Highest energy smallish panels?

[geoffire]

Hi, I'm working on an overlanding vehicle install with a full electric kitchen and trying to figure out how to max out my roof top solar. The roof is an area 50x110 inches with the body being ~70" wide (so I might be able to overflow some without it looking too bad).

I can go with the 150w rich panels that are 50.2" x 26.8" (https://richsolar.com/products/150-watt-solar-panel) in a 4x1 arrangement which fits the roof, but I'd only get 600w.

Next up is the Rich Solar 200w panels that are 58.7" x 26.8" (https://richsolar.com/products/200-watt-solar-panel) in a 2x2 grid that overflows the roof some in every direction (53.6x117) but gives 200w more at 800w.

Finally is going full size Seraphim 305W 64.57" x 39.06" panels (https://store.santansolar.com/product/seraphim-305w/) 3x1 which will massively overflow to the sides (64.57x117.18) but deliver 915w.

I'd love to get 1kw and not overflow the roof too badly. I can make it look like a big off-road rack, but I think 65" might be too far. Anyone aware of higher output but compact panels that might work?

 

[HRTKD]

I had a similar dilemma on the roof of my RV. I wanted four 200 watt panels but ended up being able to fit two 320 watt panels. I now use 640 watts on the ground to supplement the roof. It's not ideal, but it works.

 

[geoffire]

I had a similar dilemma on the roof of my RV. I wanted four 200 watt panels but ended up being able to fit two 320 watt panels. I now use 640 watts on the ground to supplement the roof. It's not ideal, but it works.

What panels did you go with (I'm guessing a roughly 80"x40" set)?

I've thought about doing two layers and have the top layer slide out like a canopy (dual purpose!) exposing the lower layer, but that would add a lot of weight way up where I don't want it and would likely be a pain to expand/retract.

 

[HRTKD]

Mine are Mission Solar 320 watt. 65.98 in. x 39.68 in. x 1.58 in.

 

[fafrd]

Hi, I'm working on an overlanding vehicle install with a full electric kitchen and trying to figure out how to max out my roof top solar. The roof is an area 50x110 inches with the body being ~70" wide (so I might be able to overflow some without it looking too bad).

I can go with the 150w rich panels that are 50.2" x 26.8" (https://richsolar.com/products/150-watt-solar-panel) in a 4x1 arrangement which fits the roof, but I'd only get 600w.

Next up is the Rich Solar 200w panels that are 58.7" x 26.8" (https://richsolar.com/products/200-watt-solar-panel) in a 2x2 grid that overflows the roof some in every direction (53.6x117) but gives 200w more at 800w.

Finally is going full size Seraphim 305W 64.57" x 39.06" panels (https://store.santansolar.com/product/seraphim-305w/) 3x1 which will massively overflow to the sides (64.57x117.18) but deliver 915w.

I'd love to get 1kw and not overflow the roof too badly. I can make it look like a big off-road rack, but I think 65" might be too far. Anyone aware of higher output but compact panels that might work?

It sounds as though 3 60-cell panels fits your available space most easily.

Panels reach higher power-density with each passing month, but today, you can find 310W 60-cell panels for under $150 each.

That would give you 930W in an area of 117” x 64.6” (similar to the Seraphim 305W panels you quoted.

2 450 or 500W panels get you there as well, but those are all currently 72-cell and don’t fit your roof area terribly well...

 

[geoffire]

I'm fairly new to this. So 60-cell is the ~65"x40" size which look to go as high as 370w (for $$$, ~320w is more reasonable). Good to know. I can actually find high output panels now that I know what to search for.

Yeah, 3 of those guys looks like my best bet if I can fit them. Is there a standard step down from that size if I deem that too large?

 

[fafrd]

I'm fairly new to this. So 60-cell is the ~65"x40" size which look to go as high as 370w (for $$$, ~320w is more reasonable). Good to know. I can actually find high output panels now that I know what to search for.

Yeah, 3 of those guys looks like my best bet if I can fit them. Is there a standard step down from that size if I deem that too large?

The most standard sizes (for the residential market) are 60-cell and 72-cell. They have the same width at 39-40” wide but the 72-cell are longer (~78” versus ~65”).

 

[fafrd]

And then again, if you only needed 670W of generation instead of 900W, you could get away with just one of these: https://www.pv-magazine.com/2021/03/11/trina-launches-670-w-solar-panel/

 

[geoffire]

And noticing the higher output options tend to be just be physically larger...

 

[geoffire]

I measured out the roof one more time and looked closely at the shape and such. I think I can just fit 3 non-huge panels up there, extending more the the rear if necessary (I'm adding a big rear box so it won't be too strange looking having the overhang I don't think). These Panasonic ones are maybe a good fit at 62.6" x 41.5" (https://a1solarstore.com/panasonic-340w-vbhn340sa17-solar-panel.html), bumping me up to 1020w in 62.6" x 124.5". Oddly they are 96 cell, but at 71.3v open voltage I think they'd work well in parallel with a 40A charger for my 24v system.

They are pricey though... Might make more sense to just go with a set of the smaller 60 cell ones (64.5x39) at almost 3 for the price of one of those!