SUNBEAMsystem Tough+ solar panel

[Username25]

Anyone use SUNBEAMsystem Tough+ solar panels?

Solar Panels – SUNBEAMsystem.com

Manufacturer claims Tough+ have 13% more power vs Tough models, but price is up 40%.

The same size (778x535mm) Tough+ 80W panel price £499 vs Tough 70W price £359. Can't find any justification for such huge price hike.

Price List

[rubberduck]

I'm using them. I have a mix of 38, 56 and 80 watt on the yacht. I'm getting some good power out of them even at 59 North and would expect that to increase as i move south this year.

I agree that they are crazy expensive but i managed to get some good deals in the boat show season.

If its worth it or not, hard to say... these is my first solar project so i dont have a lot to compare to.

[Username25]

How much W in total you have? How much output you get on average in a sunny midday? Is output close to declared? If not a secret, how much you paid for 80W panel?


For the same budget I can get 230W Tough+ or 300W Tough. Quality wise they look similar with 5-year warranty.

[rubberduck]

Right now its a bit hard for me to say as i have been connected to shore power since i turned them on (still getting the boat ready). But a few days i have turned the shore power off and turned all my electrics on. They do well, though i'm not getting the full wattage out of them (though i think thats safe with any panel)

I have 390 watts which i broke down in to two arrays running on victon mppts and connected to a venus monitor. how fast do you want to make a decision? I will be setting off in a few weeks and can send you all the data my venus records on them with some detailed notes. Its interesting stuff for me as well.

To date I have seen maybe 150 watts max out of each array. I dont think its very far to put full weight on that however as the mppts will go in to absorption and float very quick while im at the dock.

I did debate a bit on the tough v the tough plus. The boat show prices for the 38 v 30 were not a major difference so that was a no brainer - i thought it got a bit harder to make the business case at the 56 and 80 level. Ill need to go back and look at what i paid

[Username25]

390W is a lot. I would like to install 232W Tough+, we are light users. Maybe I could add x2 additional 32W panels, but it would be well over my budget with Tough+ prices. On the other side 260W Tough would be still 20% cheaper than 232W Tough+.


I would like to place order this or next week the latest. It would great you could check your Tough+ prices, so I know really mark up and I could try to ask for some discount. Drop me PM if do not want such info to be public.

[jdaltonpe]

I installed 1.85 kW of sun beam systems tough plus panels in 2019. I have been sailing in the tropics and in the north since installation. They are still providing power however The plastic lamination on top of the nonskid has deteriorated badly and I needed to remove all of it. I suspect this is from tropical, cruising as they do not hold up well under the hot sun. Do not step on them and direct tropical sunlight or you will leave permanent damage. I need to coat the remaining layer of nonskid with 303 protectant weekly but even with that, it’s still bleeds black stains down the side of my boat whenever there is rain. On the one panel that I first peeled the top layer off of and left alone for a couple months in the tropics the black non-skid layer has cracked extensively and is very ugly. I have not tested it, but I am pretty sure it’s not producing what it should. So if you’re planning on the tropics, I would not purchase these panels.