Thread: Bad experience using thin 'flexible' solar panels

Brother and I have been looking a a small solar system for when camping.
We liked the 'compactness' of those flexible roll up panels.

Good to know.

Originally Posted by spudboy

.....

After 3 or 4 years they are putting out bugger all power, like less than 1A on a bright sunny day.

The surface has gone all chalky, so that can't help either.

.....

Cheers
David

LOL!
Probably some cheap quality plastic coating, not properly UV stabilised.
So, it seems, they appear to breakdown under the conditions that they're meant to operate under!

Hope the warranty issue works out for 'ya.

What brand?

Are we are talking about the $700+ ones that are Red, don't Arc, and fold up into a neat little package? Or some chinesium alibaba junk?

I would've thought 3-4 years ago, 1.5mm panels would have been quite exxy to buy---

They were 'generic' solar panels from our local specialist 12V shop, so no, not the RedArc unfolding ones, or nasty eBay ones.

Cost was $250 each, so $1500 for the 6 of them.

They look like this:

thats disappointing to hear.

who refused the warranty? the seller or the manufacturer?
what was the reason given?

Hopefully my cheapy that I bought last yer wont go the same way:

Camping solar for the D4



But if it does, at least I'm not likely to be relying on it for long periods of time and I ended up buying a decent regulator, so I have the basis of something better if i have to improve the panel.

Mine supposedly come with a 25 year output warranty.... but who knows
https://www.vicoffroad.com.au/sport-...ging.html.html

when you strip them down older style "traditional" solar panels are nt actually all that thick. its all the other layers of material that go to strenthgening and supporting them so they dont bend, flex and crack the power making part of the panel making high resistances and open circuits.

20170202_090155.jpg

Just purchased one of these roll up 100w.

Cheers 20170202_090929.jpg20170202_090840.jpg