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Old 10-06-2015, 15:45   #1
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Free Shipping on Flexible Solar Panels Canada, Caribbean and USA

We are pleased to announce that our premium grade Italian made Gioco Solutions Semi-Flexible Solar Panel pricing now includes free shipping to anywhere in North America as well as the Caribbean. For other regions drop us a line and we'll find the most cost effective way to get you your panels.

For more info please take a look at our website.

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Old 11-06-2015, 04:28   #2
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Re: Free Shipping on Flexible Solar Panels Canada, Caribbean and USA

Greetings and welcome aboard the CF, Hybrid Power.
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Old 11-06-2015, 09:15   #3
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Re: Free Shipping on Flexible Solar Panels Canada, Caribbean and USA

Thanks Gord! We're looking forward to serving Cruisers Forum members from our locations in Canada, South Africa and the USA.
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Old 11-06-2015, 09:24   #4
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Re: Free Shipping on Flexible Solar Panels Canada, Caribbean and USA

Note that OceanPlanet Energy is the USA distributor (being in the USA), so can also offer Gioco with free shipping in the USA.
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Old 11-06-2015, 11:15   #5
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Re: Free Shipping on Flexible Solar Panels Canada, Caribbean and USA

I was looking at the 145 watt panels, but have a question about all of them. The approved method of attaching them seems to be to mount them flat against a surface, such as a hard top. This makes sense if we can walk on them. But don't they build up a tremendous amount of thermal heat without air flow behind the panels? Doesn't this affect the efficiency?
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Old 11-06-2015, 12:37   #6
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Re: Free Shipping on Flexible Solar Panels Canada, Caribbean and USA

No doubt about it there is a drop in efficiency with temperature rise.
Flexible panels constructed out of quality cell encapsulating materials do not suffer too terribly from mounting on solid surfaces.

According to Gioco's literature on the panels.

Output is 145 watts at 25C (to keep things simple I'll keep things in C as Gioco being European publishes their data in C) nominal cell operating temperature when producing 145 watts at 25C is 42C.

Take a nice hot day of 35C (102F) ambient - 30 degrees above the temperature at which the rating was conducted at a output loss according to the literature of -0.46watts /C is 13.8 watts in very simplistically the panel should still produce around 130 watts at 35C (102).

Would having airflow behind it help? Maybe however one must then discount this small power loss against the benefits of having a flush mounted panel
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Old 12-06-2015, 04:34   #7
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Re: Free Shipping on Flexible Solar Panels Canada, Caribbean and USA

We have had some clients use 6mm twinwall polycarbonate backing under Solbian panels for deck installations (could use with Gioco too). The theory is that if the ribs in the polycarb are arranged uphill/downhill on a sloped surface, it should allow the hot air out the upper side and pull in cooler air from the lower.

However we don't have any feedback/data yet as to how/if this really works! And of course the panels are then raised up that 6mm....

Most of our Solbian & Gioco sales are for bimini/dodger canvas installations. Although they are walkable, they must be fully supported (not bridging any gaps) so as to not flex them from walking. For many deck applications our clients often go with Solara or Aurinco which have stiffer backing (Alum/SS for Solara, G10 for Aurinco), and a textured "slip-resistant" surface that is a bit thicker as well.

Note that Solbian now offers a textured surface as a special-order option as well.

We find that the application almost always dictates which type/brand of panel is best suited. There is some crossover/competition of course however not as much as one would think. Some clients get a mix; different panels in different locations.
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Old 12-06-2015, 16:27   #8
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Re: Free Shipping on Flexible Solar Panels Canada, Caribbean and USA

Interesting!

I have 9 x 84W Uni-Solar panels stuck to the roof of my Salina.
The roof is foam core sandwich, 38mm (1 1/2") thick.

On a hot day you cannot walk on them, the ceiling inside the saloon is warmer under the panels than elsewhere, but not hot.
I had been thinking of a better install and the Polycarbonate sheeting seems a very good solution.

Also, my panels are 'Amorfous' and about 5yo, I get 35~40A max when in full sun.
Are the newer panel more efficient?
Are they also 'Amorfous" (the unshaded part still produce max Ah if a portion is shaded).

BTW, you can walk on them, drop tools and if you manage to damage a portion, the rest of the panel still works 100%.
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Old 12-06-2015, 17:57   #9
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Re: Free Shipping on Flexible Solar Panels Canada, Caribbean and USA

Quote:
Originally Posted by spiv View Post
Interesting!

I have 9 x 84W Uni-Solar panels stuck to the roof of my Salina.
The roof is foam core sandwich, 38mm (1 1/2") thick.

On a hot day you cannot walk on them, the ceiling inside the saloon is warmer under the panels than elsewhere, but not hot.
I had been thinking of a better install and the Polycarbonate sheeting seems a very good solution.

Also, my panels are 'Amorfous' and about 5yo, I get 35~40A max when in full sun.
Are the newer panel more efficient?
Are they also 'Amorfous" (the unshaded part still produce max Ah if a portion is shaded).

BTW, you can walk on them, drop tools and if you manage to damage a portion, the rest of the panel still works 100%.
Hi Stefano,

I remember being semi-sponsored by Uni-Solar with some of their panels for my win in the 96 SH Transpac. Handy and durable...however...

The efficiency/power of the mono or poly crystalline cells in Solbian and Gioco panels are from roughly 3 to 4 times greater than the amorphous type in Uni-Solar. Solara or Auninco are also superior.

For tool trampolining work, I might lean towards the Solara/Aurinco, they have a stiffer backing, unless you firmly adhere the Solbian/Gioco to a smooth hard surface (or backing).
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Old 12-06-2015, 18:17   #10
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Re: Free Shipping on Flexible Solar Panels Canada, Caribbean and USA

Can you mount them on a rail with a swing frame like wings?
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Old 12-06-2015, 18:55   #11
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Re: Free Shipping on Flexible Solar Panels Canada, Caribbean and USA

Quote:
Originally Posted by jreiter190 View Post
Can you mount them on a rail with a swing frame like wings?
Certainly, as long as the frame/backing/whatever supports the panel so that it can take big splashes. Have seen some on canvas stretched inside a perimeter rail/hoop that pivoted on lifelines/pushpit...
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Old 12-06-2015, 21:04   #12
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Re: Free Shipping on Flexible Solar Panels Canada, Caribbean and USA

Quote:
Originally Posted by OceanPlanet View Post

The efficiency/power of the mono or poly crystalline cells in Solbian and Gioco panels are from roughly 3 to 4 times greater than the amorphous type in Uni-Solar. Solara or Auninco are also superior.
What about when they are partially shaded, what would the total output be?


Quote:
For tool trampolining work,...
Sorry, what do you mean with that?
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Old 13-06-2015, 00:39   #13
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Re: Free Shipping on Flexible Solar Panels Canada, Caribbean and USA

Quote:
Originally Posted by Hybrid Power View Post
We are pleased to announce that our premium grade Italian made Gioco Solutions Semi-Flexible Solar Panel pricing now includes free shipping to anywhere in North America as well as the Caribbean. For other regions drop us a line and we'll find the most cost effective way to get you your panels.

For more info please take a look at our website.

Home - Hybrid Power Supply
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Old 13-06-2015, 00:44   #14
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Re: Free Shipping on Flexible Solar Panels Canada, Caribbean and USA

Quote:
Originally Posted by jreiter190 View Post
Can you mount them on a rail with a swing frame like wings?
We use angle aluminum trim to stiffen and magma rail mounts to adjust like wings. Nice to be able to fold them down for storm and tight docking situations. The stern mounted panel is only for anchorages as it gets in the way of our monitor.
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Old 13-06-2015, 04:05   #15
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Re: Free Shipping on Flexible Solar Panels Canada, Caribbean and USA

I've been looking at all this pretty closely, too. I'm working on a CAD project for a completly new combine hard top/arch/davits that uses a removable frame to mount the solar. I call that part a 'solar tray'. I'm planning to tailor the simple frame for whatever solar setup is being used in coming years. My plans for this first version were using the Soliban style, i.e. rigid cells on a flexible backing, as the sole shade for the hard top. The panels would be edge mounted to 2" wide aluminum strips, in a frame of aluminum angle.

I'm looking at the thin film panels, too, but the plastic backed ones seem a better choice for the semi-rigidity.

My main issue right now is that there's essentially nobody here to do the tube work. I've considered even buying an "arch in a box" from Atlantic towers and building my own like an erector set.
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