Semi flexible solar panel suggestions??

[Oscarpop]

Off the back of another post , I am now going to ask for opinions re semi flexibles and also which supplier/ manufacturer.

It would seem as if one opinion is that they don't last well. is this so?

I do not want to be screwing panels to the deck to find that they fail in 3 years.

Also, I do appreciate that solid panels are more efficient, however I am not going to have solid panels.

Many thanks.

 

[macd]

My experience of three different brans of semi-flexible (and not the cheapest) has been that they simply don't last in the marine environment. All have delaminated, one allowed water ingress near (not from) the junction box which caused corrosion of the main wiring. Cells have also gone 'milky' due, i presume, to water ingress.

Sorry my news is bad. I would go (and have) for rigids, of which I have good experience, But I understand your preference; they are often trickier to fit,

 

[johnalison]

My semi-flexible panel has been in place for about 4 years. Not much, I know, but it shows no sign of deterioration, though it wasn't cheap. I have installed it on the coachroof just ahead of the screen and take care not to tread on it with my full weight.

 

[vyv_cox]

The one shown here, at the foot of the mast, was installed in 1996. It has performed faultlessly ever since and still produces the power it did originally. It is a 38 watt panel, from which we regularly see 2 amps. There is slight delamination at a few cells but this seems not to affect the output.

 

[michael_w]

My 2 x 10w SpectraLite panels from Marlec have failed in two years. I am negoitating with Marlec about their replacement. The junction boxes have corroded away and the outer layer is blistering and filling up with water, looks suspiciously like osmosis.

Whilst cruising in USA, I was planning on replacing the Spectra ones with these from Aurinco, I've had good reports about them and they look better made. Alas, the budget didn't co-operate.

Recently, I spotted Solbian ones fitted to a Classe 40. Seriously bendy and all the connections below deck with no vunerable junction box.

You pays your money...

 

[Neeves]

We had 3 Solara (56 watt), inordinately expensive, panels, one failed after about 5 years, fault in the panel itself. The new replacement delaminated after 5 years, the others fine. We have also 4 x 25 watt LVM panels (cheaper), they have worked fine over 8 years.

It seems to be more luck than anything but I would not buy Solara again (and LVM is now part of ITT and I'm not sure they sell panels any more).