Anyone used Kingsolar 120 watt flex panels?

[Miker1944]

Originally Posted by Canibul

This is along the lines of what I was planning. Did you use the adhesive hook and loop/Velcro stuff on both sides? Or did you sew it to the bimini, stick it to the panel? Is your bimini cloth like Sunbrella or hard?

We used the Velcro, hook and loop stuff on both sides, as we sewed a flap to the top of the sunbrella bimini. We sewed the velcro to both sides of the flap, with one side attaching to the bottom and one to the top of the solar panels.

Hope this helps, if you need further info, just ask.

[Canibul]

Thanks for the explanation, but I'm still a little unclear on what you did. But if it's working I'm very interested.What attaches the velcro to the solar panel? Is the solar panel tucked under a flap?

Hey look, we have the same avatar! Popeye as a young man, in your case LOL.

[Miker1944]

Originally Posted by Canibul

Thanks for the explanation, but I'm still a little unclear on what you did. But if it's working I'm very interested.What attaches the velcro to the solar panel? Is the solar panel tucked under a flap?

Hey look, we have the same avatar! Popeye as a young man, in your case LOL.

Velcro is also attached to the top and bottom of the solar panel. Commercial Velcro is used, so it is glued and sewn to the panel, then it is stuck to the flap of material which was previously sewn to the bimini top.

Hope that is clear?

Popeye was always one of my hero's.

[antoha]

Canibul,
i've never done this myself, but i wonder if this is helpful:
http://www.bruceschwab.com/uploads/s...guidelines.pdf

[NahanniV]

Originally Posted by senormechanico

The main difference to consider between rigid and flexible besides weight and cost is, walkability.
....

One more big difference in my opinion is lifespan.

Lifespan of this panel is only 5-8 years:

Hello, the service life of glass is more than 20 years, general PET board life is 5 ~ 8 years, and retain 80% of the POWER, so life is not so long Can't pack this long warranty, of course, if you need the extended WARRANTY, you need to increase the cost of additional, hope that the answer you can satisfied, thank you
K

IMO if the manufacturer says 5-8, count on something less than 5.

Amazon.com: Questions And Answers: What is the rated useful life of these panels? Most panels I see are rated for 20 years plus but why these panels only come with 1 year warranty?

[Miker1944]

Originally Posted by antoha

Canibul,
i've never done this myself, but i wonder if this is helpful:
http://www.bruceschwab.com/uploads/s...guidelines.pdf

This is exactly how we installed our panels. By the way, Bruce is a great guy and will answer any questions you may have.

[Canibul]

thanks for the explanation and the link. now I understand.

[Grant Gordon]

We recently did a similar installation for a customer and sewed the velcro to the panels without gluing. No issues to date. This is how I am going to do my own boat this spring as well.

[OceanPlanet]

Btw, the warranty for the Solbian semi-flexible panels is now 5yrs for both materials & output. They have been really great about quickly taking care of any issues.

They were the first to seriously produce this type of panel for the marine market, and there was a lot to learn in the beginning. However anything that came up with early versions they covered, and they continue to stay a step or two ahead of the various knock-off attempts from China, Vietnam, etc.

B

Originally Posted by NahanniV

One more big difference in my opinion is lifespan.

Lifespan of this panel is only 5-8 years:



IMO if the manufacturer says 5-8, count on something less than 5.

Amazon.com: Questions And Answers: What is the rated useful life of these panels? Most panels I see are rated for 20 years plus but why these panels only come with 1 year warranty?

[Canibul]

I think my first "cell" phone was $500. My first laptop was $3500. now I can buy a disposabe phone for $20 and a tablet for $250.

The ability to charge those high prices only works for the only source of a new technology, or in the case of overwhelming technical advantage.

I don't think that's the case here anymore.

$1200 for a 137 watt Solbian panel that lasts 5 years= helloooo chopsticks.

[OceanPlanet]

Another btw...the SP137 is considered a "custom" panel now and is no longer listed on Solbian's official line of standard panels. We list them and they do still make them for us...reluctantly. Has something to do with being that long, it pushing the limits of the materials. Apparently tricky to do, and higher percentage of "seconds".

[OceanPlanet]

Another thing to note is the surprisingly strong demand for the SP137, almost as many as the smaller sizes. As long as we can convince Solbian to keep making them, we'll keep selling them.


What does "hello chopsticks" mean? Never heard that expression before..

[Canibul]

it means i'll be buying chinese panels.

[OceanPlanet]

Ah, right...I should have guessed that. Not awake here yet