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Thread: Any experiences with ebay flexible panels

  1. #1
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    Any experiences with ebay flexible panels

    For the last 5 years I have used a 120W folding solar panel with a GSL 12amp MPPT controller near the battery with 6 SWG 20metre cables. This has reliably provided up to 6.5 amps even at 9-10AM oriented to the sun on my inline ABR amp/watt/volt meter..

    However the 120W folding panel is very bulky and heavy so I looked for a lighter alternative and bought a 150Watt flexible panel from Ebay , so that I could lay it on the bed of my hard floor camper and save storage room underneath and weight.

    Well , the first time I got to use it last weekend gave a cold amp reading of 2.1 amps , which deteriorated to 1.45 amps when the panel got hot. The whole setup was otherwise the same ie MPPT controller , same battery , same amp meter.

    To say I was not impressed is an understatement resulting in my currently taking action to return the panel. I don't know if there is something wrong with the panel or that is all you get. I have seen other comments in reviews which suggest that the real output is much less than stated . But 8+amps stated spec vs 2actual? Come on.

    Has anyone had experience with 150-200watt flexible panels as advertised on ebay? Seeing I have a 12 amp MPPT controller I might as well go as near to that as possible and based on review comments they are not outputting anything like the stated output.

    I would be interested in what actual amps is available from which brand of flexible panel from which seller.
    Appreciate any help .
    Regards Philip A

  2. #2
    Tombie Guest
    I’m using 2x 100w flexible panels.

    1 is working fine - does about 5a in good sun..

    1 is playing up - unsure if it’s wiring or panel (haven’t had the time yet)

  3. #3
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    I purchase 2 x 100w fexible panels from vic off road........in parallel they only got to about 30% of what they were rated at, I than tried one by itself and was lightly better....I now run them in series and they perform around 50-60%

    I have since purchased one 100w flexible panel from Springers Low Voltage...it performs as it should....although was 3 x times the price.

    I'm considering switching to the flexible folding jobbies that fold up to brief case size.......they seem to get better reviews.

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    DiscoMick Guest

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    The selling company has now given me a refund so at least I am not out of pocket for the experience.(except that the company although listing in Australia and having Australian stock in Sydney was actually based in California so I was charged an international transaction fee)

    Regards Philip A

  6. #6
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    Quote Originally Posted by PhilipA View Post
    The selling company has now given me a refund so at least I am not out of pocket for the experience.(except that the company although listing in Australia and having Australian stock in Sydney was actually based in California so I was charged an international transaction fee)

    Regards Philip A
    I didn't have any luck with vic off road although there panels do say do not connect in parallel or series.....

  7. #7
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    Quote Originally Posted by weeds View Post

    I have since purchased one 100w flexible panel from Springers Low Voltage...it performs as it should....although was 3 x times the price.

    .
    pretty sure they are branded Scorpion .... if that helps

  8. #8
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    I just looked at a site which lists all of the Chinese Tier1 solar panel producers. Guess what , not one makes a flexible panel or a rigid panel under 275 watts which are probably real watts.

    I am now in a bit of a quandary. Do I buy a 240watt panel which may only give say 8 amps or may give the listed 13 amps which is over the capacity of my MPPT controller.

    Or maybe buy a 200 watt which is listed as 11. something just inside my MPPT but may only give about 6 amps or less than my current folding panel.
    The company listed by Disco Mick sells a 200 watt panel at about $800!
    Agggh What a minefield.
    It seems to me that almost all of reviewers on various sites really have no idea what the output of their panels actually is. And they wonder why people have flat batteries.
    Regards Philip A

  9. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by PhilipA View Post
    I just looked at a site which lists all of the Chinese Tier1 solar panel producers. Guess what , not one makes a flexible panel or a rigid panel under 275 watts which are probably real watts.

    I am now in a bit of a quandary. Do I buy a 240watt panel which may only give say 8 amps or may give the listed 13 amps which is over the capacity of my MPPT controller.

    Or maybe buy a 200 watt which is listed as 11. something just inside my MPPT but may only give about 6 amps or less than my current folding panel.
    The company listed by Disco Mick sells a 200 watt panel at about $800!
    Agggh What a minefield.
    It seems to me that almost all of reviewers on various sites really have no idea what the output of their panels actually is. And they wonder why people have flat batteries.
    Regards Philip A
    I’ll be buying a second scorpion. This gives me 2 x 100 panels which will slip under the bed or if the bride wins be mounted on the roof rack.

    I current have the three flexible on the roof rack.

  10. #10
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    Quote Originally Posted by PhilipA View Post
    ..It seems to me that almost all of reviewers on various sites really have no idea what the output of their panels actually is.
    I believe the panel's rated output is determined by a standard which does not match real world conditions very well.

    If a panel is rated @ 100W under the standard test you will probably get ~75% of that rating around mid day (ie at best).
    2011 D4 3.0 SDV6
    1999 D2 V8, in heaven
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