Solar energy

Real Solar Panel Power: Are AliExpress Sellers Misleading Us?

20 December, 20259 December, 2025 by Mariete

Miniature with a solar panel on yuan banknotes, a man's surprised face and large text in Spanish asking if the Chinese solar panels on AliExpress are cheating.

Have you bought a 1W or 2W mini solar panel and it doesn't perform as expected? Find out why lab specifications do not guarantee real performance.

Low-Power Solar Panels: MPPT is the Secret to Running Your ESP32 on Just 1W

16 February 20268 December, 2025 by Mariete

Several small solar panels stacked next to a microcontroller-type electronic board on a sandy beach and turquoise sea with a blue and white umbrella, accompanied by the large text at the top "LOW POWER SOLAR PANELS" and at the bottom "THE SECRET IS MPPT!

We’ve seen lots of brilliant DIY projects using solar panels, but the reality is that energy efficiency is a real challenge. If you’ve tried to power an ESP32 or a Raspberry Pi with a small solar panel and failed, you’re not alone. This post complements our project on Enerlogic — Energy Wizard and … Read more