Go Power! GP-SF-5 SUNfilm 5 Watt Solar Panel

rickSolar Panel Reviews

The Solar Item: Go Power! GP-SF-5 SUNfilm 5 Watt Solar Panel

If you read my review of the Schumacher SP-200 2.4W Solar Battery Maintainer then you’re familiar with the use for a product like the Go Power! GP-SF-5 SUNfilm 5 Watt Solar Panel. This is not a charger, but it is a maintainer for your car, snowmobile, ATV, watercraft and other 12 volt battery using devices. The Go Power! GP-SF-5 SUNfilm 5 Watt Solar Panel comes with multiple connections so you can use it to maintain cell phones and laptops too! The Go Power! GP-SF-5 SUNfilm 5 Watt Solar Panel isn’t a one trick pony. .

Best Uses

As I said above, this is a maintainer not necessarily a charger (although unlike other solar panels I’ve reviewed, this can charge smaller devices like cell phones and laptops). The idea behind a product like the Go Power! GP-SF-5 SUNfilm 5 Watt Solar Panel is that you use the sun’s free energy to “top off” your 12 volt batteries.

Most people who use recreational vehicles, or “fun vehicles” (as I like to call them) like snowmobiles, ATV’s, wave runners, etc. can use something like this. The idea is that you aren’t using these types of things all the time so the battery slowly drains over time. As it drains, it loses its lifespan as well. The Go Power! GP-SF-5 SUNfilm 5 Watt Solar Panel is going to extend the battery life by keeping it charged.

Specifications

Features:

  • Harness the power of the sun to charge your 12 Volt batteries with 5 Watts of charge
  • Completely silent green energy
  • Comes with a variety of connections to hook up to many types of 12 Volt batteries
  • Trickle charge cars, trucks, motorcycles, snowmobiles, ATV’s, personal watercraft and more
  • Keep your batteries topped up when they are left idle

Technical Specs:

  • Rated Power: 5W
  • Peak Current: 260mA
  • Peak Voltage: 25VDC
  • Open Circuit Voltage: 19.6VDC
  • Warranty: 5 Year Limited
  • Dimensions: 14″ x 13.25”x 0.5″
  • Weight: 2.2lbs

Price

The Go Power! GP-SF-5 SUNfilm 5 Watt Solar Panel is very reasonably priced and I found it on Amazon.com for $35.99.

Go Power! GP-SF-5 SUNfilm 5 Watt Solar Panel Reviews

The Good

So there isn’t a whole lot of bad about this device out there. Most reviewers are very happy with this solar panel, with one somewhat distressing negative that I’ll describe below. One thing that people like a great deal is that this unit has an LED light indicator to show when it is operational.

The other important thing about the Go Power! GP-SF-5 SUNfilm 5 Watt Solar Panel is that it has really good output power. One reviewer indicates that they were hoping to get some kind of life out of a completely dead battery and the Go Power! GP-SF-5 SUNfilm 5 Watt Solar Panel got it for them rather quickly (a few days). That’s what you want to see.

Other reviewers report that this is great in the weather and isn’t bothered by rain or sitting in the back of a boat. I wouldn’t submerge it, but you’re going to be in good shape in the outdoors.

The Bad

So are you ready for the biggest complaint, because it’s a big one? I realize that most people who buy devices like the Go Power! GP-SF-5 SUNfilm 5 Watt Solar Panel have somewhat active lifestyles or idle vehicles that they don’t want to have to buy a new battery for every 5 seconds. The one aspect of a solar panel is that it needs sunlight o really work. So you probably don’t want something that can melt in the SUNLIGHT!

Some people report that this bad boy can actually start to melt a bit around the edges with its plastic parts. That’s not good. That’s not good at all!

Recommendation

Almost every reviewer I’ve read speaks very highly of the Go Power! GP-SF-5 SUNfilm 5 Watt Solar Panel and I can’t really see any reason to disagree. This is going to be a fine device and has the added benefits of being able to charge phones and other electronic devices. That could come in really handy depending on where you’re going. This is a good solar panel that should make you happy.