Flexible Solar Panels: Want to communicate with those who have them installed

1. I had one semi flexible Renogy 100W panel. It only had a 30% max bend to it, so I had even more limited area to place it. I set it up to have the potential to put up 2. It has to be in a place where there is no shading at all in your 4.5-5 hour premium sunlight time. You can turn off 1/3 to your entire panel power by simple shading from your vent cover.

2.  I fixed it permanently to the roof without drilling using 3M automotive trim tape (never see car trim fly off going 70 mph down the road). Make sure you position the trim tape so water and debris doesn't get trapped underneath when it rains. There were grommets on the panel to use for mounting, but I read they tore out easily even if I found aluminum cross braces to mount them to in the roof. 

3. Letsee, where? Driver's side, front - as far above the front window as possible. The bend is more than 30% if you go too low. 

4. I used a Trimetric monitor and controller, but would probably opt for a Victron brand after seeing V's set up. Both are good products!

5. I live on the right coast and used it mainly for battery maintenance while the camper was parked next to the house in full sun. I camp mostly in the shade. 

6. Very little amperage in partial shade or cloudy days. Not enough to even stop battery drain. Rainy days had no charging going on. Max amps were about 17, but the controller modulated amperage to my specific battery type in a 3 stage charge setup (like the converter, but more customizable) so there was no overcharging. Max light per day was usually 4 hours (the way I was parked). Winter sun is weaker and cooler temps needed more energy to charge the battery. Summer sun is very hot and panels lose efficiency rapidly, especially without airflow behind the panel. Max amps were obtained in Spring and Fall.

Because of how I used the panel, I permanently mounted it until there was a recall. Taking that sucker off was a lesson in patience, scraped knuckles, balancing on an 8 ft ladder in the snow and using a plastic spatula as so not to mar the gel coat/paint. I opted to go with the movable panels (suitcase) after that because the solar panel wasn't doing anything when I parked in the shade at a state or national park... put there were always points I could have used 15-25' of extension cables to aim a suitcase panel set in the sun. This was just to have an extended long weekend on battery power only up in my favorite mountains, not for the sole aim to boondock exclusively. 

I hope I answered all your questions!! 

6. Spring and fall have the optimal temperature that solar panels operate optimally - about 77F.

7. Yes. Stayed with the same company. They had switched sources at one point and there was an issue with single cells getting hot (wiring issue?). I thought it was great they contacted me and offered to replace the panel from another source that wasn't defective or let me change to the suitcase panels. From other people's experience, I thought the suitcase was something I'd like to try. It's heavy (100W), but not the 50 lbs that the 200W weighs! I think it's 27 or 37 lbs (sorry, I can't remember). 

I have 2 Renogy 100w semi bendable panels on my T@b. They were NOT part of the recalled batch. I have them front to back on either side of the fantastic fan. They are attached using 3 m VHB tape. They have been on 2 years now. The most charge I've seen is 10.2 amps. We are in Utah so sun is plentiful. They do drop off substantially in the shade or rainy days. Outside Everett last year in deep shade I was only getting .5 amp. I also have a 100 watt portable that we can put in the sun when needed. We have 2 golf cart batteries that have held up well. I notice the hot sun does effect charge rate but not critically. 

Ratkity said:

jkjenn said:

Ratkity said:

6. Spring and fall have the optimal temperature that solar panels operate optimally - about 77F.

You will lose some efficiency because of the lack of airflow and heat build-up.

Totally. I think the suitcase (just my theory, mind you) is more efficient just because of airflow behind it.

I think the semi-flexible are a little less efficient out of the gate, and then when you permanently mount them, you lose a little more from lack of air flow. My DIY folding mounts worked fairly well, considering.

AldebaranJill said:

@Ratkity @Normfun @mash2 :

If my power consumption profile is 10AH - 20AH per day, and I live in Seattle, would two 100W flexible panels keep up, if I often camp in cloudy/rainy conditions.

Is there any conflict in having solar always connected when you're towing and charging via alternator?

Thanks!!!
Jill

This is going to depend on your battery capacity. If you hit a streak of several days of mostly cloudcover, it probably will not keep up unless you have a larger battery capacity than 75ah or 100ah.

@AldebaranJill, Jill, one thing I didn't see in your post is the amp hour capacity of your battery(s) as @jkjenn briefly mentioned. I'm thinking that would have a really big effect as to how long you could go in cloudy/overcast conditions with your amp hour consumption. I've gone two days straight in overcast conditions using just my 100amp solar suitcase panels and they seemed to "maintain" the battery ok, but we're pretty frugal with our electrical consumption. We have a single GP24 with 80ah capacity.

The only way to know if a solar setup will work for you is to do the following:
1). Estimate your daily AH draw from all of your uses of power.2). How many cloudy rainy days in a row are you likely to have.3) Multiply 1x2 = AH capacity required.  Now double that so that you only draw your batteries down to 50%.  This is your battery requirement in AH.  Now how fast do you want to charge your batteries? One day or 5-6 hours?  This is how you back into the size of your PV.  Make sense?  Also, while others are mentioning portable PV system, the reason they're​ heavy is the glass.  I made 200 suitcase using the flexible PV and it weighs 20 lbs.

A 100w panel provides roughly 5-6 amps of charging 12v power in full direct sunlight, with other sizes proportionately higher or lower.

The advantage of suitcase panels is you can move them to follow the sun.  This potentially gives you 8-12 hours of sunlight in an open site in mid summer.  Fixed panels will produce less, but if you upsize enough you can compensate.

Ratkity said:

I've met jkjenn!! Didn't get her autograph though. LOL. We did chat a bit *snort* Cracker Barrel folks were wondering if we were going to stay for another meal time.

Don't pass up the chance to meet @Ratkity - just don't! One of the most interesting people I have ever met! It was a blast. WE have such awesome T@b people.