Dumb Question about flexible solar panels
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cargovanconversion
Building the ultimate Van Life home.
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They usually have most flexibility across the length of the panel. Remember that even with flexible panels, real bending is not recommended. They should be able to follow the contours of most vehicle roofs though. And only use high quality flexible panels, otherwise you will be disappointed.
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Van Williams
Thanks, I'm looking at purchasing a cargo trailer with a bowed roof and wanted to orient the panels along the long axis front to back to get best packing density. I was looking at the renogy 175W flex which in all the pictures I've seen are very flexible on the long axis but I would need them to bend along the short to some extent.
cargovanconversion
Building the ultimate Van Life home.
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You may be able to get up to one inch for every foot in width; you should check those specs with the manufacturer.
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Van Williams
Hedges
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In general, you're going to be able to bend sheet goods in one direction or the other, but not in both directions simultaneously.
That's just the nature of how much "strain" or displacement has to occur.
There are rolls of long, thin flexible panels. Those would be thin film so less power per unit area and shorter lifespan.
topdiysolarpanels.com
Consider buying used rigid panels and mounting on some sort of rails. With prices between $0.12 and $0.50/watt that may be the most attractive.
store.santansolar.com
Nicely integrated PV cells are more for cost-no-object projects
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That's just the nature of how much "strain" or displacement has to occur.
There are rolls of long, thin flexible panels. Those would be thin film so less power per unit area and shorter lifespan.
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topdiysolarpanels.com
Consider buying used rigid panels and mounting on some sort of rails. With prices between $0.12 and $0.50/watt that may be the most attractive.
Solar Panels | SanTan Solar
store.santansolar.com
Nicely integrated PV cells are more for cost-no-object projects
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Bobsyeruncle
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Someone correct me if I’m wrong but didn’t Will say he hadn’t found a flexible panel that he liked because of the higher failure rate?
Yeah I think they suffer from heat related issues due to being directly bonded to the substrate and degradation of the clear film overlay. But materials are improving all the time and there are ways to install them to alleviate the heat issue. As ever it's a compromise - cost v weight, longevity v ease of installation etc. I could buy used solar panels for less than a quarter the cost of flex panels but they weigh over 4 times more, but they last 2-3x longer, but they make my trailer top heavy and less fuel efficient and so on. Having said all that I will probably go the fixed panel route purely on the basis of upfront cost, could regret it....
Yeah the used panels are cheap, but are generally big and heavy. As ever it's a compromise between cost, quality and time/convenience. I want as much power as possible inside a 16x7 footprint. I like the bowed roof, but a flat roof is easier. I like the light weight and flexibility of flex panels but like the cost and reliability of fixed, smaller panels generally allow me better density but at increased cost etc.
Hedges
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If that is primary objective, 20% efficient rigid panels of suitable size may be the best fit.
I think SunPower E20 series 327W would fit 6 panels (3x2 array). 41 pounds each.
I'm just a little hesitant to put such big panels on the roof of a trailer, that is a lot of power though
I haven't started my travel trailer build yet, so take this with a grain of salt....
I went with flexible panels for the weight issue. SunPower seems to have the best, and one of the only flexible panels I could find that ran at 24v.
https://bosswatt.com/collections/su...s/products/sunpower-170w-flexible-solar-panel
I went with 2 of those, which should be plenty to keep my 12v 352ah bank topped off on regular daily use. 6.4 lbs each, rated for about 12 amps to the battery in full sun at 14v.
I went with flexible panels for the weight issue. SunPower seems to have the best, and one of the only flexible panels I could find that ran at 24v.
https://bosswatt.com/collections/su...s/products/sunpower-170w-flexible-solar-panel
I went with 2 of those, which should be plenty to keep my 12v 352ah bank topped off on regular daily use. 6.4 lbs each, rated for about 12 amps to the battery in full sun at 14v.
chrisski
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THe SunPower run a little more than 24 volts, like 32 or 33, so there’s enough juice to start an MPPT charger that requires 5 volts over charging voltage to start. It is also the only 24 volt flexible panel I found. Expensive though. Also did not fit in the jigsaw puzzle I call my roof.
I went with two Renogy 175 watt flexible panels for my roof. I have a fifth wheel and I put that up front by the front air conditioner on the press board roof by the plastic cab, which is the most curved part. I did not notice how curved until the installation was complete and I looked at from a distance. Now this is curved for a fifth wheel roof, not like an airstream roof, so for my fifth wheel roof I found it bendable in X and Y Axis, but don’t know for something as curved as a Air Stream roof. I also did not test my panel to its claim of 248 degree flexibility.
Yes I looked at them and watched an interesting bunch of YouTube videos for installing them. They are the wrong shape for my footprint to get the power I want. I’m hoping to get 1500+ W system. Very costly with flex panels. Decisions, decisions ....
chrisski
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Have you considered a mixture of roof and portable panels? Has worked good for me.
For my fifth wheel, I have potable panels that angle towards the sun and also turn to face 3 times per day, and 400 watts of those harvest 30% more than 600 watts of flat panels.
For my fifth wheel, I have potable panels that angle towards the sun and also turn to face 3 times per day, and 400 watts of those harvest 30% more than 600 watts of flat panels.
I would think that 30% is somewhat seasonal and weighted towards the winter months or northern states. I did some calculations on tiltable roof mounted panels allowing for a shadow gap between two rows, and 33% reduction in panels and it showed I could get more power in the winter months (at 30 degrees latitude). Off the self powered tilting mechanisms are really expensive but a diy system would be doable. I think a hybrid system with flat on the "front" and full tilt at the "back" would offer great benefits (southmost is "front"). I'm lazy and would not like deploying and moving flex panels while camping/boon-docking.
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