Good Quality Solar Panels?

[Cotemar]

May want to check these out if your looking for high output solar panels and light weight.

Flexible Solar Panel 180w at 6.6 lbs

EVTV Motor Verks Store: Flexible Solar Panel 180w, Solar and Boat, 180wsolarpanel

[Boatguy30]

Have you used those flexible panels? They would work great on the cabin top.

[deckofficer]

Originally Posted by Cotemar

May want to check these out if your looking for high output solar panels and light weight.

Flexible Solar Panel 180w at 6.6 lbs

EVTV Motor Verks Store: Flexible Solar Panel 180w, Solar and Boat, 180wsolarpanel

Cotemar, your the man. I have been looking for a flexible, light, high efficiency panel at something less than those Solbian prices. For the wattage, that panel is about 1/5 the price of a Solbian.

Hope someone comes along that has used them, I'm curious.

[Exile]

Originally Posted by deckofficer

Cotemar, your the man. I have been looking for a flexible, light, high efficiency panel at something less than those Solbian prices. For the wattage, that panel is about 1/5 the price of a Solbian.

Hope someone comes along that has used them, I'm curious.

I sent the vendor an e-mail earlier today with questions about availability of other sizes, dimensions, attachment points, wiring, & shipping. Not much info on the website it seems. I'll report back here if I get any response.

[deckofficer]

Originally Posted by Exile

I sent the vendor an e-mail earlier today with questions about availability of other sizes, dimensions, attachment points, wiring, & shipping. Not much info on the website it seems. I'll report back here if I get any response.

Thank you Exile.

[roetter]

Great price on those flexible ones. Finally!

I used 5x Kyocera 190W (200 Euro each) on a previous boat - no problems

Used 6x ET-Solar300W ($265 each) on current boat - no problems either.

I don't think that today there is a large difference in the mechanical quality of the panels. The mechanical stuff has been well tested over the last 25 years. Small differences in panel efficiency, but large differences in price.

I would not buy a "hard" panel at a price much over 1$/W. There are several whole sale internet places around. Just look for the panels that have the right dimensions and check if they sell them in the low quantity your require.

[Celestialsailor]

Personally, I believe that a lot of people go Kyocera because they cost more and more is better...right?
I have Grapes. 1/2 the cost and no complaints.

[deckofficer]

Originally Posted by roetter

Great price on those flexible ones. Finally!

I used 5x Kyocera 190W (200 Euro each) on a previous boat - no problems

Used 6x ET-Solar300W ($265 each) on current boat - no problems either.

I don't think that today there is a large difference in the mechanical quality of the panels. The mechanical stuff has been well tested over the last 25 years. Small differences in panel efficiency, but large differences in price.

I would not buy a "hard" panel at a price much over 1$/W. There are several whole sale internet places around. Just look for the panels that have the right dimensions and check if they sell them in the low quantity your require.

I agree, for a hard and heavy panel, I wouldn't pay more than $1 a watt. But for boats that need to stay light in weight and/or tight real estate, these panels seem to be the answer. Also I've never been a fan of raising a boat's CG with a couple hundred pounds of panels 10' above the water line.

[Target9000]

For the weight savings, lets say you want to put flexible panels up on a stern arch or the like, how would you mount them? Make metal frame for them or maybe something like 1/4" starboard? They seem great for cabin tops and fabric mounting but I'm curious if people are using them in other more standard applications.

[capn_mark]

Originally Posted by roetter

Great price on those flexible ones. Finally! I used 5x Kyocera 190W (200 Euro each) on a previous boat - no problems Used 6x ET-Solar300W ($265 each) on current boat - no problems either. I don't think that today there is a large difference in the mechanical quality of the panels. The mechanical stuff has been well tested over the last 25 years. Small differences in panel efficiency, but large differences in price. I would not buy a "hard" panel at a price much over 1$/W. There are several whole sale internet places around. Just look for the panels that have the right dimensions and check if they sell them in the low quantity your require.

I was looking at that EVTV panel as well, and will be very interested as well if someone has experience with them. Hey Roetter, where are you in BC? I'm in Calgary now, and we frequent the Gulf and San Juan's in the summer.
Mark

[Exile]

Originally Posted by Exile

I sent the vendor an e-mail earlier today with questions about availability of other sizes, dimensions, attachment points, wiring, & shipping. Not much info on the website it seems. I'll report back here if I get any response.

From the vendor (e-mail address on website):

We have an Internet price match guarantee - if you find a higher price anywhere on the Internet, we'll match it.

Yes, these were designed specifically for boats and RVs. It is a Chinese company but they use a very efficient U.S. cell that is about 22% efficient.

Nominal Capacity: 180watts
Length: 1302 mm / 51.26 inches
Width: 796 mm / 31.34 inches
Thickness: 3 mm / 0.118 inches
Efficiency: >20%

Our next shipment is today from China. Should be here in a week.

This shipment will be higher voltage, lower in current, and still 180watts. That's the only size we carry.

They do have grommets.

The wiring leads are on the sun side and project 1/2 inch I would say.

We ship from Cape Girardeau Missouri.

[deckofficer]

Originally Posted by Exile

From the vendor (e-mail address on website):

We have an Internet price match guarantee - if you find a higher price anywhere on the Internet, we'll match it.

Yes, these were designed specifically for boats and RVs. It is a Chinese company but they use a very efficient U.S. cell that is about 22% efficient.

Nominal Capacity: 180watts
Length: 1302 mm / 51.26 inches
Width: 796 mm / 31.34 inches
Thickness: 3 mm / 0.118 inches
Efficiency: >20%

Our next shipment is today from China. Should be here in a week.

This shipment will be higher voltage, lower in current, and still 180watts. That's the only size we carry.

They do have grommets.

The wiring leads are on the sun side and project 1/2 inch I would say.

We ship from Cape Girardeau Missouri.

Thanks Exile. Good to know if I find a higher price they will match it. lol

[Cotemar]

Originally Posted by Target9000

For the weight savings, lets say you want to put flexible panels up on a stern arch or the like, how would you mount them? Make metal frame for them or maybe something like 1/4" starboard? They seem great for cabin tops and fabric mounting but I'm curious if people are using them in other more standard applications.

For mounting them on a stern arch you can use 1/4 inch Starboard, 1/4 inch Azek sheets or 1/8 inch aluminum

[Cotemar]

Originally Posted by Celestialsailor

Personally, I believe that a lot of people go Kyocera because they cost more and more is better...right?
I have Grapes. 1/2 the cost and no complaints.

Most people go with the Kyocera solar panels because they believe they have the best marine warranty. If only they knew that the Kyocera warranty is just like most of the other solar panel manufacturers.

Kyocera solar panels Warranty Exclusions:

h) Defects and/or failures caused by use on a mobile unit including, but not limited to, vehicles, vessels and any other such mobile unit

k) Defects and/or failures caused by smoke and/or other pollution, salt damage, acid rain.

[roetter]

Originally Posted by capn_mark

I was looking at that EVTV panel as well, and will be very interested as well if someone has experience with them. Hey Roetter, where are you in BC? I'm in Calgary now, and we frequent the Gulf and San Juan's in the summer.
Mark

My boat here in Canada- "The Kid", a Bavaria Vision 40 - is in the North Sanich Marina, T-dock . I am out there almost every week in summer. Let me know when you are over here.