Can You Stand On Your Solar Panels?

[YPSILANTI]

I am about to fit new solar panels on my cat. I'd prefer to fit them on my Binini where my existing panels are situated. My existing panels are rather dated rigid Samsung panels which we frequently stood on without any breakage ocurring. I have seen the Solara panels which are soft and made to walk on. However, as an import coupled to a shocking exchange rate, they are rather pricey. What is the experience out there regatrding panels breaking due to being stood on and how durable are most panels. Are any specific panels recommended that offer excellent quality and performance.

[Privleoplag]

Mine get walked on, and 5 years as a charter boat probably got walked on all the time. No trouble. Sunware flex are the brand of these.

[senormechanico]

We have a couple Aurinco 100 watt panels which get walked on regularly.

Unfortunately, the company is closing !

[Training Wheels]

Check out Sunbeam Systems. I'm buying mine from an online company in Sweden. The US distributor wants crazy shipping charges.

[PNWSalmon]

Related question, are they slick when wet? I'm concerned about the safety of these panels if I place them on parts of the deck. Any experience on the traction?

[sailon46]

Personal opinion I would not walk or sit on my solar panels since I have studied the structural schematics of my semi rigid 100 watt ones. There's plenty of room to walk around them in my 52 bene.
Ernie on the Mary Jane

[Training Wheels]

Originally Posted by PNWSalmon

Related question, are they slick when wet? I'm concerned about the safety of these panels if I place them on parts of the deck. Any experience on the traction?

They're not as nonskid as my newly non-skidded decks, but they are not slippery. Stepping on them does take some getting used to.[ATTACH]140730

[PNWSalmon]

Originally Posted by Training Wheels

They're not as nonskid as my newly non-skidded decks, but they are not slippery. Stepping on them does take some getting used to.[ATTACH]140730

Thank you for the picture. How do you have that panel atttached ?

[epiic]

I own 5 Solara 140w walk on solar panels. They have a texture to make them non-skid.

With that said, they are $1299 each!!!

[Training Wheels]

I did as the manufacturer recommended, sikaflex all around the edge and a couple of dots in the center. That is the "tough" model with no junction box, 100 watts. The wire is flat, not yet connected.

[Steadman Uhlich]

Howdy All!

I have started a new thread on CF that is to serve as an "Illustrated Guide to Solar Installations on Boats"

I hope you will participate in that thread too, by posting some photos and answering a few questions related to your own Solar Installations. The questions are easy but may help others.

The new thread is not intended to take away from this current discussion, but is intended to provide an easy way to look at a lot of different installations for ideas and information. I hope you will add to it too.

Here is a link to that thread:

Illustrated Guide to Solar Installations on Boats
Illustrated Guide to Solar Installations on Boats - Cruisers & Sailing Forums