One of the highest-rated off-grid solar panel kits is the Renogy 400-Watt 12-Volt. A single 400-watt kit contains an average of 60 solar cells and generates between 1.2 and 1.5 kilowatt hours of electricity. This is a good size for smaller residences, though it may struggle with appliances like heaters, refrigerators, and microwaves. 400 watts is plenty to power common small electronics, such as televisions, fans, laptops, and more, however.
There are two versions of this kit. Both include the same four rectangular 100W monocrystalline panels, connection cables, and mounting gear. The only major difference is that one comes with a 30A PWM Wonderer charge controller, and the other comes with a 40A MPPT Rover Charge controller. The Rover Charge version is a bit more expensive, but Renogy explains the difference between these on its website. It argues that PWM controllers like the Wonderer are cheaper but less efficient than MPPT controllers. It states that people “with smaller systems (vans, RVs, tiny homes), those living in warmer climates” are better off with a PWM unit, while people “with larger systems (cabins, homes, cottages), those living in colder climates” are better off with MPPT.
The more affordable PWM model is, actually, the more highly rated of the two. It has a 4.5 out of five on Home Depot’s website. Nearly all of the reviews state that the kit works well and that it is an excellent value for the price. The few negative reviews seem to be from people who received damaged units.
