Connecting Solar Panels to your Solar Generators

The biggest issue you will have with a solar generator is the limited solar input rating. No matter what solar generator you buy, you will need to figure out how many solar panels you can safely connect to it. If you plan to use an off brand solar panel, you will need to buy an "MC-4 adapter". This adapter will allow you to safely connect off-brand solar panels to your generator.  
  1. Read the manual of your generator and find the "Maximum Solar Panel Input" Wattage rating. If you are using a Inergy Kodiak, the max wattage is 600. Most Chinese generators have a max solar input wattage of 100.  Goal zero Generators are usually 120 watts max, but some can handle 360 watts. 
  2. Buy multiple 12 volt, 60\100 watt solar panels until you reach the "maximum solar panel input wattage" of your generator:
    If your generator can only handle 600 watts, buy 6x  12volt, 100 watt solar panels.
    If your generator can only handle 120 watts, buy 2x 12 volt, 60 watt solar panels.
    If your generator can only handle  360 watts, buy 6x 12 volt, 60 watt solar panels, or 3x  12 volt,100 watt solar panels (less powerful but easier to mount larger panels). 
    If you are connecting multiple solar panels together, it is advisable to use the same type of solar panel, with the same voltage/watt rating. 
  3. Here is the most important part: Connect Mutiple Solar Panels together with a "MC-4 Branch Connector". Connect all of the solar panels to the MC-4 Branch Connector, then connect the MC-4 branch adapter to your solar generator.  This will cause the solar panels to be connected in a "parallel connection". This is important! If you do not use this connector, and you wire the solar panels in series, you may permanently damage your solar generator. As long as you use a branch connector and you do not exceed the max solar input watt rating of your generator, you should be good to go!
  4. If the solar panels are far from the generator, use a MC-4 extension cable. ​If you plan to mount your solar panels on the roof of your vehicle, this extension cable will be required. 
  5. You may need an "MC-4 Adapter" to connect off-brand solar panels to your solar generator. Usually this comes with the solar generator for free, but you may need to buy it separate. 

Cheat sheet for every adapter/extension cable/connector you need!
​(I Make A Commission For Purchases Made Through The Links Below)

Buy Multiple
12 Volt
Solar Panels 
​(Click Here)

+
Buy a "MC-4 Branch Connector" to parallel connect your panels. This will ensure that the voltage of your solar panels does not exceed the limit of your solar generator. This is usually not sold with the solar generator!
​
2 panel connector
Click Here

3 panel connector
Click Here

4 panel connector
Click Here

+
Buy an "MC-4 Extension Cable" if you wish to mount your solar panels on your roof.

This extension cable will go between the branch connector and the Solar Generator MC-4 connector.

This wire will go through your roof, so you may need to find a creative way to seal it off from the elements.

10-40 foot extension cable
Click here

+
Use a "MC-4 Adapter" to connect the MC-4 solar panel wires to your solar generator.

This adapter *usually* comes with the solar generator for free! If it doesn't, you will need to buy it from the manufacturer. 

And here are the solar panels that work well with any solar generator available
(Affiliate Links Below)​

Glass Solar Panels

​Pros:
  • Cheap (usually)
  • Extremely durable (can handle snow, rain, heat for years!)
  • Easy to mount. Use mounting tape or buy some mounts
  • Last 25+ years, no problem

Cons: 
  • Heavy. Typically around 16 pounds for a 100 watt solar panel
  • Can cause a huge amount of aerodynamic drag to your vehicle
  • Mounting glass panels to the roof of a moving vehicle is typically a bad idea. If one of these falls off your roof, someone can die. Make sure you mount all panels properly.
  • Requires air flow under the panel. Just an inch or so, not much, but it is necessary. 
  • Do not mount large glass panels to your roof unless you have a strong roof rack. 100 watt panels are inherently strong due to their size and are the best size to mount to the roof of a vehicle.

Recommended Renogy.Com Glass Panels

​(Use Coupon Code "WillProwse" For 10% Off Renogy.Com)
  • 100W Monocrystalline Panel
    Basic solar panel
    Click Here to buy now
    ​
  • 100W Eclipse Panel
    Sunpower cells give the eclipse the largest output to size on the market. If your roof space is limited, this is the way to go.
    Click Here to buy now

  • 300W Monocrystalline Panel
    Huge panel! I use these on the roof of my shed and a ground mount array. Safety rated and code compliant. 
    Click Here to buy now

​Recommended Amazon.Com  Glass Panels

In recent times I have done extensive testing on nearly every "best selling" solar panel on the market and these are my favorite:
  1. Rich Solar 100 watt Poly Solar Panel
    This solar panel is my absolute favorite!! It is cheaper than most solar panels and produces more power than any of my 100w monocrystalline panels. 
     Click Here to buy now

  2. HQST 100 watt poly Solar Panel
    This is my second favorite panel because it has the same output as the rich solar panel above, but has slightly better rails and craftsmanship. It is practically identical to the renogy poly panel (renogy and hqst are owned by the same person), but 20 dollars cheaper. Great deal!
    Click Here to buy now
    ​
  3. Other basic solar panels that work well (most of these are rebranded anyways, so they are usually identical to each other. Buy whatever is cheapest or has the best warranty):
​High-quality monocrystalline solar panels that have reduced output compared to the 100 watt poly panels above (in every test I have conducted, these produce less power than the panels above in sunny/cloudy conditions):
  1. Renogy 100 Watt Mono Solar Panel Click Here
  2. HQST 100 Watt Mono Panel Click Here

 Flexible Solar Panels

​Pros:
  • Lightweight. Typically 4 pounds for a 100 watt solar panel
  • Easy to mount
  • Aerodynamic efficiency (they are designed to be flush mounted on your roof, which means better gas mileage for your vehicle.
Cons:
  • Longevity issues. Typical life is 5-10 years. (Glass panels can last 25 years+)
  • They can bend.. but not too much. Anything more than a 30 degree radius will cause damage of the solar cells ( you will hear a distinct crunch, and you may see cracks in the cells)
  • They like to over heat. If you are in arizona, they will die in less than a year. If you use them in a cool environment, 5-10 years is average.

Recommended Flexible Panels

I recommend buying a warranty with flexible solar panels because they like to fail so often. 
Renogy 100W Flex Panel: Click Here

Other high-rated flexible solar panels:
All Powers 100 watt: Click Here

Suaoki 100 watt flex panel: Click Here
​