Methodology

Every value on CitedSpecs comes from a manufacturer source for the US version of a product, and every compatibility result and estimate is calculated by code from those values, using the rules on this page.

Where the values come from

• We use manufacturer product pages, US-version user manuals and manufacturer connection guides. We do not use third-party retailers, manual-hosting sites or reviews.
• We do not test products ourselves. We do not publish reviews, ratings or opinions.
• Each value is shown with its source and the date we checked it. If a value was not found in the manufacturer sources we checked, we say so and do not fill it in.
• Products are identified by brand, model, region and variant. Bundles (for example, a power station sold with a solar panel) are not mixed with the unit sold alone.
• Weights are stored in kilograms and converted to pounds for display. Prices are not shown.

How we check solar panel compatibility

Each pairing is one solar input on a power station and one panel model, connected one panel at a time or with identical panels in series. Parallel connections are not covered.

Safety checks

If a value needed for one of these checks is missing, the result is "Not enough data", never "compatible".

• Maximum voltage: if the total open-circuit voltage (Voc) of the panels in series is above the power station's maximum input voltage, the result is "Not compatible". If it is within the maximum but above 90% of it (factor 0.9), the result is "Above our cold-weather margin". Panel voltage rises in cold weather, so we keep this margin and do not mark such a pairing as compatible.
• Stated tolerance: when a manufacturer states a tolerance (for example, Voc ±5%), we use the worst case: the high end for upper limits and the low end for lower limits. The 0.9 factor is applied in addition.
• Bifacial panels: when both front-only and rear-gain values are published, we use the larger value for upper limits (voltage, current, power) and the smaller value for lower limits.
• Manufacturer limits: if a manufacturer says panel current or power must not exceed the input limit, a panel above the limit is "Not compatible".
• Manufacturer statements: if a manufacturer states that a combination is not compatible, the result is "Not compatible" regardless of other checks.

Function checks

• Minimum voltage: if the total voltage at max power (Vmp) is below the minimum input voltage, charging may not start, so the result is "Not compatible".
• Connectors: "Connects directly" means the connector types match or the manufacturer specifies that connector type. "Needs a cable" means a manufacturer lists a cable (included or sold separately) or the connector types differ. We do not recommend specific third-party adapters. If a connector type was not found, the result is "Electrically OK — connector not confirmed" when all electrical checks pass.

Performance notes

When a manufacturer does not prohibit exceeding the current or power limit, a panel above the limit, or a missing limit, does not change the result. We show a note instead, because charging may be capped at the input limit. We compare the panel's short-circuit current (Isc) with the input current limit; if the manufacturer also states a maximum operating current, we compare the panel's current at max power (Imp) with it.

Panels in series

The number of panels in series is the largest number (counted up to 10) for which every check above still passes.

See the solar panel compatibility table

How we estimate runtime

Estimated runtime (hours) = capacity (Wh) × usable fraction ÷ average load (W). The usable fraction is an assumption of 0.75–0.85 to allow for conversion losses; it is not a measured value and real runtime varies. We do not calculate runtime when the capacity is missing or the load is 0 or less. In the Finder, a model meets your runtime only if the low end (0.75) does.

Do not rely on these estimates for medical or life-support equipment.

Calculated values

Wh per kg = capacity ÷ weight. It is calculated by us from published values and is not shown when either value is missing.

How products are ordered

Lists are sorted by a published value (for example, capacity) and then alphabetically by ID. Commissions and whether a product has an affiliate link never affect the order or any result. Products without a store link are included.

Updates

We re-check sources about once a month. The "checked" date next to each value shows when we last confirmed it.

Pages with product data also show when their content last changed. That date moves only when a value, a connection source or a cited source changes; re-checking a source and finding no change updates the checked date only.