Product comparisons
Compare energy products on the specs that matter
Marketing names and “up to” claims make products hard to compare. These buyer’s guides show which specifications to look for, what they mean, and the red flags — so you can compare any listing yourself.
How we compare products. We only publish specific product comparisons once every
specification has been checked against the manufacturer’s own documentation, and we link that source in the table. We don’t
lab-test products and won’t claim to. If a page contains affiliate links, it says so at the top — see our
affiliate disclosure.
Solar companies and package prices by province Choose your province and see which installer is cheaper per kWp. Compare → EcoFlow power stations compared Every EcoFlow model sold in the Philippines, with runtimes for brownouts — plus a quiz to pick one. Open the guide → Portable power stations: what to compare
For brownouts, the two numbers that matter most are capacity (how long) and continuous output (what you can run).
| Specification | Why it matters | Red flag |
|---|---|---|
| Capacity (Wh) | Energy stored. Runtime ≈ Wh × ~0.85 ÷ load watts for AC devices. | Capacity quoted in mAh without a voltage. |
| Continuous AC output (W) | The most it can power steadily. Must exceed the total load you plan to run. | Only the “surge” or “peak” figure is advertised. |
| Surge output (W) | Short burst for motors and compressors starting up (fridges, pumps). | No surge figure for a unit marketed for fridges. |
| Battery chemistry & cycle rating | LiFePO4 units are commonly rated for thousands of cycles; check the stated cycles-to-80% figure. | Cycle life with no end-of-life capacity stated. |
| Recharge inputs | AC charging time, maximum solar input (W and voltage range), car charging. | Solar input above what the unit accepts — extra panel watts are wasted. |
| Outlets & waveform | Pure sine wave AC, number of outlets, USB-C PD wattage, 12 V outputs. | Modified sine wave for sensitive electronics. |
Solar panels: what to compare
Compare panels by their datasheets, and compare systems by price per kWp — not by panel count.
| Specification | Why it matters | Red flag |
|---|---|---|
| Rated power (Wp) | Output under standard test conditions. Panel count × Wp = system kWp. | Quotes that list panel count but not model and wattage. |
| Efficiency (%) | Output per square metre — matters when roof space is limited. | Efficiency claims without a datasheet. |
| Temperature coefficient (%/°C) | How much output drops as panels heat up. Closer to zero is better in hot climates. | Not listed. |
| Performance warranty | The output the maker guarantees after a stated number of years (one major brand’s datasheet, for example, states 87.4% at year 30) and the yearly degradation. | Only a product warranty is mentioned. |
| Product warranty | Covers defects in materials and workmanship. Length varies by brand — check the datasheet. | No local party to honour the warranty. |
Solar inverters and batteries: what to compare
The inverter is the part most likely to need replacing during a system’s life, so warranty and local support matter.
| Specification | Why it matters | Red flag |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Grid-tied (string or micro), hybrid (works with batteries), or off-grid. | A grid-tied unit sold as “backup”. Grid-tied inverters shut down in a brownout. |
| Rated AC output (kW) | Should suit the panel array and your utility’s interconnection rules. | Inverter much smaller than the array without explanation. |
| Backup / EPS output | For hybrids: how much power, and how fast it switches over during an outage. | No switchover time stated for sensitive equipment. |
| Battery usable capacity (kWh) | Usable, not total, capacity — and the warranted cycles or throughput. | Total capacity presented as usable. |
| Warranty & support | Years covered, and who in the Philippines handles claims. | Warranty only via an overseas seller. |
Air conditioners: what to compare
Use the Department of Energy energy label to compare models of the same capacity.
| Specification | Why it matters | Red flag |
|---|---|---|
| Cooling capacity (kJ/h) | How much heat it removes. Match it to the room — “HP” is only a class. | HP quoted with no kJ/h figure. |
| Rated power input (W) | The electricity it draws at rated conditions — use it in our aircon calculator. | Missing from the listing. |
| CSPF and star rating | Seasonal efficiency on the DOE label. Higher CSPF means more cooling per kWh. | Old or missing label. |
| Inverter or fixed-speed | Affects how consumption varies over long running hours. | “Inverter-grade” without a CSPF figure. |
Related tools
- Power station runtime calculator — check a unit against your devices.
- Aircon cost calculator — compare two models’ running costs.
- Compare solar quotes — a checklist for installer proposals.