Has anyone tried these flexi solar panels?

[Free_to_be_me]

Canadian Tire has a brand called the Noma 30W Semi Flexible Solar Panel. I'm curious if anyone has experience with them because 1) I'm at a complete loss when it comes to knowing anything about solar and 2) these are black, very thin, and would shape to the roof of my car, so I was thinking they might be much more stealth. Perhaps they aren't any good though. Just want a solid plan before I move into my car in January...in the middle of Canadian winter....

Thoughts?

 

[John61CT]

These types are more expensive and even when mounted properly (no flex, let heat out the back), they don't last as long as framed.

 

[Free_to_be_me]

Thanks!!!

 

[user 37446]

Renogy sold them for a while then quit a few years ago due to issues. They've not come out with another line, must be a good reason.  Still, some folks gotta have them (sailboats) due to weight, and a few use them on minivans or real lightweight travel trailers, especially those fiberglass egg style with quite rounded rooflines. 

Overall they cost a lot more $ per watt, have pitiful warranties, build up excessive heat and have questionable lifespan. At least that's what my research is showing.

If you gave me one I'd still use it though... 

 

[John61CT]

Make sure there is **zero** flex after install, if mount surface is not rigid buy the mounting plate/sheet available from the mfg.

And make sure heat can dissipate from underneath, do not affix to anything that insulates.

Then just factor in an average 3 year lifetime into your running costs, bit like a cheap battery bank.

If they last longer consider it a bonus.

 

[DLTooley]

Hopefully this next engineering generation has improved, but I haven't seen evidence of that. Heat and solid mount would be the two things I'd address.

 

[sometimesido]

take it with grain of salt, Will Prowse from youtube tested few of the flexible panels for his minivan he says this one held up so far. https://www.amazon.com/ALLPOWERS-Mo...ng-20&linkId=bf102371ddd61831f150ae6939af436d

Amazon link also lists 50w panel in the menu.

From his website:
"2x 100 watt mono flex panels. I have had a few of these flex panels fail, and this one has held up. You still need to cool it by making some airflow under it. But you still want your vehicle to be aerodynamic. What I do is use a strip of VHB tape on the leading edge and trailing edge of the panel, and slip some thin dowel sticks under the panel. This gives it a decent amount of airflow. If you have a roof rack you can mount it, you can use that, and the panels will stay cool, but roof racks are not that aerodynamic. It is ideal to flush mount."

http://www.mobile-solarpower.com/minivan-solar-power-system.html

 

[tx2sturgis]

I'm using a 120w flexible panel for boondocking, this is for powering ham radios, and charging batteries, and only temporarily when I'm camping...

I mounted it on a piece of FRP and use a rope handle, along with about 25 feet of cable so I can move it wherever I need it to get the most sunlight.

I dont think it would be very suitable for permanent mounting, I think the plastic and the construction is not really designed for long term use...but for this application it is perfect, very easy to move around.