100 Watt Solar Panel: Benefits, Uses, & Facts

A 100 watt solar panel can run small appliances such as phones, fans, tablets, etc., when you're outdoors or there's a power outage in your area. It is small and compact in size, ensuring essential gadgets remain powered on the go. The 100W solar panels can also act as a power source to charge the power station, ensuring you receive uninterrupted electricity during the cloudy days or at night.

With different sizes of solar panels available in the market, it can be hard to choose the one that fits your needs. Read the ultimate guide to learn what 100W solar panels will run and when to use them. Also, we will reveal how many volts, amps, and watts of 100W solar panels so you can make a more informed choice.

What Is a 100W Solar Panel? 

A 100W solar panel is a compact, lightweight, clean, and sustainable energy source. The 100-watt solar panel might typically produce 300-600 watt-hours of energy per day, depending on how many hours of sunlight it receives.

Before purchasing a solar panel for home, the most common question every homeowner faces is: what will 100-watt solar panels run? The solar panel will generally charge small devices, like lights, laptops, smartphones, etc.

However, the single 100 watts panel will struggle when charging the larger appliances. Either the solar panel will run out of power quickly or fail to handle the load if used for large appliances. In this case, it's ideal to focus on purchasing a power station that can store the energy generated by the panels and supply electricity to appliances.

The Benefits Of 100W Solar Panel

A 100 watts solar panel is an excellent power source to charge all your devices. Below are some benefits you can expect from 100W solar power panels.

• Solar panels producing 100 watts of energy can power up most small electrical devices, including smartphones, laptops, etc.
• They are relatively compact so you can place the solar panel under a small roof section, over a window, or balcony. Hence, it is suitable for small-sized homes.  
• They are easy to set up, and you do not have to indulge in any technicalities to install them.
• On top of that, they are portable and an excellent choice for those who love to travel.

When To Use A 100W Solar Panel? 

Even though 100-watt solar panels are compact, there are many ways to use them. From using them as a power source during camping or boating to using them as an alternative to power source during power outages, the solar panel is a complete powerhouse.

• At Home: With a solar panel of 100 watts, you're never out of power. By teaming up with Jackery portable power station, you can set up a solar powered system for your appliances like laptops, mobile devices, and other small and large devices for hours.
• RV Trips: Outdoor trips are the first thing that comes to mind when discussing adventure. A solar panel will recharge your portable power station to keep all your gear charged up during the trip.
• Camping: During outdoor adventures, keeping your electronic devices charged for emergencies is essential. However, running a car and wasting gas to power up gadgets is not a reliable option. That's where100-watt solar panels come into the picture.
• Boating: Lastly, you can use 100-watt solar panels during your boating trip. You can use the solar panel and portable power station on your boat and reduce fuel usage.

 A solar power system is all you need if you're planning to enjoy hiking, camping, boating, or other adventurous activities. The portable and lightweight solution means you have energy wherever you go without posing a threat to the environment.

What Will 100W Solar Panels Run? 

A small 100W solar panel can provide enough electricity to charge small electric gadgets such as smartphones and laptops. Solar panels of 100 watts produce less energy than 200W or 300W panels. Therefore, they are best suited to charge all the small appliances and devices you don't want to run continuously.  

What Can A Single 100W Solar Panel Run?

Here is the list of devices to help you understand what will Jackery SolarSoga 100-watt solar panels run. It equipped 1 USB-A Output (5V, 2.4A) and 1 USB-C Output (5V, 3A).

• LED Light Bulbs

LED light bulbs are the most efficient lighting option for homes. A 60-watt LED light bulb consumes only 10 watts of electricity to produce 800 Lumens.  

• WiFi Router

WiFi router is essential for anyone who wants uninterrupted internet access 24 hours a day. Generally, the WiFi router uses between 2 and 20 watts of energy. With access to 100-watt solar energy, you can keep it running all day without any disturbance.

• Cell Phones

Cell phones, smartphones, and tablets are energy-efficient as they are specially designed to run on a battery for extended periods. The devices usually consume 2 to 6 watts while charging. Due to the lower power consumption, you can easily keep a cell phone charged for emergencies.

There are various other appliances and devices that you can charge with a solar generator with 100-watt solar panels, considering the different scenarios.

What Can a 100 Watt Solar Panel Power?

A single 100-watt solar panel can power up many small devices, including cell phones, lamps, ceiling fans and other small devices. The appliance/devices you can charge with 100-watt solar panels depend on multiple factors, including:

• Battery size
• Environmental factors such as weather conditions
• Size of solar generator

Here is an example to understand what you can run off a 100-watt solar panel:

Suppose you live in a state with peak sun rays for 5 hours. Your 100-watt solar panel will produce around 425 watt-hour of power in a day(100 watts * 5 hours*0.85=425 watt-hour). Using a single solar panel of 100 watts to recharge your power station, you can charge:

• Laptop for 7hour that use 60 Wh
• Two electric fans for 7 hours that use 35 Wh each
• Ten LED lamps for 4 hours that use 10 Wh each
• Smartphone charger for85 hours that use 5Wh
• Five compact fluorescent lights for 7 hours that use 10-14 Wh each

Continually evaluate the amount of electricity an electric appliance uses to determine whether a 100-watt solar power can run the item for hours or not. Remember, understanding what appliances will a 100 watt solar panel runs depends on the wattage consumption of the appliances.

More Facts About 100W Solar Panel

Now that you understand the basics of the solar panel and what will a 100-watt solar panel run, it's time to learn its critical terms — amps, volts, power, and energy.

How Many Volts 100W Solar Panels Produce? 

Volt (or V) is the unit of electromotive force or electric potential. To increase the volt capacity of the solar panel, you can connect multiple panels in series or parallel.

Typically, a 100-watt solar power panel produces nearly 18 volts of a maximum volt.

You'll have to connect more than 20 residential solar power panels to power your home. Likewise, you'll have to connect three or four 100W panels for RVs.

How Many Amps Does a 100-Watt Solar Panels Produce?

Amp, or ampere, is an electrical current unit that measures the electromagnetic force between electrical conductors that carry electric currents. If you're wondering, “How many amp hours can I get from a 100-watt solar panel,” you need to understand the sunlight available. The solar panels generally produce 5-6 amps power per peak sun hour. Therefore, if you receive 6 hours of direct sunlight, you can expect around 30-36 amps per day.

Certain factors affect the number of amps produced by solar panels, including weather conditions and solar panel setup. For example, the solar panel will have fewer amps on a cloudy day than on sunny days. The solar panel position and the tilt angle are other factors that affect the amps production. You should position the solar panels facing the sun for maximum amp production. But how many amps is 100 watts? Generally, it is around 0.833 amps.

Note - Under normal conditions, the solar panels produce amps between 50-100% of the maximum current rating value.

How Much Power Will a 100-Watt Solar Panels Produce?

On average, a 100W solar panel produces 400Wh of electricity on a sunny day. But how many kWh does a 100-watt solar panel produce? Generally, a 100-watt can produce up to 0.60 - 0.75 kWh per day in a state like California that receives up to 6-7.5 hours of sunlight.

The power of a solar panel (WH) is the amount of sunlight captured from the sun and stored in the power station battery in the form of electrical energy. The higher the power of the solar panel, the better the performance of the solar panels.

The sunlight received directly affects how much power a 100-watt solar panel will produce. Ideally, the solar panel can produce 85 watts per hour apart from around 15% heat consumption and transmission consumption. So, if you're thinking how much power does a 100 watt solar panel produce, it is generally around 300 - 600Wh a day under 6-10 hours direct sunlight.

On the other hand, you can expect an output of fewer than 100 watts over an hour during the winter days.

Jackery Best 100W Solar Panel

A solar panel of 100 watts is lightweight, versatile, environmentally friendly, and a limitless power supply source. While various qualities make a solar panel good, here are a few characteristics the best solar panel should have.

• High Power Output

Solar panels produce varying outputs. Standard solar panels produce 20% output, whereas advanced technologies have a high energy conversion efficiency of 23-24%. Remember, the higher the energy conversion efficiency rate is, the more power it can produce. For example, Jackery SolarSaga 100W panels have a higher energy efficiency conversion rate of 24.3%.

• Temperature Coefficient

Solar panels operate under certain temperatures, and that's where the role of the temperature coefficient comes into play. The temperature coefficient simply corresponds to how much a rising temperature will impact the output. For example, our Jackery SolarSaga 100 watts solar panels have a temperature coefficient of - 0.29%/°C.

• Weak Light Performance

As mentioned above, the ability to produce solar energy will depend on the amount of sunlight received during the day. If the weather is cloudy or shady, chances are solar panels output will be low. That said, choosing a solar panel with better weak-light performance is better for producing a high power output.

• Durable & Splash Proof

Solar panels from Jackery come in an ETFE-laminated case and are durable enough to extend solar panel lifespan. Thanks to the IP65 water-resistant abilities, the solar panels are protected from water splashing. In addition, the multi-layered cell technology improves the quality of the solar panel.

Jackery is a reputable solar brand that is known to manufacture high-quality and highly efficient solar panels, portable power stations, and solar generators. The Jackery SolarSaga Solar Panels are foldable and compact, ensuring you can carry them during camping, overlanding, or other outdoor adventures. Here are some of the best Jackery 100W Solar Panels:

Jackery SolarSaga 100W Solar Panels

Jackery SolarSaga 100-watt Solar Panel is best known for its superior portability, foldable design, and rubber handle. The monocrystalline silicon solar cells have a conversion efficiency rate of 24.3% and can convert maximum sunlight into electricity. The two USB output ports let you charge two small devices like phones and fans simultaneously. The solar panels are also compatible with the Jackery Portable Power Stations to ensure you always have power even during the cloudy days or at night.

Customer Review

“Accurate power output under good sunlight. Good quality, great expandability. Charges my power station Explorer 300 in roughly 3-4 hrs. Might get a few more panels and connect them. This is probably in the top 3 quality solar panels out there (there's a lot) so you won't be disappointed with Jackery.” – Ryan M.

Jackery SolarSaga 100 Prime Solar Panels

The Jackery SolarSaga 100 Prime Solar Panel features an unshaded front design to convert maximum sunlight into electricity. It has a flexible design and can be easily installed on an RV, camper, or balcony. It also has an IP68 waterproof and dust resistant frame to ensure optimum performance in different temperatures. The solar panel is compatible with the Jackery Explorer 1000 Plus Portable Power Station and can charge most home or outdoor appliances for long hours.

 Customer Review

“Provides wonderful flexibility to go off grid or just as a backup during prolonged power outages coupled with some PV panels you can be off grid indefinitely.” — Pravin Balram.

FAQs About 100W Solar Panel

Now that you know the basic facts and features of 100-watt solar panels, it's time to answer the most common questions that solar panel buyers usually have. Below are the five most common questions that Jackery solar panel shoppers ask our experts before purchasing.

Will a 100W solar panel run a fridge?

No, a 100W solar panel will not be able to produce sufficient electricity to run a fridge. You would need a battery or power station to charge a fridge.

What is the 100W solar panel output on a cloudy day?

Solar panels produce electricity by capturing the sun's solar energy and converting it into electrical energy. This is a major misconception that solar panels don't function on cloudy days. As the solar panel efficiency depends on the amount of sunlight penetrating the cloud, the solar panels create low energy compared to what they initially produced.

To produce high electricity with the best 100 watt solar panel, you should constantly adjust the solar panel towards the sun. For example, modify it at the angle that the sunlight falls directly on the solar cells. Another thing you can do is store the power in Jackery power station during sunny days and use the stored energy on a cloudy day.

Can a 100W solar panel run a refrigerator?

In a word, no. 100W solar panel alone can’t run a refrigerator. The average power required to run a refrigerator lies between 350-400 watts of solar energy.   That said, you can go for Solar Generator 1000, 1000 Pro, 1500, or 2000 Pro to power up large appliances like refrigerators for hours.

Can a 100W solar panel power a TV?

How many solar panels do I need to go off-grid?

The number of solar panels required to go off-grid will depend on the electricity you use and the number of direct daily sunlight hours you receive. Ideally, the average off-grid home requires 7000 watts or 7 KW of power to cut the connection from the electrical grid.

If your energy requirements are 7KW and you use 100-watt solar panels, you'll need more or less than 70 panels to take home off-grid. That's why it's better to purchase a  solar power system Jackery Solar Generator 2000 Plus to go off-grid. Its expandable capacity feature offers you a 2-24kwh solar power system.

How long will it take a 100W solar panel to charge a battery?

Depending on the charging capacity, it will take around 4-20 hours to charge a 12V battery with a single 100W solar panel. If you want to charge the battery fast, you can increase the number of solar panels you use for charging. Here's a quick breakdown of how long will a 100-watt solar panel using a charge controller will take to charge a fully depleted 12-volt lithium-ion battery:

• 4 hours to charge 20Ah capacity
• 8 hours to charge 40Ah capacity
• 10 hours to charge 50Ah capacity
• 20 hours to charge 100Ah capacity

Note* - Here, we assume that the peak sun hours are 1000 w/m2/h.

How many 12V batteries can a 100W solar panel charge?

Generally, a 100-watt solar panel with maximum efficiency can charge a single 100Ah 12-volt battery in one day. This means the solar panels will need at least 8 hours of sunlight without any obstructions.

What battery to use with a 100 watt solar panel?

LiFePO4 or lithium-ion batteries are generally compatible with a 100W solar panel. For example, the Jackery SolarSoga 100W Solar Panels or Jackery SolarSaga 100 Prime Solar Panels are compatible with the Jackery Explorer 1000 Plus Portable Power Station and can charge most indoor or outdoor appliance

How to make full use of a 100W solar panel?

The best way to utilize the full power of 100W solar panels is by combining them with the Jackery Power Station Explorer 240/300 Plus/500/1000Plus/1000V2. The combination is helpful to power your small and large appliances during hiking, camping, climbing, hiking, and during unexpected power outages.

The Jackery's power generator is built with Battery Management System to improve its performance and improve safety levels of the battery. To power your home, you can combine four SolarSaga 100W panels with Solar Generator 1000 Plus. The best part about the generator is that its one-button design makes it easy to operate.

Final Thoughts

If you are a first-time solar panel buyer, a 100-watt solar panel is an excellent choice to switch to renewable and clean energy. While many sizes are available, the small solar panel is suitable for low-power-consuming appliances. They become more effective when paired with a solar power station and can easily power up large devices.  

If you want to install a portable power station that can power your entire home, check out the Jackery Solar Generators. Such a system will help you to offset up to 100% of your electricity usage and go green. Sign up for Jackery's newsletter to keep yourself updated about tips, discounts, deals, and product releases.