Foldable solar panels at larger wattages... any experiences?

[Exile]

Originally Posted by basssears

Should be a quick fix with a simple grommet kit:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...ilpage_o06_s00
... I guess just be gentle when pounding the grommets on!


"Temporary setup for fair weather" is exactly what I had in mind for something like this, if it's snotty I'll leave this packed up below and rely on my two solid framed 100 watt panels that are permanently mounted.

Helpful link to the grommet kit, thanks! I see they're available as small as 1/4" so maybe there's enough material at the edges to make that work.

Definitely for fair weather, maybe even just laid out flat if there's deck space. I have in-mast roller furling so also thought laid out over the boom (with lines securing the edges) might work as well.

This would be my first solar panel purchase, other than a couple of fixed ones I inherited from a PO on a horse-type trailer. I take it that the MC4 connectors are more about the convenience of plugging/unplugging to a controller than anything else?

Best case scenario, what sort of amps (at 12v) could I realistically expect to get during peak times from a (claimed) high-efficiency 120W panel like this?

[basssears]

Originally Posted by Pete7

I propped it against the mast and supported at the base on the cabin top hand holds. We went ashore one morning and came back to to find it had moved and smashed one side.

Thanks for the input Pete. Definitely one of the challenges of the non permanent install is damage / loss. There's a fine 40w panel of mine at the bottom of the Tumbo mooring field if anyone's interested At the time of loss, only cogent thing that crossed my mind was "man that thing sinks fast!".


Of course, you also point out the advantages of the movable, which is you're always keeping it in good light and so the output's quite good. We have a dog so spend quite a bit of time on the dock as opposed to on the hook, but often at state parks so no shore power... now that I think about it I could see a LONG extension cord (30' or so) that would let me lay the panel out on the dock or even a picnic table. Hmmm.


-- Bass

[basssears]

Originally Posted by Exile

This would be my first solar panel purchase, other than a couple of fixed ones I inherited from a PO on a horse-type trailer. I take it that the MC4 connectors are more about the convenience of plugging/unplugging to a controller than anything else?

Actually, it's my understanding that MC4 connectors require a special tool to disconnect, so they're not just simple to plug in and unplug. I have two folding panels mounted on my stern pushpit:
Spring Work – All About the Power – Sailing Idaho, the Salish Sea and beyond
... already. On these I cut off the MC4 connectors completely, and ran the wires to Minn Kota MKR-18 plugs to use as easy connect / disconnects that will also take decent amperage.

Originally Posted by Exile

Best case scenario, what sort of amps (at 12v) could I realistically expect to get during peak times from a (claimed) high-efficiency 120W panel like this?

That is hard to say, and that's a bit of the rub with an unknown panel. I have a Renogy 100w panel on my conversion van and, when I point it very carefully directly at the sun I have gotten 95 watts out of it. But that's a Renogy, a known manufacturer known for making decent panels. So in theory this one should put out 110 or so pretty easily if perfectly positioned, but if the cell quality isn't up to snuff it won't get anywhere close.

[Pete7]

Bass, have you seen these? okay I know this one is in the UK and you are a billion miles away but still:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Elfeland-...gAAOSwRLlZnWxf

[basssears]

Originally Posted by Pete7

Bass, have you seen these? okay I know this one is in the UK and you are a billion miles away but still:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Elfeland-...gAAOSwRLlZnWxf

Not anything quite like that over here, although it's something I'm considering as well, just been hard to get the right search to track those down. I have seen plenty of single fold panels like Renogy makes:
https://www.renogy.com/renogy-100-wa...case-w-voyager
... in fact, it's what I modeled my home built folding panels off of.


The bifold ones I've seen (like above) are a little bigger when folded than the one on cloth I originally posted about, but that's not a total deal breaker... but if you look at the Renogy above it's 26 pounds, whereas the one you posted is 5.5#... BIG difference in ease of moving it around.

[Pete7]

Originally Posted by basssears

At the time of loss, only cogent thing that crossed my mind was "man that thing sinks fast!".

That made me chuckle

Originally Posted by basssears

We have a dog -- Bass

So do we

[mitiempo]

Originally Posted by Pete7

That made me chuckle



So do we

That will certainly affect the panel output.