ECOFLOW RIVER Mini 400W Solar Panel User Manual

: June 12, 2024
: ECOFLOW

Table of Contents

ECOFLOW RIVER Mini 400W Solar Panel
In The Box
How It Works
Speed Up Solar Charging
Things to Remember When Using Solar Panel
Avoid
FAQs
FCC STATEMENT
Technical Speciﬁcations
References
Read User Manual Online (PDF format)
Download This Manual (PDF format)

ECOFLOW RIVER Mini 400W Solar Panel

In The Box

Solar panel
Solar charging cable
User manual

How It Works

Connect the solar panel to an energy storage device using the provided solar charging cable.
Position the solar panel to receive sunlight.
The solar panel converts sunlight into electricity, which charges the energy storage device.
This cable can only be used for connection between solar panels and energy storage. It is prohibited to be used for interconnection between solar panels or other connection purposes.
To harvest solar energy most efficiently, try to ensure that the sun’s rays hit the panel at a 90° angle and that the panel is not shaded.
For improved charging results, the Protective Case can also be used as a kickstand to prop up the solar panel at a 40°–80° angle.
Adjust The Angle By Shooting
he kickstand feature should only be used before 10:00 am or after 2:00 pm. To use the product during the midday sun, simply place the solar panel flat on the ground.

Speed Up Solar Charging

To speed up the solar charging process:

Connect multiple solar panels in series.
Snap the male connector of one solar panel into the female connector of the other to wire them together.
Connect the unwired connectors with the Solar Charging Cable.
Connect the XT60 connector on the Solar Charging Cable to the XT60 port on the portable power station to recharge it.
Snap the male connector of one solar panel into the female connector of the other respectively to wire the two to three solar panels in series.
Wire the two connectors that are unwired in step 1 with the Solar Charging Cable respectively.
Connect the XT60 connector on the Solar Charging Cable to the XT60 port on the portable power station to recharge the unit.

The number of solar panels that can be connected varies by product; please refer to your product’s manual for specific setup information.

Note: The number of solar panels that can be connected in series may vary depending on the supported product. Please refer to your product’s manual for specific setup information.

Max. No. Of Panels Connected in Series to Supported Products

Things to Remember When Using Solar Panel

As the efficiency of solar panels depends upon light intensity and the tilt angle used, the charging power of the panel may be affected by a number of factors such as weather conditions, seasonal changes and location. The installation and connection of this product should be carried out strictly in accordance with the instructions found in the User Manual.
Only the main body of this product is waterproof. The junction box and connection points should not be immersed in water.
This product must not come into contact with highly corrosive substances, or be immersed in corrosive liquids.
To avoid damaging the product, do not use sharp objects on the surface of the panel, and do not knock or impact the product.
Do not apply pressure to the panel or allow the panel to be dropped on any of its corners, sides or faces. Such actions may result in damage to the solar panel.
The panel must not be knocked, exposed to heavy pressure, or bent during transport, rotation or installation. We recommend that the panel is kept in a vertical position when being moved or stored.
When storing the panel, always ensure that the positive and negative terminals of the junction box are not exposed to sunlight.
To avoid the risk of injury, this product and its junction box must only be opened or disassembled by qualified personnel.
Unwanted solar panels must be disposed of in accordance with the local legal requirements.
When using the product, please follow the instructions and prohibit hanging.

Avoid

Any behaviors that may damage the solar panel, such as cracking the cells or reducing efficiency, are to be avoided. Improper use of the product is not covered under the free warranty period. Behaviors above that demage the solar panel, will cause the cell inside the solar panel to crack and efficiency drop, or even unusable. The free warranty period does not cover damage resulting from improper use of the product.

FAQs

Does the 400W Solar Panel generate a full 400W of power?
In most cases, it is normal for a solar panel not to deliver its full nominal power. Some of the reasons why this happens, as well as some suggestions for getting closer to the nominal power ﬁgure, are given below.

1. Light Intensity. The amount of light shining on the panel will result in ﬂuctuations to the power output.
You are more likely to achieve nominal power output ﬁgures closer to those obtained under test conditions when using the product on a clear day during the midday sun, than when using the product in the morning or later in the afternoon. Weather conditions will also aﬀect the amount of sunlight that shines on the panel. For example, you are much less likely to achieve the ﬁgures for nominal power in hazy, cloudy or rainy conditions.
2. Surface Temperature. The temperature of the solar panel surface will also aﬀect the amount of power generated. The lower the surface temperature of the panel, the more power will be produced. For example, solar panels generate more power when used during= the winter than during the summer, and this is completely normal. Solar panels generally reach temperatures close to 60°C (140°F) during summer. This reduces nominal power by 13%, despite the higher levels of light shining on the panel.
3. Sunlight Angle. In optimal light conditions, the sun’s rays should remain perpendicular to the surface of the panel for best performance. The diﬀerence of ± 10 degrees of 90 degrees of sunlight hitting the panels has little eﬀect on the power.
4. Panel Shading. The surface of the solar panel should not be shaded during use. Shading caused by shadows, foreign objects and glass can all greatly reduce power output.
Performance Issues Caused by Malfunctioning Panels: If the panel still isn’t generating power or its output remains far below expected nominal power ﬁgures after addressing the issues above, there may be an issue with the panel itself. Please contact Customer Support for assistance.

How much power can the 400W Solar Panel generate under normal conditions?
This depends ﬁrst and foremost on weather conditions. Generally speaking, on a clear day with no clouds in the sky, sunlight hitting the panel at a 90° angle usually generates 320W–350W of power in the 400W panel. (Current light conditions are normally 800W–900W/m² (74.3W–83.6W/ft²) with a panel temperature of 50°C (122°F) under test conditions. Nominal power ratings are based on 1000W/m² (92.9W/ft²) in AM1.5 conditions with a panel temperature of 25°C (77°F) under test conditions. Power output ﬁgures close nominal values were normally observed in the midday sun during the winter.)

What should I know about the operating temperature, storage and use of the 400W Solar Panel?
The operating temperature of the Solar Panel is -20°C–85°C (-4°F 185°F). The panel should be folded into its original shape and stored in its Protective Case (Kickstand), which provides suﬃcient protection for the product. To extend the service life of the panel, ensure that the product is not exposed to external forces/impacts when not in use. The solar panel must not be dropped, pierced, bent, or sat on. These actions may break the cell and render the panel unusable. Any such damage will not be covered by the free warranty.

Can I use non-EcoFlow branded power stations with the 400W Solar Panel?
Yes, but only certain types. The power station used must be compatible with MC4 standards in order to work properly. In addition, other brands of power station may not oﬀer the same levels of compatibility as EcoFlow-branded power stations, may have lower nominal power ratings, and may not oﬀer the same levels of performance.

Can I connect 400W Solar Panels with another size of solar panels in series?
Yes, but this is not recommended. Even if the voltage of the two panels are identical, the current ratings are not. This means that when the panels are connected in series, the current will be limited to that of the lower solar panel which cause the power of 400W solar panel can’t be released entirely, resulting in a 1+2<3 scenario. Please purchase panels of the same size if you intend to connect multiple panels in series.

Can I connect 400W Solar Panels in parallel?
Yes, but this is not recommended. Though 400W solar panels can be connected in parallel, due to its high output current, may exceed the input current limitation of the power station. Parallel connections increase power output by doubling the current, but connecting the panels in this way would result in a 1+1=1 scenario because the input current limitation would restrain the total solor input. We do not recommend connecting the multiple 400W solar panels in parallel, unless you use a power station with high input current limitation.

FCC STATEMENT

This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules. Operation is subject to the following two conditions:

This device may not cause harmful interference, and
This device must accept any interference received, including interference that may cause undesired operation.

Warning: Changes or modiﬁcations not expressly approved by the party responsible for compliance could void the user’s authority to operate the equipment.

NOTE: This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class A digital device, pursuant to part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable protection against harmful interference when the equipment is operated in a commercial environment. This equipment generates, uses, and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with the instruction manual, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. Operation of this equipment in a residential area is likely to cause harmful interference in which case the user will be required to correct the interference at his own expense.