Camping Products, Camping Tips, Camping Tips for Newbies, Product Reviews, RV Camping Tips

PAXCESS Rockman 120W/18V Foldable Solar Panel Review

My family enjoys going camping in our travel trailer and some of the campgrounds we go to don’t have hookups for electricity. I use a CPAP machine at night and because we can’t keep a generator running all night I purchased a power station (see my TackLife P50 Portable Power Station Review) to keep my CPAP machine running all night. But, I need to recharge the power station daily because the P50 is depleted between 40%-60% after one nights use. And, it would be impractical to try to recharge it using my generator because I would have to run the generator for 4-5 hours per a day. So, I decided to buy a portable solar panel to charge my power station (and my travel trailer batteries). Below is my real life PAXCESS Rockman 120W/18V Foldable Solar Panel Review.

As I mentioned on my “About” page, the focus of this blog is to help other families. One way I do this is by writing reviews about products that I actually use and like, I generally don’t spend any time on products I’ve had a bad experience with. Sometimes I have to buy several brands of a particular product until I find one I like, which is time consuming and frustrating, so hopefully I help save you valuable time by sharing with you products that work for me.

Please keep in mind that links in my posts are affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases. If you go through them to make a purchase, I will earn a commission. Earning commissions enables me to write, manage and maintain this free blog for readers like you. 

Product Specifications from Manufacturer

Peak Power120W                                                                                                                                        
Cell Efficiency23%
Power Voltage18V
Power Current6.25A Max
Open Circuit Voltage19V
Short Circuit Current7.93A
Lifecycle10+ Years
Charge MethodsSunpower
Product Weight12.6 lbs (5.7kg)
Dimensions – Folded (LxWxD)20.7 * 14.4 * 1.38 inches
Operating Temperature Range-20℃∽65℃/(-4°F~149°F)
CertificationCE, FCC, RoHS
Warranty24-Month
 What included1* Solar Panel1* 4 In 1 Cable: Adapters(5.5 × 2.1mm, 5.5 × 2.5mm, 8mm, 3.5 * 1.35mm)1* User Mannual1* Warranty Card
QC 3.0 USB Port9V/2.5A
Output Wattage60W-72W (50%-60%)

Manufacturer Images & Assertions

My Experience

I tested the PAXCESS Rockman 120W/18V Foldable Solar Panel by using it to charge my TackLife P50 Portable Power Station.

Note, since I purchased my Rockman Solar Panel in the winter season, I have only been able to test it in worst case winter weather conditions. So, I would assume the spring, summer, and fall seasons will yield better results.

On January 15, 2021, the temperature range was from 55 to 62 degrees. It was an overcast day and the solar panel power output ranged from 7 to 85 watts (sometimes the sun was blocked by clouds and sometimes it wasn’t). I started the test at 10:15 am and the P50 had a stated charge of between 0-20%. I ended the test at 5:14 pm and the P50 had s stated charge of between 40-60%. Sunset was at 5:38 pm. See video and picure below.

Starting Test
Solar Panel Power Output
Overcast
End of Test

On January 17, 2021, the temperature range was from 51 to 68 degrees. It was a sunny winter day, no clouds. I started the test at 8:22 am and the P50 had a stated charge of between 0-20%. The Rockman Solar Panel output ranged from 36 to 91 watts. I ended the test at 4:40 pm and the P50 had s stated charge of between 80-100%. Note, when I checked on the solar panel at 1:48 pm, the sun had moved behind some bushes, so the solar panel was probably in the shade for up to an hour, but I moved it back into the sun when I noticed what had happened. See pictures below.

Starting Test
10:49 am Check on Battery Level
1:49 pm Check on Battery Level
4:40 pm Check on Battery Level
Solar Panel Power Output

So, even during winter months, in both sunny and overcast conditions, the Rockman solar panel is able to provide enough power to recharge my power station daily so I could use it every night while dry camping.  I’ve been using the solar panel often and I haven’t had any issues. I would recommend without reservation.

New Versus Used

I liked the Rockman Solar Panel so much, I purchased a second panel, so I could hook up one to my travel trailer and one to my power station. When I was purchasing my second panel, I noticed there were used panels for sale through Amazon too for around $50 cheaper, so I purchased a used panel. I wondered if a used panel would have different output than my new panel.

New Vs Used Solar Panel Power Output

So, I set both of panels up on January 11, 2021. Temperature range was from 37 – 60 degrees. I plugged the new panel into my TackLife P50 Portable Power Station and it showed output of 93 watts, then I immediately plugged in the used panel and the power station showed output of 81 watts. So, the used panel put out 13% less watts than the new panel. But, the used panel was 23% cheaper than the new panel, so I decided to keep the panel. Again, I tested the panels during the winter months and I anticipate the power output will be higher during the spring, summer, and fall months. I will eventually update this post with stats during the summer months.

Using your solar panel with your RV

If you’re planning on using your solar panel to charge your RV batteries, you’ll want to check if you have a solar connection port (and what type), solar wiring, and a MPPT solar charge controller in your RV. Before you plug your solar panel into your RV, you should check with your RV dealership, RV manufacturer, and your RV manual before using a solar panel with your RV.

Where to Buy

PAXCESS Rockman 120W/18V Foldable Solar Panel – https://amzn.to/2XSyKId

If you’d like to learn more about my power station, then check out my TackLife P50 Portable Power Station Review. If you’d like to purchase it, see link below:

TackLife P50 Portable Power Station – https://amzn.to/2M4j2Xy

I hope you learned something new from my PAXCESS Rockman 120W/18V Foldable Solar Panel Review. Happy camping!

%d bloggers like this: