REDARC 150W SOLAR BLANKET
Dometic isn’t the only company leading the
portable solar charge – excuse the pun. If you’re
in the market for a portable solar solution, another
one to look at is Redarc’s 150W product, which
has no grid lines, a solid copper backing, and
Anderson plug connectivity. According to Redarc,
the “unique design” of the panel’s ‘SunPower’
cells “reduces cell failure from corrosion and
breakage”.
Like the Dometic PSB150, it has an anti-reflective
scratch-resistant coating, a high melting
temperature, as well as self-cleaning non-stick
resistance properties. It is also compact and
lightweight, though at 6kg it is heavier than the
PSB150. However, unlike the PSB150, the solar
regulator, which is essential to ensure correct,
safe and efficient charge, is sold separately. At a
minimum, this product requires a 20A regulator.
(Redarc sells a ‘20A Solar Value Pack’, which
contains all of the accessories required to connect
the blanket to the battery, including a 5m cable,
20A regulator, and a battery clip cable.)
FAST FACTS
Weight: 6kg
Capacity: 150W
Price: $1615.76 (solar blanket only);
$249.11 for the Solar Value Pack
More info: www.redarc.com.au
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EASY STORAGE
In comparison to fixed panels or fold-out
portable panels, solar blankets are not only
much lighter but easy to move and store.
While portable solar devices have typically
been associated with folk wishing to roll out
a swag or camp in the back of a large 4WD,
caravanners need not feel excluded.
“The way things are going with technology,
you are tending to take a lot more devices
and appliances away with you,” Redarc’s
Shannon Axford said. “This means you are
using more power. Just three years, ago
200W of solar on the roof was plenty; these
days it’s not uncommon to see rigs with
600W or more.”
He said the best solution was to supplement
an existing solar system with a blanket wired
in parallel through a battery management
system. He says ‘out of the box’
monocrystalline solar blanket technology
was generally more efficient than standard
glass solar panels.