Lightweight, longer lasting solar panels?

[dustman]

Is there such a thing as a solar panel that is lighter than the standard rigid panels but longer lasting than the flexible panels? I saw something like that a long time ago but can't find it again.


I'm half tempted just to make my own out of bare cells but not sure what kind of coating would hold up that has good light transmission.



It seems like one of these manufacturers would have found a nice middle ground by now.

[smith8273]

These guys:

https://www.lightleafsolar.com/solar...253A01%253A14Z

[dustman]

Originally Posted by smith8273

These guys:

https://www.lightleafsolar.com/solar...253A01%253A14Z

Just what I was looking for, but that price is gut wrenching.

[CatLove]

BougeRV has 100W and 200W semi-flexible solar panels with fiberglass reinforced top and bottom in addition to the usual flexible ETFE and EVA layers . The top presents a sort of antiskid pattern.
$140 for the 100W size.

https://www.bougerv.com/products/fib...tt-solar-panel

[Pete7]

There are a couple of makes of flexible solar panels that stand out. Sunware being popular and high quality will last longer than all the cheap stuff.

https://en.sunware.solar/produkte/marine_solarmodule

However, if you want real HQ stuff then the German Company Solara is probably were you need to be looking. Naturally they have an eye watering price. These are the panels that Ocean rowers fit to their 21ft dinghies to provide power for the crossings, so just have to work and be tollerant of waves frequently washing over the top.

https://solara.de/en/solar-panels-without-frame/

I bought a Solara panel in 2010 second hand off e bay, all 45w of it and it cost a fortune. It was perhaps 5 or 6 years old at this point. It was finally retired in 2021. Not bad for being permanently fixed surviving through all those UK winters and summers.

[Johan Leopard51]

Just be aware that many of the flexible panels (not all) have much lower watts/square meter because use thin film semiconductor not mono silicon.

[brazenarticle]

I added two of the Bouge rv fiberglass panels to my Bimini a couple months ago. They are working as well as the hard panels and appear pretty sturdy, I don't think they'll get milky the way some of the plastic flexible panels do.

https://www.bougerv.com/products/cur...tt-solar-panel

[CrispyCringle]

Originally Posted by smith8273

These guys:

https://www.lightleafsolar.com/solar...253A01%253A14Z

These look amazing, and only weigh 5 lbs. They are made for easy on-off mount to a rail. Just what I need. I think they are made by Maxion. They made my standard rigid 475 Watt panel that cost about the same as these 100 Watt panels. Pricy, but nicey.

[Johan Leopard51]

Originally Posted by smith8273

These guys:

https://www.lightleafsolar.com/solar...253A01%253A14Z

Please note that SunPower filed for bankruptcy so the warranties need looking at. I am not clear how the split works in terms of SunPower elements and Maxeon modules.

[JBP]

Originally Posted by CatLove

BougeRV has 100W and 200W semi-flexible solar panels with fiberglass reinforced top and bottom in addition to the usual flexible ETFE and EVA layers . The top presents a sort of antiskid pattern.
$140 for the 100W size.

https://www.bougerv.com/products/fib...tt-solar-panel

Lensun also makes fiberglass semi-flexible panels that are more durable than the plastic flexible panels and they have several shapes to choose from.
I do walk gently on mine when they are on a rigid deck but you still need to be careful not to flex them too much.

https://a.co/d/73z9LvD

[arsenelupiga]

can see where you coming from. I have 2 different go's at this.

One are Sunman flexible panels 175W. So far they deliver as good as fixed of same power an no deterioration after 1 year. I store them under bed when not needed ie on the go.

The other are fixed but 1/3 lighter than standard.
https://www.solar4rvs.com.au/exotron...hade-resistant

They are active full time, nice aestetics and work as advertised.

i am yet to find better solution for cat.

[GordMay]

In the wake of SunPower's bankruptcy announcement, Maxeon released a blog post [1], clarifying that the company has been completely independent of SunPower since 2020.
The company reaffirmed that it will honor product warranties for SunPower-branded solar panels, in the same way they would have been honored before the bankruptcy announcement.

[1] Maxeon Blog ➥ https://corp.maxeon.com/news-release...nnel=lcp-70917

Maxeon Warranty Q & A ➥ https://maxeon.com/us/sunpower-warranty

[Leadfree]

Originally Posted by Johan Leopard51

Please note that SunPower filed for bankruptcy so the warranties need looking at. I am not clear how the split works in terms of SunPower elements and Maxeon modules.

Maxeon is backing SunPower’s warranties for home panels. However, unless SunPower authorized dealer install and registered by said dealer with SunPower, there is no hope of warranty. And I don’t think Maxeon will cover flex panels regardless.

[dustman]

Thanks everyone!


I think I'm liking the BougeRV fiberglass panels. The cigs panels seem great but I could buy 2 of the fiberglass ones for the price of one cigs.



Johan, I am aware of this, weight is more important to me since they are going to be mounted up high and towards the back of the boat.

[CatLove]

Originally Posted by JBP

Lensun also makes fiberglass semi-flexible panels that are more durable than the plastic flexible panels and they have several shapes to choose from.
I do walk gently on mine when they are on a rigid deck but you still need to be careful not to flex them too much.

https://a.co/d/73z9LvD

I had a couple of Lensun flexible panels glued to the foredeck of my previous cat . They worked with no degradation in the 5 years I owned the boat and I walked on them same as on any other deck area, no special care.
However, these had an aluminium backing rather than the usual plastics of today's panels.
A couple of years ago Lensun was still advertising custom panels so maybe they can still make them aluminum backed.


Another way to view the long lasting requirement is to look at warranties. Renogy advertises their flexible panels with 25 year warranty for output over 80%