Good information Bob. You are spot on to mention one should not bend them repeatedly. They have been used for a long time (a decade at least) on long range cruising sail boats and cats, because they can conform to deck shapes which usually are not flat. However they are always mounted, usually glued, to a firm surface. When used this way they can withstand a lot of abuse - not necessarily stepped on, but hit by sheets and lines, rained on, and so on. When bent repeatedly they can delaminate and the light sensitive layer can get damaged. So if they are used in the way you describe, one should support them properly.
Thank you for the comparison videos. If handled with care, the flexible panels seem like a good choice for dry camping and very practical in regards to less weight and ease of handling and storage. The portable solar seems to be improving in function and in quality. Enjoy the season!
I've had my two 100 watt flexible solar panels on my van for almost two years now. No issues other than having to clean them once in a while. Thanks so much for your awesome video.
Bob thank you for your review. What a lot folks may come to believe these are real time reviews. The facts are the are about at least a 3 months old. You have cataloged these so that you never have a open week, when in fact most where done many months before they are published with many done back in Arizona early this year. I appreciate all the time you spend on each and every one. What I would appreciate in the video is an actual date filming. As always jealous as hell on my comfy couch.
Going to the RTR in my Hummer and a tent.. And was wondering about flexible solar panels.. Then BAM!! there you were with a video on them! Thanks Bob! Hi Carolyn! Remember, "pretend they aren't flexible". Haha! You are the perfect tester for these things! !
Be advised that these lightweight panels will get airborn in the slightest wind, especially out west like in Arizona and especially New Mexico. I used lightweight flexible panels for awhile and bought the steel long nail looking tent spikes at WalMart for .99 cents each, one in each corner, problem solved. Don't hammer down all the way, just enough to hold. Big shout-out to Carolyn, hope Matilda is treating her well. (I'm a 7 yr Class C full timer myself)
I'm 100% behind you on the victim stuff. Everyone is victimized in different ways but it's the people who get over it or through it that come out happy with themselves. I guess that's what annoys me the most about Carolyn's commentaries at times. She's had some challenges but she hasn't really gotten through them it seems. I've heard it all before and many many many many times about indians, women, and whatever. BLAH, BLAH, BLAH is what I hear now. What might be refreshing is to see her actually doing something about it. She's got about 40k subscribers and could bring all those people to see and hear from indians living on reservations (for one example) through her videos instead of the quintessential lip service she does now. Plain fact is that people remember what yoi actually do rather then what you say. Hence the saying "words are cheap".
Yes, seems like if you just don't agree with Carolyn she plays the victim of hate. Pretty dramatic. For Most people disagreeing with someone does NOT mean you hate them. I guess that is how she is, she hates people she disagrees with.
I love it, I really didn't want to drill holes or get into the complication of it all. I just need it for my iPad, DVD player everything else like my stove is all propane. I love it and it keeps things simple.
adoptacat 28 That’s the thing.. you don’t have to watch Carolyn.. a lot of people watch her and she gives others a chance to visit places they’ll never see because of disabilities.. like my mom. She loves to see the different parks and sceneries.. and, not everyone can do advice videos like Bob. You need to do what you like doing.
Love you both! I think maybe the miserable trolls do the hating, they just can't stand someone who is always cheery, bubbly and upbeat, I know this because I am always so darn happy, that, I know people just want to slap me, lol. Where are you guys, that you can wear shorts? I'm in the Northern California mountains, freezing my butt off,hoping to get to the RTR this coming year, its a long shot because of health issues, poverty, weather and too many CATS! Lol Happy for you two,rock on!
I've got to follow the rest of this series! Perfectly explanatory & easily understood! Thank you for that! In my plans for my future new home, I 'do' want solar. But! I also like parking in the shaded areas! So this does stop the chasing of the sun.
I have a flex solar panel like that. 100w. It came from China. I was ok when I tested it. But after 1 minute it stopped working. It turned out it was damaged during transit. A broken cell. As soon as I ajusted the panel a bit one spot on the front started bubbling. This was a spot where it started to make contact again but had just a needle pin of contactsurface to transfer all the amps. So I contacted the seller and after making some pictures and film as he requested to see what was wrong I was compensated. With this broken panel I decided to make a test. got my money back so nothing to loose. I could see the three contact power rails running on the back and with a dremmel tool I cut all six the contacts of the broken cell. Soldered wires from the adjacent cells to each other to re connect the rest of the working cells. Checked for power and yes it was working again. It will have one cell less so a little lower voltage and a bit lower in amps. I use a cheap pwm solar charger. These will simply cut the voltage down to 14 volts or so to charge a 12v system. So having a lower voltage in the panel did not matter here. No extra loss. Only a bit less amps but that is marginal. 1/32th part less. Still puts out 5.4 amps in full sunlight. needed it to use on the boat. We have a maxum 1900sc speedboat. It has a small cuddy and a full camper cover. We often go out for a few days on a row and will camp on the boat at anchor in the lake or at anchor in the nature reserve along the river. During the journey to the anchor destination I keep my 12v cooler plugged in in the boat 12v socket. But at anchor we will not move for 2 or 3 days sometimes. Just relax and swim and sleep. You can not keep it plugged in because it will drain your battery in a few hours. For this reason I bought this panel and also bring a separate old car battery and a cheap solar charge controller. In full sun the panel will put out 5 to 5.4 amps and the cooler will use 4.2 amps. I added some plastic electrical pipe on the two long sides to make it a bit more rigid. The plastic panel is a bit flexible but the cells are not. Also added some tywrap loops on the 4 pipe ends and keep some thin rope with small clipping hooks and adjuster clamps on the boat. Now I can easy set up the panel in every spot on the boat that I want to catch full sun and point it straight to the sun. It can lean against the windshield. Can be on the canvas roof. Hang from the side. Span it angled in mid air from the roof to the swimplatform. So it means that my cooler is running all day and we keep the drinks and cheese and meat fresh on real hot days. It is a blessing to have a luxury like that on a small boat like that. Before I got my money back I decided I still needed a panel for the boat for the summer and bought 2 50 watt panels. Smaller so more easy to handle was the idea. These panels looked different. The connecting contact rails went over the cells instead of behind. Most go over. I think. But these 2 produced 1 amp less than the repaired panel with 1 cell missing. And also the more easy handling was not more easy. It was a pain in the butt. More of a hussle to connect them and point the the right way. So very very impressed with this panel we have a short summer and on those trips we have very long daylight. So long power producing days. And after the sun went down the temp will go down soon most days. During the evening time without sun I will run it on the car battery for half an hour every 1and a half hour. This will keep it cool and during the short night it will get a bit less cold but for just a few days it is fine. Panel will be positioned to catch the first ray of sun over the horizon and we go to sleep. Next morning while we still sleep the sun will come up and will top the battery off. At the moment one of us will be awake first action is to plug in the cooler. I know Engel compressor coolers are much more efficient. Better insulation and less power consumption and not constantly running when plugged in but they are much bigger and much more expensive. So nothing we want our small boat that we use for camping, wakeboarding, monoskiing, kneeboarding and cruising.
Bob mentioned near the end, using a 110v electrical cord. If you do, be sure it is multiple strands of wire, like in an extension cord. Do NOT use Romex single strand wires like your house is wired. That is for AC only.
Positive, simple, and practical demonstration of flexible solar panels. Next video, please show the multi-panel array in either series and/or parallel configurations, connected to a charge controller and a battery, and tested voltage/current readings using a multi-meter. Which configuration works best for laying panels on the ground outside the RV? Series? Parallel? or both Series-Parallel for 12v or 24 volt batteries.
First thing I'm doing when I get an RV is buy a flexible solar panel. Carolyn has shown the positive and negatives of flexibles, and that cinched the deal for me. I'll remember not to treat it like a yoga mat, too!
I have one and not only is a corner peeling but a piece on the connector broke off. The plastic prongs on it are brittle and don't flex, but should since they can be a little tricky to snap in to place. I'm not the first person who had this happen and complained about it. I think for the price, they should be better made. I haven't really put them to the test, though, since I haven't completed my build. Once I'm on the road, I'll try to post a video of their performance.
I have similar "flexible" solar panels. dont do well in wind for shizzle. Totally agreed its better tobe in rhte shade and have panels in the sun in hot conditions, Also snow load can be an issue so a movable system has advantages. Disadvantages, alot of "horsing around" vs rooftop setups. rooftop set ups better for "stealth" in towns, parking lots, etc. non attached panels EZ to steal.
It does look so simple! However, from the battery to where? To get AC power...I am such a dummy and have a difficult time with a wrench sorry to say. Been following you both for a bit and I have to say YOU GUYS ROCK! THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR CARING! Your channel Bob, is one of the best things in my life. Ninja Hugs!
I always get your dry jokes Bob. (At least i hope they are jokes!) Some sort of place for safe storage would be good, maybe made of coroplast, sort of like an artist portfolio.
Another great vid, Bob. Van/RV consumer test lab gone live on RUclips!! How cool is that?! Good to have Carolyn in the mix and get balanced, practical points of view for multi-gender usage!
Bob, I heard you indicate in this video and others about Renogy getting out of the flexible panel business. I subscribe to Renogy emails. Interestingly enough I just got an email today with the subject line "Highly Anticipated and Finally Here: SunPower 100W Flexible Solar Panels and Marine Kits". Apparently they have made the decision to get back into the business. Maybe flex panel reliability has progressed far enough to now be of interest to even Renogy! I know that solar cells from SunPower are the most efficient cells in the industry.
I got an email a couple of days ago from Renogy that says they have a new flexible solar panel. It says it is mono-crystalline and made with SunPower Maxeon Gen II cells. I looked on their website, 100w flexible panel is $299.99. Ouch! They are bundling it in marine kits.
Bob do you have a video of the difference in the charge controllers? I think I heard you say in another video something about mpp and mpt, now I'm confused on what that means or which I should look for. I think your videos are awesome thank you for what you do
Hi I know its a couple years later. lol.... Can the wires connected to the panel break easy? can it be made stronger somehow. umm,,, is there enough room to add a support of some kind? IM shopping now and just talked with Al , so helpful. Great soul. at Windy Nat.
Hello again from rural New Hampshire. Hello Carolyn 😸. I'm absolutely grateful for all your video advice. I'm trying to learn solar so fantastic information. Have you ever heard of someone installing an on demand hot water system in their Rv? Peace and health to you both.
What about fusing on either side of the charge controller? Did you skip that as this is a temporary connection? Also would it be better to mount them on thin backer boards for stability.? This is a wonderful clear video on how to get started with solar. Thank you so much Bob.
You got me thinking now. Perhaps Ill get one of those foldable hand trucks attach 20lb panels on to it so they will be easy to roll out. I want to get panels but I cant attach them too the roof, too many thieves around where I live.
i've had a few flexible ones mounted on my van. they don't hold up well over the long term. after a year or two they start to cloud and delaminate. there are some newer types on the market that look to be better suited for long term. lensun is one of the makers. thanks for the video btw!
Bob Thanks for all your great Videos... there is a lady here on you tube, her yt name is KIA GYPSY , she needs help, I told her on the comment section of one of her videos about your channel and to try to connect with you for some help... I think she could use some lady friends to make her feel welcome . take care.
No one is talking about the battery or batteries you are hooking all this up to, which is the other half of a solar installation. What battery does Carolyn use and what appliances is she using, basically what is the draw?
My regulator user manual stipulates that when connecting to the controller, the batteries must be connected first, then you can connect the solar panels. That should be mentioned, its rather important.
Hey Bob ;) what was the report on the Windy Nation flexible solar panels? Where they worth the investment. ..Keep up with you and Carolyn and love ya both...hugs..
if I mounted this flexible panel on the front of my overcab sleeping area on my class c facing forward, would it be durable enough to take highway driving? what about impacts from hail and small stones? thanks for the great video! :)
You really should keep using the MC4 connectors for safety reasons and be sure you do not exceed maximum dc voltage of your charge controller when connecting panels in series.
You can get some cheap 1/2 inch pvc pipe with corners and frame this flexible panel especially if your going to drag it and move it constantly. Apparently these panels have a high failure rate.
So if my 2019 Class C RV battery is already hooked up to a 10amp controller can I just use the clamps to connect to my 100 flex panel to charge my battery?
I thought I heard you say you were going to connect 3 panels in series? You might want to check if that charge controller will handle that kind of input voltage. I know the Renogy MPPT controllers are rated for 100v input voltage but I think the PWM controllers are only rated for 25v maximum input voltage............meaning all panels should be in parallel for that kind of controller.
Good point. Blue Sky MPPT charge controllers won't handle that much voltage, either. It's good to look at what your individual controller will handle. Ideally, having a charge controller for each will make the most energy.
Why not just attach the flexible solar panel to a sheet of 1" foam insulation (Gorilla Glue!) to protect it from flopping around? Why not hinge TWO pieces of the foam insulation together (Gorilla Tape!) and attach a panel to one, and you can set them in the open, aimed at the sun? If you're in windy areas a lot, maybe stick the panels to 1/2" plywood? One sheet of 1.2" plywood weighs about 45.5 lbs, and would provide 4 panels (~11.5 lbs each, or 23 lbs if you hinged two together to stand up.
Hi Bob ?? I’m curious on how the panels worked out that was two years ago??💕
I thought you said you’ll test stuff and let us know down the road. ??💕
Bob, I love Carolyn! She is a very real person. I think that’s why you appreciate her. Thank you both for helping me on my journey to full time rving.
Good information Bob. You are spot on to mention one should not bend them repeatedly. They have been used for a long time (a decade at least) on long range cruising sail boats and cats, because they can conform to deck shapes which usually are not flat. However they are always mounted, usually glued, to a firm surface. When used this way they can withstand a lot of abuse - not necessarily stepped on, but hit by sheets and lines, rained on, and so on. When bent repeatedly they can delaminate and the light sensitive layer can get damaged. So if they are used in the way you describe, one should support them properly.
Thanks for the information I've been thinking about using them on my van. Install them and leave them alone for the most part huh
Thank you for the comparison videos. If handled with care, the flexible panels seem like a good choice for dry camping and very practical in regards to less weight and ease of handling and storage. The portable solar seems to be improving in function and in quality. Enjoy the season!
I am hoping they hold up well. Good job Bob and Carolyn.
Love both Carolyn and Bob!
I learn so much from each of them. Thank you for sharing!
Hugs,
MommaFaye
I don't care for crabby Carolyn.
I heart Carolyn (and you too Bob, so much). Thanks again for all this education. Invaluable to me personally.
I've had my two 100 watt flexible solar panels on my van for almost two years now. No issues other than having to clean them once in a while. Thanks so much for your awesome video.
Bob thank you for your review. What a lot folks may come to believe these are real time reviews. The facts are the are about at least a 3 months old. You have cataloged these so that you never have a open week, when in fact most where done many months before they are published with many done back in Arizona early this year. I appreciate all the time you spend on each and every one. What I would appreciate in the video is an actual date filming. As always jealous as hell on my comfy couch.
Going to the RTR in my Hummer and a tent.. And was wondering about flexible solar panels..
Then BAM!! there you were with a video on them! Thanks Bob!
Hi Carolyn! Remember, "pretend they aren't flexible". Haha! You are the perfect tester for these things! !
Bob, thank you for your dedication to us!
Bob is an intellectual, good hearted, honest, sensible person. Cant wait now in 2020 to connect with all of these great people out West...
It's so amazing and unbelievable on how you explain the whole connecting of the solar panels... you guys made it look so easy
Be advised that these lightweight panels will get airborn in the slightest wind, especially out west like in Arizona and especially New Mexico. I used lightweight flexible panels for awhile and bought the steel long nail looking tent spikes at WalMart for .99 cents each, one in each corner, problem solved. Don't hammer down all the way, just enough to hold. Big shout-out to Carolyn, hope Matilda is treating her well. (I'm a 7 yr Class C full timer myself)
Thank you both for your input on this more flexible panel idea, I think you have sold me on the idea, then I will have it made in the shade!!
I don't know why people hate at all. Carolyn does drive me nuts (short drive) with her we are victims stuff but I do like most of her videos.
I'm 100% behind you on the victim stuff. Everyone is victimized in different ways but it's the people who get over it or through it that come out happy with themselves.
I guess that's what annoys me the most about Carolyn's commentaries at times. She's had some challenges but she hasn't really gotten through them it seems. I've heard it all before and many many many many times about indians, women, and whatever. BLAH, BLAH, BLAH is what I hear now. What might be refreshing is to see her actually doing something about it. She's got about 40k subscribers and could bring all those people to see and hear from indians living on reservations (for one example) through her videos instead of the quintessential lip service she does now. Plain fact is that people remember what yoi actually do rather then what you say. Hence the saying "words are cheap".
Yes, seems like if you just don't agree with Carolyn she plays the victim of hate. Pretty dramatic. For Most people disagreeing with someone does NOT mean you hate them. I guess that is how she is, she hates people she disagrees with.
Love to you both. I will certainly be following this test. Thanks for all your info.
I really like seeing you two together. Carolyn had a very kind and gentle spirit. She is a class act. I’m glad you are friends.
Thank you as always great information, always learn from you.
I just purchased Goal zero 400 with the flex 100W panel, it's plug and play loving it.
I love it, I really didn't want to drill holes or get into the complication of it all. I just need it for my iPad, DVD player everything else like my stove is all propane. I love it and it keeps things simple.
You're very welcome
I love Bob. I love Carolyn. Haters go away. No one needs your negativity!
I admire both of them too!
Right. What's not to like?
LovesIt WantsIt I agree,
Complainers, gripers, hater go find someone that cares.
adoptacat 28 That’s the thing.. you don’t have to watch Carolyn.. a lot of people watch her and she gives others a chance to visit places they’ll never see because of disabilities.. like my mom. She loves to see the different parks and sceneries.. and, not everyone can do advice videos like Bob. You need to do what you like doing.
If you make a inexpensive frame for the panels they should last longer.
Thank you, Bob! I’m no longer intimidated by solar!
Love you both! I think maybe the miserable trolls do the hating, they just can't stand someone who is always cheery, bubbly and upbeat, I know this because I am always so darn happy, that, I know people just want to slap me, lol. Where are you guys, that you can wear shorts? I'm in the Northern California mountains, freezing my butt off,hoping to get to the RTR this coming year, its a long shot because of health issues, poverty, weather and too many CATS! Lol Happy for you two,rock on!
Thank you for sharing. You make me think I can become a nomad 👏
I've got to follow the rest of this series! Perfectly explanatory & easily understood! Thank you for that! In my plans for my future new home, I 'do' want solar. But! I also like parking in the shaded areas! So this does stop the chasing of the sun.
I have a flex solar panel like that. 100w. It came from China. I was ok when I tested it. But after 1 minute it stopped working. It turned out it was damaged during transit. A broken cell. As soon as I ajusted the panel a bit one spot on the front started bubbling. This was a spot where it started to make contact again but had just a needle pin of contactsurface to transfer all the amps. So I contacted the seller and after making some pictures and film as he requested to see what was wrong I was compensated. With this broken panel I decided to make a test. got my money back so nothing to loose. I could see the three contact power rails running on the back and with a dremmel tool I cut all six the contacts of the broken cell. Soldered wires from the adjacent cells to each other to re connect the rest of the working cells. Checked for power and yes it was working again. It will have one cell less so a little lower voltage and a bit lower in amps. I use a cheap pwm solar charger. These will simply cut the voltage down to 14 volts or so to charge a 12v system. So having a lower voltage in the panel did not matter here. No extra loss. Only a bit less amps but that is marginal. 1/32th part less. Still puts out 5.4 amps in full sunlight. needed it to use on the boat. We have a maxum 1900sc speedboat. It has a small cuddy and a full camper cover. We often go out for a few days on a row and will camp on the boat at anchor in the lake or at anchor in the nature reserve along the river. During the journey to the anchor destination I keep my 12v cooler plugged in in the boat 12v socket. But at anchor we will not move for 2 or 3 days sometimes. Just relax and swim and sleep. You can not keep it plugged in because it will drain your battery in a few hours. For this reason I bought this panel and also bring a separate old car battery and a cheap solar charge controller. In full sun the panel will put out 5 to 5.4 amps and the cooler will use 4.2 amps. I added some plastic electrical pipe on the two long sides to make it a bit more rigid. The plastic panel is a bit flexible but the cells are not. Also added some tywrap loops on the 4 pipe ends and keep some thin rope with small clipping hooks and adjuster clamps on the boat. Now I can easy set up the panel in every spot on the boat that I want to catch full sun and point it straight to the sun. It can lean against the windshield. Can be on the canvas roof. Hang from the side. Span it angled in mid air from the roof to the swimplatform. So it means that my cooler is running all day and we keep the drinks and cheese and meat fresh on real hot days. It is a blessing to have a luxury like that on a small boat like that. Before I got my money back I decided I still needed a panel for the boat for the summer and bought 2 50 watt panels. Smaller so more easy to handle was the idea. These panels looked different. The connecting contact rails went over the cells instead of behind. Most go over. I think. But these 2 produced 1 amp less than the repaired panel with 1 cell missing. And also the more easy handling was not more easy. It was a pain in the butt. More of a hussle to connect them and point the the right way. So very very impressed with this panel we have a short summer and on those trips we have very long daylight. So long power producing days. And after the sun went down the temp will go down soon most days. During the evening time without sun I will run it on the car battery for half an hour every 1and a half hour. This will keep it cool and during the short night it will get a bit less cold but for just a few days it is fine. Panel will be positioned to catch the first ray of sun over the horizon and we go to sleep. Next morning while we still sleep the sun will come up and will top the battery off. At the moment one of us will be awake first action is to plug in the cooler. I know Engel compressor coolers are much more efficient. Better insulation and less power consumption and not constantly running when plugged in but they are much bigger and much more expensive. So nothing we want our small boat that we use for camping, wakeboarding, monoskiing, kneeboarding and cruising.
"Treat them as if they're (marked on the shipping box...) 'FRAGILE.'" :-)
Bob, I really appreciate your thoughtful videos. Excellent realistic reviews. Great education for those of us looking for an alternative lifestyle!
Why would anyone hate on Carolyn? She's so sweet
Bob mentioned near the end, using a 110v electrical cord. If you do, be sure it is multiple strands of wire, like in an extension cord. Do NOT use Romex single strand wires like your house is wired. That is for AC only.
Positive, simple, and practical demonstration of flexible solar panels. Next video, please show the multi-panel array in either series and/or parallel configurations, connected to a charge controller and a battery, and tested voltage/current readings using a multi-meter. Which configuration works best for laying panels on the ground outside the RV? Series? Parallel? or both Series-Parallel for 12v or 24 volt batteries.
Thank you Bob for schooling us on what we need to know... I hope to be out there on the road soon... I appreciate what you do
I think I would make a 3/4in PVC frame for them. No glue so it could be taken apart and use small bungee cords to hang the panels.
Bob!! You made that soooo easy!! I now finally get how to instal my solar!! Thank you!! :) Kat xx
First thing I'm doing when I get an RV is buy a flexible solar panel. Carolyn has shown the positive and negatives of flexibles, and that cinched the deal for me. I'll remember not to treat it like a yoga mat, too!
I have one and not only is a corner peeling but a piece on the connector broke off. The plastic prongs on it are brittle and don't flex, but should since they can be a little tricky to snap in to place. I'm not the first person who had this happen and complained about it. I think for the price, they should be better made. I haven't really put them to the test, though, since I haven't completed my build. Once I'm on the road, I'll try to post a video of their performance.
Awesome video !!! I currently have two 100 watt flexible solar panels, I have mine on my van, I prefer keeping my wire short to prevent energy loss.
Thank you so much! This answers questions for me that I have been asking, such good information.
Bob your great like I said y for the people and u make sure people unstand u your great
Thank you for this.
the flexible panels are great for the fact that most RV roofs have a dome shape. Once I feel certain the bugs are worked out, I will get 200 watts
Would it fix in a pillowcase to protect it??
I have similar "flexible" solar panels. dont do well in wind for shizzle. Totally agreed its better tobe in rhte shade and have panels in the sun in hot conditions, Also snow load can be an issue so a movable system has advantages. Disadvantages, alot of "horsing around" vs rooftop setups. rooftop set ups better for "stealth" in towns, parking lots, etc. non attached panels EZ to steal.
How has the flexible panel held up over time?
Is there a follow up to the long term test? I am looking on CheapRV living and Carolyn RV and not readily seeing anything. Thanks.
I would be afraid of the dogs walking on the panels. Maybe have a table for the panels to set on.
Wow...bob u r awesome...ty so much for your vids...just great humor and teaching style
It does look so simple! However, from the battery to where? To get AC power...I am such a dummy and have a difficult time with a wrench sorry to say. Been following you both for a bit and I have to say YOU GUYS ROCK! THANK YOU FOR ALL OF YOUR CARING! Your channel Bob, is one of the best things in my life. Ninja Hugs!
I always get your dry jokes Bob. (At least i hope they are jokes!) Some sort of place for safe storage would be good, maybe made of coroplast, sort of like an artist portfolio.
Yep I saw this and watched it because I saw Carolyn was on it haha and it was informative too
Another great vid, Bob. Van/RV consumer test lab gone live on RUclips!! How cool is that?! Good to have Carolyn in the mix and get balanced, practical points of view for multi-gender usage!
I'd consider a flexible panel for parking in the shade as you say, but have a better system on the roof for primary use.
Bob, I heard you indicate in this video and others about Renogy getting out of the flexible panel business. I subscribe to Renogy emails. Interestingly enough I just got an email today with the subject line "Highly Anticipated and Finally Here: SunPower 100W Flexible Solar Panels and Marine Kits". Apparently they have made the decision to get back into the business. Maybe flex panel reliability has progressed far enough to now be of interest to even Renogy! I know that solar cells from SunPower are the most efficient cells in the industry.
Love you guys I see Cody peaking thru the van window lol funny
Thank You Bob 💜🐾
I got an email a couple of days ago from Renogy that says they have a new flexible solar panel. It says it is mono-crystalline and made with SunPower Maxeon Gen II cells. I looked on their website, 100w flexible panel is $299.99. Ouch! They are bundling it in marine kits.
Your the best Bob. Safe travels bud
Bob do you have a video of the difference in the charge controllers? I think I heard you say in another video something about mpp and mpt, now I'm confused on what that means or which I should look for. I think your videos are awesome thank you for what you do
If you google the differences between mppt and pwm, you will easily find tons and tons and tons of info on that.
What a cute couple!!!
Hi I know its a couple years later. lol.... Can the wires connected to the panel break easy? can it be made stronger somehow. umm,,, is there enough room to add a support of some kind? IM shopping now and just talked with Al , so helpful. Great soul. at Windy Nat.
Thank you for doing these reviews.
Thanks for the flexible solar review! Always looking for new options on or vintage 16ft Fiber Stream!
Update July 2023, Renogy is again selling flexible panels. I assume they've improved the quality and/or durability, but YMMV.
Hello again from rural New Hampshire. Hello Carolyn 😸. I'm absolutely grateful for all your video advice. I'm trying to learn solar so fantastic information. Have you ever heard of someone installing an on demand hot water system in their Rv? Peace and health to you both.
So I'm looking for a way to attach solar panels to a cargo rack without drilling or using any glue
Great info. Looking forward to the results.
Very interested to see how they hold up. So much easier!
Either Bob is pretty short, or Carolyn is pretty tall...! enjoy both of them.
Nice one. Thanks a lot and can't wait for results. Maybe I'll use flexible one my off grid woods shed ;)
Renogy. Yes they do sell flexable panels
Good video Bob,i would go to walmart and buy a 10 gauge extention cord and hook it up like that.
Hopefully the panels works out for you Carolyn! We will be getting some down the road also. Will be waiting on your input.
What about fusing on either side of the charge controller? Did you skip that as this is a temporary connection? Also would it be better to mount them on thin backer boards for stability.? This is a wonderful clear video on how to get started with solar. Thank you so much Bob.
Awesome Stuff!
Use the stock 120 volt connectors and extension cord - is Best solution - plunging mc4 to much hassle-extension cord use for both 12 v and 120 v
Nice job, Bob. Do they need to be staked down so they don't blow around? How do they stay put?
I just found this in early December of 2021, so 4 years later. Bob and Carolyn: How did it hold up?
You got me thinking now. Perhaps Ill get one of those foldable hand trucks attach 20lb panels on to it so they will be easy to roll out. I want to get panels but I cant attach them too the roof, too many thieves around where I live.
i've had a few flexible ones mounted on my van. they don't hold up well over the long term. after a year or two they start to cloud and delaminate. there are some newer types on the market that look to be better suited for long term. lensun is one of the makers. thanks for the video btw!
Bob Thanks for all your great Videos... there is a lady here on you tube, her yt name is KIA GYPSY , she needs help, I told her on the comment section of one of her videos about your channel and to try to connect with you for some help... I think she could use some lady friends to make her feel welcome . take care.
No one is talking about the battery or batteries you are hooking all this up to, which is the other half of a solar installation. What battery does Carolyn use and what appliances is she using, basically what is the draw?
My regulator user manual stipulates that when connecting to the controller, the batteries must be connected first, then you can connect the solar panels. That should be mentioned, its rather important.
I received a solar panel that has no wires how do I hook it up?
Hey Bob ;) what was the report on the Windy Nation flexible solar panels? Where they worth the investment. ..Keep up with you and Carolyn and love ya both...hugs..
if I mounted this flexible panel on the front of my overcab sleeping area on my class c facing forward, would it be durable enough to take highway driving? what about impacts from hail and small stones? thanks for the great video! :)
could you attach them to a semi stiff board of some kind to make it sturdier?
I could see getting some fold out sawhorses from harbor. Mount these on the sawhorses to get them off the ground.
You really should keep using the MC4 connectors for safety reasons and be sure you do not exceed maximum dc voltage of your charge controller when connecting panels in series.
Flexible panels need to be mounted to a hard surface.
You can get some cheap 1/2 inch pvc pipe with corners and frame this flexible panel especially if your going to drag it and move it constantly. Apparently these panels have a high failure rate.
So if my 2019 Class C RV battery is already hooked up to a 10amp controller can I just use the clamps to connect to my 100 flex panel to charge my battery?
RV Carolyn is my favorite Carolyn. The other one, not so much.
The flexible panels could be blown around by the wind... which makes them prone to being damaged.
I thought I heard you say you were going to connect 3 panels in series? You might want to check if that charge controller will handle that kind of input voltage. I know the Renogy MPPT controllers are rated for 100v input voltage but I think the PWM controllers are only rated for 25v maximum input voltage............meaning all panels should be in parallel for that kind of controller.
Good point. Blue Sky MPPT charge controllers won't handle that much voltage, either. It's good to look at what your individual controller will handle. Ideally, having a charge controller for each will make the most energy.
thanks for this important tip
Where is the video for a set up?
bob do you have a video on what i can do with a 100 watt solar panel? how much tv or inter net time can i do, stuff like that thanks
It looks like Amazon does not sell these any more.
Would it be possible to put these on the roof during the day and bring them in at nite, for travel etc?
Why not just attach the flexible solar panel to a sheet of 1" foam insulation (Gorilla Glue!) to protect it from flopping around? Why not hinge TWO pieces of the foam insulation together (Gorilla Tape!) and attach a panel to one, and you can set them in the open, aimed at the sun? If you're in windy areas a lot, maybe stick the panels to 1/2" plywood? One sheet of 1.2" plywood weighs about 45.5 lbs, and would provide 4 panels (~11.5 lbs each, or 23 lbs if you hinged two together to stand up.