Flex Solar Panels Anyone?

I

imix

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Apr 29, 2009
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Wondering if anyone has installed these new thin solar panels and if they have an opinon. Advantages to a FWC/ATC owner seem obvious, particularly the weight, as we have to lift our roofs.


Please ignore the fact that these newRV, trust fund hipster kids need a serious beating.
 
I have now 3 panels (340 watts) very similar to the ones on that video. Very easy to install. Very durable and aerodynamic. I've been through some heavy wind in Southern Idaho and Wyoming with no problem.
They are a perfect application for FWC roofs because of the weight and size.

I originally thought they may lose power on a hot day without ventilation underneath them. But there is no real loss of voltage having them glued to the roof.

The one thing I can't quite solve is the maze of wiring you need to connect them all together. It's the same problem you see in their video. That part is not as clean as the flush mounts I've seen others do.

The upside is that you can add onto your system whenever you want. And it's super easy to do.
 
I have a renogy flexible 100 watt panel. I don't have it installed on the roof but have been using it remotely with a plug off the side of my camper. I store it between my mattresses when traveling. I consistently get above 5 amps with optimum sun.
 
I installed my Renogy flexible 100 watt on the roof of my Alaskan using "extreme titanium" velcro. It works fine for wind, I don't drive down the road with the panel mounted and I don't plan to do that experiment in the future. I wanted a setup where I could also park in the shade and put the panel nearby in the sun.

One day, astounded by my own brilliance, I just leaned the panel against the front windshield of the truck so that I was getting optimum angle of the panel AND ventilation behind the panel. How smart is that? I came back at the end of the day and the panel had nasty creases along lines between the mounting rivets. The panel still works but it sure looks ugly now. It looks like I tried to fold it up and and carry it home under my arm.

Apparently these things need to be continuously supported by a solid surface.
 
huskyrunnr said:
I installed my Renogy flexible 100 watt on the roof of my Alaskan using "extreme titanium" velcro. It works fine for wind, I don't drive down the road with the panel mounted and I don't plan to do that experiment in the future. I wanted a setup where I could also park in the shade and put the panel nearby in the sun.

One day, astounded by my own brilliance, I just leaned the panel against the front windshield of the truck so that I was getting optimum angle of the panel AND ventilation behind the panel. How smart is that? I came back at the end of the day and the panel had nasty creases along lines between the mounting rivets. The panel still works but it sure looks ugly now. It looks like I tried to fold it up and and carry it home under my arm.

Apparently these things need to be continuously supported by a solid surface.
Click to expand...
So did it warp randomly from heat or did it bend to the shape of what was behind it? A pic would be nice.

I put mine in my dash one day and it stayed bowed for a few days but returned back to its shape. I have also been putting mine directly on the windshield (outside) and have not had it bend.

I also considered mounting mine with velcro so I could remove it for shady spots but I am tempted to try it while driving. Maybe I can be the genie pig. Is extreme titanium velcro stronger than the "double lock."

FWIW I also remember reading that there was a reputable solar company who did not want to brand these panels under their name because after continuous exposure to sun they have a tendency to cup. I refrained from posting because I could not find the article so take it for what you want.
 
I couldn't say on the velcro comparison. I had used the titanium before to mount a fan in a swamp cooler box and I was impressed with the strength of both the glue and the hook/loop.

Here are a couple of pics of the panel and how it was sitting on the windshield. It was 100+ *F outside most of the day. The panel was not fully supported by the windshield because I was trying to optimize panel angle.

Interesting tidbit about the branding...

I'm still impressed with the panel and would buy another.

img_103016_0_5f242f162e267790ae81a6beec2ae686.jpg


img_103016_2_868b27d09e12e1ab2565bc427abf6ddd.jpg
 
Ethergore said:
I have a renogy flexible 100 watt panel. I don't have it installed on the roof but have been using it remotely with a plug off the side of my camper. I store it between my mattresses when traveling. I consistently get above 5 amps with optimum sun.
Click to expand...
I like this approach- lightweight, space-saving and remotely useable. Curious- how do you deploy the panel? Lay it on the ground or on the truck or what? What do you use for a controller? Do you have a cover to protect it while it is stored (our mattress cover might be a bit abrasive)?
 
This is something I'd like to have but stick it the roof and forget about it. My only concern is if something were to happen and the panel goes bad, how would I remove it? Is there an adhesive that will "let go" and not be permanent but will let you leave it there and drive? I think 100W would be plenty for my minimal power use.
 
Husky- I can't believe it looks like it just spontaneously bowed out. I'm glad I saw this so I can avoid it on my own. That makes me a little hesitant to put it on my roof permanently but maybe the glue will help ensure it maintains its shape.
 
takesiteasy said:
I like this approach- lightweight, space-saving and remotely useable. Curious- how do you deploy the panel? Lay it on the ground or on the truck or what? What do you use for a controller? Do you have a cover to protect it while it is stored (our mattress cover might be a bit abrasive)?
Click to expand...
I just lay it where it's convenient, usually my windshield, the top of the camper or on a table. I have a 40 ft cable and a10 ft cable I made myself. Since the panel is a little flexible it makes it hard to angle it toward the sun at times because there isn't a good way to prop it up. The foldable glass panels are nice because you can use a stick or whatever and get all kinds of angles.

I have renogy's LCD display 30 amp charge controller which I DO NOT recommend. The voltage is off by .02 volts and it only charges my battery at 13 volts and is not adjustable. A morningstar would be preferable.

I have just been putting it under there without worrying too much but I try to get the sheet on top of it between the mattresses. I don't notice any significant scratches.
 
Riverrunner said:
This is something I'd like to have but stick it the roof and forget about it. My only concern is if something were to happen and the panel goes bad, how would I remove it? Is there an adhesive that will "let go" and not be permanent but will let you leave it there and drive? I think 100W would be plenty for my minimal power use.
Click to expand...
I was wondering the same thing as you. That's why I was considering the Velcro. Someone who knows about adhesives please chime in.
 
Sorry for all the separate posts but I like to keep all the responded organized.

Another thing to consider if permanently mounting this panel is abuse during bushwhacking.

On my last trip I went through a lot of low trees. If I had this panel mounted at the time it would like be damaged pretty badly. I am not sure if it would reduce the efficiency but I imagine it would.
 
I've had no issue with distortion of the panels to this point. Two of the three are nearly a year old with probably 30-40 days of camping and sunlight.
For me having them on the roof is much easier that always moving a panel around.
I have extra so I can charge with less sunlight or park in the shade or anything else I need to do. It makes my trips much more flexible.
 
Yeah, I don't think the panel would have warped if it had been entirely in contact with the windshield, or anything flat or smoothly curved to support the whole surface of the panel. A rigid frame around the perimeter might have worked too. Live and learn.
 
Ethergore said:
I was wondering the same thing as you. That's why I was considering the Velcro. Someone who knows about adhesives please chime in.
Click to expand...
I know almost nothing about adhesives, but I've seen vague references to panels that have been removed with a heat gun. I have to imagine that the roof gets pretty beat up in the process. Not sure if it works on all types of adhesives either.

I'm also very curious, as I'm a few days away from sticking one of these on my roof. It works now, hope it keeps working...
 
Ethergore said:
I just lay it where it's convenient, usually my windshield, the top of the camper or on a table. I have a 40 ft cable and a10 ft cable I made myself. Since the panel is a little flexible it makes it hard to angle it toward the sun at times because there isn't a good way to prop it up. The foldable glass panels are nice because you can use a stick or whatever and get all kinds of angles.

I have renogy's LCD display 30 amp charge controller which I DO NOT recommend. The voltage is off by .02 volts and it only charges my battery at 13 volts and is not adjustable. A morningstar would be preferable.

I have just been putting it under there without worrying too much but I try to get the sheet on top of it between the mattresses. I don't notice any significant scratches.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the info. :)
 
Does anyone have real numbers on these panels compared to advertised numbers? Open circuit voltage on a sunny day should be pretty easy to get.
-Bill-
 
In a brief test I got 4.75 amps for a minute or so out of a Global Solar 90 watt flexible panel (I think they advertise 5.4 amps). It jumped up to 4.9 amps for a moment. I didn't write down how many volts but it was over 20 (maybe 22?).

It was Noon in Colorado about a week ago, just a wisp or 2 of thin/high clouds (I hooked up a different panel after to test it as well - a glass Renology 100 watt that was putting out less - and that's when I looked up and saw there were some wisps in between me and the sun). Not sure if the clouds were there when I did the flexible panel.

The battery was drawn down a bit, maybe between 60-80% if you forced me to guess.

Note that the panel is not permanently installed on my roof yet, and that was only a few minutes. Supposedly efficiency would go down after it gets hot (it was hot to touch), but supposedly those CIGS panels don't lose as much when they're hot. That's the extent of my solar knowledge...

Edited to add: the panel was flat on the roof.
 
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