Thanks for the review. I bought the Allspark on special for $721. It's currently putting out 160W, or 70% of its rated output. That's actually better than my home rooftop panels which are putting out only 45% of their rated output at exectly the same time!
Jack you are a gentleman and a scholar, thank you very much! Yeah 70% is pretty good, this is about the time of year I was testing mine, and you'll probably find it heads north of 80% in the warmer months! Good choice, and thanks again!
Splendid thanks for letting me know Ronald, that's a great decision! Please share the video with your friends on social media/ forums so others can benefit from it!
Just bought the Kings blanket for $149. Means $1.77/W vs $5.44/W based on your results. Means I could buy a new kings blanket every year for 5 years and have 5 years worth of warranty and still cost less. For 6.5x the price you really don't get 6.5x the output and even if the kings only lasts 2 years it'd mean you need 13 years out of the allspark to be roughly equal. Kings is cheap, sure, but you also showed wear on a brand new allspark so it doesn't look to me like a massive difference in quality material. The panels maybe, but the rest is on par. I enjoy your reviews for actual testing over multiple days and appreciate the effort you put into providing this info. I personally just don't understand spending that kind of money for something that isn't that much better.
Hi mate, Thanks for the comment. You're right that as far as economics goes, the Kings makes a lot of sense upfront. However the economic argument isn't the only argument for some people. Reliability doesn't matter for weekend warriors who can easily return a faulty unit on Monday, but for a full-time traveller a failed solar blanket in the middle of the Simpson Desert could be a big problem. That alone may be enough to put people off Kings, and my experience with Kings means I wouldn't trust them for remote travel. Even economically, we had our second one fail in NT and had to pay a couple of hundred to stay at a powered caravan site instead of free camping. Straightaway that brings the Kings up to about half the cost of the Allspark which changes the economics too, quite apart from the inconvenience of suddenly having to change plans, fault-find the problem for Kings, go through the warranty and return process, set up a temporary delivery address in Alice Springs to get the replacement etc etc etc. The argument about buying a new one every year and still being in front is also true, but those with strong environmental sensitivities would baulk at all that extra e-waste. So those sorts of factors work strongly against the Kings. But for a weekender a few times a year, it's a good choice. Glad you're enjoying the content. Yeah it does take a while to put it all together, nice to know it's appreciated! Cheers, Greg
we have a now older Kickass 200 watt blanket and are quite impressed with its performance. as well the power cable that came with it is 8mm2. it did come with a 20amp pwm controller but we now use a 25amp redarc dcdc charger in solar mode as we had it spare after going to lithium in our landcruiser aux battery. i think the only blanked Kickass do now is a 160watt.
Sounds good! Have you been able to measure its power output? It would be interesting to know what it's producing. The cable sounds nice and thick, is that the cross-section of the wire itself or including the insulation? I've had a few 'thick' cables with very thick insulation but thinner wire than some overall 'thinner' cables!
@@TheMusingGreg yes its def 8mm2 crosssectional area, we do power systems for hf radio bases so used to seeing this stuff, have not yet done measurements bit is way better than the 160w ridgid panel we got with our camper (Powertech i think) even with the crap internal "controller" bypassed and using the same redarc bcdc1225 mppt. we will be away in october so will do some testing then
I'm going back and forth on what solar to get for my Kickass Powerstation. I'm currently running a fridge, but plan on adding area lighting and a propane heater to my typical camping gear.
@@toddmaliepaard9777 Do you know what wattage panel you need to be shopping for? If not, here's a quick formula. Add up the total amps your fridge and lights draw in 24 hours Amps in 24 hours * 3.6 = Wattage of the solar panel / blanket you should go shopping for (not including Kings and other cheapies which are way over-advertised) Here's the long answer. Add up how many amps your fridge and lighting draw in a day, then divide it by 24 to get the average hourly load. Whichever solar panel / blanket you choose, you'll need it to generate that in about 5 hours of good sunny conditions per day. Also, assume a good panel or blanket will only produce about 2/3 of its rated capacity in most conditions. Run your panel through a MPPT regulator to maximise the power into your batteries. Example: Fridge: 2A per hour, compressor running for 8 hours a day = 16A in 24 hours Lights: 4A for 4 hours = 16A in 24 hours Total amperage = 32A per day 32A @ 12V = 384W per day is what your panel needs to generate in its 5 hours of good sunlight. Power needed per hour: 384/5 = 76W Assume it only produces 2/3 of its rating. 76/0.67 = 115W So you'd be shopping for a good quality 120W panel or blanket at a minimum. I would go 150W or more to be on the safe side. Check out iTechWorld at the moment, they have a good sale on right now.
@@TheMusingGreg I went to purchase the Hard Korr 200w Solar blanket as it is pretty much the same as the allspark I think/hope. So far I am pretty happy with build quality and output. I don't see the point in buying super cheap just to replace the unit every year and pruduce tons of rubbish this way.
@@frederikolurchmann6340 It looks similar with the legs, though there are a few differences. The HardKorr is only 200W vs 225W for the Allspark; it has 4 panels vs 5 on the AllSpark, and from the description the HardKorr doesn't use SunPower cells like the AllSpark. To be honest for the extra $120 I would have gone for the AllSpark just for the sake of the SunPower cells. But chances are you'll still have a good run with the HardKorr. Cheers, Greg
@@TheMusingGreg yep that's true. The smaller sizer factor once its opened up works a bit better for me. The power output is good enough for my use and way better than what you messured on the kingz panel. Again, thank you for doing all these comparison videos. 👍
@@frederikolurchmann6340 No problems at all, glad it helped you come to a purchasing decision you're happy with. What's best for you is the only conclusion which matters!
We have both brands and Allspark are certainly better quality. the big thing to remember with all this style is to wipe the panels down after use as dust on the surface will scuff the panel surfaces when folded.
Thanks for recommending it, I'm impressed with it! Yep that's a good tip, although I think more important for the Kings with its cheap coating and flat surface. I treated the Kings and Redarc the same last time and the Redarc didn't degrade at all.
@@TheMusingGreg have you compared the kings 250watt folding panel? I’ve measured mine at the battery after an mppt controller and I was getting 194-210 watts into the battery
@@coolstar2398 No I've not played with their panels, only the blankets. Unfortunately I don't have room for panels in my setup at the moment, but I understand panels generally perform better than blankets so I'm not too surprised by your results.
Great video, many thanks for all the detail. I've had cheaper panels which don't last, however now looking at a few options for the SunPower cells, have been looking the Sunman eArc 235 blanket but out of stock everywhere, Bluetti does not offer the 5 year warranty, then saw your video as I was looking for something that you could stand up as well as fold compact with the warranty. After seeing your video I've ordered the AllSpark, looking forward to testing it on an upcoming trip, thanks again for the honest feedback. Interesting comment from Redarc you quote below, but cannot help thinking warranty speaks for itself!
My pleasure mate, glad it was helpful. Enjoy the Allspark, it's a great unit. The way they say to set it up is fold out one leg, set that first panel up, then unfold the second leg, fold out the second panel and put it in position and work your way along until you've done all five.
Excellent Video thanks, one question about connecting the Allspark solar blanket in parallel to a existing solar panel and regulator does the Open Circuit Voltage have to be identical ? The preferred Allspark panel specification is 23.3v and my existing panel (200w) is 27.14v will I lose much power, efficiency ? cheers
Yes you will lose some power as the Allspark will be sinking some power from your existing panel. In solar panels are really designed to deliver electrical power, not to absorb it. It would be better to have two identical solar regulators, put one on the output of each panel, and then connect the output of each regulator in parallel and then run to your battery. This will still mean that one regulator may be absorbing a bit of power from the other, but it's likely to give a better result.
The ten meter long cable on the king's would surely reduce the voltage and current supplied. Wouldn't it be fairer to shorten the king's cable so they are the same length. Unsure if you did this in the redarc test too. I did watch it but only thought of it during this test
If you look at the data table at 12:46 column O, you'll see I used a few different cables during this test. This is because this test is all about showing what you can expect from both blankets "in the real world" which means under varying conditions, not just the maximum possible in rare ideal circumstances. In the real world you sometimes have to have the blanket further away to get in the sun and thus need a longer cable. On every test, I used the same cable on both blankets one immediately after the other to ensure it's fair. I never did a test using the 10m in the Kings and comparing the output with a shorter cable on the Allspark as that wouldn't be a fair comparison. You're right that a longer cable would create more voltage drop, and I've actually measured that as part of the 4 way shootout I'm currently working on, so make sure you subscribe if that's is interest.
Enjoyed the video thanks for the efforts in making it. Future video suggestion could you review the SunMan 235w Portable Folding Solar Blanket. It looks interesting and is a slightly higher voltage solar blanket.
Thanks for the comment mate, yeah I agree it looks odd but the results I've had have been consistent across several units. Was yours a panel or a blanket? And how old was it?
Good review Greg. I'm about to buy the Allspark 225W from offroad living for $721. Do you have an affiliate link that gives you a kickback? I'm happy to use it if you do.
Thanks for asking Jack, but unfortunately no they don't offer rebates to people who give them free publicity! 🙄 If you want to support me you can use the Thanks button but obviously that goes on top of the $721 so I understand if you choose not to. Good choice either way mate it's a great product and it comes with a thick 5m cable now which wasn't included when I tested it.
New subscriber. Would the Allspark still be top of your list in Australian market at the moment? If not, what else? I’m looking to get something in the Boxing Day sales right now. For use with a wind up camper (Goldstream) AGM battery, then later will be moved between car and camper once I mount a fixed panel on the camper roof. Thanks for your efforts
Welcome mate, glad to have you along! Yep the Allspark is still my favourite out of the ones I've tested so far. As I mentioned it may not be the best choice for occasional travellers, it's probably a bit of an overkill, but if you're looking at something for the long term I would definitely recommend it. Only consideration will be storage when it's folded as the panels are on the large size, but I covered that in the video. Hope this helps, let me know if you have any other questions. Cheers, Greg
Hi mate, I checked with Allspark and this was their response: "The blanket hasn't really got an "IP" rating per se. The panels are obviously waterproof being the sunpower cells with ETFE laminate. But the outer casing is a heavy duty canvas which gives it a fair amount of protection against the elements but means its not 100% "waterproof". Leaving it out overnight in the rain wouldn't be best practice but it won't affect the panel long term so long as it is dried out properly."
Thanks for the suggestion, I'll add it to the list. If you happen to know of one you're able to get sent to me temporarily to review that will make it quicker, but regardless I'll add it to the list for a future review.
@@noodlefoo Thanks for the info. In what way isn't it living up to your expectations? How was it when it was new and has it just degraded over time perhaps (which would happen to most blankets)?
@@TheMusingGreg I have only used it for fewer than 10 weekend trips, one day charging just drops to under 1A despite bright sunny condition. Asked the seller anyway I can get it assessed and was told not possible as the product has been discontinued.
@@noodlefoo Wow that sounds pretty poor. It would be worth contacting the manufacturer about this rather than the seller, although I would expect after four years you're not going to get much sympathy even though it's only been lightly used. Lesson for next time though :(
Hi mate. Another great video. I’m looking to spend around $1000 on the highest output blanket I can get. Looking at allspark, Baintech, bluetti and projecta. Any you could recommend? Thanks!
Hi Amy, thanks for the feedback, glad you enjoyed it! Of the four you've mentioned I've only had experience with the Allspark, however I spent a few minutes looking at the websites of the others and with the caveat of no personal experience, on paper the Allspark would still be my pick for what you've said you want - it's got a 225W rating, SunPower cells and $849 so ticks all the boxes. The max rated output of the ones you mentioned is 200W (vs 225W on the Allspark). Specific differences are: * Baintech 180W - consider it a slightly cheaper, slightly more powerful version of the old 150W Redarc. It has SunPower cells like the Allspark (and old Redarc) but it's more expensive ($1189 vs $849) and doesn't have legs. Form factor is very similar to the Redarc. It's also above your budget of $1000 unless you can find it cheaper. But even for the same price I'd take the Allspark unless you needed a very small footprint. * Bluetti 200W - slightly cheaper ($799 vs $849) and has legs, but no eyelets or loops for hanging horizontally and they don't mention the folded thickness, but looks like it could be thicker. Uses monocrystalline cells, not SunPower. * Projecta 180W - also slightly cheaper ($799 vs $849) and has legs too (different though, metal rods), but heavier than AllSpark (8.3 vs6.5kg). Uses monocrystalline cells, not SunPower. If you're looking at options in the 180-200W range, another option to consider would be the new 160W Redarc for $795 if you want that small footprint but don't care about legs or SunPower cells. But obviously that's even less power again than the others on your list. I am assuming here that all of the above blankets produce about 80% of their rated output. If any of them consistently produced 200W (more than the 170W max I got from the AllSpark), it might be worth a closer look if max power was a burning criteria. But I've never seen a blanket produce its rated power in the field so I'd be surprised if that was the case. Hope this helps, as always do your own research to work out what will suit you as I don't know your requirements. Cheers, Greg
I’d be very interested in a comparison between the Hard Korr 200w panel and the Kings. Hard Korr run about $570 for the kit and seem to offer similar features to the AllSpark. Seems almost too good to be true though
Thanks for the suggestion, yes Hard Korr has been suggested before and I'm interested in getting hold of one. One immediate difference is that it doesn't use SunPower cells, so I would expect the efficiency to be lower than on the Allspark. But it would be interesting to actually test it, for sure!
I have both. I run 2 x king 200w blankets in parallel through a 20amp mppt. This setup is cheaper than the 200w Hard Korr and produces around 2.5 more amps
@@MrFastFarmer That's interesting. I wonder how long the Kings blankets will keep performing at that level? My experience has been that they've dropped in output fairly quickly. Also Kings has a 12 month warranty vs 3 years on Hard Korr. Stay tuned as I'm looking at the Hard Korr plus a couple of others at the moment - ua-cam.com/video/2sRO7alXiac/v-deo.html is the teaser if you've not seen it yet.
@@TheMusingGreg Your comparison videos are great and really appreciate the in-depth output results. Any ETA on the Hardkorr results? Tearing my hair out trying to decide if the Allspark is worth the extra $300 (the 5 year warranty is tempting me). Thanks for your efforts.
@@MrCurnzy I've done most of the testing now but it'll take some time to put it all together. But this may help: The Hard Korr certainly hasn't reached the same 186W peak as the Allspark did - the most it's gotten so far is about 147W; however TYPICAL performance under varied conditions is in the same ballpark. Call the Allspark's performance say 15% better than the Korr for argument's sake and ask yourself how much that matters to you. The Allspark's somewhat smaller and lighter than the Hard Korr - Allspark's 56x44cm and 6.5kg folded up, Korr is 72x53 and 11.6kg though that includes a regulator which didn't come with the Allspark. I find the extra size and weight of the Korr annoying and makes it cumbersome, but if you need a regulator you'd have to buy that separately if you got the Allspark. The legs are basically the same, as is the panel surface and the panel body. Korr has a 3 year warranty vs 5 years for the Allspark. The Hard Korr is excellent value for money. Between the two, if $600 was already a stretch and you've got room to store the Korr then go for it, it should serve you well. I personally find its size and weight annoying (especially as I have three other smaller and lighter blankets to choose from at the moment) but that may be a price you're willing to pay for what else you get for the money. If the budget will stretch to the Allspark and you already have cables and a regulator, you're not losing anything by going to the Allspark but you're gaining a bit of performance, a lighter and more compact package and a bit extra warranty. So if you can justify the extra money it will probably work better. Hope this helps until the review comes along, let me know if you have any other questions.
Hi Dejan, Their web page for the replacement blanket www.redarc.com.au/160w-solar-blanket-monocrystalline-cells makes no mention of SunPower cells, so my assumption is that it's using some other brand cell. However I've contacted Redarc to get clarification on that fairly important point and will get back to you if I hear anything. Cheers, Greg
Hi Dejan, Redarc's just gotten back to me. The relevant part is: "The new blankets utilise monocrystalline cells which does make them more affordable than the previous SunPower offering. I’m advised that we would no longer have access to the same quality SunPower cells going forward and as a result, looked at alternate cell types in similar wattages to service our customers. Focus being as always on quality of cell, performance and value for money for prospective customers. Another thing to note is that these blankets are coming from the same supplier, with the same quality levels and the same level of testing done. So whilst they aren’t SunPower cells, they still perform similarly, they are assembled to the same quality level and they will be warranted by REDARC for the same period" So short answer is no they're not SunPower cells, but Redarc reckons they'll perform comparably and are backing it with the same warranty. And the price is halved (interestingly right around the $800 I asked for...). So it *should* be a good choice to consider. Cheers, Greg
@@TheGuro9 Dollar for dollar, I'd still take the Allspark. More power, a storage pouch and comes with legs which is the biggest plus for me. The only plus of the Redarc in my view is its smaller footprint if you need to store it in a smaller nook, though if that's a factor then certainly consider the Redarc. But I'd not want to pay much more than about $500-600 otherwise the Allspark is probably worth the small additional expense.
It wouldn't surprise me if there's a damaged cell in that kings blanket you should at least get 9 amps out of a 200w panel in optimal conditions, I get 7 amps out of my 125w companion blanket
I can understand it might look that way but I've done reviews on three previous Kings blankets on my channel and they've all had the same issue with low output. Check out ua-cam.com/video/cfCM_p21cGs/v-deo.html and ua-cam.com/video/AActNzBZ9FA/v-deo.html
You're probably right but did I contradict that? I was using 2x100Ah AGM batteries in this test, not Lithium. And as per 10:57 I was charging them using the Redarc MPPT DC-DC charger, not the Kings charger.
@@TheMusingGreg No you weren't contradicting anything. I went to kings page and checked out their kit and I read that their MPPT cannot feed Lifepo4 batteries. What I meant with my comment was that the King Kit is even more limited with regard to the newer technology since you can get fairly cheap lifepo4 batteries with inbuilt BMS management these days.... even second hand lifepo4 batteries.
If you are only spending a day or two in any location and driving in between, a Kings blanket is probably fine. A five year guarantee is only as good as the company behind it and whether they will be around in five years.
I'd generally agree, providing those locations aren't too far from civilisation or another source of power. Your point about the warranty's true; I would hope Allspark would be but you never know.
kings all products are cheaper, but they are not worth, they are always disappointing, i couple of time tried them, was a bad experience. i buy lithium battery 120ah from them, but it only charge upto 70%. Took back to them after two days but they refuse to exchange it.
Hi mate, yes I know the controller supplied with the Kings blanket is PWM, not MPPT (did I say it was MPPT somewhere?). I wasn't using the Kings controller in these tests anyway - as per the diagram at 10:55, all tests were done with a Redarc MPPT controller. Cheers!
those MPPT controllers aren't much better then the PWM controllers the blankets them self are pretty good for the price but those kings controller are just garbage I don't know if I would trust them on are long trip in remote area's, personally if I was to use that blanket I would get are decent controller like are Red Arc or Kick Ass.
Hi mate, I didn't use (or even mention I don't think) the Kings MPPT controller, although I've used one and found it performed similarly to the Redarc one. As per 10:55 I was using the Redarc MPPT controller. Cheers!
Enough testing of the kings stuff now. U should test a medium priced blanket vs a high end. Something like a kt cables 300w vs an allspark or red arc. Is a medium priced panel as good or can it hold its own against the big boys. Great vidyas you lil scientist you lol 👌👌👌💪💪
The funny thing is, originally this video was just going to be reviewing the Allspark, it didn't start off as comparison with Kings at all. But I thought it might be useful to keep that as a benchmark so there was something to compare it to, so it ended up that way. But I agree it would be great to compare some of the midrange ones so thanks for the suggestion!
@@krump743 Thanks mate, that's exactly the lay of the land! I'm only interested in finding products which work for me and sharing that with others. Cheers!
The price per blanket and output. You could buy three kings for the price of the allspark and have a tonne more power. You didn’t put this into your calculations. Shame. Bad math man. lol. Just kidding. Good video
Haha glad you enjoyed it! Yeah kings is a lot cheaper, but after a few years you'd have three half dead blankets, whereas the Allspark would still be going strong. Plus the legs on the Allspark means you'd get better performance the whole time too.
At 3x the price you would expect the Allsparks to be much better! If it wasn’t you would be ripped. I don’t believe it was a fair comparison as comments are bagging Kings for an entry level blanket at an entry level price against a premium blanket at a premium price. And ONLY 1.5 times $/watt extra. Seriously!
Thanks for the comment mate. In what way exactly would you expect it to be better? It's advertised at 225W, would you expect it to put out 300W or something? The Allspark reliably puts out about 80% of its rated capacity in real-world conditions, vs the Kings which puts out about 40% of its rating. So the Allspark is much more accurate in its advertising than the very misleading Kings, and I think this deserves to be called out. Three years ago I calculated that I needed 100W of solar for my setup so bought a 120W Kings blanket. It struggled to provide 40W so was utterly useless for my needs. I wouldn't be surprised if, in the same position, you too would be feel pretty ripped off because you got a product that simply doesn't do what it's advertised as doing. I don't think it's unfair to 'bag' false advertising. As far as the rest of my comments, I'm just pointing out the benefits and deficiencies of each product so people can understand what they're losing if they choose to buy a cheaper blanket, or whether the benefits of the Allspark really matter to them, so they can then make an informed decision as to which suits them best. Someone could easily look at them both and ask "Why should I pay an extra $600 for the Allspark when it only puts out an 25W?". That's what this video's answering. If all you're looking for is maximum power per dollar (vs maximum absolute power) then choose the Kings - just don't expect to get 200W and don't expect it to last. But if you're only travelling a few times a year and are happy with that solution, the Kings is probably the right product for you. I have no problem recommending it for that sort of buyer. I just worry that many people who have more demanding needs may be misled into buying a Kings when in fact it won't do the job for them.
@@TheMusingGreg I found your video very interesting and informative but at the end of it the first thing that came to mind to me was, its like comparing a $25K car against a $75K car. They are "basically" the same... Motor, Body, Wheels but one is far superior to the other and should be, and you would expect it to be "much better". Your video is very detailed and and as i said, informative. I enjoyed it but please next time compare apples with apples.
@livingmorelife You're 100% right - this video isn't, and wasn't intended to be, an 'apples for apples' comparison, as far as the positioning in the market of the two products. Your analogy about the cars is a great one - the video was looking at two products which are advertised with comparable output but at very different prices, so is attempting to help people understand what extra they get for their money. Just as with car buyers who may wonder what they're getting for the extra $50k if they were to buy a more expensive vehicle, potential solar blanket buyers would wonder why they should or shouldn't consider paying so much for for an Allspark. Until you know what the differences, you can't decide if they're worth it to you. I am hoping to compare other blankets in the same market segment in the future; it just gets an expensive exercise when the blankets cost several hundred dollars each, especially since I don't need any more solar blankets myself now, so I have to choose carefully unless suppliers or owners are willing to loan me their product (like Jeff did for the Allspark in this review, and Redarc did previously).
UPDATE: Pretty unhappy with the 200w Kings solar blanket we bought. The connection on the back of the panel has come completely off and so now there is no output from the panels. The unit may be out of warranty but it really did not see a lot of use. The Allspark 130w panel we have is much older and still working fine so I have to say we are never likely to buy another Kings solar blanket.
Thanks for the update. Yeah unfortunately I'm not surprised to read your experiences. The past few years of solar blankets from Kings haven't been that great, apparently earlier ones weren't too bad. Glad to hear the Allspark is still going strong!
Solar blankets get a bad rap so I would never buy them. Adventure King's 4WD do get a good rap for their MPPT solar charge controllers, and their fixed panels
I'm not sure who says their MPPT controllers get a good rap. I've tested them and they're barely better than the PWM ones. I've got a review coming up where some PWM ones thrash the pants off the Kings MPPT regulators. If you're interested in seeing that make sure you subscribe and turn on notifications as I reckon it'll answer a few questions.
Haha no mate, and believe me it would make editing a lot easier if I didn't blur my face all the time! 😄 It's mainly to make the channel as impartial as possible: 1) I can judge in-store service knowing the staff don't recognise me so I'm getting the same treatment as any other customer, and 2) If a company doesn't like what I say about them it would be much harder for them to track me down and sue me (as has happened recently to another UA-camr) if they don't know who I am. It's also why I place online orders under different names.
![[TESTED] KINGS vs REDARC solar blankets - shoot-out! 🤠](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/AActNzBZ9FA/mqdefault.jpg)
![[TESTED] KINGS vs REDARC solar blankets - shoot-out! 🤠](/img/tr.png)
![[FAILED 2x] Adventure Kings Solar Blanket - should you buy one??](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/cfCM_p21cGs/mqdefault.jpg)
Thanks for the review. I bought the Allspark on special for $721. It's currently putting out 160W, or 70% of its rated output. That's actually better than my home rooftop panels which are putting out only 45% of their rated output at exectly the same time!
Jack you are a gentleman and a scholar, thank you very much! Yeah 70% is pretty good, this is about the time of year I was testing mine, and you'll probably find it heads north of 80% in the warmer months! Good choice, and thanks again!
Well done ,excellent explanation of both,helped me decide what I wanted now,cheers,(alspark)👍👍
Splendid thanks for letting me know Ronald, that's a great decision! Please share the video with your friends on social media/ forums so others can benefit from it!
Just bought the Kings blanket for $149. Means $1.77/W vs $5.44/W based on your results. Means I could buy a new kings blanket every year for 5 years and have 5 years worth of warranty and still cost less. For 6.5x the price you really don't get 6.5x the output and even if the kings only lasts 2 years it'd mean you need 13 years out of the allspark to be roughly equal. Kings is cheap, sure, but you also showed wear on a brand new allspark so it doesn't look to me like a massive difference in quality material. The panels maybe, but the rest is on par. I enjoy your reviews for actual testing over multiple days and appreciate the effort you put into providing this info. I personally just don't understand spending that kind of money for something that isn't that much better.
Hi mate,
Thanks for the comment. You're right that as far as economics goes, the Kings makes a lot of sense upfront. However the economic argument isn't the only argument for some people. Reliability doesn't matter for weekend warriors who can easily return a faulty unit on Monday, but for a full-time traveller a failed solar blanket in the middle of the Simpson Desert could be a big problem. That alone may be enough to put people off Kings, and my experience with Kings means I wouldn't trust them for remote travel. Even economically, we had our second one fail in NT and had to pay a couple of hundred to stay at a powered caravan site instead of free camping. Straightaway that brings the Kings up to about half the cost of the Allspark which changes the economics too, quite apart from the inconvenience of suddenly having to change plans, fault-find the problem for Kings, go through the warranty and return process, set up a temporary delivery address in Alice Springs to get the replacement etc etc etc. The argument about buying a new one every year and still being in front is also true, but those with strong environmental sensitivities would baulk at all that extra e-waste. So those sorts of factors work strongly against the Kings. But for a weekender a few times a year, it's a good choice.
Glad you're enjoying the content. Yeah it does take a while to put it all together, nice to know it's appreciated!
Cheers,
Greg
we have a now older Kickass 200 watt blanket and are quite impressed with its performance. as well the power cable that came with it is 8mm2. it did come with a 20amp pwm controller but we now use a 25amp redarc dcdc charger in solar mode as we had it spare after going to lithium in our landcruiser aux battery. i think the only blanked Kickass do now is a 160watt.
Sounds good! Have you been able to measure its power output? It would be interesting to know what it's producing. The cable sounds nice and thick, is that the cross-section of the wire itself or including the insulation? I've had a few 'thick' cables with very thick insulation but thinner wire than some overall 'thinner' cables!
@@TheMusingGreg yes its def 8mm2 crosssectional area, we do power systems for hf radio bases so used to seeing this stuff, have not yet done measurements bit is way better than the 160w ridgid panel we got with our camper (Powertech i think) even with the crap internal "controller" bypassed and using the same redarc bcdc1225 mppt. we will be away in october so will do some testing then
Cool thanks for the info! That cable sounds good. Will be interested to hear what you find next trip!
I'm going back and forth on what solar to get for my Kickass Powerstation. I'm currently running a fridge, but plan on adding area lighting and a propane heater to my typical camping gear.
@@toddmaliepaard9777 Do you know what wattage panel you need to be shopping for? If not, here's a quick formula.
Add up the total amps your fridge and lights draw in 24 hours
Amps in 24 hours * 3.6 = Wattage of the solar panel / blanket you should go shopping for (not including Kings and other cheapies which are way over-advertised)
Here's the long answer. Add up how many amps your fridge and lighting draw in a day, then divide it by 24 to get the average hourly load. Whichever solar panel / blanket you choose, you'll need it to generate that in about 5 hours of good sunny conditions per day. Also, assume a good panel or blanket will only produce about 2/3 of its rated capacity in most conditions. Run your panel through a MPPT regulator to maximise the power into your batteries.
Example:
Fridge: 2A per hour, compressor running for 8 hours a day = 16A in 24 hours
Lights: 4A for 4 hours = 16A in 24 hours
Total amperage = 32A per day
32A @ 12V = 384W per day is what your panel needs to generate in its 5 hours of good sunlight.
Power needed per hour: 384/5 = 76W
Assume it only produces 2/3 of its rating.
76/0.67 = 115W
So you'd be shopping for a good quality 120W panel or blanket at a minimum. I would go 150W or more to be on the safe side.
Check out iTechWorld at the moment, they have a good sale on right now.
Thank you for all your effort to put this comparison together. Really helped me with my purchase decision.
My pleasure! What did you decide in the end?
@@TheMusingGreg I went to purchase the Hard Korr 200w Solar blanket as it is pretty much the same as the allspark I think/hope. So far I am pretty happy with build quality and output. I don't see the point in buying super cheap just to replace the unit every year and pruduce tons of rubbish this way.
@@frederikolurchmann6340 It looks similar with the legs, though there are a few differences. The HardKorr is only 200W vs 225W for the Allspark; it has 4 panels vs 5 on the AllSpark, and from the description the HardKorr doesn't use SunPower cells like the AllSpark. To be honest for the extra $120 I would have gone for the AllSpark just for the sake of the SunPower cells. But chances are you'll still have a good run with the HardKorr.
Cheers,
Greg
@@TheMusingGreg yep that's true. The smaller sizer factor once its opened up works a bit better for me. The power output is good enough for my use and way better than what you messured on the kingz panel. Again, thank you for doing all these comparison videos. 👍
@@frederikolurchmann6340 No problems at all, glad it helped you come to a purchasing decision you're happy with. What's best for you is the only conclusion which matters!
We have both brands and Allspark are certainly better quality. the big thing to remember with all this style is to wipe the panels down after use as dust on the surface will scuff the panel surfaces when folded.
Thanks for recommending it, I'm impressed with it! Yep that's a good tip, although I think more important for the Kings with its cheap coating and flat surface. I treated the Kings and Redarc the same last time and the Redarc didn't degrade at all.
@@TheMusingGreg have you compared the kings 250watt folding panel? I’ve measured mine at the battery after an mppt controller and I was getting 194-210 watts into the battery
@@coolstar2398 No I've not played with their panels, only the blankets. Unfortunately I don't have room for panels in my setup at the moment, but I understand panels generally perform better than blankets so I'm not too surprised by your results.
Great video, many thanks for all the detail. I've had cheaper panels which don't last, however now looking at a few options for the SunPower cells, have been looking the Sunman eArc 235 blanket but out of stock everywhere, Bluetti does not offer the 5 year warranty, then saw your video as I was looking for something that you could stand up as well as fold compact with the warranty. After seeing your video I've ordered the AllSpark, looking forward to testing it on an upcoming trip, thanks again for the honest feedback. Interesting comment from Redarc you quote below, but cannot help thinking warranty speaks for itself!
My pleasure mate, glad it was helpful. Enjoy the Allspark, it's a great unit. The way they say to set it up is fold out one leg, set that first panel up, then unfold the second leg, fold out the second panel and put it in position and work your way along until you've done all five.
Another great, informative and well thought out video. Thanks. 😉
My pleasure, glad it was helpful!
Excellent Video thanks, one question about connecting the Allspark solar blanket in parallel to a existing solar panel and regulator does the Open Circuit Voltage have to be identical ? The preferred Allspark panel specification is 23.3v and my existing panel (200w) is 27.14v will I lose much power, efficiency ? cheers
Yes you will lose some power as the Allspark will be sinking some power from your existing panel. In solar panels are really designed to deliver electrical power, not to absorb it. It would be better to have two identical solar regulators, put one on the output of each panel, and then connect the output of each regulator in parallel and then run to your battery. This will still mean that one regulator may be absorbing a bit of power from the other, but it's likely to give a better result.
The ten meter long cable on the king's would surely reduce the voltage and current supplied. Wouldn't it be fairer to shorten the king's cable so they are the same length. Unsure if you did this in the redarc test too. I did watch it but only thought of it during this test
If you look at the data table at 12:46 column O, you'll see I used a few different cables during this test. This is because this test is all about showing what you can expect from both blankets "in the real world" which means under varying conditions, not just the maximum possible in rare ideal circumstances. In the real world you sometimes have to have the blanket further away to get in the sun and thus need a longer cable.
On every test, I used the same cable on both blankets one immediately after the other to ensure it's fair. I never did a test using the 10m in the Kings and comparing the output with a shorter cable on the Allspark as that wouldn't be a fair comparison.
You're right that a longer cable would create more voltage drop, and I've actually measured that as part of the 4 way shootout I'm currently working on, so make sure you subscribe if that's is interest.
Enjoyed the video thanks for the efforts in making it. Future video suggestion could you review the SunMan 235w Portable Folding Solar Blanket. It looks interesting and is a slightly higher voltage solar blanket.
My pleasure James, glad you enjoyed it. I've got the Sunman on my list already but I'll add a vote for it. Cheers!
Yes I am also keen to hear about the SunMan 235w :)
Check out P3 Solar's folding panels, military grade.
Thanks for the tip! Not sure they're readily available in Australia though?
Weird I got close to 100W out of the Kings 120W panel on a sunny winters day in northern NSW. Hard to believe the 200W panel won’t deliver more.
Thanks for the comment mate, yeah I agree it looks odd but the results I've had have been consistent across several units. Was yours a panel or a blanket? And how old was it?
Good review Greg. I'm about to buy the Allspark 225W from offroad living for $721. Do you have an affiliate link that gives you a kickback? I'm happy to use it if you do.
Thanks for asking Jack, but unfortunately no they don't offer rebates to people who give them free publicity! 🙄 If you want to support me you can use the Thanks button but obviously that goes on top of the $721 so I understand if you choose not to. Good choice either way mate it's a great product and it comes with a thick 5m cable now which wasn't included when I tested it.
@@TheMusingGreg No worries. I've slung you a tenner.
You should do a kickass 300w solar blanket vs the allspark 225w
Thanks for the suggestion!
Yes agreed
New subscriber. Would the Allspark still be top of your list in Australian market at the moment? If not, what else? I’m looking to get something in the Boxing Day sales right now. For use with a wind up camper (Goldstream) AGM battery, then later will be moved between car and camper once I mount a fixed panel on the camper roof.
Thanks for your efforts
Welcome mate, glad to have you along!
Yep the Allspark is still my favourite out of the ones I've tested so far. As I mentioned it may not be the best choice for occasional travellers, it's probably a bit of an overkill, but if you're looking at something for the long term I would definitely recommend it. Only consideration will be storage when it's folded as the panels are on the large size, but I covered that in the video.
Hope this helps, let me know if you have any other questions.
Cheers,
Greg
How water proof is this panel say if it is left out overnight and it rains?
Hi mate, I checked with Allspark and this was their response:
"The blanket hasn't really got an "IP" rating per se. The panels are obviously waterproof being the sunpower cells with ETFE laminate. But the outer casing is a heavy duty canvas which gives it a fair amount of protection against the elements but means its not 100% "waterproof". Leaving it out overnight in the rain wouldn't be best practice but it won't affect the panel long term so long as it is dried out properly."
Thanks mate. Great video! Can you review ATEM blanket next? :)
Thanks for the suggestion, I'll add it to the list. If you happen to know of one you're able to get sent to me temporarily to review that will make it quicker, but regardless I'll add it to the list for a future review.
I have an ATEM 100W solar blanket bought about 3 years ago. It sux.
@@noodlefoo Thanks for the info. In what way isn't it living up to your expectations? How was it when it was new and has it just degraded over time perhaps (which would happen to most blankets)?
@@TheMusingGreg I have only used it for fewer than 10 weekend trips, one day charging just drops to under 1A despite bright sunny condition. Asked the seller anyway I can get it assessed and was told not possible as the product has been discontinued.
@@noodlefoo Wow that sounds pretty poor. It would be worth contacting the manufacturer about this rather than the seller, although I would expect after four years you're not going to get much sympathy even though it's only been lightly used. Lesson for next time though :(
Hi mate. Another great video. I’m looking to spend around $1000 on the highest output blanket I can get. Looking at allspark, Baintech, bluetti and projecta. Any you could recommend?
Thanks!
Hi Amy, thanks for the feedback, glad you enjoyed it!
Of the four you've mentioned I've only had experience with the Allspark, however I spent a few minutes looking at the websites of the others and with the caveat of no personal experience, on paper the Allspark would still be my pick for what you've said you want - it's got a 225W rating, SunPower cells and $849 so ticks all the boxes. The max rated output of the ones you mentioned is 200W (vs 225W on the Allspark). Specific differences are:
* Baintech 180W - consider it a slightly cheaper, slightly more powerful version of the old 150W Redarc. It has SunPower cells like the Allspark (and old Redarc) but it's more expensive ($1189 vs $849) and doesn't have legs. Form factor is very similar to the Redarc. It's also above your budget of $1000 unless you can find it cheaper. But even for the same price I'd take the Allspark unless you needed a very small footprint.
* Bluetti 200W - slightly cheaper ($799 vs $849) and has legs, but no eyelets or loops for hanging horizontally and they don't mention the folded thickness, but looks like it could be thicker. Uses monocrystalline cells, not SunPower.
* Projecta 180W - also slightly cheaper ($799 vs $849) and has legs too (different though, metal rods), but heavier than AllSpark (8.3 vs6.5kg). Uses monocrystalline cells, not SunPower.
If you're looking at options in the 180-200W range, another option to consider would be the new 160W Redarc for $795 if you want that small footprint but don't care about legs or SunPower cells. But obviously that's even less power again than the others on your list.
I am assuming here that all of the above blankets produce about 80% of their rated output. If any of them consistently produced 200W (more than the 170W max I got from the AllSpark), it might be worth a closer look if max power was a burning criteria. But I've never seen a blanket produce its rated power in the field so I'd be surprised if that was the case.
Hope this helps, as always do your own research to work out what will suit you as I don't know your requirements.
Cheers,
Greg
I’d be very interested in a comparison between the Hard Korr 200w panel and the Kings. Hard Korr run about $570 for the kit and seem to offer similar features to the AllSpark. Seems almost too good to be true though
Thanks for the suggestion, yes Hard Korr has been suggested before and I'm interested in getting hold of one. One immediate difference is that it doesn't use SunPower cells, so I would expect the efficiency to be lower than on the Allspark. But it would be interesting to actually test it, for sure!
I have both. I run 2 x king 200w blankets in parallel through a 20amp mppt. This setup is cheaper than the 200w Hard Korr and produces around 2.5 more amps
@@MrFastFarmer That's interesting. I wonder how long the Kings blankets will keep performing at that level? My experience has been that they've dropped in output fairly quickly. Also Kings has a 12 month warranty vs 3 years on Hard Korr.
Stay tuned as I'm looking at the Hard Korr plus a couple of others at the moment - ua-cam.com/video/2sRO7alXiac/v-deo.html is the teaser if you've not seen it yet.
@@TheMusingGreg Your comparison videos are great and really appreciate the in-depth output results. Any ETA on the Hardkorr results? Tearing my hair out trying to decide if the Allspark is worth the extra $300 (the 5 year warranty is tempting me). Thanks for your efforts.
@@MrCurnzy I've done most of the testing now but it'll take some time to put it all together. But this may help:
The Hard Korr certainly hasn't reached the same 186W peak as the Allspark did - the most it's gotten so far is about 147W; however TYPICAL performance under varied conditions is in the same ballpark. Call the Allspark's performance say 15% better than the Korr for argument's sake and ask yourself how much that matters to you.
The Allspark's somewhat smaller and lighter than the Hard Korr - Allspark's 56x44cm and 6.5kg folded up, Korr is 72x53 and 11.6kg though that includes a regulator which didn't come with the Allspark. I find the extra size and weight of the Korr annoying and makes it cumbersome, but if you need a regulator you'd have to buy that separately if you got the Allspark.
The legs are basically the same, as is the panel surface and the panel body.
Korr has a 3 year warranty vs 5 years for the Allspark.
The Hard Korr is excellent value for money. Between the two, if $600 was already a stretch and you've got room to store the Korr then go for it, it should serve you well. I personally find its size and weight annoying (especially as I have three other smaller and lighter blankets to choose from at the moment) but that may be a price you're willing to pay for what else you get for the money. If the budget will stretch to the Allspark and you already have cables and a regulator, you're not losing anything by going to the Allspark but you're gaining a bit of performance, a lighter and more compact package and a bit extra warranty. So if you can justify the extra money it will probably work better.
Hope this helps until the review comes along, let me know if you have any other questions.
Hi Mate - you mentioned the redarc is now discontinued - are the new ones using Sunpower panels?
Hi Dejan,
Their web page for the replacement blanket www.redarc.com.au/160w-solar-blanket-monocrystalline-cells makes no mention of SunPower cells, so my assumption is that it's using some other brand cell. However I've contacted Redarc to get clarification on that fairly important point and will get back to you if I hear anything.
Cheers,
Greg
Hi Dejan,
Redarc's just gotten back to me. The relevant part is:
"The new blankets utilise monocrystalline cells which does make them more affordable than the previous SunPower offering. I’m advised that we would no longer have access to the same quality SunPower cells going forward and as a result, looked at alternate cell types in similar wattages to service our customers. Focus being as always on quality of cell, performance and value for money for prospective customers. Another thing to note is that these blankets are coming from the same supplier, with the same quality levels and the same level of testing done. So whilst they aren’t SunPower cells, they still perform similarly, they are assembled to the same quality level and they will be warranted by REDARC for the same period"
So short answer is no they're not SunPower cells, but Redarc reckons they'll perform comparably and are backing it with the same warranty. And the price is halved (interestingly right around the $800 I asked for...). So it *should* be a good choice to consider.
Cheers,
Greg
@@TheMusingGreg thanks Greg - if I was to somehow find the discontinued sunpower blankets on sale would they be a better choice? Thanks
@@TheGuro9 Dollar for dollar, I'd still take the Allspark. More power, a storage pouch and comes with legs which is the biggest plus for me. The only plus of the Redarc in my view is its smaller footprint if you need to store it in a smaller nook, though if that's a factor then certainly consider the Redarc. But I'd not want to pay much more than about $500-600 otherwise the Allspark is probably worth the small additional expense.
It wouldn't surprise me if there's a damaged cell in that kings blanket you should at least get 9 amps out of a 200w panel in optimal conditions, I get 7 amps out of my 125w companion blanket
I can understand it might look that way but I've done reviews on three previous Kings blankets on my channel and they've all had the same issue with low output. Check out ua-cam.com/video/cfCM_p21cGs/v-deo.html and ua-cam.com/video/AActNzBZ9FA/v-deo.html
All kings website states that their MPPT included with their solar blanket is not for Lifepo4 batteries....
You're probably right but did I contradict that? I was using 2x100Ah AGM batteries in this test, not Lithium. And as per 10:57 I was charging them using the Redarc MPPT DC-DC charger, not the Kings charger.
@@TheMusingGreg No you weren't contradicting anything. I went to kings page and checked out their kit and I read that their MPPT cannot feed Lifepo4 batteries. What I meant with my comment was that the King Kit is even more limited with regard to the newer technology since you can get fairly cheap lifepo4 batteries with inbuilt BMS management these days.... even second hand lifepo4 batteries.
Ah right got it, thanks for sharing!
If you are only spending a day or two in any location and driving in between, a Kings blanket is probably fine. A five year guarantee is only as good as the company behind it and whether they will be around in five years.
I'd generally agree, providing those locations aren't too far from civilisation or another source of power. Your point about the warranty's true; I would hope Allspark would be but you never know.
kings all products are cheaper, but they are not worth, they are always disappointing, i couple of time tried them, was a bad experience. i buy lithium battery 120ah from them, but it only charge upto 70%. Took back to them after two days but they refuse to exchange it.
Yes Kings is cheap but I think they're cheap for a reason!
the kings controller isn't MPPT take the back off and look, its pwm.
Hi mate, yes I know the controller supplied with the Kings blanket is PWM, not MPPT (did I say it was MPPT somewhere?). I wasn't using the Kings controller in these tests anyway - as per the diagram at 10:55, all tests were done with a Redarc MPPT controller. Cheers!
those MPPT controllers aren't much better then the PWM controllers the blankets them self are pretty good for the price but those kings controller are just garbage I don't know if I would trust them on are long trip in remote area's, personally if I was to use that blanket I would get are decent controller like are Red Arc or Kick Ass.
Hi mate, I didn't use (or even mention I don't think) the Kings MPPT controller, although I've used one and found it performed similarly to the Redarc one. As per 10:55 I was using the Redarc MPPT controller. Cheers!
You can get King’s 200w for $149.
If you can get them for that on special then it's a pretty good deal! They're normally about $220.
Enough testing of the kings stuff now. U should test a medium priced blanket vs a high end.
Something like a kt cables 300w vs an allspark or red arc. Is a medium priced panel as good or can it hold its own against the big boys.
Great vidyas you lil scientist you lol 👌👌👌💪💪
The funny thing is, originally this video was just going to be reviewing the Allspark, it didn't start off as comparison with Kings at all. But I thought it might be useful to keep that as a benchmark so there was something to compare it to, so it ended up that way. But I agree it would be great to compare some of the midrange ones so thanks for the suggestion!
@@TheMusingGreg ive subbed so i can see more of ur tests and reviews. U seem genuine with no agendas or affiliation to any particular brand. Cheers.
@@krump743 Thanks mate, that's exactly the lay of the land! I'm only interested in finding products which work for me and sharing that with others. Cheers!
The price per blanket and output. You could buy three kings for the price of the allspark and have a tonne more power. You didn’t put this into your calculations. Shame. Bad math man. lol. Just kidding. Good video
Haha glad you enjoyed it! Yeah kings is a lot cheaper, but after a few years you'd have three half dead blankets, whereas the Allspark would still be going strong. Plus the legs on the Allspark means you'd get better performance the whole time too.
At 3x the price you would expect the Allsparks to be much better! If it wasn’t you would be ripped.
I don’t believe it was a fair comparison as comments are bagging Kings for an entry level blanket at an entry level price against a premium blanket at a premium price. And ONLY 1.5 times $/watt extra. Seriously!
Thanks for the comment mate. In what way exactly would you expect it to be better? It's advertised at 225W, would you expect it to put out 300W or something?
The Allspark reliably puts out about 80% of its rated capacity in real-world conditions, vs the Kings which puts out about 40% of its rating. So the Allspark is much more accurate in its advertising than the very misleading Kings, and I think this deserves to be called out. Three years ago I calculated that I needed 100W of solar for my setup so bought a 120W Kings blanket. It struggled to provide 40W so was utterly useless for my needs. I wouldn't be surprised if, in the same position, you too would be feel pretty ripped off because you got a product that simply doesn't do what it's advertised as doing. I don't think it's unfair to 'bag' false advertising.
As far as the rest of my comments, I'm just pointing out the benefits and deficiencies of each product so people can understand what they're losing if they choose to buy a cheaper blanket, or whether the benefits of the Allspark really matter to them, so they can then make an informed decision as to which suits them best. Someone could easily look at them both and ask "Why should I pay an extra $600 for the Allspark when it only puts out an 25W?". That's what this video's answering. If all you're looking for is maximum power per dollar (vs maximum absolute power) then choose the Kings - just don't expect to get 200W and don't expect it to last. But if you're only travelling a few times a year and are happy with that solution, the Kings is probably the right product for you. I have no problem recommending it for that sort of buyer. I just worry that many people who have more demanding needs may be misled into buying a Kings when in fact it won't do the job for them.
@@TheMusingGreg I found your video very interesting and informative but at the end of it the first thing that came to mind to me was, its like comparing a $25K car against a $75K car. They are "basically" the same... Motor, Body, Wheels but one is far superior to the other and should be, and you would expect it to be "much better". Your video is very detailed and and as i said, informative. I enjoyed it but please next time compare apples with apples.
@livingmorelife You're 100% right - this video isn't, and wasn't intended to be, an 'apples for apples' comparison, as far as the positioning in the market of the two products. Your analogy about the cars is a great one - the video was looking at two products which are advertised with comparable output but at very different prices, so is attempting to help people understand what extra they get for their money. Just as with car buyers who may wonder what they're getting for the extra $50k if they were to buy a more expensive vehicle, potential solar blanket buyers would wonder why they should or shouldn't consider paying so much for for an Allspark. Until you know what the differences, you can't decide if they're worth it to you.
I am hoping to compare other blankets in the same market segment in the future; it just gets an expensive exercise when the blankets cost several hundred dollars each, especially since I don't need any more solar blankets myself now, so I have to choose carefully unless suppliers or owners are willing to loan me their product (like Jeff did for the Allspark in this review, and Redarc did previously).
UPDATE: Pretty unhappy with the 200w Kings solar blanket we bought. The
connection on the back of the panel has come completely off and so now
there is no output from the panels. The unit may be out of warranty but
it really did not see a lot of use. The Allspark 130w panel we have is much
older and still working fine so I have to say we are never likely to buy
another Kings solar blanket.
Thanks for the update. Yeah unfortunately I'm not surprised to read your experiences. The past few years of solar blankets from Kings haven't been that great, apparently earlier ones weren't too bad. Glad to hear the Allspark is still going strong!
Solar blankets get a bad rap so I would never buy them. Adventure King's 4WD do get a good rap for their MPPT solar charge controllers, and their fixed panels
I'm not sure who says their MPPT controllers get a good rap. I've tested them and they're barely better than the PWM ones. I've got a review coming up where some PWM ones thrash the pants off the Kings MPPT regulators. If you're interested in seeing that make sure you subscribe and turn on notifications as I reckon it'll answer a few questions.
What is your problem showing your face? Are you wanted by the police or under witness protection?
Haha no mate, and believe me it would make editing a lot easier if I didn't blur my face all the time! 😄 It's mainly to make the channel as impartial as possible: 1) I can judge in-store service knowing the staff don't recognise me so I'm getting the same treatment as any other customer, and 2) If a company doesn't like what I say about them it would be much harder for them to track me down and sue me (as has happened recently to another UA-camr) if they don't know who I am. It's also why I place online orders under different names.