You brought up some excellent points. I would be so concerned about losing my awning and my solar in one fell swoop in a desert wind storm. There are weeks at a time when an awning can't be deployed in the Spring so that's a long time to live without your solar. Something to consider if living in the desert SW. Nice job, Ray. Marriage looks good on you. Something is different in your eyes. ❤
We have a 20 ft awning on our trailer and we never leave it out when we are away from the trailer. We keep it in when the winds are moderate, to many little dust devils in the desert that would try take it away from us. Lol. You could drill stakes into the ground and secure the ends of the awning, but thats a lot of work and a pain to have around your site. I think its an idea that looks good on paper. Lol
You would have to make sure your RV is oriented just right to get decent sunshine on those panels since they are angled, maybe even have to reposition the RV to optimize your sun exposure, especially during the winter. These panel’s certainly won’t replace roof mount panels but having the potential of an additional 800 watts in that form is intriguing. Those panels, being able to roll up so tight, would be nice to just have as regular “ground mount” panels you could hang from whatever is handy and move them as necessary throughout the day.
Yup, the more roof space an RV or boat has the less attractive this product becomes. I think a rollable panel like this that could easily be deployed on the bed rails of the truck would be interesting. Not so much for travel but when the truck is just sitting at the campsite.
Your questions to them were very good. I think they need to perfect it for smaller awnings first. I see it is a whole awning replacement package, correct? My concern is the sage weight and nothing assisting in supporting the weight, most importantly the weight pulling on the railing where it attaches up against the RV, and is there a cap to cover the exposed wiring in the arms where u were looking at the connectors? The sage weight and how well it’s attaching to the RV big concerns, cause it won’t last long as I see it now, a little bit of rain n its toast. Great innovation needs more work yet imo. 🍻
Just wondering if they considered making these for slide out toppers. Although the wattage output would be lower per topper awning , combined with 2 to 5 slide outs could be considerable and could be used even in windy days.
It sounded like they are exploring all options for the technology but have started with awnings. I bet they weren't aware of how many RVs in North America have so many slide-outs with covers.
As the segments are going from the RV out and not along the RV, a partially deployed awning would mean 100% of the panels are essentially shaded, therefore no solar gain would be had. This again can be an issue if you sometimes only deploy your awning out part way for shade but while there is a slight breeze.
I wonder how shade-tolerant their cell technology is. The new CIGS panels are pretty good, as they have way more bypass diodes in them than traditional panels. I wish these guys would have had their display outside to see it in the wind and measure the power harvest.
Excellent review on this innovative product!..i have an rv and boondock in AZ as well so this interests me a great deal even when i am also set up with fixed solar panels. I know you mentioned using it on your boat and this is a great idea but i am thinking using this on my south facing deck at my home. I am connected to the grid but during a power outage deploying this to charge my batteries. Plus the benefits of staying out of the direct sunlight is a plus. It may be a little early but im glad your on it to keep us informed about the progress of this product. This company would have a tough time finding a better person to review there product and offering suggestions on how to improve it for the US/Canada market.
Very Interested, it will be nice to see how this ages, I would need a 18ft size. Would have to drill new holes in wall and roof area for mounting, plus is the RV wall going to support the weight. Price is very heavy on the wallet especially having match a charge controller. Not practical for price yet in my opinion.
Looks like a nice idea, but I'd be afraid of it getting destroyed in a storm if it didn't wind itself up. You can certainly buy a lot of solar panels for the initial sales price of $3200.
Im not sure about it being awning, but very interested if they could attach this to my back flip pickup box cover. My truck like most of you with trailers, it sits beside my trailer all day, plug it in and or move the truck for the best sun angle.
The other issue i was thinking Ray while our awnings were out yesterday in pretty good wind. No matter how heavy duty there arms and brackets are, I think the weight of the solar flopping up and down would probably knock a glass off the counter. We get rocked enough with awning toppers….
Great video, thank you! I was thinking of maintenance as well. Possible to have a programmed “maintenance “ setting that would best position the awning for cleaning and such?
Looks very interesting? Would they make a smaller one for slide outs? The voltage is quite high? You would need a high voltage mppt charge controller. I missed what the amps were on the panels? Sounds like the company is willing to listen and adapt. Did you just drive down for the day? Thanks great information moving forward. I hope that they adapt to North American systems and standards. Does the panel have any safety rating? Cheers
Maybe, thats a good idea! They didn't have a lot of info handy as some of the stuff is still in prototype stages it seems but I found this on the website about the 1000W version. Rated Power 1000W Peak Power 1040W Optimum Operating Voltage (Vmp) 108.3V Optimum Operating Current (Imp) 9.6A Open-Circuit Voltage (Voc) 138.66V Short-Circuit Current (Isc) 11.23A I drove up from the Yuma area to see it and then drove back the same day. :)
They’re better off coming out with portable panels sections of 400 watts each that is easily storable, unless RV manufacturers adopt this product as an OEM item I don’t see this as an aftermarket product. It’s going to take them forever to break in the industry, portable panels is the way to go
The portable panel market is already pretty cluttered with folding. I have a 420-watt that works great! The rollable factor is their killer feature. Someone mentioned slide-out awnings, which makes sense. Also, I can see it being a possibility for boats where roof space is at a premium. And wanting summer shade is desirable.
Space is always an issue if could roll up a 400 watt panel the amount of space that would take up would be less than a standard folding panel and from the looks of it it would weigh less too, right?
I think a none glass and metal folding panel like, say, a Bluetti 420w at 30 lbs. would be the same or maybe even less weight www.bluettipower.com/products/bluetti-pv420-solar-panel-420w-refurbished The rollable ones would need some type of frame added to tilt it.
Amazing that those panels are so thin, and that they can be rolled into such a tight radius.
You brought up some excellent points. I would be so concerned about losing my awning and my solar in one fell swoop in a desert wind storm. There are weeks at a time when an awning can't be deployed in the Spring so that's a long time to live without your solar. Something to consider if living in the desert SW. Nice job, Ray. Marriage looks good on you. Something is different in your eyes. ❤
We have a 20 ft awning on our trailer and we never leave it out when we are away from the trailer. We keep it in when the winds are moderate, to many little dust devils in the desert that would try take it away from us. Lol. You could drill stakes into the ground and secure the ends of the awning, but thats a lot of work and a pain to have around your site. I think its an idea that looks good on paper. Lol
Like all technology; these will evolve in the near future. Overall a good idea but does have its limitation.
Nice interview
You would have to make sure your RV is oriented just right to get decent sunshine on those panels since they are angled, maybe even have to reposition the RV to optimize your sun exposure, especially during the winter. These panel’s certainly won’t replace roof mount panels but having the potential of an additional 800 watts in that form is intriguing. Those panels, being able to roll up so tight, would be nice to just have as regular “ground mount” panels you could hang from whatever is handy and move them as necessary throughout the day.
Yup, the more roof space an RV or boat has the less attractive this product becomes. I think a rollable panel like this that could easily be deployed on the bed rails of the truck would be interesting. Not so much for travel but when the truck is just sitting at the campsite.
Your questions to them were very good.
I think they need to perfect it for smaller awnings first. I see it is a whole awning replacement package, correct?
My concern is the sage weight and nothing assisting in supporting the weight, most importantly the weight pulling on the railing where it attaches up against the RV, and is there a cap to cover the exposed wiring in the arms where u were looking at the connectors?
The sage weight and how well it’s attaching to the RV big concerns, cause it won’t last long as I see it now, a little bit of rain n its toast.
Great innovation needs more work yet imo. 🍻
LOL...thought u were coming out with this video.... RVer Tv was doing a review on it today...saw u filming at the same time : )
Just wondering if they considered making these for slide out toppers.
Although the wattage output would be lower per topper awning , combined with 2 to 5 slide outs could be considerable and could be used even in windy days.
It sounded like they are exploring all options for the technology but have started with awnings. I bet they weren't aware of how many RVs in North America have so many slide-outs with covers.
As the segments are going from the RV out and not along the RV, a partially deployed awning would mean 100% of the panels are essentially shaded, therefore no solar gain would be had. This again can be an issue if you sometimes only deploy your awning out part way for shade but while there is a slight breeze.
I wonder how shade-tolerant their cell technology is. The new CIGS panels are pretty good, as they have way more bypass diodes in them than traditional panels. I wish these guys would have had their display outside to see it in the wind and measure the power harvest.
I found this solar awning in China years ago! Actually it’s not new , at least not new in China😊
Excellent review on this innovative product!..i have an rv and boondock in AZ as well so this interests me a great deal even when i am also set up with fixed solar panels. I know you mentioned using it on your boat and this is a great idea but i am thinking using this on my south facing deck at my home. I am connected to the grid but during a power outage deploying this to charge my batteries. Plus the benefits of staying out of the direct sunlight is a plus.
It may be a little early but im glad your on it to keep us informed about the progress of this product.
This company would have a tough time finding a better person to review there product and offering suggestions on how to improve it for the US/Canada market.
Thanks. :)
Very Interested, it will be nice to see how this ages, I would need a 18ft size. Would have to drill new holes in wall and roof area for mounting, plus is the RV wall going to support the weight. Price is very heavy on the wallet especially having match a charge controller. Not practical for price yet in my opinion.
Looks like a nice idea, but I'd be afraid of it getting destroyed in a storm if it didn't wind itself up. You can certainly buy a lot of solar panels for the initial sales price of $3200.
Yes yes yes yes yes yes yes I want one
Im not sure about it being awning, but very interested if they could attach this to my back flip pickup box cover. My truck like most of you with trailers, it sits beside my trailer all day, plug it in and or move the truck for the best sun angle.
The other issue i was thinking Ray while our awnings were out yesterday in pretty good wind. No matter how heavy duty there arms and brackets are, I think the weight of the solar flopping up and down would probably knock a glass off the counter. We get rocked enough with awning toppers….
Another great video Ray,, Thanks so much for sharing with us!!!!
I like this awning idea !
Great video, thank you! I was thinking of maintenance as well. Possible to have a programmed “maintenance “ setting that would best position the awning for cleaning and such?
Looks very interesting? Would they make a smaller one for slide outs?
The voltage is quite high? You would need a high voltage mppt charge controller. I missed what the amps were on the panels? Sounds like the company is willing to listen and adapt.
Did you just drive down for the day?
Thanks great information moving forward. I hope that they adapt to North
American systems and standards. Does the panel have any safety rating?
Cheers
Maybe, thats a good idea! They didn't have a lot of info handy as some of the stuff is still in prototype stages it seems but I found this on the website about the 1000W version.
Rated Power
1000W
Peak Power
1040W
Optimum Operating Voltage (Vmp)
108.3V
Optimum Operating Current (Imp)
9.6A
Open-Circuit Voltage (Voc)
138.66V
Short-Circuit Current (Isc)
11.23A
I drove up from the Yuma area to see it and then drove back the same day. :)
Did they anything about a warranty, like how many times can it be rolled up and out?
They are saying 10 years on photovoltaic components and 3 on hardware. Claimed they had done tests of 10,000.
Can it be attached to a existing awnings ? On a travel trailer
No, it needs its own sturdier bracket and custom awning roller, so it would be a complete replacement as far as I see it.
That's a lot of money for something that might get blown off when the wind comes up. And it looked like it doesn't lay that flat to the wall.
I think it wasn't installed/aligned right.
That would be nice. The problem is that none of the flexible panels will last longer than 1.5 / 2 years so a waste of money
They have 10-year warranty on photovoltaic components. But of course, is the company gonna be around long enough to claim it. No track record.
They’re better off coming out with portable panels sections of 400 watts each that is easily storable, unless RV manufacturers adopt this product as an OEM item I don’t see this as an aftermarket product. It’s going to take them forever to break in the industry, portable panels is the way to go
The portable panel market is already pretty cluttered with folding. I have a 420-watt that works great! The rollable factor is their killer feature. Someone mentioned slide-out awnings, which makes sense. Also, I can see it being a possibility for boats where roof space is at a premium. And wanting summer shade is desirable.
Space is always an issue if could roll up a 400 watt panel the amount of space that would take up would be less than a standard folding panel and from the looks of it it would weigh less too, right?
I think a none glass and metal folding panel like, say, a Bluetti 420w at 30 lbs. would be the same or maybe even less weight www.bluettipower.com/products/bluetti-pv420-solar-panel-420w-refurbished The rollable ones would need some type of frame added to tilt it.
Concerns about it being rolled up for a long period of time. no protection
Can you elaborate, protection from what? Thanks, Ray