Portable vs. Fixed panels

[Vagabound]

Renogy recalled their flexible panels and are not offering them now until they can make them more dependable.  translation,  they had lots of problems with them.  highdesertranger

I wonder where they are made.  Maybe GotSmart will wander by.

Vagabound

 

[highdesertranger]

just because something was made doesn't speak with how well it actually works. the Yugo, is a good example. highdesertranger

oops I had to edit that I see you said where, not why. never mind.

 

[Vagabound]

just because something was made doesn't speak with how well it actually works.  the Yugo,  is a good example.  highdesertranger

oops I had to edit that I see you said where,  not why.  never mind.

Funny.  Before I got to your edit, I was going to reply, "Yeah, it does matter that it's made because non-existent things tend to not work very well." ;-)

But regarding poorly made things, exactly. There are enough examples of those to fill the Grand Canyon. A friend of mine used to call them "made-for-the-landfill items".

Vagabound

 

[Gadget728]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think I read in one of the other threads that if you are going to use both roof attached AND portable Solar panels, the wiring for the portable panel hooks to the battery bank on the other positive & negative poles than used for the roof mount. I'm guessing this is because many portable solar panels already come with a charge controller.

 

[ccbreder]

If the panels Renogy was sourcing were not up to their standards, what other company are selling the ones Renogy rejected?

 

[Oswegatchie]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think I read in one of the other threads that if you are going to use both roof attached AND portable Solar panels, the wiring for the portable panel hooks to the battery bank on the other positive & negative poles than used for the roof mount.  I'm guessing this is because many portable solar panels already come with a charge controller.

Great question, as I was also wondering how to wire them into the existing system. I hope somebody knowledgable (you know who you are!) chimes in.

 

[ccbreder]

The way electrons flow, it makes no difference, although there is a optimal way to connect battery banks. All the positive charge wires can go to the same point. Same with negative.

 

[Oswegatchie]

The way electrons flow, it makes no difference, although there is a optimal way to connect battery banks. All the positive charge wires can go to the same point. Same with negative.

I guess what I was wondering is: if you buy the panels w/o built in controllers do you wire them to the existing controller inside the rv, and if you buy the portable with a built-in controller do you wire them directly to the batteries and bypass the existing controller?

 

[jimindenver]

There are IFs

Yes it can be set up so that you can just add the out put of a portable panel to the output of the mounted system. It is easiest with a PWM/12v system.

My portables are 24v panels and harder to match up with a mounted system. So each of mine has its own controller. It can be added to the big bank or charge up a second. There are controllers that will combine the output from a second system.

 

[Oswegatchie]

There are IFs

Yes it can be set up so that you can just add the out put of a portable panel to the output of the mounted system. It is easiest with a PWM/12v system.

My portables are 24v panels and harder to match up with a mounted system. So each of mine has its own controller. It can be added to the big bank or charge up a second. There are controllers that will combine the output from a second system.

I have a PWM/12v system in place right now (GoSolar 30amp) controller that says it will except up to 400 watts. I guess I  am not sure if I just run the portables to that or to the battery bank. I know the panels can come with or without a controller, and the non-controller ones are less expensive. I am beginning to give serious consideration to the 160 watt Solar Blvd portables. Maybe 2 of them.

 

[jimindenver]

You can always remove the controllers on anything you buy but I wouldn't waste the money if your controller can handle the extra wattage.