Flexible Solar Panels

I'm in the process of upgrading my electrical (adding AGM, etc) and am revisiting the issue of using solar, especially for keeping our battery charged for our Dometic. We do have the controller on our 550 and own an 80 watt rigid panel, but stopped using it a number of years ago because of the bulk and because it's almost useless on the east coast due to forest and cloud cover. I've read here about people using flexible panels. Do you have recommendations on which ones to look at? We would not permanently mount it. I just need something that will easily stow while we travel between destinations and will be easy to set up. I also saw someone recommend using two panels, each one pointed in a different direction, so that you don't have to worry about moving the panel throughout the day to track the sun. If you have flexible, how well has it worked for you? How about two panels? Are there any tricks to hooking them both up to the CI?

Thanks!

 

I ended up buying two 60W fiberglass panels from Lensun (Lensun 2x60W(total 120W) 12V Black Flexible Solar Panel for RV,Camper,Boat, Out Door Camping Solar Power). I actually ordered the aluminum ones for $45 cheaper, but they were out of stock and Lensun instead sent me the black ones for the same price. I still would have liked to have gotten two 100W, but would have had to upgrade the controller and wiring, all rated at 10A. We're doing a 6-week road trip to Montana and Wyoming starting in mid-August, so we'll how they do.

 

I had looked at the flexible panels a couple years back. They were outrageously expensive. Went with an 80 W rigid folding panel and stopped shopping. 80 W works for my APAP and camper lights/H2O pump, etc. but I have doubts with itsupporting my Dometic. I agree, solid panels are bulky. Please report back if you find prices have become... accessible for flexible units.

 

What panel did you buy and for how much? Two 60W panels were $295 ($255 + $40 shipping). Don't know how that compares with what you saw previously.

 

These sound pretty good....I have a Raindrop with battery controller and solar connection. How do they connect...? Just plug in?

 

If Camp-Inn installed your solar controller, then they should have given you a 12V plug for the port on the side of your trailer. Wire PV cable to that plug and then use MC4 connectors on the other end to connect to your panel. If using multiple panels like I am, then you'll need some type of Y connectors or cables (such as Amazon.com: Signstek Y Branch MC4 Parallel Connector Adapter M/FF and F/MM (1): Garden & Outdoor) to connect the panels in parallel. If you have any skill with wiring (soldering may be required), then it's very simple. Post back if you have questions.

 

Thanks, but I'm not at all skilled or knowledgeable with wiring...Camp-Inn did install my solar controller. I do have a good RV place nearby so I guess they could help.

 

I just picked up my 560 Ultra a couple months ago and purchase a 120w folding panel(s) for $200 (Bioenno Power BSP-120 120 Watt Foldable Solar Panel for Charging Power Packs | Powerwerx) Yes, bulky, but after almost 3 weeks of camping, we got used to just putting it on a towel or moving blanket on back of bed when we broke camp. Seemed to travel well that way without too much effort. I agree, a nice lighter weight flexible (mounted on fiberglass panel) would be easier to manipulate. So far, I'm happy with our panel and it definitely charges up the AGM battery!

I should add, the solar panel company made me a custom 25' extension cable with some very heavy duty wire at a nominal charge too. Camp Inn just added their connector, and we were in business!

 

Here are the links to the products on my short list.
80 W rigid, $385
60 W flexible, $670

I bought the 80 W rigid. This unit has its own charge controller, which, to this point has been completely unnecessary. Maybe in some future disaster scenario I will need solar charging independent of my camper. But, in retrospect, would aim for a smaller, cheaper unit w/o the controller. I'm saving the 60 W flexible for after I win the lottery.

Cheers.

 

I found this video on flexible panels informative:

How To Buy Flexible Solar Panels

 

Hi Randy,

That was a pretty good video. Looks like solar tech has made some progress on Watts/$. The flexible panel I was looking at could be rolled up - which I thought would make travel and storage easier. Although, the thin units in the video you link to could easily travel under the mattress, which may be my favorite solution yet.

Thanks for sharing,
--Ken

 

The more solar the better. Buy the biggest panel you can carry. You'll need all that and more when you camp in sites that have tree cover.

I have a 120W panel. It can stay ahead of the fridge if we are getting lots of sun and the ambient temp is below 85 degrees or so (and if the fridge is kept in a shaded spot), but if we are only getting a few hours per day, the panel is not big enough in most conditions.

Yes a bigger panel costs more, but if you can carry a 120w panel, you can easily carry a 200W panel, which would be better.

The panel is an asset, just as a gasoline/propane generator is. You can put them into service if you have an extended power outage, for example. Our teardrop is our earthquake shelter, in the event of a significant earthquake, and having a power source is invaluable, of course.

-Al

 

Reading how much extra equipment and cost it requires to keep a fridge operational it makes me wonder if it's worth the effort. Why not get a modern high end ice chest that will hold ice for a week or so? I like having abundant ice each day for ice water and also use the melt water as drinking water - works best to put the ice into food storage containers to keep the melt water away from the food.

Fretting over whether I can keep up with the energy demands of my fridge and needing to park where I get adequate sun exposure which leaves the trailer hotter in the sun, then worrying about whether it is safe to leave the panels unattended (from theft) seems more stressful than fretting over where to pick up the next bag of ice. Maybe if I were planning to boondock in the desert for a month at a time I'd have a different point of view - but even then the fridge probably won't hold more than a week worth of food at a time so trips to civilization would be necessary anyway. Sometimes the simplest solution to a problem is the best solution. Am I missing something in my analysis?

 

I agree with you 100%. Half the reason I'm spending energy on improving the electrical capacity is for CPAP use while boondocking. Hmm, maybe that means any power upgrade I make could be tax deductible.....

I also agree that it's better to park the teardrop in the shade. The main gain, I think, from having a panel on top of the TD is that it will more deeply charge your TD battery while you are driving down the road. My solar panel is not on the TD but is portable. Still, I can only move it about 20 feet from the TD.

-Al

 

Anyone fooled with Renogy Flexible Panels? Seems they could easily be placed on top of TT while parked (or placed anywhere your extension cord could reach). I'm thinking of installing Anderson Powerpole adapter to controller in TT - so I could use panel for EITHER the GZ Yeti or TT.

Cost is WAY down: 100W is $200, the 160W is $300.

They have a sale now for 20% through Memorial Day with code: SOLAR20OFF

 

On sale where? Thanks!

 

I just bought 'Renogy 160 Watt 12 Volt Flexible Monocrystalline Solar Panel on Renogy United States
RENOGY - Solar Powered Systems & Equipment
Nevermind!! Deciphered you meant so went straight to Renogy, I was looking at the same 160W flexible on amazon but this 20% off is the lowest anywhere. Also picked up the MPPT 20A with Bluetooth module adaptor so I can monitor controller/Battery/solar performance on my phone, 20A is more than enough and will be a great upgrade to the TD! Bill went from $470, down to $375 with 20% off discount code
SOLAR20OFF
Thanks
TroutBum!!

 

I purchased a 100 watt semi-flexible panel recently. I believe it was from Banggood, but might have been Aliexpress. It was on sale at the time for $99 (free shipping) and was stocked in the US. Got it within a week. Haven't taken it on a trip yet due to weather, but hooked it up in the driveway and it works as well as the Renogy suitcase that I also have. A quick look on Aliexpress shows a 100 watt panel for $86 shipped free from US warehouse: US $85.66 |100w semi flexible solar panel made of new materials, inexpensive-in Solar Cells from Consumer Electronics on Aliexpress.com | Alibaba Group

 

You're welcome - I have the exact same items in my cart right now, waiting to pull the trigger

Let me see some pics when you get yours installed - I'm sure ONE of us will be reaching out to Cary soon.