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Old 11-30-2017, 05:07 AM   #221
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Originally Posted by gandttimes View Post
Was the price of $10/w a typo? Renogy is around $3/w.
Correct as to LIST price ~ $10/W for both Solbian and Solara marine panels.

However, you can get that lower. I purchased six Solbian SP-125L-JB panels with junction box, pigtails, MC4 plugs for $5133.80, which is $6.84/W.

They offer several options, such as grommets, sewn in zippers for mounting, and feed on top or bottom. I would like to make a rapid deploy awning by zipping together some of these. :-)

I have no experience with the Renology for comparison of performance or construction.

73/gus
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Old 11-30-2017, 01:19 PM   #222
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I like the awning idea. Saw the options on the site. Worth looking into further. Thanks


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Old 12-03-2017, 10:32 AM   #223
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Flexible Solar panels... Opinions?

I had the previous flexible from Renogy that failed. The problems of the panel itself may have been fixed but what about the heat issue and efficiency drop due to mounting directly to surface?

Side note did you hear about the new Fisker battery patent on the solid state battery? This will make lithium obsolete. About twice the energy storage and 1/60th charge time requirement! Solar will come of age.
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Old 12-03-2017, 11:04 AM   #224
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I had the previous flexible from Renogy that failed. The problems of the panel itself may have been fixed but what about the heat issue and efficiency drop due to mounting directly to surface?

Side note did you hear about the new Fisker battery patent on the solid state battery? This will make lithium obsolete. About twice the energy storage and 1/60th charge time requirement! Solar will come of age.
The heat problem is concerning me too. Sent Renogy a long list of concerns and am waiting for a non-corporate answer. May have to just use the eclipse panels in a different setup. They are still recommending mounting 1 to 11/2 inches off the surface which totally nullifies any benefit of flexible.


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Old 12-03-2017, 11:33 AM   #225
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I had the previous flexible from Renogy that failed. The problems of the panel itself may have been fixed but what about the heat issue and efficiency drop due to mounting directly to surface?
We are still experimenting. For the next two panels, we are trying the RV-mounting recommendation from:
https://www.coastalclimatecontrol.co...r/solbian.html

This mounts a thin-wall polycarbonate sheet between the panel and the roof. We are testing 4mm (5/32") and 6mm (1/4") sheets first to see the flexibility. These type of sheets come under many names, such as Sunlite polycarbonate twinwall roof panel at Home Depot.

Will be interesting to measure the temperature on both surfaces. Am enjoying the challenge.

Am thinking more about adding the zippered-together awning idea too!

73/gus
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Old 12-03-2017, 12:47 PM   #226
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Having read many reports of cell cupping, but most of the ones I have seen have been mounted pretty flat... I am wondering if mounting them on a curve such as an Airstream roof, would nullify that...

The issue of heat is a concern, but in my mind I have been doodling mounting the panels on a curved frame... so they match the roof curve when stowed, and therefore are aesthetically pleasing, but pivot up when docked just like many people do with flat panels. This would allow heat to escape in either situation, and improve output of the panel that might be shaded or less directly in the sun. I think building an aluminum curved frame under the panel, with a riveted, "dimple die" frame, would look super cool, be light, ridged, and functional!

This is similar to what is in my minds eye, but on a smaller scale...

http://www.fjcruiserforums.com/forum...ck-review.html
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Old 12-05-2017, 03:24 PM   #227
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Originally Posted by Keyair View Post
Having read many reports of cell cupping, but most of the ones I have seen have been mounted pretty flat... I am wondering if mounting them on a curve such as an Airstream roof, would nullify that...

The issue of heat is a concern, but in my mind I have been doodling mounting the panels on a curved frame... so they match the roof curve when stowed, and therefore are aesthetically pleasing, but pivot up when docked just like many people do with flat panels. This would allow heat to escape in either situation, and improve output of the panel that might be shaded or less directly in the sun. I think building an aluminum curved frame under the panel, with a riveted, "dimple die" frame, would look super cool, be light, ridged, and functional!

This is similar to what is in my minds eye, but on a smaller scale...

http://www.fjcruiserforums.com/forum...ck-review.html
In answer to my questions to Renogy, they kindly sent me the install instructions for the SunPower panels as that's what they are.
SunPower expressly states that there MUST be an airspace between the panel and the mounting surface. The air cell idea may work but as it probably should be on the thicker side, it might just be easier to use the solid panels. The advantage of these flexible panels might be best seen on a sail or cloth surface.
The other warnings in the instructions were to make sure nothing touched the surface of the cells to avoid scratching or damaging the surface.
Thinking I'm going to give up and go to the solid panels.
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Old 03-02-2019, 11:11 PM   #228
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Flexible Solar panels... Opinions?

Finally mounted my 32w Uni-Solar panel.

It’s up there, across the front roof of my Motorhome, just temporary mounted with tape until I get around to white painting the roof.
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Even though it’s only rated at under 2a I decided to add a cheap charge controller. It is a MTP, and rated at 30a, and cost $13 delivered.
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On a dull, overcast day, I noted it was pumping 14.4v into the battery.
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Old 03-03-2019, 08:51 AM   #229
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Flexible Solar panels... Opinions?

Quote:

On a dull, overcast day, I noted it was pumping 14.4v into the battery.



Yes but how many amps were you seeing? 14.4v @ 0.1 amps would not charge your batteries for instance [emoji4]
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Old 03-03-2019, 10:05 AM   #230
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Electrics is not my strongest suit...


The panel is rated at 32w, 16.5v and says a max of 1.96 amps...
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I assumed even with 14.4v reading at the charger(max is set at 14.5v), the formula of Watts Divided by Volts, equals Amps...
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Old 03-18-2019, 06:45 AM   #231
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Flexible Solar panels... Opinions?

Ok. Facts!
Finally installed my Trimetric Battery monitor!
On an approx 80f ambient blue sky day it was outputting between 1.5 and 1.7 amps.
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Surface temperature of the roof was in excess of 100f on the bare aluminum, so I’m sure it was suffering from some heat related efficiency loss.
As the day waned, the sun angle was less than ideal, and at sunset, it was still putting 1.2a into the batteries.

Am currently painting the roof white, but not got to the front yet.
Planning to build a spacer/ frame for it to get so air space for cooling.
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Old 03-19-2019, 06:38 PM   #232
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The cupping of my panel was at each cell. Mine was not mounted but loosely clipped to my front sun guard when in storage. There was space underneath with spacers and it still cupped. I returned it.
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Old 03-24-2019, 09:18 AM   #233
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I had 4- 100w flex panels installed by the dealer in October 2016 they have stopped working. When tested the output voltage is zero. I spoke with the manufacturer and they said 2-3 years is a typical lifespan. They are mounted on the roof a 2017 Classic.
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Old 03-24-2019, 09:41 AM   #234
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Flexible Solar panels... Opinions?

Compare that lifespan to a rigid framed panel which are warranted for 25-30 years. Sounds to me like flex panels are not really ready for prime time. With that short a lifetime, flex panels could be rather expensive.
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Old 03-24-2019, 09:52 AM   #235
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I've had 4 68 watt unisolar panels glued on the roof of my trailer for over 4 years now.
They work just fine. There is very little cupping of the panels. I wash the roof including the panels once each year.
I bought them because they were cheap and don't alter the look of the trailer.
I would never install rigid flat panels because of the look.
Monocrystaline panels, which these are do not suffer as much output loss due to heat buildup, which is a problem with polycrystalline panels which the rigid ones are.
Also, if part of my system is in shade it doesn't affect the output of the sections which are in sun. If part of a rigid panel is shaded the whole panel output is reduced.
Big downside of flex panels is the square foot power output which is much lower than rigid panel. My panels are 15 inches wide and 9 feet long and only have a potential of 68 watts peak. But the four panels give me what I need.
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Old 03-24-2019, 09:54 AM   #236
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Also, I painted the roof with Supertherm ceramic paint before installing the panels. This helped offset the potential heat gain with so much of the roof being black with the panels up there.
It really works.
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Old 05-01-2019, 12:08 PM   #237
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Were These Go Power Flex Panels?

Quote:
Originally Posted by SilverPal2 View Post
I had 4- 100w flex panels installed by the dealer in October 2016 they have stopped working. When tested the output voltage is zero. I spoke with the manufacturer and they said 2-3 years is a typical lifespan. They are mounted on the roof a 2017 Classic.
I assume the panels installed by dealer were Go Power panels... is that correct? I just had the local dealership (LA Airstream) check my solar because I wasn't seeing any output coming down from panels and batteries weren't charging. They told me that neither of the Go Power flex panels were working. The good news is that Go Power will replace panels under warranty provided that LA Airstream sends them images of panel output in sunlight captured on a multimeter... but the bad news is that I'll have to pay a lot for labor to test, process warranty claim, uninstall original panels and install replacement panels. It's too bad that the lifespan of my (and your) Go Power panels is so short, but others on Forum report long use with no problems.
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Old 05-01-2019, 12:42 PM   #238
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This may have been addressed earlier in this very long thread. If so I apologize, but here goes.

Why do Airstream dealers seem partial to installing the flexible panels?

I've had rigid panels installed on two Airstreams by AM Solar in Springfield Oregon. I've been throughly satisfied with both installs and have had zero issues.

I'm wondering if Airstream dealers in general are oblivious to the widely reported long term problems with flexible panels, or maybe the comparatively ease of installation is more attractive to them.

BTW. AM Solar, considered by many as the RV solar mothership, will not install flexible panels.
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Old 05-01-2019, 01:03 PM   #239
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Flexible Solar panels... Opinions?

Its probably because flexible panels are cheap, easy to install, and the dealers don’t have any skin in the game when the flex panels fail in a few years after the warranty runs out.

Oblivious or ‘don’t care’ has the exact same result.

Yet another reason I always do as much of the work i can myself, so I can always get after the dude that made the mess in the first place.

Note that our rigid aluminum framed panel from AMSolar’s kit we installed ourselves in 2013 is still keeping our batteries properly charged. Do it right, or buy it twice is my experience with tools and hardware.
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Old 05-02-2019, 07:15 AM   #240
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The panels installed on my 2017 Classic were Zamp flexible panels, Zamp has replaced the panels with 4 90 watt glass panels with 25 year warranty including the shipping. I did the install, they work great. The biggest problem is getting the old panels off which were put on with 3M VHB tape.
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