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200-watt solar panels (The complete guide)

Romain Metaye

Ph.D. in Chemistry, École Polytechnique

August 31, 2023

If you want solar panels for your house, RV, or boat, you’ll want to consider purchasing 200-watt solar panels.

Despite being on the smaller side, these solar panels combine solid power output and great value for money.

And while they aren’t the most powerful, they’re certainly more versatile and compact than their larger 400W or 500W counterparts.

In this guide, we take an in-depth look at 200W solar panels, focusing on factors such as:

• Price.
•  Daily power output.
•  The best battery for a solar panel of this size
•  The appliances you can run off a 200W panel.

Additionally, we outline the advantages of installing 200-watt solar panels on RVs and boats.

Let’s start with our price review of 200-watt solar panels.

The average price of a 200-watt solar panel (2024)

We looked at 8 of the best 200W solar panel brands, including non-foldable fixed and foldable (thin-film) solar panels.

Based on our research, we discovered that the average non-foldable 200W solar panel costs approximately $230, and a foldable 200W solar panel costs $410.

Note to our readers: All the 200W solar panels mentioned below are monocrystalline.

Interested in sizing your own solar system? Check out our solar calculator.

How much power does a 200-watt solar panel produce?

A 200-watt solar panel’s power output varies throughout the day because of the following factors:

• Time of the day.
•  Season.
•  Clouds/Rain.
•  Local shading.
•  Panel tilt angle and orientation.

Therefore, your 200W solar panel will only produce 200W under perfect conditions — at noon in summer, under a clear sky.

If weather conditions are favorable — depending on the time of day — your solar panel could produce the following power output:

Based on the table above, a 200W solar panel will achieve peak power output between 11 AM and 3 PM.

In the following you’ll see how clouds and affect your solar panel’s power output compared to an average sunny day.

Determining your solar panel’s power output

You can use the following formula to obtain your solar panel’s power output:

Solar panel power (W) = output voltage (V) * output current (amps)

While the voltage will likely remain the same in all conditions, the output current will vary, affecting the power output.

What can you run with a 200-watt solar panel?

With a single 200W solar panel, you can power a mini-fridge like the one below:

Below you’ll find some appliances and electronic devices you can run with a 200W solar panel on a typical sunny day.

You need a battery to store your solar energy to harness your 200W solar panel’s full potential. Yes, solar panels produce instant power, but what matters most is energy.

Determining the amount of energy your devices use: formula

While running, appliances consume energy in Wh or kWh. To find out how much energy your devices use, apply the formula below:

Energy (Wh) = Power (W) * Running Time (hour)

On average, a 200W solar panel can produce 600Wh of energy per day. If you’d like to to find out how much energy your solar panels can produce at your location, make use of Global Solar Atlas.

What components make up a solar system?

In order to assemble an efficient solar system, you need to combine the following three key components:

• Solar charge controller: A solar charge controller optimizes the power of your solar panels and charges your battery. power your solar panel and charge the battery.

• Inverter: Solar panels produce DC power. Therefore, you need an inverter that converts DC into AC to power your electronic devices and household appliances.

• Solar battery: A solar battery stores your solar energy production so you can use it conveniently anytime, regardless of weather conditions.

If combining these components seems a little too complicated for you, don’t worry; many all-in-one solar generators combine charge controllers, inverters, and batteries. The most powerful solar generators make for fantastic plug-and-play energy solutions.

How many batteries do you need for a 200-watt solar panel?

A single 200-watt solar panel will match perfectly with one 12V 100Ah LiFePO4 battery.

As previously mentioned, solar batteries are a must for your solar panel to reach its full potential.

These batteries serve two primary functions:

1. Store: They store the excess energy produced by your solar panels.
2. Buffer: They act as a buffer for continuous power supply in case of cloudy/rainy days.

We highly recommend lithium batteries. Their power output, life duration, and robustness far outperform lead-acid batteries.

Note to our readers: We’ve come across many articles regarding lithium batteries being non-recyclable and a threat to the environment. We did some thorough research to write a comprehensive article about recycling lithium batteries. Their recycling rate might surprise you!

Is a 200-watt solar panel enough for my RV? 

200-watt solar panels offer the best compromise between size/weight and power, but are they powerful enough for an RV?

You’ll recall that your solar panel’s production depends on multiple factors, with the location being the most important. For example, solar panels in California can produce two times more than in London.

Scenario: RV in California equipped with a 200W solar panel 

According to the Global Solar Atlas, the average daily solar production potential is 1kWh.

In the below chart, you’ll find the electronic devices that you can power in California with a 200-watt solar panel on top of your RV:

In conclusion, a 200-watt solar panel is enough to supply the needs of a small RV, but you’ would’d certainly need an extra panel for more comfort.

Tips and recommendations to optimize your RVs solar production

• Always expose your solar panels to full sunlight.
• Avoid local shadowing (trees, buildings).
• Clean your solar panels monthly.
• Avoid using “flexible solar panels” glued on top of your roof — they overheat.

Tip: For a campervan or RV setup, we recommend using portable solar panels. These panels are easy to move to the sunniest spot whilst your RV is parked in the shade.

Is a 200-Watt Solar Panel Enough For My Boat?

Boats are continuously exposed to sunlight. This makes solar panels a perfect option for powering their appliances.

Moreover, most boats lack the required surface area to install solar panels. That said, a 200-watt solar panel covers an area of 10 to 11 sq. ft. This makes them well-suited for boat setups.

What can a 200-watt solar panel power on a boat?

Let’s use an example of a boat sailing along the coast of California where the daily solar production potential is 1kWh.

Here is a list of the appliances you can power with a 200W solar panel on a boat:

In conclusion, a 200-watt solar panel is enough for a short sailing trip. To power more appliances, you’d need to add an additional power source like a micro wind turbine or an extra 200-watt solar panel.

Final Thoughts

To summarize, here are the most useful bits of information about 200W solar panels:

• The average price of regular fixed 200W solar panels is $230.
• The average price of portable and foldable 200W solar panels is $410.
• A 200W solar panel should form part of a solar system combining a solar charger, an inverter, and a battery.
• A 200W solar panel can power a mini-fridge/freezer.
• A 200W solar panel pairs well with a 12V, 100Ah LiFePO4 battery.
• A portable 200W solar panel is an excellent choice for a small RV or campervan.
• A 200W solar panel is ideal for powering your boat’s electronic appliances during short day trips. 

And that’s a wrap! If you have any questions regarding 200-watt solar panels, please reach out to us in the comments section below or follow us on Twitter.