Solar panels on nuCamp TaBs

gulfarea
gulfarea Member Posts: 524
edited January 2022 in Battery/Electrical & Solar
What solar panels does nuCamp use on 320 and what controller? Thanks Art
2019 TaB 320 S Boondock Edge

Comments

  • Awca12a
    Awca12a Member Posts: 288
    edited January 2019
    Just a heads-up for anyone thinking about ordering the solar upgrade or adding solar to their units, here is some literature from nuCAMP which may answer some questions.   Did some additional research and came-up with a Sunflare brochure and a link to an interview explaining the technology.  This is extremely promising and is consistent with the reading we've been getting from our trailer.

    Per factory brochure:
    TAG gets        111 watts     8.5 Amps/Hr
    TAB 320 gets 133 watts     10 Amps/Hr
    TAB 400 gets 190 watts     15 Amps/Hr
    CIRRUS gets    120 watts    17 Amps/Hr

    Interview: https://www.renewableenergymagazine.com/interviews/stickon-solar-with-cigs-an-interview-with-20171107
      
    F150 Pulling 2019 T@B400 BDL
  • jkjenn
    jkjenn Member Posts: 6,422
    I have not seen any real-life robust reviews of these. I hope they live up to expectations. I am having one installed in March.

    2021 T@b 320 Boondock "Mattie Ross" | 2021 T@b Nights: 239 | Total nights in a T@b 455 | 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L Overland | T@b owner since 2014

  • jkjenn
    jkjenn Member Posts: 6,422
    This is pretty cool...

    2021 T@b 320 Boondock "Mattie Ross" | 2021 T@b Nights: 239 | Total nights in a T@b 455 | 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L Overland | T@b owner since 2014

  • ScottG
    ScottG Administrator Posts: 5,674
    Am I correct from past discussions (and seat-of-the-pants experience) that this is generally not true of most panels? I.e., even a small amount of shading has a disproportionately large impact on panel output?
    2015 T@B Max S (320)
    2015 Nissan Frontier SV V6 4x4
  • jkjenn
    jkjenn Member Posts: 6,422
    ScottG said:
    Am I correct from past discussions (and seat-of-the-pants experience) that this is generally not true of most panels? I.e., even a small amount of shading has a disproportionately large impact on panel output?
    Yes, many are wired to essentially stop charging or take a huge hit when shaded.

    2021 T@b 320 Boondock "Mattie Ross" | 2021 T@b Nights: 239 | Total nights in a T@b 455 | 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L Overland | T@b owner since 2014

  • Awca12a
    Awca12a Member Posts: 288
    The CIGS technology has headwind from the industry I guess because it will upset a great deal of infrastructure and undermine many financial models based on the aluminum frame & glass approach.  My guess is we will see a combination of the two using the best of both within a few years and that bodes well for new commercial applications.  For use in our trailers, I see little downside to the plastic covering approach over CIGS as used by nuCAMP and the panel component is so cost effective, it can be replaced in a few years as the technology changes while using all the existing wiring and wiring making it an easy upgrade .vs. the traditional solar panel.  The combined technologies have a theoretical 30% efficiency and recently produced ones hit 21% breaking the ever moving glass ceiling of 20%.   All this combines to mean that the nuCAMP approach looks like it will be good for us and if new units 4-years from now hit 30% it means we can upgrade and stay boondocking longer.

    https://www.pv-magazine.com/2018/07/21/the-weekend-read-cigs-is-back-back-again/
    https://phys.org/news/2018-09-perovskitecigs-tandem-cell-efficiency-percent.html


    F150 Pulling 2019 T@B400 BDL
  • jkjenn
    jkjenn Member Posts: 6,422
    The Sunflare panels specs show slightly less efficiency than the more traditional panels, so we will have to see how it measures up in real life performance. They claim they perform better at hotter temps and and lower light but no hard data or testing reviews available, yet.

    2021 T@b 320 Boondock "Mattie Ross" | 2021 T@b Nights: 239 | Total nights in a T@b 455 | 2022 Jeep Grand Cherokee L Overland | T@b owner since 2014

  • pthomas745
    pthomas745 Administrator, Moderator Posts: 4,594
    The controller is a Victron.  This thread describes a 2021 controller as the MPPT 75-10.  In the 400's they apparently have the 75-15.

    This thread from 2019 describes the various panels.  It should be a good start, but some newer info would be good.


    2017 Outback
    Towed by 2014 Touareg TDi
  • manyman297
    manyman297 Member Posts: 1,434
    The panels used on the 2021 (and probably the 2022) models is a Sunflare:

    https://www.sunflarexplor.com/
    2021 400 BD
    2020 Tacoma TRD Off-Road 
  • markbless
    markbless Member Posts: 17
    My 2022 Tab 320 Boondock stock solar panel is the 3M Ultra-Barrier Solar Film. Spec sheet is attached.
    2022 Tab 320 S Boondock towed by 2021 Volvo XC60 from Tucson, AZ
  • Sharon_is_SAM
    Sharon_is_SAM Member Posts: 10,035
    @markbless - this appears to be a special, clear cover to protect a flexible solar panel.  It is not the actual panel.  
    Sharon / 2017 T@B CSS / 2015 Toyota Sienna Minivan / Westlake, Ohio
  • markbless
    markbless Member Posts: 17
    Ah, thank you.
    2022 Tab 320 S Boondock towed by 2021 Volvo XC60 from Tucson, AZ
  • SLJ
    SLJ Member Posts: 652
    This is the one on my 2021 320 S except the connectors are on the bottom.
    https://ok4wd.com/brands/sunflare-solar/sunflare-solar-sunflare-105w-solar-panel-sunflex35-nr-105w-ok
    2021 T@B 320 S Boondock
    2025 KZ Sportsmen 130RD
    2025 Ford Ranger
    The Finger Lakes of New York
  • stepheng
    stepheng Member Posts: 128
    Are the panels available with the connectors on the bottom?
    2022 T@B 320S Boondock

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