cherod
N/A
Even with a thin perforated aluminium sheet , And not being walked upon ? P
Cheap vs Expensive solar panels
- Thread starter Tim Good
- Start date
NormanS
Well-Known Member
Having had a wind turbine which disintegrated in a gale, I have gone for fixed framed PV panels. One of 100w and one of 40w, mounted on the coach roof. They are cheap ones from eBay, and I cannot fault them. They are connected to the voltage controller which was previously for the wind turbine. I would NEVER AGAIN mount a wind turbine up on the mizzen mast. It really must be mounted in a position where it can readily be manually stopped and tied off.
Immediately before my wind turbine failed, I presume that it lost a blade, and became horribly out of balance, threatening to shake the boat apart. Luckily, before I could do anything about it, the whole thing flew apart. Fortunately, most of it went clean over the side, but a heavy part hit the stainless bulwark rail, causing potentially expensive damage to the elliptical stainless section.
For me now, it's solar panels every time.
Immediately before my wind turbine failed, I presume that it lost a blade, and became horribly out of balance, threatening to shake the boat apart. Luckily, before I could do anything about it, the whole thing flew apart. Fortunately, most of it went clean over the side, but a heavy part hit the stainless bulwark rail, causing potentially expensive damage to the elliptical stainless section.
For me now, it's solar panels every time.
geem
Well-Known Member
Why over the transom? Not much space there. We mount ours like this on our ketch
coopec
N/A
It looks a though you could tilt them too?
JumbleDuck
Well-Known Member
The Sunpower 50W one (available for fifty quid on eBay) is the one which conked out in its second season with me ...
LadyInBed
Well-Known Member
But not always, mine pivot from the base of the WG arm.
I used semi flexible as they are lighter, but I constructed a frame from 10mm aluminium box section to give them some rigidity.
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Graham376
Well-Known Member
Having had one fail and seen lots of others, I'm not convinced anything can make them compare with rigid.
cherod
N/A
This is what i am considering ,( for same reasons ) how are they lasting ?
LadyInBed
Well-Known Member
These were fitted in 2014
cherod
N/A
Thats not at all bad ????
geem
Well-Known Member
Yes they tilt. We have four 180w rigid panels mounted on the guard-wires. We crossed the pond from West to East this summer with them mounted this way. Apart from one spell of strong winds and big waves they were deployed like in the picture. When it got bumpy we fold them down so they dont get wacked by a wave.
alahol2
Well-Known Member
Fitted a 30W Lensun semi-flex panel to the hatch garage 4 seasons ago. Very rarely stepped on. Still seems to be working fine, no sign of delamination.
LONG_KEELER
Well-Known Member
As mentioned, the control box and connections can be a weak point.
I've bought two small panels this season with the control box underneath the panel, mounted on blocks for cooling. So far so good.
I've bought two small panels this season with the control box underneath the panel, mounted on blocks for cooling. So far so good.
Bouba
Well-Known Member
Yes, even though I have a motor boat, my panel is fitted on the rails. You can tilt it to catch the sun or store completely down incase of a storm etc. But even in the vertical position it catches a lot of morning sun.
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KAM
Well-Known Member
Anyone know anything about epoxy panels. The adverts suggest they offer the same performance as rigid glass panels but much lighter.
ghostlymoron
Well-Known Member
Those look very vulnerable to accidental damage and possibly rogue waves as well.
cherod
N/A
already been explained that they lift them up during fierce weather
geem
Well-Known Member
I have crossed the Atlantic four times with panels installed like this. It works fine. Never broken one
GerardV
New Member
A few weeks ago I bought 3 40 watt flexible solar panels with EFTE and sunpower cells. Paid 65 euro each. Given that price I would not mind replacing them in let’s say 5 years. Al do I have to say they seem to be good quality. Time will tell. 
Pete7
Well-Known Member
Lasted longer than my Lensun EFTE. Photo after 18 months, replaced under warranty following a long struggle, with a new one which I promptly sold. Prefer large rigid panels now.
Pete
