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Aspect Solar EP-60 ($350, top) or the Duo-Flex2
(3 x $120 each) and the Energybar 100 ($200)
Aspect Solar’s form factor is actually a sort of hybrid
between ridged and thin film. The company has engineered
its panels to combine the best features of both technologies.
The end result is high efficiency, outstanding impact and
durable scratch resistance, less light dissipating reflections, 100
percent parallel construction, some panel flexibility that most
monocrystalline panels generally do not have and great heat
dissipation. Another cool feature is the Maximum Power Point
Tracking (MPPT), which visually alerts users to help best ori-
ent the panel to the sun for greatest efficiency.
On the battery side, as seen with the panels, the circuitry
was engineered around Lithium Iron Phosphate chemistry. The
advantages are many, but the outstanding one is the 2,000-plus
cycles charge/discharge lifespan. According to Gerry Demple,
Aspect Solar vice president, this represents the highest recharge
cycles in the industry. On top of all that, AspectCare consumer
support guarantees gear will not be obsolete within five years of
purchase, with free firmware upgrades and compatibility solu-
tions (up to a no-cost replacement), in the event newer products
are no longer backward compatible with legacy gear.
BioLite SolarPanel5 ($60) and SolarPanel5+ ($80)
The BioLite is certainly one of the neatest, lightest
packages one will ever find in a solar panel/battery com-
bination. With grommet-styled holes in the corners of the
panel, it can easily be attached to most backpacks. In camp,
its built-in kickstand enables it to be propped up at various
angles to maximize light exposure as the sun changes
positions in the sky. Helping that process is a low-tech,
analog but virtually infallible sundial to help with the sun’s
alignment (see red arrow above). Erica Rosen, BioLite’s
marketing director, also points out that “both the 5 and 5+
are intended to have the capability to automatically recon-
nect. Ninety-nine percent of solar panels on the market will
stop charging your phone if a shadow or cloud passes over
them, forcing you to manually re-plug the phone back into
its cable.”
Efficiency 18 to 21%
Weight of panel
SolarPanel5 - 12 oz
SolarPanel5+ - 13.76 oz
(includes battery)
Weight of battery Integrated into SolarPanel5+
Wattage (peak) SolarPanel5 - 5W
SolarPanel5+ - 5W
Battery capacity SolarPanel5+ only -
2200mAh/8Wh
Series or parallel construction Parallel and series
Monocrystalline, polycrystalline or
thin film Monocrystalline
0.3329 in China. Designed, R&D and
prototyping in Brooklyn, N.Y.
RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous
Substances) Yes
Web address
Efficiency 21.4%
Weight of panel Duo-Flex2 - 15 oz/each x 3 = 45 oz
or EP-60 - 120 oz
Weight of battery Energybar - 51.2 oz
Wattage (peak) Duo-Flex2 - 13W each (x3 =
39W) EP-60 - 60W
Battery capacity/chemistry Energybar 100 - 99.8Wh storage
Li-Ion (LiFePO4)
Series or parallel
construction 100% parallel
Monocrystalline, polycrystalline or
thin film Monocrystalline/thin film hybrid
Country of manufacture USA, Philippines, China
RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous
Substances) Yes
Web address
Inside Outdoor | Fall 2015 18