Rigid vs Portable Solar Panels for Power Stations
Rigid vs portable solar panels for an EcoFlow power station: the 400W Rigid two-pack vs the 400W Lightweight, 220W and 160W panels on weight, setup, cables and fit.
Checked against the sources listed below. How we research.
Key takeaways
- EcoFlow's 400W Rigid listing is a pack of TWO 400W panels (800W) with no cable in the box. Buy EcoFlow's Solar to XT60i Charging Cable separately.
- Each rigid panel's 13.79A short-circuit current is above the 13A input of RIVER 2 Max/Pro, RIVER 3 Plus/Max/Max Plus and DELTA 3 Max, and far above the 8A RIVER 2/RIVER 3 input. The rigid panel doesn't fit any RIVER.
- On a single-port DELTA 3, DELTA 3 1500, Classic or 1000 Air, only ONE of the two rigid panels can be used (400W). Two-port models such as DELTA 3 Plus and DELTA 3 2000 Air can take one panel per port.
- Portable panels fold, come with or have their cable, and fit smaller stations: 400W Lightweight (about 10.2 kg, built-in XT60), NextGen 220W (7.2 kg) and NextGen 160W (5.6 kg), both with an MC4-to-XT60i cable.
- Choose rigid for a fixed, permanent mount on a bigger station. Choose portable if you move the panel, store it before storms, or own a RIVER.
On this page
Choose a portable panel if you own a RIVER, move your panel around, or want to pack it away before storms. Choose the rigid EcoFlow 400W Rigid two-pack only for a fixed, well-mounted setup on a DELTA-class station that can take it. It doesn’t fit any RIVER, and the cable is sold separately.
Side by side
All electrical figures are per panel.
| 400W Rigid (2-pack) | 400W Lightweight | NextGen 220W | NextGen 160W | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| In the listing | 2 × 400W panels | 1 panel | 1 panel | 1 panel |
| Voc / Isc | 37.1V / 13.79A | 39.3V / 12.2A | 21.5V / 12.4A | 21.3V / 9.1A |
| Weight | 21.8 kg in the data we checked (confirm per panel on the listing) | about 10.2 kg | 7.2 kg | 5.6 kg |
| Connector | MC4-type, 300 mm leads | Built-in XT60 | MC4 | MC4 |
| Cable to station | Not included. Buy EcoFlow’s Solar to XT60i Charging Cable | None needed | MC4-to-XT60i included | MC4-to-XT60i included |
| Folds and carries | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Setup: fixed vs grab-and-go
Rigid panels are glass-and-frame modules. They need a frame, rails or a roof mount, and they stay put. That is good for a permanent spot that gets sun all day, but it means mounting hardware and planning for wind. Roof work and anything wired into the house need a licensed electrician or PEE and an LGU electrical permit. See our guide to mounting panels on a metal roof.
Portable panels fold out on a kickstand, so you can re-aim them through the day and bring them inside before a typhoon. The owner can set them up following the manual.
Which stations each one fits
| Station | 400W Rigid | 400W Lightweight | 220W | 160W |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| RIVER 2, RIVER 3, RIVER 3 UPS | No | No | No | No |
| RIVER 2 Max/Pro, RIVER 3 Plus/Max/Max Plus | No (13.79A > 13A) | 1 panel, 220W usable | 1 panel, 220W | 1 panel, or 2 in series (220W usable) |
| DELTA 3, 3 1500, 3 Classic, 3 1000 Air | 1 panel only (400W) | 1 panel (400W) | 1, or 2 in series (440W) | 1, or 2 in series (320W) |
| DELTA 3 Plus, DELTA 3 2000 Air | 1 per port (2 ports) | 1 per port | 1–2 in series per port | 1–2 in series per port |
| DELTA 3 Max | No (13.79A > 13A) | 1 panel (back-side current caution) | 1, or 2 in series | 1, or 2 in series |
| DELTA Pro | 1–3 in series (up to 1200W) | 1–3 in series | up to 6 in series | up to 6 in series |
Note the DELTA 3 row: two rigid panels in series reach 74.2V (above the 60V limit) and in parallel reach 27.58A (above 15A). So half of the two-pack sits idle on a single-port DELTA 3. Two-port stations put both panels to work, one per port. Two 400W Lightweight panels in series (78.6V) are also too high for any 60V DELTA 3 input.
For the 8A RIVER models, see which panels work with small RIVER units.
Which should you pick?
- RIVER owners: portable only. The 220W or 160W fit 13A models.
- DELTA 3 (single port): a 400W Lightweight gives the same 400W as one rigid panel, folds away, and needs no extra cable.
- DELTA 3 Plus, 2000 Air or DELTA Pro with a permanent mount: the rigid two-pack makes sense, as both panels can be used.
What to buy
- EcoFlow 400W Rigid (2 × 400W): Lazada (EcoFlow PH), plus EcoFlow’s Solar to XT60i Charging Cable from EcoFlow’s PH store
- EcoFlow 400W Lightweight: Lazada (EcoFlow PH)
- EcoFlow 220W: Lazada (EcoFlow PH)
- EcoFlow 160W: Lazada · Shopee
- DELTA 3 Plus (two inputs): Shopee · Lazada. Buyer’s guide: DELTA 3 Plus
Check today’s price before you buy.
Bottom line
Portable panels suit most Filipino power-station owners: they fold, re-aim and come indoors before typhoons. The 400W Rigid two-pack is for permanent mounts on DELTA-class stations, works best on two-input models, needs a separate cable, and doesn’t fit any RIVER or the DELTA 3 Max.
Run your own numbers
Frequently asked questions
Does the EcoFlow 400W Rigid Solar Panel come with a cable?
Can I use both 400W rigid panels on one DELTA 3?
Can a rigid solar panel be used with a RIVER power station?
Are rigid panels better in typhoon season?
Sources
We link to primary sources wherever possible. Rates, rules and prices change — check the latest version with the publisher.
- EcoFlow 400W Rigid Solar Panel (2 x 400W option, per-panel specs, box contents) (opens in a new tab) — EcoFlow US
- EcoFlow 400W Rigid Solar Panel (2pcs) listing (opens in a new tab) — Lazada Philippines (EcoFlow PH)
- Solar to XT60i Charging Cable (opens in a new tab) — EcoFlow Philippines
- 400W Lightweight Solar Panel user manual (opens in a new tab) — EcoFlow
- NextGen 220W Portable Solar Panel user manual (opens in a new tab) — EcoFlow
- NextGen 160W Portable Solar Panel user manual (opens in a new tab) — EcoFlow
- DELTA 3 user manual (total Voc within 60V, Isc within 15A) (opens in a new tab) — EcoFlow