Fixed vs Portable solar panels

[Alex AVI]

Originally Posted by gypsydad

16' clearance needed and weighs 1500lbs? Interesting idea, and like that it cleans itself, follows the sun, and folds when winds get above 34mph..but what about price? I could not find the price...

GYPSYDAD - Me too! Like this. But they seem to shy away from giving pricing info. Did dig up some info from SunLux, a SW source servicing NV & Cal, but it is not current (2017). They compare it to traditional rooftop solar. YMMV.

https://www.sunlux.com/blog/smartflower-solar/

[ROBERT CROSS]

Zamp 120w works well for us connected thru the 7way...KISS.

Bob
🇺🇸

[InterBlog]

Originally Posted by gypsydad

16' clearance needed and weighs 1500lbs? ...

I said in my post above, "They don't have a portable version yet that I know of..."

Innovation is typically followed by imitation which is the purest form of flattery. And then product expansion (upscaling, downscaling, etc.).

This is the B-van child forum. We have space challenges that do not exist for trailer owners. My husband and I have 3 solar panels that are permanently mounted on the roof in part because there is absolutely nowhere to store portable flat panels inside (except in the aisle, where we need to move around... or maybe in the wet bath). For those who do not want permanent installations, I expect that fold-down innovation will become more important in the future. A down-scaled "flower" would fit in our closet, for instance.

[gypsydad]

Originally Posted by InterBlog

I said in my post above, "They don't have a portable version yet that I know of..."

Innovation is typically followed by imitation which is the purest form of flattery. And then product expansion (upscaling, downscaling, etc.).

This is the B-van child forum. We have space challenges that do not exist for trailer owners. My husband and I have 3 solar panels that are permanently mounted on the roof in part because there is absolutely nowhere to store portable flat panels inside (except in the aisle, where we need to move around... or maybe in the wet bath). For those who do not want permanent installations, I expect that fold-down innovation will become more important in the future. A down-scaled "flower" would fit in our closet, for instance.

That type device likely to cost more than your AS! We use GoPower folding model...have used for 6 years now, and it does decent job, stores upright at the foot of our twin beds, is easy to set up/move around to catch the sun. 4-6 hours tops us off in good sun; gives us what we need when boondocking. We also have generator if needed...or when we want to use microwave or AC.. The portable Li battery from Yetti someone posted about earlier seems like the way to go. Said they are using that instead of a generator now...

[wachuko]

Originally Posted by gypsydad

16' clearance needed and weighs 1500lbs? Interesting idea, and like that it cleans itself, follows the sun, and folds when winds get above 34mph..but what about price? I could not find the price...

The cost for one SmartFlower system is $17,000. If you want the complete system with batteries included, your are looking at $22,000 plus installation.

[gypsydad]

Originally Posted by wachuko

The cost for one SmartFlower system is $17,000. If you want the complete system with batteries included, your are looking at $22,000 plus installation.

Wowzer...Could stay in a lot of nice campgrounds for that kind of money!

[Alex AVI]

Originally Posted by gypsydad

Wowzer...Could stay in a lot of nice campgrounds for that kind of money!

GYPSYDAD - Yeah, or lots portable folding GoPower or lots FlexPanels. For that money, I clean, move, & fold it myself The money is no longer being applied to the solar technology but to mechanical automation.

[Pocahontas]

Bob,
Did you recently post a link for the 7-way plug you got off Amazon for about $31 to connect your solar panels through? I didn't save the link and now can't find what you showed from Amazon. Would love to see that again.
Thanks,
Paula
19' Bambi
Sonoma, CA