What's Your Experience With FLEXIBLE Solar Panels?

Drewskers · May 15, 2018

Last August I bought an ALLPOWERS 100W flexible solar panel from Amazon. It worked great, I often saw in excess of 4 amps of charging current. I used the panel with a 30ft cable, so I could keep it in the sun, no matter how the campsite was arranged. Most often I used a camp chair to hold the panel.

But the panel slowly degraded and now I am lucky to get 1 amp out of it! I have made a warranty claim for a replacement. (I have thoroughly tested my system and know beyond a shadow of a doubt that the panel is the faulty component).

I wonder if I am expecting too much from a flexible panel. I have read about people placing these on the "bimini" (fabric awning) of their boat and having them fail prematurely - due to constant flexing from the wind. I am thinking maybe a rigid solar panel is a more reliable, longer-lasting choice.

Has anyone else had problems with a flexible solar panel?

DLTooley · May 15, 2018

They have recently started marketing a new generation of these flexible solar panels after the older, problematic ones were discontinued. Do you have a link to a specific model? The problem is likely broken wires due the flexibility.

John61CT · May 15, 2018

No, it is well known that semi-flex only last a short time even when mounted perfectly.

There must be **zero** flex once installed.

The surface immediately below must act as a heat sink, and ideally there is a ventilated air gap below that. Aluminum sheeting is commonly used.

Even professionally mounted, as with yachts, the optimistic average lifetime with even top quality semi-flex panels like Solbian would be say 3-7 years.

The cheap ones mounted by the owner, I'd say 3 max in a mobile context, but easily less than one season if any routine flexing is allowed.

Rigid framed panels routinely last decades.

John61CT · May 15, 2018

There was an older style of true flexible panels, you could actually roll and unroll them no problem.

Usually cut in 18' lengths, and **very** much less efficient in watts per square foot.

But apparently very robust, long lifetime.

There is a thread less than a year old where someone found a leftover supply of these, I think the company was near his home.

DLTooley · May 15, 2018

The problem is likely flexibility caused wire damage OR heat damage.

Drewskers · May 15, 2018

DLTooley said:
They have recently started marketing a new generation of these flexible solar panels after the older, problematic ones were discontinued. Do you have a link to a specific model? The problem is likely broken wires due the flexibility.

Hi Douglas, Here is the link to the panel on Amazon: https://goo.gl/grRt5x

Drewskers · May 15, 2018

John61CT said:
No, it is well known that semi-flex only last a short time even when mounted perfectly.

There must be **zero** flex once installed.

The surface immediately below must act as a heat sink, and ideally there is a ventilated air gap below that. Aluminum sheeting is commonly used.

Even professionally mounted, as with yachts, the optimistic average lifetime with even top quality semi-flex panels like Solbian would be say 3-7 years.

The cheap ones mounted by the owner, I'd say 3 max in a mobile context, but easily less than one season if any routine flexing is allowed.

Rigid framed panels routinely last decades.

Well, this is pretty much what my research is indicating, too.

In my use I, I tried to minimize flexing by attaching fiberglass driveway marker poles along the sides of the panel (using the grommets in the panel and zip-ties). That made it easy to lean against my trailer or car, but there was still plenty of flexing. There was always a big air gap behind the panel, but wow, that thing got hot in desert sun!

It sure is convenient to have a thin 4 pound panel that stows easily, but I think it causes the panel to have a short useful life. I wonder if attaching to a lightweight but stiff wood frame would be very much better? There would still be a lot of flex in the middle.

I have heard back from Allpowers support and they want to see pictures of me measuring the panel's VOC and ISC before considering warranty service. I already did that and got 18.5V for VOC (rated for 20) and 3.5A for ISC (rated for 5.5). I wonder if they will consider that "bad". The thing of it is, when I actually try to charge with it, I can only get .5 to 1A out of it. I don't think VOC and ISC give the full picture of a solar panel's health.

John61CT · May 15, 2018

Maybe the folding ones are more robust for portable use.

I see they have 100+W now.

Might require jury rigging the output to put a bunch into a proper SC, but as is they're fine for light needs.

John61CT · May 15, 2018

Drewskers said:
Well, this is pretty much what my research is indicating, too.

In my use I, I tried to minimize flexing by attaching fiberglass driveway marker poles along the sides of the panel (using the grommets in the panel and zip-ties). That made it easy to lean against my trailer or car, but there was still plenty of flexing. There was always a big air gap behind the panel, but wow, that thing got hot in desert sun!

It sure is convenient to have a thin 4 pound panel that stows easily, but I think it causes the panel to have a short useful life. I wonder if attaching to a lightweight but stiff wood frame would be very much better? There would still be a lot of flex in the middle.

I have heard back from Allpowers support and they want to see pictures of me measuring the panel's VOC and ISC before considering warranty service. I already did that and got 18.5V for VOC (rated for 20) and 3.5A for ISC (rated for 5.5). I wonder if they will consider that "bad". The thing of it is, when I actually try to charge with it, I can only get .5 to 1A out of it. I don't think VOC and ISC give the full picture of a solar panel's health.

Yes, put under load and compare to Imp amps, not short circuit.

Depending on SC likely ignore panel voltage completely, you want under good sun conditions 90° angle, to get at least half the rated WATTS output.

Trebor English · May 15, 2018

Drewskers said:
Hi Douglas, Here is the link to the panel on Amazon: https://goo.gl/grRt5x

According to the Amazon web page:

Supior Durability: The water resistant semi-flexible solar SunPower panel is far more durable than traditional glass and aluminum models; The junction box is sealed and waterproof

Since it is on the internet it must be true that these panels are more durable. I guess it is just a point of view thing. If I flexed my traditional glass and aluminum panel 30 degrees it would be much less durable and not last a year.

John61CT · May 15, 2018

Again, the "flex" feature is **only** designed to accommodate fixed mounting on a gently curved surface.

**Any** flex across the cells while in actual use will reduce their already short average lifetime drastically.

Claims to the contrary are fraudulent.

In countries with more effective consumer protection regimes, they are promoting the stiffer folding "blankets" instead.

Here in the US they just play a numbers game, most people just eat the loss rather than really pushing for a refund.

Did Renogy ever get back into the semi-flex market?

Some companies don't put much value on their brand long term, just look at quarterly profit numbers, and just pull the plug and disappear one thing go south.

Drewskers · May 16, 2018

Yesterday afternoon it got sunny so I went out to get the VOC and ISC measurements requested for warranty consideration on my panel. While the panel was short-circuited I got distracted for a minute or two by some nearby goings-on. Then I heard a pop and when I looked back saw a smoking pinhole on the panel. I was going to push for a replacement, but I think I have voided the warranty now.

I'm now in the market for a rigid panel. (Thanks, John61CT, for getting the point across about the flexing).

John61CT · May 16, 2018

User shorting a healthy panel should cause no issue.

Measure watts charging output in bright noon sun angled correctly, if under 50% Imp insist on a refund, write the US operations President, BBB, let them know you'll follow up with Consumer Protection, State Attorneys General, write reviews, link to forum threads etc.

They'll pay you.

DLTooley · May 18, 2018

Those look like the newer models, marketed under several brand names. It may be possible that you received a manufacturing defect, but given the history of flexible panels folks should be concerned. Hopefully we will get more actual use reports from folks.

Mounting the flex panels is a solution, but then you are getting closer to a regular, lower priced, fixed panel. Mounting will bring up the heat damage issue. Mounting directly to a vehicle or trailer seems to me a bad idea. These mountings have most commonly been done on boats.

John61CT · May 18, 2018

I'm not sure what you're trying to say there.

Not mounting is not an option for semi-flex panels, if you want any longevity at all.

The only question is **how well** you mount them to ensure heat dissipation and no movement.

Drewskers · May 18, 2018

John61CT said:
User shorting a healthy panel should cause no issue.

...

They'll pay you.

Thanks again John. You are right, and the company is willing to honor their warranty, they have been very nice about it.

I have the choice of refund, or replacement panel. I am toying with the idea of getting a replacement and gluing it to 1/8" sheet aluminum to prevent flexing and act as a heat sink. It would be lighter than a rigid panel and a lot easier to deal with in my portable application. Whether 1/8" aluminum is stiff enough is a question, and the aluminum is not going to be cheap, either.

John61CT · May 19, 2018

Better IMO to find the panels that already come mounted to an aluminum sheet, and then stiffen that if needed, slotted edge tubing or something.

But likely hard to find with any practical warranty, most Chinese sources you'd be on your own.

Some just use polycarbonate double-wall sheeting as a backing plate

tx2sturgis · May 19, 2018

My 120w flexible panel lasted about a year and a half in occasional portable use...it was mounted on a piece of FRP. It worked well when it worked, but then after a couple of hard knocks it finally dropped to less than half of its normal output.

The small thin ribbon conductors that connect the cells probably broke, inside the panel.

In my opinion, if used as portable panels, they should be considered 'disposable'.

I have plans to cut this panel with a saw and experiment with the remaining good section or sections. I will post the results.

John61CT · May 19, 2018

In Australia, where the laws require full refunds for shoddy goods, they are using the small folding "solar blankets" for unmounted portable use rather than semi-flex.

I've seen 160-180A versions.

Drewskers · May 22, 2018

Update: I received notification from Amazon this morning that a refund has been issued for my flexible panel.

As luck would have it, the rigid panel at the top of my short list went on sale today:

Renogy 100 Watts 12 Volts Monocrystalline Solar Panel
Deal of the Day: $99.80 FREE Shipping for Prime members
https://goo.gl/SxJTdp

There's about 6 1/2 hours left on the deal as I type!

I ordered two, I plan to hinge them together and run them in parallel with my current PWM controller, eventually I'll upgrade to an MPPT and run them in series.

What's Your Experience With FLEXIBLE Solar Panels?

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