WindyNation 100W Solar Panel Review

This is my hands-on review of the WindyNation 100 Watt Polycrystalline Solar Panel.

For this review I inspected the panel’s build quality. I tested it with a multimeter. And I rigged up a testing system to measure its power output.

The panel surprised me. When I tested the power output from five of the best 100 watt solar panels, the WindyNation panel placed first. And it’s among the cheapest 100 watt panels on the market when you buy through WindyNation’s website. It’s impressive value.

Where it lags a bit is in its size and weight. It was the biggest and heaviest panel I tested. But if you don’t have space constraints, I think it’s a top option.

Full review: Best 100 Watt Solar Panels

WindyNation 100W 12V Solar Panel

A powerful, but big, 100W poly panel

The WindyNation 100W solar panel is well-built, affordable and powerful. It placed first in my power output tests. It’s the biggest and heaviest 100W panel I’ve used, though.

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Note: The specs listed above came from the label on the back of my solar panel. They’re a little different than the specs listed for the same panel on Amazon and WindyNation. I’m not sure why this is.

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WindyNation Solar Panel Review

First Impressions

The panel arrived with about as much packaging as a pizza.

I’m all for reducing packaging waste, so this didn’t bother me much. Other 100W solar panels I own came packaged with more padding, though.

I pulled the panel out of the box and did a quick lookover. The frame had a couple dents which I assume happened during transit.

Everything else about the panel seemed sturdy and well-built. In fact, the label on the back of the panel says it was made in Canada. This was a pleasant surprise — most solar panels I’ve tested were made in China.

Speaking of testing…

…it was time to see how the panel performed.

Multimeter Testing

To kick things off, I took the panel outside at noon on a sunny day and put it in direct sunlight.

I used my multimeter to measure the solar panel’s open circuit voltage (Voc) and short circuit current (Isc) and compare them to the specs listed on the back of the panel.

The max open circuit voltage (Voc) I got was 21.9V. This was the same as the panel’s claimed Voc at STC.

The max short circuit current (Isc) I got was 5.83A. The panel’s claimed Isc at STC is 6.13A.

Overall, these were solid results. The short circuit current I measured was 0.3 amps less than that at STC, but in my experience that’s typical.

Installation & Mounting

I set up my WindyNation solar panel by connecting a solar charge controller to a 12V battery and then connecting the panel to the charge controller.

Note: If you need help installing yours, check out my tutorial on setting up a solar panel system.

I also added an inline watt meter on the solar cables and a Bluetooth module to my charge controller so I could measure the panel’s power output.

As far as mounting options go, the panel has the standard selection — two holes on either side of the frame. It also has a small hole on each side for grounding.

Power Output Testing

With my testing system rigged up, I took five of the best 100 watt panels outside and used two sawhorses to mount all the panels at the same tilt angle.

Using the watt meter and charge controller, I recorded each panel’s max power output in watts.

Here are the results:

The WindyNation panel placed first with a max power output of 72.7 watts, beating out even the Renogy Mono panel by a watt.

Now, these differences are minor, but I was still impressed by the WindyNation panel. A solar panel’s job is to generate power, and this panel does that well.

Note: I tested the panels at 33.7° latitude in early December.

Build Quality

I popped open the junction box and was pleased by the build quality I found inside. The soldering seemed good and the wire connectors looked well crimped.

The panel came with MC4 connectors, the industry standard. I tested their crimps by twisting and feeling for any looseness, but found none.

Everything else about the panel — cables, panel glass, and general build quality — seemed good. And the panel held up well over the course of my testing.

Dimensions & Weight

Here’s how the size (length * width) of the WindyNation 100W panel compares to other 100W panels:

And here’s how its weight compares:

As you can see, the WindyNation panel is the biggest and heaviest panel I tested.

That’s only a concern if you have space or weight constraints. If you do, consider a monocrystalline solar panel, such as the Renogy Mono or Newpowa Mono. They have more efficient cells and are thus lighter and more compact.

Key Specs

• Solar cell type: Polycrystalline
• Max power (Pmax): 100W
• Max power voltage (Vmp): 18.00V
• Max power current (Imp): 5.56A
• Open circuit voltage (Voc): 21.90V
• Short circuit current (Isc): 6.13A
• Dimensions: 40.1″ x 26.4″ x 1.4″ (1020mm x 670mm x 35mm)
• Weight: 15.8 lbs (7.2 kg) weighed, 19.6 lbs (8.9kg) listed

What I Like

• It’s powerful. This panel generated more watts than any other panel in my power output test.
• It’s cheap. This is one of the cheaper 100W polycrystalline solar panels available if you buy through WindyNation’s website.
• It’s made in Canada. Almost every other solar panel I’ve used has been made in China.

What I Don’t Like

• It’s the biggest and heaviest 100 watt panel I tested. But, to be fair, in practice the difference is pretty negligible unless you have space or weight constraints.
• It ships with minimal packaging. Mine arrived with a couple small dents in the frame, which I assume happened during transit. I’d like to see the panel ship with a little more padding. Small dents in the frame don’t affect power output, though.

Who This Solar Panel Is for

1. You care most about power output. It placed first in my power output tests.
2. You want a cheap 100 watt solar panel. It’s one of the cheapest available if you buy through WindyNation directly.
3. You have lots of space. It’s the biggest panel I tested, so I recommend it for people with lots of mounting space.

Who This Solar Panel Isn’t for

1. You have limited space to mount your solar array. It’s not great for small roofs such as those on RVs, vans, and boats. If you need something smaller, consider a monocrystalline solar panel.
2. You want a lightweight solar panel. This panel weighs 15.8 lbs (7.2 kg), which is heavier than many other 100W panels. Consider a mono or flexible solar panel if you need something lighter.

Top Alternatives

• Renogy 100W 12V Monocrystalline Solar Panel. If you want a smaller panel, check out the Renogy Mono. It was the most compact panel I tested, and the second lightest. It also placed second in my power output test. The only downside is it’s a bit pricier than the WindyNation Poly. Read my full Renogy 100W Solar Panel Review.
• Rich Solar 100W 12V Polycrystalline Solar Panel. To get the WindyNation panel at a good price, you’ll have to buy through WindyNation directly. If you’d rather buy through Amazon, check out the Rich Solar Poly. I think it’s the best 100 watt solar panel for those on a budget. It’s on average one of the cheapest 100 watt panels on Amazon. It also placed third in my power output test. Read my full Rich Solar 100 Watt Solar Panel Review.

The Bottom Line

The WindyNation 100 watt solar panel is affordable and performed well in my power output tests. It’s a little bigger and heavier than many other 100W solar panels, but everything else about it is pretty much standard.

If you have space constraints, I wouldn’t recommend this panel. But if you don’t mind its size, I think this is one of the best 100 watt solar panels on the market.

A small ask: If you found my WindyNation solar panel review helpful and are planning to buy one, please consider buying through one of my affiliate links below — I’ll get a small commission which will help fund more reviews like this one. Thank you! 🙏