Best Solar Panels Compatible With the EcoFlow DELTA Power Stations

Best Solar Panels Compatible With the EcoFlow DELTA Power Stations: Expert Guide

Large power stations are innovative products ready to keep your more intensive energy needs going during outages and off-grid. And when consistent power matters most, you want to get the right solar panels for your power station.

This article covers the solar panels compatible with all EcoFlow DELTA power stations, including everything from the biggest DELTA Pro Ultra, the fresh DELTA Pro 3, and the original DELTA Pro. We’ll review the most important specs to ensure the solar panels you get will work flawlessly and we'll help you understand how to maximize your charging speeds.

Finally, we'll wrap things with our carefully curated selection of solar panels compatible with EcoFlow DELTA power stations, including the adapters and extension cables to make your off-grid system complete.

Disclaimer: This article is independently written and is not affiliated with or endorsed by EcoFlow. It is intended for informational purposes only to help customers understand which third-party products may be compatible with certain power stations.

Solar Panel Compatibility: Specs & Connections

Before connecting any solar panels to your power station, you must verify that they're within spec. If you connect panels with too high of a voltage, you can easily  and irrevocably damage your expensive system.

The three things you need to look for to connect any solar panel to your portable power station are:

  1. Voltage: The maximum voltage coming off your panels cannot exceed the power station's maximum voltage limit. 
  2. Current (Amps): The power station will only use a certain amount of current. If you exceed it, you'll have extra energy that is not used by the power station. 
  3. Connectors: Not only do you need to match the connector types from the panels to your power station, you also will need to identify the best way to connect the panel together: series vs. parallel.

To get your solar journey started on the right foot, you need to know the specs of your power station. This table of solar input specs provides the most important information.

Power Station DELTA Pro Ultra DELTA Pro 3 DELTA Pro DELTA 2 Max DELTA 3 Plus DELTA 3 DELTA 2
Total Solar Max 5,600W 2,600W 1,600W 1,000W 1,000W 500W 500W
Input 1 Watts 4,000W 1,600W 1,600W 500W 500W 500W 500W
Input 1 Volts Min 80V 30V 11V 11V 11V 11V 11V
Input 1 Volts Max 450V 150V 150V 60V 60V 60V 60V
Input 1 Amps 15A 15A 15A 15A 15A 15A 15A
Input 1 Connector MC4 XT60i / XT60 XT60i / XT60 XT60i / XT60 XT60i / XT60 XT60i / XT60 XT60i / XT60
Input 2 Watts 1,600W 1,000W - 500W 500W - -
Input 2 Volts Min 30V 11V - 11V 11V - -
Input 2 Volts Max 150V 60V - 60V 60V - -
Input 2 Amps 15A 20A - 15A 15A - -
Input 2 Connector CP30 XT60i / XT60 - XT60i / XT60 XT60i / XT60 - -

 

Note: Always double-check your power station specs before using a solar panel to ensure compatibility and optimal performance. The specifications listed here are based on publicly available information from the EcoFlow Support center but it is subject to change.

XT60 vs XT60i Difference

Understanding the difference between XT60 and XT60i cables is an important part of using solar panels. Most of the more recent power station models specify XT60i. Yet you can usually use either one when connecting solar panels.

That's because the XT60 should always allow full charging speeds for solar panels connected to power stations. The charging software should automatically recognize the solar panels and be able to accept the full charge, even with the XT60 cable.

The XT60i is made specifically to protect charging speeds when using other DC charging sources. There is an extra pin that ensures the amps are properly limited or not (to 8A if necessary). 

Series vs. Parallel Connections

Due to the high solar inputs and large batteries of the larger power station models, it's quite likely that you'll want to connect more than one solar panel. 

In most cases, you'll want to use series connections for DELTA systems. Series connections will add up the voltage but will keep the current equal to one panel. Just always keep below the max voltage and make sure to account for any low temperatures as that can cause voltage to increase.

If you use panels that have <8A (or if you want to overpanel to maximize charging in low light conditions), then you can use parallel connections. This will likely mean combining series and parallel connections, such as using a 3S2P connections to use 6 different panels together.

For more details, see our article on Understanding Solar Panel Voltage and Current Output.

Recommended Solar Panels Compatible With the DELTA Series

Our team works hard to find the best solar panels to use with power stations. It is one of our primary missions. This list of solar panels are specifically chosen to work well with the voltage and current ranges of DELTA systems. 

Here are our favorite solar panels compatible with these power stations.

1. Best Portable : 2x Oscal 400W Foldable Solar Panels

Two of these Oscal 400W Solar Panels are great for within the DELTA solar input specs, providing a solid 800W array to keep your battery topped off.

Why They’re Great: A high-quality portable panel that folds down to fit in tight spaces. For those with small storage areas like RV users, you can get a lot of power without taking up too much room.

Perfect For: Capable of generating ~4,000Wh in one day of direct sunlight with 2x 400W panels (800W). That’s enough to fully replenish a large battery while you’re away from home or just want to use some portable panels in the yard or balcony. The Voc of 47.5V reaches just 95V for two in series and the 10A output is suitable for these power stations.

Add-Ons: No connectors needed. Oscal includes various adapters, including XT60.

Oscal 400W Portable Panels Buy Oscal 400W Panels

 


 

2. Top Budget Option: ALLPOWERS 200W Portable Solar Panel

Why It’s Great: If you want to maximize the portability of your solar panels, these 200W panels from ALLPOWERS are a great way to save money without sacrificing quality. They feature cells with up to 24% efficiency and come on a lightweight and portable design with flexible thin panels. The value of these panels is unbeatable.

Perfect For: Once again, each of these 200W panels can generate about ~800Wh in one day of ideal sunlight. However, the flexible portable design can be annoying for larger arrays. We recommend these panels for those than only want one to three 200W panels, perhaps for the DELTA 3 Plus, DELTA 3, or DELTA 2 models with smaller batteries. Or if you only want a small boost of solar for your larger DELTA power station.

Specs: The voltage is ideal for most DELTA power stations as the Voc sits at 50.6V, perfectly within the 60V limit on many DELTA solar inputs. The current is 5.9A. If you want to use more than one of these 200W panels, this is a rare situation where it's better to use parallel adapters with DELTA power stations that have a 15A limit. Don't forget to get your 2-to-1 branch adapter to create this parallel connection.

Connectors: This panel features MC4 connectors. While it includes various 8mm adapters, you'll need the MC4 to XT60i adapter cable.

ALLPOWERS 200W Portable Solar Panel Buy ALLPOWERS 200W Panel

 


 

 

Recommended Solar Accessories

When ordering your panels, don't forget to include the accessories that will make your system whole. This includes any extension cables and tools that you may need during installation.

MC4 to XT60 Adapter Cable

Most DELTA power stations use XT60 or XT60i connections, while most solar panels come with MC4 connectors. Get this simple adapter cable to bridge the gap. 

MC4 to XT60i Adapter Cable Buy MC4-XT60i Cable

 


 

MC4 to XT60 Adapter Cable Buy MC4-XT60 Cable

 


 

Solar Extension Cables

It's important to ensure your solar panels sit in direct sunlight. But you'll want to protect your power station system and the devices its powering from the sunlight. The way to do this is by using solar extension cables.

We recommend using MC4 extension cables when possible. This is a trusted solar connection that is made to withstand severe conditions. You can buy cables with pre-installed MC4 connectors. Or you can make your own with MC4 connectors and a MC4 crimper.

We always suggest getting the MC4 disconnector wrench to avoid damage whenever using any panels with MC4s. 

If your power station uses XT60 connectors, you can also use an XT60 extension cable. The choice is yours.

MC4 Extension Cable Buy MC4 Extension Cable

 


 

XT60 Extension Cable Buy XT60 Extension Cable

 


 

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I have to use specific solar panels with my power station?

No, you can use almost any solar panel as long as you match the specifications and connector type to your power station. Always verify the voltage is within the power station's limit. Many models use XT60 connectors while solar panels use MC4. With a simple MC4-to-XT60 adapter cable, you can use any panels that's with the voltage/current specs of your power station.

Can solar panels damage my power station?

Yes. You never want to exceed the voltage limit of your power station. This is based on the Voc of your solar panels, the number of series connections, and the temperature you use them in. Exceeding this limit can cause serious damage to any power station. 

How do I use multiple solar panels with a power station?

Using more than one solar panel is very common and easy to do for many power stations. Some are designed to work best with series connections, which means you connect the panels to each other directly (positive of one goes to the negative of another). In rare cases with panels that have a low operating current, you may use parallel connections too (then you'll need a Y branch adapter).

What extension cables should I use to keep my power station in the shade?

You can use MC4 extension cables to obtain the ideal placement for your power station and solar panels. We recommend these when possible because they're a more universal and easily customizable connector type. But you can also use an XT60 extension cable if your power station uses the XT60 connector, which might be easier for certain situations.

Wrap Up

You now have everything you need to pick the right solar panels compatible with your EcoFlow DELTA power station. The Oscal 400W Portable Solar Panel is the choice for bigger power and the ALLPOWERS 200W Portable Solar Panel keeps price down but performance high.

You can browse our selection of Solar Panels to see if others might fit your needs better. 

 

 

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