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Thursday, March 27th
Allpowers, based in Guangzhou, China, was founded in 2008, specializing in the design, development, and production of portable solar energy products. Allpowers products can be found in 30 countries. The solar panels you will find at Allpowers are portable and different from traditional solar kit systems you might set up permanently as part of your home solar power storage solutions.
Pricing is very competitive
Allpowers carries solar panels starting at $39.99 for a foldable mini panel. The company also offers flexible solar panels with a 23% conversion rate starting at $119.99 for 100 watts. Foldable solar panels start at $69.99 for the Allpowers Solar Panel Built-in 10,000mAh Battery, at 5 volts and 21 watts.
Sales and discounts offered
Allpowers almost always has a discount, coupon, or other promotion going on. At the time of this review, customers could receive up to 48% off in storewide sales and another additional 8% for signing up for the newsletter. If you pay full price at Allpowers, you are doing it wrong. You don't have to wait long to get a deal on the solar panels you're looking for. In addition, you can pay over time when you choose to pay through Affirm at checkout.
Portability for on-the-go power
The solar panels available at Allpowers are portable, which means they are not designed to go on the roof of a house but with you on your camping trips and tailgating events, or as backup power for electronics and other devices - or even some appliances during a power outage.
Free shipping
Allpowers, unlike other solar panel companies, offers free shipping from a local warehouse and no tax, usually within 2 days of placing an order. They state that you can expect to receive your solar panels within 3-5 days, but you should be aware that some customers did not receive their panels within that timeframe. In fact, some customers received their panels much later.
Limited support, hard to return
Free shipping is a nice perk, but if you encounter issues with products that are defective or damaged in the shipping process, the only way to contact Allpowers is through an email. While some customers have had success getting a replacement product within the first 30 days, others have complained that Allpowers takes a very, very long time to communicate. We've also seen some reviews that indicate Allpowers products are not long-lasting and that returns involve exorbitant shipping fees.
Not for everyone
Portable solar panels are very innovative and a great solution for so many people who need power in remote areas. That being said, most people looking for solar panels are usually looking for a way to get off-grid in a bigger way, and Allpowers, while selling portable solar panels, doesn't sell solar kits or home storage solutions.
Not quite there
With mixed reviews and a smaller selection than other companies, along with issues regarding reliability over a long period of time, Allpowers doesn't quite make an average ranking here. If you're looking for portable solar panels, you may want to visit this site to research prices, but otherwise, Allpowers is not quite there yet.
Solar power is still a relatively new innovation, and it can be overwhelming trying to understand which solar panels are the best. It's important to recognize your priorities: if you're not overly concerned with maximum output and you want to stay on budget, you could choose something less efficient and still be happy with your solar storage system.
If you've decided to do it yourself, you may want to consider a company that also sells the compatible parts you will need when setting up your solar storage system. This way, you can know that all parts will work together. Another thing to consider as a DIYer is whether the company offers tech or permitting support. You may also want a company that can work with you to design a plan that would include helping you with the necessary permits and interconnection if you want to be hooked up to the electrical grid to receive rebates.
There are four common types of solar panels: monocrystalline, which are made from a single source of silicon; polycrystalline, which are made up of silicon pieces all melted together; thin-film solar panels, which are somewhat flexible and lightweight; and PERC panels, which use silicon backing to make them more efficient. Monocrystalline PERC panels will be your most efficient choice, but also your most expensive.
The majority of solar panels available in the United States come from China. This is important to remember when shopping for solar panels, especially if you are doing your solar project on your own and not through an installation service. Most solar panel companies often run low on stock, and it takes a bit of time for shipping, as the panels come from the other side of the globe.
There are some solar panel companies that offer panels made in the United States; however, they are generally going to be more expensive than their Chinese-made and -assembled counterparts.
At this point, things may seem pretty daunting to the uninitiated, but we're here to help. Here are some questions to ask yourself as you consider which solar panel company you should choose:
To assist you in finding the best solar panels for your needs, Top Consumer Reviews has curated and ranked a list of companies for you to shop from. We're confident that this list will make your solar panel shopping experience brighter!
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