Cheapest Simi-Flex Solar Panels

Dougal

Dougal

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There seems to be a HUUUUGE price range/difference between some of these panels.
I'm looking for a small (80-100watt) panel to lay on a slightly curved coach roof.
Any recommendations for suppliers of these at sensible prices?
 
Dougal said:
There seems to be a HUUUUGE price range/difference between some of these panels.
I'm looking for a small (80-100watt) panel to lay on a slightly curved coach roof.
Any recommendations for suppliers of these at sensible prices?
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Both Lensun and Photonic Universe seem to be OK. You may well find, as I did, that size and shape dictate which panels you can use; I have a short fat 50W panel on my hatch garage and a long thin one on my coachroof. These are semiflexible panels without any great physical protection on top. You can get tough, walkable on ones, but they cost typically 6 - 8 times as much.

Beware any adverts for aluminium backed panels which say that they can take a "30o" bend. They can't. It's almost certainly a mistranscription in a Chinese factory. The panels can actually take a "3o/o" bend (same number of circles, slightly but significantly different vertical positioning) which is a very tiny bend indeed, and not nearly enough, I discovered, for a coachroof.
 
When I put mine on back in the day, I got a SIBS deal from Barden, and it was before the cheap Chinese stuff had made it here. They were Solara 45W and have been excellent, but when/if they give up I will go for the likes of Photonic Universe
 
I've just bought a 100 watt panel from China via Banggood, £100 ish. Only one I could find that fitted the top of my hatch garage. It's almost square, most seem to be long rectangles. It's to replace a five year old 60 watt panel I bought off Amazon. It's still working well, but I wanted more power.
 
Though equally efficient in terms of output, I found a world of difference in the mechanical robustness of the aluminium( and latterly plastic) Titan / Pennygreenfingers Ebay panels and the grp Lensun panels. IMHO the Lensun kit is well worth the extra £.
 
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Quiddle said:
Though equally efficient in terms of output, I found a world of difference in the mechanical robustness of the aluminium( and latterly plastic) Titan / Pennygreenfingers Ebay panels and the grp Lensun panels. IMHO the Lensun kit is well worth the extra £.
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I have no experience of the Lensun panels, but the one I got from Amazon was supplied by Penntgreenfingers and it's still working after five years glued to my hatch garage. If the panel is glued to a solid surface like a deck then mechanical robustness is irrelevant. I think the base of mine is plastic, after five years I can't really remember. The terminal box wasn't sealed in any way, and started to corrode, but it was easy enough to clean up and then fill with silicone.
 
Dougal said:
There seems to be a HUUUUGE price range/difference between some of these panels.
I'm looking for a small (80-100watt) panel to lay on a slightly curved coach roof.
Any recommendations for suppliers of these at sensible prices?
Click to expand...
A quick search would have led you to this same question last year:-
http://www.ybw.com/forums/showthrea...Solar-Panels&p=5529608&highlight=#post5529608

A follow up posting in March 2016 would also help you, especially concerning who not to buy from.

Cheers
Bob
 
DannyB said:
Only one I could find that fitted the top of my hatch garage. It's almost square, most seem to be long rectangles. .
Click to expand...

Lensun custom built mine to match the size and shape of my hatch garage and positioned the junction box on the side where I wanted to avoid clumsy feet
 
Not really relevant to marine use but our camper van has a rigid 100 W panel (£67 on ebay) pivoted at one long edge. It has a tracker that seeks the brightest angle and raises/lowers the panel for optimum. I park the van east/west.

Although the panel is restricted to 90° maximum (i.e. it favours either the east or the west) it has been impressive.

Fascinating to watch/listen to.

Has anyone used a flexi panel for a bimini cover?
 
Graham_Wright said:
Has anyone used a flexi panel for a bimini cover?
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I have just had our bimini and sprayhood made, and the manufacturer put 6 toggles each 60w flexi panel on the sprayhood for 2 panels either side of the boom, and 8 toggles on the bimini 100w flexi single panel. The wiring is velcro loops down the support frame bars to a deck plug
nthe
 
DannyB said:
I have no experience of the Lensun panels, but the one I got from Amazon was supplied by Penntgreenfingers and it's still working after five years glued to my hatch garage. If the panel is glued to a solid surface like a deck then mechanical robustness is irrelevant. I think the base of mine is plastic, after five years I can't really remember. The terminal box wasn't sealed in any way, and started to corrode, but it was easy enough to clean up and then fill with silicone.
Click to expand...
My panel isn't glued to the deck as I want it to roam for maximum charging efficiency. Also had terminal failures with Pennygreenfingers after less than 6 months, which were irreparable, not just by me but in the opinion of a professional electronics engineer.
 
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As I understand it, 8.9v panels like the 50W (1030 x 280 x 3mm) supplied by Photonics Universe require a so called buck-boost controller if used singularly, as the output voltage of one panel on its own is below the charging voltage of a 12v battery. As I want two 50w panels , I am told that a buck-boost controller isn't required but what are the implications if one of the panels is shaded?
 
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