Portable vs. Fixed panels

[Vagabound]

I'm just starting to dip my toes into solar stuff.  What about the vendor -- Solar Blvd -- are they well-known for good stuff and good service, or just for being cheap?

Vagabound

 

[MindyLee]

I'm just starting to dip my toes into solar stuff.  What about the vendor -- Solar Blvd -- are they well-known for good stuff and good service, or just for being cheap?

Vagabound

http://www.bbb.org/central-californ...ervices/solar-blvd-com-in-norco-ca-100094344/

Not BBB accredited and a C- rating. Look like they've not been in business long and have 1 or 2 complaints.

 

[jimindenver]

While I have never used them, they have been popular for years for their portable and 24v panel prices like $119 for a 320w panel. Great if you can live there and pick them up. Shipping on 24v panels is considerably more than the portable is.

 

[Oswegatchie]

I don't know the shipping on these but it's a good price.

https://www.solarblvd.com/product_info.php?cPath=1_25_42&products_id=2965

That does seem like a great price. We could get away with only 1 instead of two. If we add the 160 watt portable to the existing 100 watt fixed on the roof, thru the same PWM controller, are the amperages added together or are they limited by the 100 watt since the panels are different? Basically will the portable act like a 100w also, becoming equivalent to the same amperage as the fixed panel, and we are losing some of the capabilities that would come if the 160 W was used solo?

 

[jimindenver]

The portable has it's own controller so it wouldn't matter. How many watts/amps is the rooftop controller?

 

[[email protected]]

Ive used the larger 24v panels portable for years. The issue is where to put them and moving around the 50 pound panel. I use C-clamps and pine slates as support for one or two panels. Last year I used three and left them laid flat on supports for ventilation. Eventually I will mount them and the a panel on my truck that will tilt. That way I can turn the truck once in a while as the day goes on and keep that panel tracking the sun.

The good side to portables is being able to leave the rig in the shade and the panel in the sun. You can track the sun from morning to night and get peak power the whole time.

The downside is they can walk away. (why mine will be on the truck) It gets to be a pain turning them. Mine fill up the walk way so overnight stops suck. They don't charge while traveling.

Personally I like a mixture of both. My portable can out pace the flat for hours in the morning and late afternoon.

 

[jimindenver]

My portables are a 24v panel, right now I am using a 235w Schottpoly. I have also used a 245w and 250w. I hope to find a 270w before I hit the road.

To these I run a set of 10 gauge MC4 solar cables connected to a Eco-worthy 20 amp MPPT controller that can be picked up for $102 at Eco-worthy.com. A inexpensive, simple to use controller that I have been using for four years now. You can pick up the MC4 cable on ebay for $50 and the controller for less if you buy it in a auction.

Here is two panels set up that way in both a test of the air conditioner as well as a direct side by side test of a 245w mono panel vs a 250w poly.

 

[Headache]

Here is two panels set up that way in both a test of the air conditioner as well as a direct side by side test of a 245w mono panel vs a 250w poly.

Is there a link to a thread regarding that test?  I'd like more info on that.

I have a folding set of older panels that probably don't put out much and I'll be very happy if any of you armchair solar gurus show up this winter at my van and school me about them.

 

[jimindenver]

Here is a brief post I did on it at the top.

https://vanlivingforum.com/Thread-750w-of-solar-for-525-in-Denver-OR-Jimmys-new-toys?page=2

Monos generally have a higher voltage and lower amp rating than the same sized poly. You will see it on their labels and I saw it testing panels with a volt meter before I had a controller. You may not notice it in a 12v panel because it clips the voltage in a PWM system. In a MPPT system the excess voltage is added to the amp out put instead of being clipped. In cold weather test I saw a panel running 2 volts over rating yet only saw a 3/4 amp increase in output so it takes quite a bit of excess voltage just to make up for the lower amps.

The other thing is in the post I said how the working voltages were different. For having the higher Voc, the mono always seemed to run at a lower working voltage. It holds it's own for a while but when the light starts dropping the working voltage slips and there is less excess to create amps with. The higher working amps of the poly keeps the production higher.

The last think is the way they drop off. The polys tend to drop accourding to how much light there is. A little less light, a little less production right down to almost dark. The monos drop some and then at a certain point they will drop a lot with just a little less light. Those 245w monos would be at 2.34a while the the poly was still putting out 8a. By the time the poly was down to 3 and 4a in think over cast the mono wasn't putting out enough to keep the controller awake. Our current system puts out 20-25a when you can't tell where the sun is, that will keep me off the generator.

 

[Oswegatchie]

The portable has it's own controller so it wouldn't matter. How many watts/amps is the rooftop controller?

It is a Go Solar 30. I think that is 30 amps and says it can handle up to 400watts.

 

[Oswegatchie]

The portable has it's own controller so it wouldn't matter. How many watts/amps is the rooftop controller?

And we were thinking of trying to save $30 per suitcase by not purchasing the controller that comes with it.

 

[bimmel20]

I don't know the shipping on these but it's a good price.

https://www.solarblvd.com/product_info.php?cPath=1_25_42&products_id=2965

I am glad you posted this retailer. Their price on flexible panels is cheap. And with them being so much lower in weight, the shipping is reasonable also. Does anyone see any reason not to buy these panels for portable deployment?

https://www.solarblvd.com/product_info.php?products_id=3083

 

[Oswegatchie]

I am glad you posted this retailer. Their price on flexible panels is cheap. And with them being so much lower in weight, the shipping is reasonable also. Does anyone see any reason not to buy these panels for portable deployment?

https://www.solarblvd.com/product_info.php?products_id=3083

Great price and can probably get by with 1 compared to 2-100 watt Renogy portables. I also would like to see some feedback.

 

[jimindenver]

Ok

You do need some type of frame to hold them in position. I know they are flexible but constantly flexing them isn't good for them. I could see a light weight PVC frame that could come apart for storage could work.

 

[DannyB1954]

Wire size with portable panels is important. The longer the run the heavier the wire needs to be. If 10 gauge works for you on your roof, you may need 6 or 4 gauge to move the panel 70' away. What you would need is dependant on the amperage of your panels. To counteract this need for heavy cable a high voltage panel can be used as a remote with a thinner wire. Amperage does not want to flow long distances through thin wires. By going higher voltage the amperage is less.

 

[bimmel20]

Ok

You do need some type of frame to hold them in position. I know they are flexible but constantly flexing them isn't good for them. I could see a light weight PVC frame that could come apart for storage could work.

Great point jimindenver, I actually got the idea from this post:

http://www.cheaprvliving.com/electrical/installing-flexible-solar-panels-from-the-side-of-the-van/

I am looking at something similar...

 

[Almost There]

Actually a lightweight frame that is permanently attached would give them the stability while at the same time decreasing the overall weight of a portable panel.

I'm planning on adding solar power this coming winter and to cut down on the carrying weight, I'm going to look at these panels closely.

I've got one Renogy suitcase but it's at the higher end of what weight I like to be lifting in and out of the van regularly. Size also matters though because no matter how light it is, if it's awkward to handle it's worse than being too heavy.

 

[jimindenver]

My big portables are so nice for the power but the weight is just too much. I'll be mounting mine on the truck but if I were not I'd be looking at these.

I have never bought from SolarBlvd but quite a few on RV.net have. When I made my first 235w portable, they had 235w panels for $140. I know more than just a few that use that panel and a Eco-worthy MPPT. Since then their portables have always been a hit and their prices can be hard to beat.

Thanks for the link. I love how the panels fold up like that, not a lot of storage space needed for 300w.

 

[DannyB1954]

I read that Renogy was having some problems with their bendable panels. I just went to Amazon and they show Their 100 Watt kit as being not available. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B...&tag=cheaprvliving-20&linkId=KSZWDS7YGGKJJFA6

 

[highdesertranger]

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