Flexible Solar

[ramblingvanman]

I read Bob's blog on his install of the 68w unisolar panels. Those would have worked very well for me, but they are apparently discontinued. So, I am looking at some other types. I have a class b chevy, so my install would be basically the same as what Bob did. Has anyone tried High Efficiency 100W Sunpower Flexible Solar Panels? Are they any good?

If not, what will work given my space restrictions? The 128w unisolar panels would be too long.

http://www.sunpowersolarpanel.com/p...ce=googlepla&gclid=CJKDxY6MhscCFQ-maQodQhADxw

 

[SoulRaven]

Are you efficiently charging while driving? Not all class B's are set up with efficient systems.

I'm not a big fan of parking in the sun in the summer to have power. If I need to charge my house battery if I'm boondocking for more than 2 weeks, I have a 12v gas generator which I think is a much better solution than solar.

Even when I'm in towns, which is where I usually am, just doing normal daily driving keeps my house battery charged, and I don't typically drive that much in town.

 

[ramblingvanman]

I want to boondock on BLM land without running the engine for a few days at a time. I just bought it yesterday and have not bought a house battery yet, so I don't know how efficiently it is or isn't charging. It is set up to charge the house battery and has an isolator so that house battery will not drain the chassis battery. I won't be running any large loads, especially at the beginning. I will wait to get a fridge until I have the solar and battery situation figured out. Aside from that just my laptop, a fan and some led lighting.

 

[akrvbob]

I don't know anyone with sunpower panels but I do know people with the Renogy flexible panels and they all like them. That's what I would buy.

I guess the current way to install them is with 3M velcro tape. There are some threads here discussing it.

Another option is to not mount them at all if you are going to be boondocking. You can lay them out on the ground or work out a system to hang them off the side of the van. A friend of mine does that and he wrote a guest post on how he does it. Find it here:
http://www.cheaprvliving.com/blog/installing-flexible-solar-panels-from-the-side-of-the-van/

He has 3 Renogy flexible panels and this picture shows them hanging off the side of the van. They are resting on two painters poles and are at about a 45 degree angle.

Bob

 

[One Awesome Inch]

Just installed a 100w flexible Renogy panel yesterday. Love the electricity!

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

I want to boondock on BLM land without running the engine for a few days at a time. I just bought it yesterday and have not bought a house battery yet, so I don't know how efficiently it is or isn't charging. It is set up to charge the house battery and has an isolator so that house battery will not drain the chassis battery. I won't be running any large loads, especially at the beginning. I will wait to get a fridge until I have the solar and battery situation figured out. Aside from that just my laptop, a fan and some led lighting.

I'm not really surprised to hear that you have an isolator.  They are very common on factory built rigs.  Unfortunately, diode type isolators are also the WORST way to isolate two batteries.  They cause a voltage drop that seriously interferes with charging the house battery.  The current that SHOULD be going into your house battery becomes heat, instead, which the diodes must shed into a large heat sink.

As you sort things out, you really should ditch the diode isolator and replace it with a continuous duty solenoid.  Or explore some of the modern systems like Hellroaring Technology, which don't have that problem.

Regards
John

 

[ramblingvanman]

Hanging them is good while boondocking out in the sticks, but what about when dry camping in a walmart parking lot? My budget is limited unless I stop driving and get a "real job" for awhile. So, I plan to start with 1 panel and 1 house battery. I will go from there. I may end up mixing the 2. 1 mounted panel for in city use, and 1-2 unisolar(or equivalent) to hang off the side for boondocking.

 

[One Awesome Inch]

Are you efficiently charging while driving?  Not all class B's are set up with efficient systems.

I'm not a big fan of parking in the sun in the summer to have power.  If I need to charge my house battery if I'm boondocking for more than 2 weeks, I have a 12v gas generator which I think is a much better solution than solar.

Even when I'm in towns, which is where I usually am, just doing normal daily driving keeps my house battery charged, and I don't typically drive that much in town.

You can charge your battery while parked in the shade. The charge wont be nearly as robust, but still does work. Once the panel is installed, its free electricity, no noisey generator that might bother neighbours AND its much better for the environment.

 

[One Awesome Inch]

Hanging them is good while boondocking out in the sticks, but what about when dry camping in a walmart parking lot? My budget is limited unless I stop driving and get a "real job" for awhile. So, I plan to start with 1 panel and 1 house battery. I will go from there. I may end up mixing the 2. 1 mounted panel for in city use, and 1-2 unisolar(or equivalent) to hang off the side for boondocking.

Its a good plan. I have one 100w panel and a single 100ah battery and I think it will meet my electrical needs... though I am not a heavy power user.

I used weldbond epoxy to attach my panel using upside down bolts.... meaning I can remove it later if desired.

Here is a pictorial of what I did.

 

[akrvbob]

Brilliant idea!
Bob

 

[SternWake]

Interesting method for attaching a panel.


I don't think I'd be brave enough to try that.

If the hardware is not stainless, well forget about removing it in a year or 2.

If it is stainless, materials seem to have a hard time bonding with stainless steel.  It needs to be roughed up for mechanical tooth, and squeeky clean, and then one is still expecting the bond of the paint to the primer and metal below that to hold the panel down.

Too many 'if's and or Butt's for me. 

That Weldbond epoxy says it is UV resistant, but also says

[font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif]NOTE:[/font][font=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif] Do not use when bonding containers designed for use with, or subject to, hot liquids.[/font]

I don't know if you've ever put a chromed wrench out in the summer sun at noon for an hour or 2 and tried to handle it, but it will burn your hands.

Expect the stainless to get nearly as hot.

And most epoxies get significantly softer and weaker when hot.

How tight is the Solar panel?  Can it flap and develop harmonics in the slipstream?

 

[Willy]

Just wanna chip in here that Unisolar panels can be bought off Amazon/Ebay still. I picked up 2 framed 64W panels off Ebay this past winter. Sure, the company is outta business, but they put out a high quality product which can often be bought rather cheaply. ..Willy.

 

[ramblingvanman]

Just wanna chip in here that Unisolar panels can be bought off Amazon/Ebay still. I picked up 2 framed 64W panels off Ebay this past winter. Sure, the company is outta business, but they put out a high quality product which can often be bought rather cheaply. ..Willy.

Ok, I will check ebay. I am looking for the 68w flexible panels as my first choice. No rush though. I have nothing but time.

 

[2TheStreet]

I have 4 of Renogy's flexible solar panels, they work great so far and keep my van stealth, you can't see them unless you are elevated enough to see the top of the roof.