Thin flexible solar panels....

[weeds]

Mine arrived today....

Mate and I went 1/2's in these

https://www.vicoffroad.com.au/sport-outdoor/solar-panel/12v-100w-black-silicon-flexible-solar-panel-kit-generator-power-mono-charging.html

His is going onto his boat and mine will slide under the bed and pull out as required, may mount to the roof rack but given how light and thin they are under the bed will do for now.

Will convert to Anderson plug......I only have a PWM reg, should track down a MMPT any suggestions.

They come extremely well packed so that give me confidence they might be reasonable. https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2017/02/263.jpg
https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2017/02/264.jpg

[Pedro_The_Swift]

so, just how flexible are they Weeds:angel:

[Bytemrk]

Weeds, mine is the same panel

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/alternate-energies/243126-camping-solar-d4.html


Other than some testing in my front yard, which all went well - i don't have much to share.

I went with a Victron Bluesolar MPPT unit, which I'm told are pretty reliable.

Time will tell.:angel:

[weeds]

so, just how flexible are they Weeds:angel:



Umm, dunno

[weeds]

Weeds, mine is the same panel



https://www.aulro.com/afvb/alternate-energies/243126-camping-solar-d4.html





Other than some testing in my front yard, which all went well - i don't have much to share.



I went with a Victron Bluesolar MPPT unit, which I'm told are pretty reliable.



Time will tell.:angel:



Which Victron??

[spudboy]

Ummm - they look pretty much the same as the panels I've had some issues with.

See this thread: 245734-bad-experience-using-thin-flexible-solar-panels.html (https://www.aulro.com/afvb/alternate-energies/245734-bad-experience-using-thin-flexible-solar-panels.html)

Looks like they need lots of ventilation underneath or else they get too hot and fail. Not 100% sure the getting hot is the reason for them failing, that's just the manufacturer's theory.

Keep them cool and maybe you'll have a good run out of them. Mine have been a failure though :(

[Pedro_The_Swift]

If needed, the only spot I have left for solar on the top of the van is on the front roll-down,,

and you thought I wanted you to break your new panel--- :rolleyes:

[weeds]

Ummm - they look pretty much the same as the panels I've had some issues with.

See this thread: 245734-bad-experience-using-thin-flexible-solar-panels.html (https://www.aulro.com/afvb/alternate-energies/245734-bad-experience-using-thin-flexible-solar-panels.html)

Looks like they need lots of ventilation underneath or else they get too hot and fail. Not 100% sure the getting hot is the reason for them failing, that's just the manufacturer's theory.

Keep them cool and maybe you'll have a good run out of them. Mine have been a failure though :(



Yeah read your thread.....they also sell the white ones so I went 100% black (like that makes them better)

Mine will be stored under the bed at this stage so not exposed to sun all that much and not glued so will always have ventilation.

My mates will be permanently mounted to his boat, boat is stored in shed.

[weeds]

If needed, the only spot I have left for solar on the top of the van is on the front roll-down,,

and you thought I wanted you to break your new panel--- :rolleyes:



What sort of radius are you talking

[Bytemrk]

Which Victron??

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2017/02/257.jpg

[weeds]

I don't see the pic....actually I couldn't see the pick in your thread either....on tapatalk and webview

[Bytemrk]

Its an mppt 75 15

https://www.victronenergy.com/solar-charge-controllers/mppt7510

I've got the bluetooth dongle so i can monitor it on the phone too.

[VladTepes]

Older thread I know, but I saw something recently on the TV that CSIRO have developed 'printable' solar panels. I think they envisaged these ultimately being able to 'conform' to a shape (perhaps even similar to the way a vinyl covering is done on a car). Well that would be cool.
In any event the initial real advantage appears to be that it's MUCH cheaper than traditional manufacturing methods.

SO keep an ear out... :)

[weeds]

Thanks for bumping the thread Vlad.....

I thought I gave feedback on this thread.

End result, crap......they are lucky to perform at 50% the stated output.

I emailed the supplier without much luck.

Oh and I ended up with the two, mate changed his mind.

Even though their website says do not connect in series (parallel too I think) In getting way better performance in series.......I will continue to use in series until/if/when they fail.

I have since purchased another brand panel at nearly twice the cost, same size, same out put and by itself does about as good as these two in parallel.

Buy cheap buy ????? Well not sure as in series they might last longer than I think......