Flexi panels-Any good?

[zaskar]

About 12 years ago, when we bought our 5th wheel, I looked into a flexible solar panel for the roof but was consistently steered away from them by this and quite a few other forums so I went rigid..............so to speak.

12 years down the line, we now also have a little Romahome Duo for our time off and the 30 watt free standing panel is basically a waste of time at this time of year.
So, have things improved over the years? Have flexi panels got better? Can you recommend one?
These seem to get good reviews and I like the lightness for such a small van.............

Amazon product ASIN B07BMNGVV3

 

[Ivory55]

Have no personal experience but on the net a couple of blokes in a canal boat called foxes afloat, have got 6 of them on the metal roof of their barge and seem to be happy with them

 

[Lenny HB]

Loads of reports on the forum that confirm they are still crap.

 

[Phill D]

i had a 100w one it lasted no more than 4 years before it died. while it was new i am convinced it suffered from the heat as there is obviously no airflow under it.
it was a real B****D to get off.

 

[zaskar]

B*gger!

So if that's the case and given that I have a curved roof with a max of 1.5m x 1.0 available space, what should I be looking at?

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[jp11]

I fitted a Renogy 170w to my Mk8 Transit. Used 6 brackets, Sikaflexed onto the roof (slight curvature across the Mk8 roof). Been on 4 months now. No problems so far with either performance or reliability. Early days I know, but I'm pleased and confident.

 

[jp11]

The stick-on brackets offer an air gap across most of the panel. They were in use during the very hot spell we had and no problems.

 

[ceejayt]

Changed mine - after 2 years they just stopped working well - kind of glazed over

 

[Jev88]

I read overheating of Flexi panels is a big issue. Solid frames give you ventilation.

 

[jp11]

Renogy offer:
25-year power output warranty: 5 year/95% efficiency rate, 10 year/90% efficiency rate, 25-year/80% efficiency rate

5-year material and workmanship warranty

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[jp11]

The Renogy flexible panels have a kind of prismatic surface (not smooth). They actually recommend sticking directly to the roof, but I wanted airflow and drainage underneath. We'll see...

 

[Phill D]

if you can create the air gap underneath then they may be fine, but clouding of the top coating which has to be flexible was the other issue that reduced outpu over time.

 

[mitzimad]

my son had 3 in 4 yhears rubbish
#

 

[jp11]

Did yours have a smooth surface? Mine have a hard 3-dimensional surface. doesn't look like they have any kind of film.

 

[Phill D]

Did yours have a smooth surface? Mine have a hard 3-dimensional surface. doesn't look like they have any kind of film.

mine had a smooth top surface, went yellow ish after a few years

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[jp11]

my son had 3 in 4 yhears rubbish
#

You know, it amazes me how people write off certain kinds of technology. And group all products as generic. And influence Funsters' choice based on their own unfortunate experience. Certainly, your experience matters and needs to be taken into consideration when making a choice. But the technology differs between manufacturers and suppliers, not to mention countries of origin.
It reminds me of the arguments regarding lithium versus lead acid. Or perhaps diesel versus petrol. Or electric versus internal combustion.
Now, mine are only 4 months old, but I'm happy and confident. The conventional solar panels on my house are four years old, but I'm happy and confident about those also!

 

[Phill D]

i just stated facts, not opinion.

 

[jp11]

i just stated facts, not opinion.

Yes, but you didn't call them rubbish!

 

[Skyway]

You look at what most people say and that is there crap

 

[Ivory55]

You can’t go wrong with a good old generator

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[jp11]

Broddy hell. Am I outnumbered here?
Put it like this, If you're happy to put 26kg on your roof and drill 4-6 holes in it, and listen to it whistle down the road, go ahead.
Me, I prefer to "stick" 3.6kg on it and take my chances. I promise to tell the forum if I have a problem.

 

[jp11]

You can’t go wrong with a good old generator

Oh, another dinosaur. 25kg in the boot, fossil fuel, and 80dB in your back yard.....

 

[Lenny HB]

Broddy hell. Am I outnumbered here?
Put it like this, If you're happy to put 26kg on your roof and drill 4-6 holes in it, and listen to it whistle down the road, go ahead.
Me, I prefer to "stick" 3.6kg on it and take my chances. I promise to tell the forum if I have a problem.

A 100 watt ridged panel only weighs 7kg, 150 watt only 1 or 2 kg more.

 

[Littlewheels]

Two Motorhomes Five bonded to the roof surface,perfect in performance and fit and longevity.

 

[bobandjanie]

As you can see I posted this on 20th June 2019, they are still performing well, no complaints as with the last van, so been fitted 3 years 8 months, we live in the van 5 or 6 months a year, they are fixed on panel van roof in very hot temperatures, they are light easy to fit and doing what it said on the box. Bob.

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[Ivory55]

Oh, another dinosaur. 25kg in the boot, fossil fuel, and 80dB in your back yard.....

13kg , gas, and works in the dark, and doesn’t whistle when driving down the road. I promise to tell you if it does. Haha

 

[jp11]

A 100 watt ridged panel only weighs 7kg, 150 watt only 1 or 2 kg more.

My mistake. I was referring to a 200w rigid weighing 25 lb (which is 12kg).

 

[jp11]

Isn't this a great forum!

 

[Raul]

The only flexible panels I would ever consider, are CIGS, the cristaline ones, never. The crystalline cells are not meant to be manipulated. Whatever anyone will tell you, or promise, the crystalline cells will micro fracture if not in a rigid structure, like aluminium frame with glass. The fractures will open and close with the thermal cycles, and deteriorate in output. Another downside is cooling, being flexible, they tend to be stuck on hard surfaces for added support. That kills the air cooling at the back of the cells. The CIGS don’t suffer from temperature li crystalline cells do, and they are better in low overcast light. Downside, they more expensive, and require larger area compared to crystalline cells. On boats the CIGS are the favoured choice for obvious reasons.

 

[Raul]

Broddy hell. Am I outnumbered here?
Put it like this, If you're happy to put 26kg on your roof and drill 4-6 holes in it, and listen to it whistle down the road, go ahead.
Me, I prefer to "stick" 3.6kg on it and take my chances. I promise to tell the forum if I have a problem.

None of that whistle happens on my roof, I got two large panels and couple of weeks ago in Germany on A3 I was doing 150kmh. Not a problem. They are bolted not stuck on.

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