TreeLineBackpacker

Going off the grid doesn’t necessarily mean going without power. The Obisidian Series from ZAMP features high quality solar panels designed for RV camping, but can also be used for car camping and home preparedness. This is my review.

The Obidian series from ZAMP/Dometic are high quality, hand made in the USA panels designed for durability and mobility. They feature an integrated carry case that flips over to cover the panel itself for convenient travel, and also doubles as a multi-angle stand. It has a built in carry handle, large zippered storage pocket with a clear window, and includes various adapters, although it’s wired by default to connect to an RV. The range comes in several variations, from smaller 45 watt panels all the way up to 200 watt high output units. They offer regulated versions which include a charge controller, and unregulated variations that need to be connected to an eternal charge controller or device with one built in. They include a 25 year warranty, 15-foot portable ATP-ATP extension cable, and 6” ATP-SAE Adaptor. Wattages, amps and weights vary per model, but the 100 watt covered here weighs 25 pounds with a 5.01 amp output, retailing for $599.

I’ve been using the Unregulated 100 watt model for several months now in a variety of conditions and temperatures. I mostly use it connected to a battery power generator with a 537Wh capacity. My generator has a built in voltage regulator and supports 5.01 amp input, placing it well within spec to operate safely with the unregulated 100 watt panel (do not use an unregulated solar panel without a regulator somewhere in the chain, it will die quickly).

What I liked

When I began using the Obsidian series I was instantly impressed with the build quality. The ballistic nylon body is stiff, rugged, and feels like it is built to survive decades of use. It is stiff with just a little bit of flex, allowing it to hold its shape but also flex to sit level on imperfect surfaces. The panel itself is rugged and has resisted scratches and cracks just fine, while the body has held up to use on dirt, grass, rock and concrete without showing any unusual signs of wear. The carry handle is burly, with a thick internal nylon band sleeved with a nylon pipe acting as the grip. The zipper and pull is fairly rugged and slides easily with no hangs so far. Seams and rivets have held up great. The clips that lock the panel it into a suitcase like carry configuration also feel premium and haven’t faded or become brittle while being left in the sun. The cables and adapters felt higher quality than most, with a thick, rubbery casing that still flexed easily without retaining curves or kinks when rolling the up or packing them away for long periods of time. It’s extremely well built, which gives me confidence, especially given the included 25 year output warranty for the panel itself.

Power output has been quite good. I’ve never achieved the full 100 watts output, but I’ve gotten very close (high 80s) despite using it in the off season where the sun constantly sits off angle to the earth. I would imagine deep summer I’ll be able to get full output with more direct sun, but never had any issues producing a good current even in cloudy weather or when filtered through trees. It was easily able to keep up with my daily usage with my battery based generator, and was able to keep it topped off (I stop at 80 percent generally) without any issues. Temperatures didn’t seem to have much affect on the power output.

Setting up and packing up the kit is as easy as it gets. Release the two clips, angle the panels towards the sun and plug it in. That’s really it. It’s possible to make minute changes to the angle to dial in the maximum output, but isn’t entirely necessary. It takes less than one minute to place and connect in most usage scenarios. Small catches on the case allow the panel to sit at varying angles, allowing it to always face the sun, and the cables and adapters lock firmly into place, meaning they stay put once connected. It’s also heavy enough that wind isn’t going to affect it, so it can be left to do it’s thing without the need to keep a constant eye on it.

Storing the panel is fairly easy thanks to the stiff, rugged body. It can be laid under a bed or rack, stood vertically against a wall or shelf, or just tucked away into a closet. The large storage pocket is also very convenient as it can store a wide array of adapters, extension cables, regulators, and anything else that is needed without issue.

The included adapters cover most of the basics and will fit most RVs, solar generators, etc. But, you’ll want to confirm compatibility with older devices as there are many dated standards out there that may require adapters, but most are available online.

The clear side panel can be used to keep an eye on an inline regulator to monitor wattages, amps, etc.

What I didn’t like

The high quality build quality does result in a heavy weight. 25 pounds isn’t terrible, but if you’re transporting it a lot or across any considerable distance you’ll certain feel it. It’s a tradeoff that I’ll happily make for the quality, however, and given it is primarily focused on RV use this shouldn’t be much of an issue.

The packed size of the model I’ve tested is 44.5” tall x 21.75” wide x 2” thin. This is considerable and may be hard to store for some people if space is limited. It can’t fold up to a smaller size like some other panels I have, so it does need a space of its own somewhere. Given the power output, this size is typical however.

The aluminum shrouded carry handle is durable and looks great, but is not particularly comfortable.

Overall

The Obsidian Series of ZAMP Solar is an impressive piece of kit. It’s sturdy, easy to pack up and setup, and works great in just about any conditions. It’s heavy, but is relatively easy to move, setup, and breakdown without much fuss. It provides great output as it’s using modern high efficiency panel technology, and if the warranty is any indication it should provide consistent power output for a long time to come. Aside from the heft and relatively large stored size, I don’t have much to complain about here, which is a compliment in itself. If the goal is a simple, durable setup that won’t be carried too far, this is an excellent option.

Highly Recommended

Want to learn more about this product and their other offerings? You can check out their products Here. This is an Amazon affiliate link.

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Big thanks to Dometic/ZAMP for sending this over for review. We couldn’t do this without their help.

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