100W sister, it is a high conversion efficiency solar generator that comes with 23% cell efficiency for boosted performance and reliance.
This portable and foldable 60-watt solar panel comes with a kickstand that allows you to tilt the solar panels to the direction of sunlight for optimal results. If you have been looking for the best gear to carry during your outdoor life, this is it!
Convenience
A lightweight (3.3 lbs.) solar panel, it features a foldable design with TPE rubber handle for carrying convenience wherever you set your journey to. The solar charger also comes with 2 USB output ports, including 1 x USB-C (5V, 3A) output port and 1 x USB-A (5V, 2.4A) output port. You can use these ports to charge several small devices simultaneously.
Charging Ability
The devices that you can charge using Jackery 60-watt portable solar panels include digital cameras, tablets, smartphones, and more. You can also use this solar panel from Jackery as backup during sudden power outages. The purchase includes a 1 x 3 meters extension cord.
For durability, Jackery has wrapped the SolarSaga 60-watt solar panel with soft abrasion-resistant fabric with panels that are relatively resilient to impacts.
It is also worth noting that the Jackery 60-watt portable solar panel is compatible with Jackery Explorer 160& 240, as well as Honda 200 & 290.
Features
We know a product’s worth by looking at the features it offers. So, what makes the Jackery 60-watt portable solar panel worthwhile?
- USB Output Ports – It includes two USB output ports (A & C type) that you can use to charge two small devices at the same time.
- Kickstand – It allows you to tilt the solar panels towards the sun so that it can collect enough solar power depending on the changes in the sun’s position and weather change.
- Robustness – The solar panel is wrapped with soft abrasion-resistant fabric for durability and length of use.
- Convenience – It is lightweight (3.3 lbs.) and foldable, plus it comes with an easy-to-carry handle made from PTE (polyethylene terephthalate) rubber.
- Eco-Friendly – Provides premium outdoor green power solutions to travellers so they can revel in their exploration experience.
- Compatibility – Compatible with other Jackery devices, such as the Explorer 160& 240, as well as Honda 200 & 290.
Specifications
Here is the 60-watt portable solar panel from Jackery specs:
- Peak Power: 68-watt
- Power Voltage: 22V
- Power Current: 3.09A
- Short Circuit Current: 3.36A
- Open Circuit Voltage: 26.4V
- Cell Efficiency: 23%
- Operating Temp Range: -10º to 65º Celsius
- USB-C Output: 5V, 3A
- USB-A Output: 5V, 2.4A
How to set it up
To harness the power of the sun to your 60-watt portable solar panel from Jackery gives you optimal power output for all your activities. Do you know how to set it up?
Connecting your solar panel to your power station is an easy set up process. You just need to extend the 1 x 3 meter cable in your 60-watt solar panel and plug it in the charging port in your power station.
This simple YouTube video should help too.
Pros:
- Durable construction
- TPE rubber handle
- Portable & foldable
- Compatibility with other 4 Jackery products
- 23% cell efficiency
Cons:
- Not waterproof
- Not compatible with the Explorer 440 power station
- Low-rated power (60W)
Rating on Value for Money
Value for money is an important factor to consider when selecting the best portable solar panel. Features play a significant role in this. The Jackery 60-watt portable solar panel costs 107.99 on Amazon and 152.99 on Jackery.
The 23% cell efficiency for a 60-watt solar panel is a fantastic choice, in addition to its temperature range of between -10ºC and 65ºC gives it 7/10 score. It might seem high-priced with low-rated power, but it is worth it.
Rating on Charge Interruption Efficiency
Due to changes in weather and moving from region to region, the efficiency cannot be the same, which is called the recovery effect or charge interruption efficiency. When a cloud passed, we noted a change in the solar panel’s charging and we recorded a recovery effect of 21 seconds. We expected this due to its high conversion rate. It scored 6/10 rating.
Rating on Charging Speed
One thing we have noted is that the charging speed of a solar panel depends on the device being charged as well the port being used. This solar panel comes with two USB port, types A & C. Our 60-watt solar panel performed excellently in charging speed, attracting 8/10 rating.
Rating on Multiple Device Charging Speed
Charging multiple devices using this 60-watt solar panel from Jackery was a good experience. It may not be as fast as the previous 100-watt model, but it serves the purpose. The solar panel scored 7/10 rating on multiple device charging speeds.
Rating on Durability
One of the most crucial things to consider when choosing a portable solar panel is its durability. Jackery 60-watt solar panel is wrapped with soft abrasion-resistant fabric which increases its robustness. Rating on durability scored 8/10.
The only downside on this factor is that the device is not waterproof.
Rating on Weight and Portability
As you can imagine 3.3 lbs. is no weight to get your muscles screaming. The 60-watt solar panel also comes with a handle built with PET material for portability with a compact design. This gave it a rating of 9/10 on weight and portability.
Wrap-Up
So long as you have compatible devices, the 60-watt SolarSaga solar panel from Jackery is a fantastic choice. In our review, it exhibited fast and reliable speeds, user-friendliness, and convenience.
Compared to Jackery’s previous models, the 60-watt compact design and lightweight makes it superb for portability. I would really recommend it.
My name is Alex Landry and I am an experienced solar PV engineer and an editor here at Tru Solar Score. I am an accomplished solar PV expert with over 12 years of installing off-grid solar systems in various states in the US. Between 2015 and 2019, I led a small team of energy audit analysts for a company based out of Oregon. I currently run this site full-time and when I am not testing a new solar PV product in the market, I am offering customized consulting on solar systems installations. You can reach me directly using alex@trusolarscore.com
