Zamp Solar vs. Renogy vs. Go Power

best solar panel kits

To begin with, solar panels have come a long way in recent years, with their immense popularity for a number of reasons.

Although many people have this misconception of solar panels being accessible only to individuals with a hefty amount of income, the ever-evolving market has now developed new ways and strategies to make it available for people of all walks of life.


Therefore, solar panels are not just limited for your home rooftops anymore but also to provide an escape from your daily life to follow adventures and to living life on our terms.

Some of the best solar panel kits in the market are Renogy Solar Panels, Zamp Solar Panels, and Go Power Portable Solar Kits. These companies are known for manufacturing their high-quality panels, controllers, as well as other innovative additions.

But what are the differences between the three? Which one works the best? Let’s discuss about each one of them in detail.

Which Brand Is Best?

To determine the best brand among all, you have to go through what each one of them has to offer and how it may benefit or fulfill your requirements. Each brand has its own strengths and weaknesses; however, Renogy tops the list mostly. 


How long do solar panels usually last? Buying any type of solar panel is almost like taking a leap of faith. The durability of solar panels usually depends on the size, solar panel brand and the intended use of the system as per your convenience.

The lifespan of a solar panel largely depends on factors ranging from how frequently they are cleaned and how well they are maintained even during extreme climatic conditions. On average, a good quality solar panel system may last up to 25-30 years.

Interestingly, if properly taken care of, they can often exceed their expected decades of service. Also, most solar panel systems come with a warranty.


How do solar panels work? To understand the basic functioning, firstly the electricity is generated while light particles separate electrons from atoms.

Each solar panel is a collection of when particles of light separate electrons from atoms. Each solar panel is a collection of photovoltaic cells in which this process occurs, and the photovoltaic cells combine to produce an electric field.

Zamp Solar Review

Zamp solar review

Zamp Solar is known for mainly manufacturing products for people who love to explore. They have developed an impressive community of ambassadors that inspire other people to opt for Zamp Solar systems.

To give names, Gabrielle Nelson, a renowned travel photographer, is one of the prestigious ambassadors of Zamp Solar. Robert Field, a kayak angler who travels to new places for searching exotic fish species, is also a member of the community.

Zamp Solar offers a wide array of high-quality products with versatile set-ups that usually fulfill the terms of living on by one’s own choice, such as on powering vans, campers, buses, etc. They also provide a pretty good warranty on most of its products. Zamp Solar also accepts feedback from customers, which makes them all the more reliable.

Pros

  • 25 years of output warranty.
  • Renewable energy source.
  • Mostly expandable kits.
  • Handcrafted in the USA.
  • Variety of configurations and mounting options available.
  • Easy installation.

Cons

  • The portable panels take up a lot of storage space.
  • Installation may be intimidating, even if it’s not difficult.

Zamp Solar Product Review

9.7
Zamp USP1002
Zamp USP1002
  • Item Dimension: 32.4 x 21.5 x 3.1 inches
  • Maximum Voltage and Power: 12 V & 140 W
  • Integrated 10 amp charge controller
  • 25 years warranty
9.6
Zamp USP1004
Zamp USP1004
  • Item Dimensions: ‎41.5 x 31 x 4.5 inches
  • Maximum Voltage And Power: 12 V & 230 W
  • 15 Amp Integrated charge contoller
  • 25 years Warranty
9.5
Zamp Kit1005
Zamp Kit1005
  • Item Dimensions: 58.3 x 26.4 x 1.5 inches
  • Maximum Voltage & Power: 12 V & 510 W
  • Kit Includes 30-amp charge controller, wiring harness, 3-port roof cap, mounting feet etc.
  • 25 years warranty 

Zamp Solar manufactures and sells almost every product to experience and sustain life off the grid. They group their portfolio into categories such as roof-mounted solar kits, charge controllers, portable solar kits, as well as other accessories. Setting up a solar system for the first time may be overwhelming, but Zamp Solar makes it relatively easy.

1. Roof-Mounted Solar Kits: Zamp Solar roof-mounted solar kits are more versatile than many other brands, and they range from 90 watts to 1000 watts usually. They can be used for conventional purposes such as building roofs, as well as for adventurous purposes such as in RVs and boats. They also come with a 25 years warranty and are expandable up to a certain level.

2. Zamp Solar Panels for RVs: Apart from their versatility, they are also popularly used in RVs since many RVs are built specifically with Zamp Solar power plug-ins.

Zamp Solar panel kits usually provide everything needed in order to harness the sun’s power, including premium solar panels, wiring harness and cables, a 5-stage PWM charge controller, mounting feet and other hardware, and a multi-port roof cap.

The roof-mounting kits by Zamp Solar also ensure off-the-grid facilities while avoiding loud generators and expensive fuel usage.

3. Portable Solar Kits: Interestingly, the portable solar kits can connect to any 12-volt battery, including Lithium batteries. Portable solar kits by Zamp Solar usually range from 45 watts to around 230 watts, and therefore, their fold-out panel systems include an integrated Charge Controller for easy and hassle-free usage.

The brand offers the largest number of varieties when it comes to portable solar kits, depending on various sizes and strengths. Additionally, these kits require no installation and can be put up in less than 5 minutes, making them one of the most convenient options to use in the market.

The portable solar kits include a solar panel, wires, charge controller, and connectors. The steps to set up a portable solar kit include:

i) removing the case and unfolding; ii) pulling out legs and setting up the panel facing direct sunlight; and iii) connecting the kit to a solar part or battery. As for the roof-mounted solar kits, each modern RV nowadays has a Zamp solar port on their roof, making it extremely easy to plug in the Zamp Solar kit.

Note: A PWM or Pulse-Width Modulation is an important aspect for maintaining the batteries and panels’ good health, to monitor and promote their performances.

PWM controllers usually work to reduce the amount of power that goes into the battery. Once the battery is fully charged, the PWM control will allow for a small amount of power to constantly trickle to the battery to keep it always topped up.

Are Zamp Solar Kits Good?

Zamp Solar produces the most innovative products that dwell well with the pre-configured kits to provide the maximum level of convenience and smooth functioning for the customers.

Their product line-up is made up of high-quality materials that are provided with a sufficient warranty. Therefore, Zamp Solar offers you a lifetime experience of off-grid living standards with minimum headaches of solar panel usage and more possibilities for innovative ideas. 

Renogy Review

Renogy solar Review

Renogy was started by a group of students at Louisiana State University, and by the year 2006, they were already known as one of the best brands in the consumer solar power market.

Renogy offers a wide range of product portfolio that includes a number of things apart from solar panels. They also manufacture and sell batteries, connections, tray cables, and other accessories.

They also offer products that you may not associate with solar power initially, such as solar-powered generators, power stations, solar-powered flashlights, etc.

On their official website, they have products from different categories that you may or may not have known existed before, with rightly mentioned points and purposes of their usage and benefits. These products are not only sustainable but also absolutely functional and useful to achieve a means to an end.

Renogy, being one of the cornerstones of the solar industry, provides superior solutions in consumer as well as commercial markets. They bring in the most innovative ideas and products that often leave people in awe.

Therefore, if you’re someone who’s looking for excellent consumer solutions, Renogy will be the perfect place to get your concerns resolves. Of course, everything is related to solar power here.

Also, if you are planning on exploring the off-grid lifestyle, Renogy has kits that will power your devices to fuel your dreams and let you live happily.

Pros

  • 25 years of output warranty.
  • Renewable energy source.
  • Kits are designed for any and every use.
  • Renogy sells everything from portable car jump chargers to solar-powered generators.
  • Variety of configurations and mounting options available.

Cons

  • The potable panels take up a lot of storage space.
  • Installation may be intimidating, even if it’s not difficult.

Renogy Product Review

9.7
Renogy 100 W Solar Panels
Renogy 100 W Solar Panels
  • Item Dimension: 42.2 x 19.6 x 1.38 inches
  • Maximum Voltage and Power: 12 V & 100 W
  • Extremely Durable with Bypass Diodes and Aluminum frames.
  • Easy installation on RVs, Rooftops, Yachts etc.
9.5
Renogy Portable Panel
Renogy Portable Panel
  • Item Dimensions: ‎41.3 x 21.1 x 3.1 inches
  • Maximum Voltage And Power: 12 V & 200 W
  • Adjustable legs to adjust solar panel angle
  • Operates from -40°F to 185°F
9.4
Renogy Kit Starter
Renogy Kit Starter
  • Item Dimensions: 47.01 x 1.5 x 20.87 inches
  • Maximum Voltage & Power: 12 V & 100 W
  • Kit Includes 30-amp charge controller, 100 W solar panel, Mounting Brackets and solar cables.
  • 5 years warranty 

One of the biggest dilemmas that people usually have while deciding on purchasing solar panels is that they often get confused regarding how many panels they need to purchase to produce a sufficient amount of power for their requirements.

While this can be quite an intimidating issue for many people who are investing in solar power devices for the first time, Renogy has the easiest solution to this problem.

They provide a number of innovative kits to specifically satisfy each and every need by describing their kits in ways that is convenient for people to understand in general.

1. Home Solar Kits: Renogy offers three types of home solar kits: the villa package kit, the tiny house package kit, and the cottage package kit.

The tiny house package, i.e., 1200W, is an excellent kit for those adopting the tiny house movement or who have a weekend gateway cabin to power their personal devices for regular usage such as phones, laptops, chargers, tablets, etc. This kit also has the power to charge washers and dryers, as well as other low-drawn appliances.

The cottage package (2500W) and the villa package (4800W), on the other hand, naturally provide more power to keep everything charged. The former is a mid-tier, semi-permanent installation kit that mostly works as a perfect backup system in case you experience frequent power cuts.

It has enough power to run televisions, refrigerators, sound systems, and freezers, as well as all of your personal devices, mentioned previously. The latter package acts as a sufficient kit for being the primary source of power, which is strong enough to support a power tool usage along with all the primary appliances.

2. Solar Kits for RVs/Vans/Trailers: Solar kits for vans by Renogy (100W) is considered as an entry-level kit that is powerful enough to run small electronic devices such as lights, tables, laptops, etc.

The trailer package (200W), on the other hand, falls somewhere in between being an entry-level kit and a mid-tier package kit that offers enough power over the van to run water pumps efficiently. The RV package (400W) is an advanced kit by Renogy that is powerful enough to run televisions and microwaves.

3. Marine Solar Kits: Although there is not enough variations in boat sizes, Renogy offers two types of marine solar kits for its consumers. The small package (200W) is a mid-tier power supply that generally provides you with enough power to run your devices as well as maintain the batteries.

You may hook up a gaming console, fishing lights, laptops, or even other things. The large package (350W) is an advanced system that usually manages everything just like the small package, along with supporting a large battery bank or heavy-draw appliances. However, both the packages come with flexible solar panels, which make them easier to mount at any given tight space.

4. Outdoor Solar Kits for Camping: The outdoor kit by Renogy is a perfect fix for weekend adventures and camping. The package includes a 100W phoenix mini power station with 21W flexible solar panels, which has enough power to charge your phones, tablets, laptops, and even gaming consoles.

5. Trucking Solar Kits: Another type of solar kit that Renogy offers is the trucking solar kit package, which is very similar to that of marine kits.

The small trucking kit (200W) is powerful enough to keep your batteries charged and power televisions, gaming consoles, phones, laptops, etc. On the other hand, the large trucking kit (350W) is powerful enough to keep your HVAC and refrigerator running, along with all the other devices mentioned previously.

Is Renogy Good?

Thus, Renogy is one of the power players in the solar panel industry, and for good reasons. It offers every solar component that a person can think of, given with any kind of configuration, and sells other products apart from solar panels and solar kits.

Their products are often industry-leading, and the company holds a high priority towards direct-to-consumer selling. Therefore, their customer services are nothing robust in nature.

Go Power Review

Go power solar review

Some RVs come with pre-installed Go Power solar panels, which depicts the fact that they are well respected in the solar panel industry. Go Power usually focuses its products mostly on fleet products than the residential and industrial ones.

For example, they install solar panels on trucks to power lift gates. Therefore, they are preciously focused on commercial business and largely offer consumer products through dealers.

Pros

  • 25 years of output warranty.
  • Renewable energy source.
  • Rigid and flexible panels.
  • Most established competitor.
  • Pre-installed on some RVs.

Cons

  • Steady and functional but not cutting-edge.
  • Portable panels are not weatherproof.

Go Power Product Review

9.8
Go Power! GP-PSK-130
Go Power! GP-PSK-130
  • Item Dimension: 32.48 x 2.76 x 19.88 inches
  • Maximum Voltage and Power: 18 V & 130 W
  • Fold-able legs to maximize sun exposure
  • Comes with a carrying case
9.5
Renogy Portable Panel
Renogy Portable Panel
  • Item Dimensions: ‎‎58.3 x 26.5 x 1.4 inches
  • Maximum Voltage And Power: 12 V & 190 W
  • Includes MC4 parallel connectors
  • Designed for RVs, Cabins, Marines & Cottages
9.4
Go Power! Solar Elite
Go Power! Solar Elite
  • Item Dimensions: ‎64 x 30.7 x 20 inches
  • Output Power: 2000 W
  • Kit Includes all solar, inverter, installation hardware and smart battery components required.
  • Warranty: 25 years on panels, 5 on Solar Controller & 3 years on Inverter.

If you are someone who likes to purchase from a dealer rather than spending countless hours online deciding on a product, Go Power is the one for you.

It has a long history of being one of the reputed dealers in the market and the biggest competitor of all other big brands. Also, they do have products available everywhere online, which makes the whole process convenient and less intimidating for people who prefer to purchase online.

Now, every brand has its own ways of ensuring you choose the right solar kit as per your convenience. Therefore, if you decide to pay a visit to Go Power, these are the following kits that you’ll be on a lookout for:

1. RV Solar Kits: The brand offers three different types of kits for all the RVs requirements. The primary solar panel produces around 190W of power, and the systems include one panel, two panels (380W), and three panels (570W), respectively.

The Weekender system by Go Power is also compatible with 30 amp service, although you’ll require upgrading to the Solar Elite system in case you wish to have 50 amp capacities.

The Solar Elite system (380W) has adequate power to support full-time RV-ing needs and charge all your devices as well as medium-draw appliances.

However, for lightweight RVs, marine kits are best suited since they can withstand up to 30 degrees of a curve, making them easier to install on certain rooftops. They also do come with a 5-years warranty.

2. Marine Solar Kits: Go Power marine kits usually use a flexible panel system that can be attached with the help of adhesive or screws.

The primary benefit of this system is that consumers are not required to add custom mounting to install these solar panels. The panels are mostly flexible enough and can fit in most places.

The 50-watt kits by Go Power are considered as the starter kit, which is usually sufficient to keep all the personal devices charged. The company also offers 100W and 200W marine solar systems for occasions when you require more power.

3. Portable Solar Kits: Go Power offers three kinds of portable solar kits that range from 90-200W. These kits are fairly standard and perfect for RV-ing, tailgating, etc.

Is Go Power Good?

Go Power manufactures and sells dependable solar power systems as well as chargers, batteries, and inverters, although they do not have a strong direct-to-consumer business approach. They do have a wide market of consumers and are widespread among the market.

What Is The Best Solar Panel Brand?

The best option for RV-ing is definitely Zamp Solar kits if your RV or camper has an already built-in Zamp Solar plug-in. Beyond convenience, the company offers a number of innovative ideas for its products that often catch the interest of the consumers. Therefore, Zamp Solar is all about making your adventures entertaining and happy.

However, if you’re looking for other options than RVs and Campers, Renogy is an excellent choice. The company is almost similar to Zamp Solar, apart from the fact that it has proven to be more forward-thinking and creative. Their periphery product line-up mostly reflects their love for everything solar-powered, which in return makes the customers go ahead and choose them.

They have a wide array of products and innovative creations that are often mind-boggling for people who are purchasing solar kits for the first time.

Renogy sells a number of products to keep all your personal devices such as phones, tablets, laptops (check best solar laptop charger) charged, as well as to run gaming systems, televisions, and a few refrigerators and freezers.

On the other hand, Go Power provides you with the freedom to explore new places with relatively less expenses.

It is because generators and solar systems usually require an upfront investment to head start, whereas Go Power is cost-effective with minimal expenses compared to that of the operation of a heavy and noisy generator. They are also more peaceful and reliable than the traditional generators.

Therefore, from the above discussion, it is visibly clear how Renogy impacts its large variety of innovative creations and helps people cater to their wishes by providing them with exactly what they require in terms of solar panels and solar kits. Hence, it could be said that Renogy is a better option than Zamp Solar and Go Power when it comes to customer satisfaction and fulfillment.

Conclusion

There are quite a number of things why solar panels are so convenient. They are mostly cost-effective and use renewable energy. They are also relatively low maintenance. To keep solar panels adequately maintained, you must keep them clean and regularly inspect your setup for loose connections and damage.

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