Flexible Solar Panel Recommendations

[RoadtripsAndCampfires]

Because we have to keep our weight down we are going to go with the lighter weight solar flexible solar panels.  Any links or info would help as I don't know much about these kind.

 

[B and C]

I have 4 - 100 watt Windynation panels (flexible) that I use. I have two semi-permanently mounted on the roof with 1" foam spacers under them and held down with industrial strength velcro around the edges. There are gaps in the velcro to allow the panels to breath. They have been on my roof over 2 years now with no problems. I keep the other 2 as portable panels that I can hang off the awning usually facing East in the Winter for more solar gain when the sun is low or when I use more power than normal, bad weather, etc. They also serve to put out in the sun when I am parked in the shade. Both sets are wired in series and then I parallel them when using both.

 

[RoadtripsAndCampfires]

There are a couple of kinds of cells and lots and lots of parts. I think I need a kit. Poly, mono, etc. is all greek but thanks for the recommendation.

 

[B and C]

I thought you were asking about panels, not a system.
Have you done an energy audit to find out how much solar and battery you need?
An energy audit lists all the devices, their power consumption and how many hours a day/night you will be using them. A lot of people seem to underestimate how much power they will use and buy a system way to small. This leads to buying batteries too often. They call the first set of batteries the learner set.

 

[Born2Explore]

My wife and I have 200W of Go Power! Flexible Solar Panels. We love them! Wrote a review of their customer service in this post. Link at the bottom of 1st post.

Go Power! Has Great Customer Service!
https://r.tapatalk.com/shareLink?sh.../forums/showthread.php?tid=26861&share_type=t

 

[frater secessus]

Poly, mono, etc. is all greek but thanks for the recommendation.

Here is a gentle introduction to solar and some info on the relative merits of different panel types.

 

[KathyC]

Because we have to keep our weight down we are going to go with the lighter weight solar flexible solar panels.  Any links or info would help as I don't know much about these kind.

I recommend watching videos by "RV With Tito".  He has been using some different brands of flexible panels for quite some time.  In particular, this video provides his explanation of what to look for in these panels.  I found it quite helpful!

 

[tripper]

I'm picking up an unusual flexible old school peel and stick 6 ft by 15" wide panel made by a local solar co here in Tucson called Global Solar. Its 100 watts and $140 for it.  I will post further about it when I get it tomorrow. I'm getting this because it fits perfectly on one spot on my RV and I need it to help power my aux solar system.

Here's a stock picture of them.
[img=640x480]http://www.globalsolar.com/sites/de...oject-photos/IMG_2134.JPG?itok=NhGPWn8H[/img]

 

[John61CT]

I've seen leftover NOS of that type, didn't know it's still being made.

Pretty low watts per sq area.

Apparently more durable than the usual modern semi-flex.

Which can be custom ordered in specific dimensions BTW.

 

[SoulRaven]

I'm picking up an unusual flexible old school peel and stick 6 ft by 15" wide panel made by a local solar co here in Tucson called Global Solar. Its 100 watts and $140 for it.  I will post further about it when I get it tomorrow. I'm getting this because it fits perfectly on one spot on my RV and I need it to help power my aux solar system.

Good for you. I hope they work well. Others have said they liked the flex panels. Can't wait to hear how it goes.

 

[tripper]

I've seen leftover NOS of that type, didn't know it's still being made.

Pretty low watts per sq area.

Apparently more durable than the usual modern semi-flex.

Which can be custom ordered in specific dimensions BTW.

They are different and more efficient than those older 18 foot longer peel and sticks from that defunct solar company you see on Ebay and Amazon sometimes. These are a newer generation, CIGS about 12% efficiency. They are completely rollable, much more flexible than the modern "flexible panels"
I think this company just has a large stock of these that they made around 2009, they definitely don't market these at all. Found them by total accident, I drive right by their plant for 7 years never seen them. I did get to look at a few they have on demo outside the plant, they look a bit weathered but no damage, and this is southern Arizona so they appear to hold up well. Real PITA trying to order just one as it is a large company not set up to sell retail to individuals.

 

[John61CT]

Look forward to detailed reports.

I get stuck on watts per square area having limited roof space.

Maybe if these are robust and lightweight they could be mounted on sliding boards or something, made somewhat portable so total area is 3-4 times fixed ones on the roof?

Then relative inefficiency becomes less critical.

 

[tripper]

The company has some specific charts where they show these laid next to each other as being more efficient in the total space taken than hard solar panel mounted on tilt mounts due to the spacing required between the tilt mounts. I pick the panel up today and I'll maybe run some test on it before mounting it on the roof.

 

[John61CT]

That's actually a good point.

Regular semi-flex panels also have varying spacing between cells and around the borders.

That is why total watts per *your* specific roof dimensions is important to calculate in selecting panels for mobile usage. Not just looking at the spec for cell efficiency.

I believe overheating can be an issue with regular cells spaced too close together.

These panels use a completely different cell technology, correct?

 

[tripper]

I will post a more detailed write up on this global solar flexible peel and stick in a separate post. Here is the quick summary.
100 watt Renogy standard hard panel = 60 watts
100 watt Global flexible peel and stick = 66 watts
Tested today using same wire and controller.
They Global panel came rolled up and is very high quality, only negative is it is terminated with Tyco connectors.

 

[RoadtripsAndCampfires]

I thought you were asking about panels, not a system.
Have you done an energy audit to find out how much solar and battery you need?

We are going to do 4 -100 watt panels to start if we calculate that will run the fridge ok and I think that's what others have been doing.  Everything else is minor draw.  We won't be bringing coffee makers and toasters but will need to charge phones and walkie talkies and computers and such  which we could even do from the truck.

 

[B and C]

Charge your laptops later in the day when your charge controller goes into float to use the excess solar power for the charging.

I don't have a compressor fridge so cannot speak to them. I have one of the old 3 way ones that I really like, it sips propane.

 

[John61CT]

@ltripper

This them?

http://www.globalsolar.com/rv-solar-panel-kits

What are the 100W dimensions? Apparently the 50W coming soon is 1m long.

Sounds a lot more durable than the usual semi-flex.

I'm dubious about peel and stick though, if (when) they do need replacing.

 

[tripper]

Yes that is them.  I doubt that 50 watt will ever show.  I believe these panels were made a decade ago, from what I can tell they are very high quality American made panels but very old. They have American Tyco connectors, which basically do not exist anymore. I saw a pair of them outside their factory that had obviously been in the sun for many years but were in decent shape still. I think they are just really high end expensive panels from a long time ago and they just have an old stock of them, they do a really bad job of advertising them, that's for sure, they fit perfectly width wise across most rvs. It was $140 for one. The Tyco connectors were very nice, wanted to cry cutting them off.  I only purchased the bare panel, not the kit. I was happily surprised to see it outperformed the Renogy. The label says 100 watts +10% / - 7 %. Weird though it says the 50 watts are available spring of 2018, so I might be wrong, weird they use obsolete Tyco connectors, which are very obsolete American only proprietary connectors. Dimensions 81.5'' x 21.5''

 

[John61CT]

Maybe the NOS is US made, more recent outsourced to Asia.