Charging a 600w portable power supply with a 200w solar panel
When considering using a 200W solar panel to charge a 600W (assumed here to be the total capacity or maximum output power of the power supply, not the charging power) portable power supply, we need to focus on a few key factors: charging efficiency, charging time, and the actual charging requirements of the power supply.
Charging efficiency
The output power of the solar panel (200W) is measured under ideal lighting conditions, and the actual charging process will be affected by a variety of factors, such as light intensity, temperature, orientation and tilt angle of the solar panel, and the efficiency of the power management system. Therefore, the actual charging power may be lower than 200W.
Charging time
The charging time depends on the current power level of the portable power supply, the amount of power it needs to be charged to, and the actual output power of the solar panel. If the portable power supply is fully depleted, and we assume that it is capable of charging at a rate close to the maximum output power of the solar panel (which is usually not the case, as the power management system limits the charging rate to protect the battery), then the theoretical charging time will be the capacity of the power supply (in Watt-hoursWh, not WattsW) divided by the actual output power of the solar panel. Note, however, that 600W usually refers to the maximum output power of the power supply, not its capacity. In order to calculate the charging time, we need to know the capacity of the power supply (e.g. if the power supply is 12V and has a capacity of 50Ah, then its capacity is 600Wh).
Actual charging requirements of the power supply
Portable power supplies usually have a built-in power management system that controls the charging rate to protect the battery from damage such as overcharging and overheating. Therefore, even if the output power of the solar panel is high enough, the charging rate of the power supply may be limited.
Comprehensive Considerations
If the portable power supply has a small capacity (e.g., less than or equal to 200Wh, or 16.7Ah assuming 12V) and has a high charging efficiency, a 200W solar panel may fully charge it in a reasonable amount of time.
If the portable power supply has a larger capacity (e.g., 600Wh or greater), then a 200W solar panel may take a long time to fully charge it, especially under poor lighting conditions.
Taking into account the charging efficiency and the limitations of the power management system, the actual charging time may be longer than the theoretically calculated time.
