Best new flex panels on the market?

[Paul L]

Originally Posted by puffcard

ETFE is the way to go, no hazing.

That's what I purchased to replaced my old hazed flexpanels. They are just under a year in mostly tropical service, so too soon to say if they will outlast the previous ones that made 3.5 years. Either way they were pretty cheap. I ordered direct from China via Aliexpress and got two 120 watt panels in a custom cell configuration to fit my Bimini. usd$468 delivered to NZ with from my point of view no effective warranty other than the credit card you purchase with.

The Solbians changed their warranty a few years back to a much more customer friendly warranty.

[Kenomac]

Originally Posted by Flyingriki

Check how long those thrilled with their solbian have had them. Lot of short time experience trotting out glowing reviews, which are essentially worthless.

I'll be at the Solbian factory in Italy early next week, great people to work with.

I'm still waiting to see some pictures of your expertly installed solar panels and array.

[TheThunderbird]

Originally Posted by newhaul

That sounds great 7 amps out mof a 100 watt panel (100 Watts ÷7 amps= 14.3 volts)
That really is phenomenal I only get about 5 amps out of my 100 watt renogy panels in July in direct sunlight. (At 90°to the sun.)

people speak out, at times unwilling to recognize they made mistakes...

As to the quote above, max efficiency is 60% in best conditions...

Therefore, buying flex vs rigid, and quality panels vs cheap ones, makes little sense to me!

As to guarantee, buying Chinese products through a local Chandler is the way to go.

AGAIN, a 50-60% efficiency is what l see, and read from fully aware users.

And that comes down to the charlatanesque attitude (fraudulent, imo) of many manufacturers, as we BUY WATT/SQFT, nothing else

[newhaul]

Originally Posted by TheThunderbird

people speak out, at times unwilling to recognize they made mistakes...

As to the quote above, max efficiency is 60% in best conditions...

Therefore, buying flex vs rigid, and quality panels vs cheap ones, makes little sense to me!

As to guarantee, buying Chinese products through a local Chandler is the way to go.

AGAIN, a 50-60% efficiency is what l see, and read from fully aware users.

And that comes down to the charlatanesque attitude (fraudulent, imo) of many manufacturers, as we BUY WATT/SQFT, nothing else

Never said I get that routinely on a normal day . Normally I see between 3.5 and 4 out of them but that's when they are laying out on the deck and not being manipulated for exact 90° orientation. Now I routinely see 5 out of my renogy rigid panels mounted flat in the same orientation as the flex panels.

[rogern]

The "Solar Snaps" shown on SolarFlexx's web site look pretty much exactly like the "Tenax Pull It Up Fastener Cloth‑to‑Cloth" fasteners available from Sailrite:
Sailrite - Fabric, Canvas, and Sewing Machines Since 1969 . So, no need to spend the big bucks...

[sailm8]

Originally Posted by newhaul

Did you remember to remove the clear shipping plastic that they use to protect the surface in shipping just like your new cellphone was packaged. ?

Yes, They were working well for several months. Hard to see on the bimini but suspected something was wrong when efficiency dropped off. When Irma approached I began removing them and saw how bad they were. I will be making a warrantee claim. But it is probably in China so I don't expect much.

[john61ct]

Originally Posted by sailm8

I will be making a warrantee claim. But it is probably in China so I don't expect much.

Yes, our shipping them there costs 20x the other way.

[Velanera]

Originally Posted by newhaul

That sounds great 7 amps out mof a 100 watt panel (100 Watts ÷7 amps= 14.3 volts)
That really is phenomenal I only get about 5 amps out of my 100 watt renogy panels in July in direct sunlight. (At 90°to the sun.)

Cannot be 7 amps from a 100W panel, or those are not 100W or there is a mistake ..
(from photonic universe)
Solar panel specifications:
Peak power: 100W
Maximum power voltage: 17.6V
Maximum power current: 5.68A

add the fact of non-optimal orientation, system-related losses and if you reach 5 amps in July in full sun it must be more than happy!

[newhaul]

Originally Posted by Velanera

Cannot be 7 amps from a 100W panel, or those are not 100W or there is a mistake ..
(from photonic universe)
Solar panel specifications:
Peak power: 100W
Maximum power voltage: 17.6V
Maximum power current: 5.68A

add the fact of non-optimal orientation, system-related losses and if you reach 5 amps in July in full sun it must be more than happy!

That was my point exactly there is no way to get 7 out of a 100 watt panel.
I am overjoyed to see the occasional 5 out of each of my 4 panels on any given day.

[Cotemar]

Everyone wants the BEST SunPower flex panels, so why not buy them directly from SunPower.

SunPower Flex 110 watt $234 each

1165 x 569 x 20 mm (45.866”L x 22.4”W x.787)

https://us.sunpower.com/flexible-solar-panels/
.
.

[Sailsgood]

Originally Posted by sailm8

Yes, They were working well for several months. Hard to see on the bimini but suspected something was wrong when efficiency dropped off. When Irma approached I began removing them and saw how bad they were. I will be making a warrantee claim. But it is probably in China so I don't expect much.

When they become white it means that one of the layers is peeling off. This denotes a problem in lamination, Maybe just a problem on lamination process.

If they are yellow, it is precisely because they are made with the top layer of PET that yellowing with exposure to chemical agents (even rains), ETFE products do not have that problem. I have installed ETFE panels for my customers (of different brands) replacing yellow PET and with poor performance.

ETFE is really much better than PET for personal experience, it has many interesting features ETFE Based Semi Flexible Solar Panel - Fly Solartech

[Velanera]

Originally Posted by Cotemar

Everyone wants the BEST SunPower flex panels, so why not buy them directly from SunPower.

SunPower Flex 110 watt $234 each

1165 x 569 x 20 mm (45.866”L x 22.4”W x.787)

https://us.sunpower.com/flexible-solar-panels/
.
.

In Europe they don’t sell B2C, I don’t know how it works in US. In any case, yes they are maybe the “best” because they are the manufacturer of the cells, but they made a simple 5 layer PET panel . The structure of Sorbian, Fly Solartech, Nasa etc is better

[Kenomac]

I toured the Solbian solar panel factory near Turin, Italy earlier today and will be there again tomorrow if anyone has questions for the staff. Incredible customer service and attention to the smallest detail. I was introduced to everyone like I was the most important person on Earth.

Truly handcrafted Italian panels.

[john61ct]

Originally Posted by Velanera

In Europe they don’t sell B2C, I don’t know how it works in US.

Europe has much better consumer protection laws, actually enforced.

[Kenomac]

Originally Posted by john61ct

Europe has much better consumer protection laws, actually enforced.

Maybe so, but all the folks at Solbian are genuinely very nice people. I was met at the Turin train station by their engineer Mattia, who then escorted me via train to Avigliana, where we were both met by a another employee Antonio in his car for the short ride to the factory.

Does your Chinese or ebay seller offer anything close in the way of service or customer care? And all this for some additional zippers being sewn onto the bimini.... the company carefully studied a video I supplied of the bimini in 20 knots, and decided to install additional zips and velcro to prevent wind from getting up under the panels.