“NON SPONSORED” DISCOUNTS BELOW for items in video Is the CIGS the best flexible solar panel? Let me know if you would buy it?? #solar #solarpanel #offgridliving #rv #cigs 200 Watt CIGS Tape: www.bougerv.com/products/200w-flexible-solar-panel?aff=Johnny 200 Watt CIGS Holes: www.bougerv.com/products/yuma-200w-cigs-flexible-solar-panel-with-holes?aff=Johnny Code: JOHNNY27 27%off 100 Watt CIGS Tape: www.bougerv.com/products/yuma-100w-cigs-flexible-solar-panel-with-adhesive?aff=Johnny 100 Watt CIGS Holes: www.bougerv.com/products/yuma-100w-cigs-flexible-solar-panel-with-holes?aff=Johnny Code: JOHNNY21 21% off ENDS August 27th 2023 Amazon links No discounts: 200 watt cigs holes: amzn.to/3OuLL4z 200 watt cigs tape: amzn.to/3ORqovF 100 watt cigs: amzn.to/3Yyzgd2 Renogy Flexible 200 watt: amzn.to/3KAcQlL Renogy Flexible 175 watt: amzn.to/3s6GGbb Ecoflow power Station River 2 Pro: amzn.to/47pWx4O Direct Questions for fast response ...asqme.com/@johnnysweekends CHECK OUT MY AMAZON STORE: www.amazon.com/shop/johnnysweekends If you feel I helped you out..Buy me a Coffee 👍🏼🙌🏼👊🏼😀 www.buymeacoffee.com/johnny5120J
Have a buddy who has a CIGs panel glued on the top of his teardrop trailer. It's so nice, as soon as the sun comes up it starts sipping power into the battery and doesn't stop until the last ray of sunlight in the evening. He can park the trailer in shade to keep cool and never has to worry about positioning panels.
@@frp1276 The manufacturer has the option to buy the panels with industrial adhesive already applied to the back of the panel. Just peel off the protective paper and press on. It's like putting on a big bumper sticker.
I own two BougeRV CIGS panels and love them. They perform well under cloudy conditions. I will get almost 280 watts combined on a completely cloudy day
Good to hear. Looking forward to the panel costs coming down, but even now, the savings on installation hardware/labor and performance in cloudy conditions (wh/$ vs w/$) make them a better value for me.
@@marklundegren They won´t get cheaper as too few people buy them. I just got a SIGS-small Solarpanel as well. But i would never pay the 800$ they charge for a 200W-CIGS panel in my country! Forget it! Only REGULAR cheapo-cheapo Solarpanels are getting cheaper because they are simply produced a lot more.
I bought the Bouge CIGS (100w x2, they were on sale and I couldn't pass it up!) for my teardrop (Hiker Trailer) and I have been impressed by their performance even when I have parked in partial shade. Your video just quantified their performance and validated my decision! Thank you!!!
Yea impressive results in the shade for sure. Like crazy good. With RVs or others who encounter shade from a AC unit or cross bars this is a big win. But man they are spendy for sure! Thanks for checking it out Jeff..😀👍🏼
Very good test. I have had my doubts about traditional silicon flexible solar panels and this video convinced me that the C.I.G.S. panel is worth the extra cost.😮
I ended up buying 600 watts of CIgs for my travel trailer with 400amps of Lipo4 batteries. It's roof is radiused (or rounded) so half the panels have to face opposite directions from each other. Despite that, I get tremendous output from all of them - out of 600 watts, I get 490 to 605 watts even with marginal sun. Because of their positioning, I thought I would never get that much energy from all of them and I am thrilled with the results. I run a 10 cu/ft fridge lights, pump, etc and have no shortage of power. I installed 2x100 watts on my buddy's teardrop and they not only keep up with his 12v fridge and other daly usage, they constantly keep the 2x100A Lipo4's at 70-100%.
I've been looking for a comparison video like this for a long time, so thanks! Confirms what I've been led to believe. I have always used portable panels so as to capture the best sun, but these are the only panels I would consider attaching to a vehicle.
Johnny, What a gem you are. Love how you think. Great demo on the panels. I will be buying the Cigs. I currently have two of the 50 watt Renogy panels for my boat. They have been great. Thanks for sweating your arse off in the hot sun making this video. I follow Will Prowse, the professor out in the desert, and now you. Thank you Sir.. I have a trimaran and i am loving how these panels might just be the ticket for me. I just tie them down to the netting between the amas and the main hull. Move them around a little bit with the sun direction. Believe it or not...in San Carlos, Mx. I can get almost 5 amp at 07:00 in the Spring time if I tilt the panels toward the rising sun. Now I have switcjhed over to LiFePo4 bank of 400+ amp/hr.
Wow! Best and most detailed shade testing of a solar panel i have ever seen! The price is actually inline with portable offerings from Bluetti and EcoFlow with far superior shade performance. Depending upon the latitude, laying a panel flat will yield 86% on average of what the panel is rated at (as opposed to pointing the panel south and adjusting your panel tilt by your latitude) with the added bonus of not having to adjusting the panel during the day to get the optimum power. I will get at least one of these because they are so light! One of my Bluetti PV350s weighs in at about 36 pounds. Two of the CIGS weigh less than a 1/3 of the PV350 and have more usable power.
Thank you 😀👍🏼 And yes performance wise i was impressed, i need to get optimal angle on a cooler day. I also live in a very sunny area where solar radiance is optimal so i can normally get excellent results, but more so in spring than fall. ‘/thanks for the comment checking it out. 👊🏼😀
I have bought quite a few and going to cover the truck camper in the CIGS self adhesive 200w panels. I was worried about too much heat but i figured it will work itself out. I usually travel when it is cooler. 4-6 to charge an AC200MAX + 2 B230's and a CHINS 12v300ah house battery. That should do the trick, lol! Great video and research.
I have a class B rv, I'm liking the cigs for it. I'll have to measure again to make sure . Love the shading test done on this, which is a huge factor if I have to mount close to the a/c.
Great video. I really like the Cigs panels. I have the folding version from BougeRV. In my testing, it does not have the same shadow performance, maybe I am testing wrong, but it really performs. In fact, it outperforms two other folding and a rigid glass panel I own. I love how small it folds and how light it is. I also love 5hat you don’t have to worry about bending it too much and hearing the dreaded cracking noise. These panels are tough.
• This is by far in the Top-3 Panel Reviews i've seen yet ( maybe even the best ! ) 👍 • Definitely goes into my FAV list so i can easily find it again. • Too busy @ the moment , but definitely going to check-out more of your vidz • THANKS VERY much for all the on-screen data right @ the begining. THAT is what initially KEPT me watching , rather than yahoos that just rattle-off #'s . • i'm still in the design phase ; YIKES that panel is HUGE ! That would've been a dealkiller but the on-screen SPEC-DUMP kept my interest , & it's not too late to tweak some build-dimensions. • i haven't checked that price💸 yet , but i'm _really_ leaning towards the CIGS based on its STELLAR Performance.
I have 2 of the Renogy flexible 200W panels (series) and 4 of their flexible 175W panels (series) that are permanently laid flat on a shed roof and they’re never far off their quoted wattage when the sun’s out, with the coating the sun doesn’t need to be directly above them either. I also have a 400W Ecoflow folding panel and that’s just as good. I’d be interested to see how long the thin film panels actually last, I’d want at least 5 years out of them. Edit: HOLY COW they’re expensive! 😳
I just got into an EF Delta Pro and 400 w folding solar panel. I was not told at purchase that they were not for full-time use. How long have you used yours and how are they fairing as to weathering?
@@fuzfire I’ve been using mine nonstop for over a year now without any issues and it’s been running with the EF Powerstream for some of those months and that is designed for full time use.
@fuzfire any flex panel will wear quicker than a rigid. Some last longer than others. Also depends where you live. I live where it’s hot and lots of sun so I would go through panels quicker.
@@johnnysweekends I haven't used mine and I'm thinking I should sell the 400 watt foldable and put that towards a CIGS. I should have asked more questions. It never occurred to me that they were prone to deteriorate in weather. Oh well I won't make that mistake again. I don't do camping so up for sale it goes!
I have 500 watts of CIGS on my GMC 2500 HD short bed w/ camper shell , 100W on my cab roof and two Yuma 200W panels on my OVS Mamba III clam shell tent. Connected in parallel I get about 28 volts. I can run my EcoFlow Wave 2 with my Delta 2 Max just fine, keeping my tent quite cool in the Baja summer desert…
@@johnnysweekends The Wave 2 is supposed to deliver 5100 watts. I found it suitable in my bedroom in Cabo, but not as good as my one ton mini split!! The clam shell is well suited!! Not sure about heat??? I will see soon in the desert east of San Diego, as it is getting in the 30’s at night.
Did you happen to do a low sun angle comparison? On a fully sunny day I'd love to see what happens on the meters as you gradually tilt different panels away from the ideal perpendicular angle. It would also be interesting to include a standard glass 200 watt panel in this type of test. I suspect that the CIGS panel would do pretty well at off angles since it did so well when shaded but hard numbers would be great to see. I'd also like to see how all three panels perform in the full shade of a building but on a sunny day, a bright 100% ambiant light test. Thanks for the tests, hope to see more!
When It comes to life expectancy I'd rather take my chances on more conventional solar panels with glass on top, but their output was impressive considering they are flexible, Thanks for the test.
You might want to look up "solar panel fire", micro fractures are pretty much inevitable with crystalline panels, but not with thin film panels. I have a UNI-Solar panel that is I think about thirty years old and it still works well, it's a different technology though, it's amorphous where as these are CIGS, but the data I've seen suggests extremely long life from both types of thin films.
What kind of a solar panel that said 200 watts put out 217 watts? I just installed the 200 watts CIGS panel last week on top of my semi truck. Today, I am in Tampa, FL. and my reading is maxed out at 217 watts. That's awsome!!! CIGS YUMA solar is truely the best there is. Worth every penny.
@@johnnysweekends Hi after some additional investigation, I am considering the BougeRV 200 CIGS the best option available, especially for an RV where partial shading will be common. I have found the 200W for 426 USD VAT included and the price difference with Renogy 200W is small enough to go for the best. Thank you again for your review ! It really helped selecting the best
I just installed 4 of the 100 watt Renogy panels on my trailer. They seem well made and I hope they hold up well. I also have 2 of their rigid bifold 200 watt panels for a total of 800watts. I haven't tried them all out together yet. Will be interesting. I've heard they aren't as efficient and may not last as long when mounted directly to the trailer surface. I used double stick 3M tape. They look great and I hope they work well with my Victron solar controller and LiTime 300AH lithium battery.
Would have preferred a test on the grass for example, a concrete driveway in my option is an extreme medium. Have ridged panels on my boat and I'm looking forward to upgrading to flexible. Ready for your weird question of the day? Could these panels tolerate being walked on If you were carful? That would allow me to install more of them on my boat in area's that I couldn't with ridged.
These panels according to bougrv and other types of cigs panels advertise they can walk on them, dance and more. I dont recommend it anymore than you need and definitely take care when you walk on them as to not put pressure points. All these are probably the most walkable flex panel out there
I have had 3 RENORY flexible solar panels intalled on the top of my semi in a little over a year cost over $600 now it's yielding only 25-35 watts every day -bumer. The CIGS solar panel shows better performance and last 25 years under warranty. It's a worth while investment. I can't wait to install the new panel.
Great Review, that Yuma seems ultra tough, but at the extra 170$ I don't know, I noticed that the Renogy is the older design and today they are releasing their late to the party Yuma version.. They should send you that one to compare apples to apples. Subscribed!
Great Video, I like the CIGS but here in Australia I can get the new Renogy CIGS 150w (looks like a copy of the Bourge) or the normal flexible Renogy 200w. With the difference of efficiency in your test especially in the shade. (i understand it is a difficult question to answer) but which one will i get the most power for a campervan between the 150w CIGS or the 200w standard flexible. thanks for your help
You’re right that is tough because it’s new for one, and does it perform as well in the shade with bypass diodes. I know so far my cogs does well in low light and shade but o haven’t had enough good days for peak performance to gauge what it’s really doing. Also the fact it’s towards the front of the Rv and slightly curved. Always mount as flat as possible
Yea biggest problem with the cigs is the size. If they were they same size the renogy would put out more wats because more rows for full cells. The cigs is just amazing for shade performance.
@@johnnysweekends i just saw his video after I tried and failed to order a folding one from Bluetti (credit card was suspicious of midnight purchase lol.) A blessing in disguise. I'll be getting the Yuma instead.
I am experienced with solar and camping. The real issue when camping is you never know the solar conditions, the shade coonditions before you set out. I always had enough solar in theory but it was always just minour shade that would ruin my days and forced me to get a gas generator. I will get 1. See how the performance is. Then replace the other panel and sell ny generator.
I wouldn’t sell the generator. Like you said, you never know what the conditions are like. I have a lot of solar and still, sometimes it’s not enough depending on conditions
@@johnnysweekends okay I'll see how it is first. I have a tear drop(or like a very big tear drop trailer) so my electricity demand is very low. Even a consistent 25-50 watts is all I need. And I can probably fit 2 150 watt panels. My current issue is a couple trees just make my solar useless when camping. Especially sense my panels are old and have even worst shade resistance then modern flexible panels. So we will see if I need the generator still. I'll test it before I sell it.
Wow, the CIGS 360 flex is pretty impressive. Does CIGS give a decent warranty with the 360 Flex? Also, is it possible the hotspot on the Renogy may have affected its numbers some(?) Great video, luv these comparison tests, especially when newer/more unique cutting-edge items are tested.
I would find a way to make sure it doesn’t flap in in the wind. The ribs will create air pockets and allow it to flap which over time I think will damage it fairly quickly and not to mention allow it to fly off. Maybe fill that area in or creat a flat mount with some board of some type like sign board.
you did not say if they were internally wired parallel or series, which I bet that the ren is series in which shade really affect them and the cigs is parallel which shade not so bad to output.???
The ren is a series parallel in the panel, they doing well but like any single panel after about a 1/4 third shaded that’s it. The benefit to the cigs as mentioned in the video is all the bypass diodes.
Every solar panel will put out less power when at higher temp and produce more when cooler, ones these were heat soaked they didn’t drop any more from there numbers you saw. But i was also not at a very optimal angle since the cigs is so flexible.
@johnnysweekends I am looking at getting one of the 100 watt ones but was curious as I have the same River 2 Pro did you need a special connector to connect the BougeRV to it?
Yea they can twist as well. But with any solar panel try to keep as flat as possible or best angle towards the sun if possible. Vans,RVs boats or Recreational vehicles in general are tough
I want to put it on a Toyota Sienna or Dodge Grand Caravan but its too long. But with the way it performs, I was curious if anyone has any ideas of how I can make it work - I think its 6-8 inches longer than most minivans roofs.
Your heat probe identified an area of overheating. That is not normal as you know and you pointed out. You mentioned that the panel was defective or damaged in the video. The output would be different if the panel did not have the overheating. I purchased a defective Renogy panel as well, they have a high defective rate. It would be nice to see your result with a panel that was functioning properly. Ben S/V DAWN @@johnnysweekends
Oh yea forgot about that. So much to remember. Funny I have two panels still sitting here as I want to use them on my Rv. I need to rescan all of those as well now that it’s been almost a year but they are still rocking. I’ll need to test each one individually as well. That should be fun 🫤 Even with the one hot spot I can’t imagine a major difference unless it truly took out the whole cell. Now that the sun is out again I’ll pull them out and check 👍🏼
Can I replace my UPS battery with a lithium battery 100ah for more capacity? I have a 600 watts UPS in which I have my computer, 2 monitors and the router plug in. Can I use that type of battery ( lithium battery 100ah and can it be charge by the UPS) Thank you for your time and assistance!
I would not modify an existing product as you don’t know the charge voltages and more. It’s not setup for correct charging of Lithium batteries. I don’t recommend
@@johnnysweekends I was wondering why you didn't put them on a sheet or two of plywood to get the full test parameters. Of course many times those panels would be mounted flat on an RV or the like, so in a sense was a better real world test. Thanks, was informative. Would love to see a Kennedyesce speech about every home being energy independent in the next 50 years.
You could now with enough batteries and solar but would need space. But also depends where you live and the climate. I mean people lived off grid forever till just about a 130 years ago lol
@curtyanok9871 you are charging batteries with this. You typically don’t power anything direct with solar. You then power what you need from the batteries. You can directly run things from them but can also damage items as well.
@@trainmaster0217 I am having a very small CIGS-Panel now as well! It only can produce 2-3 Watts, but this can be done even under lamps! See? And it only produces 1.5 volts there in the near of a lamp and only 4 volts under the lamp directly. But this is enough for a usb-power converter. Which converts this HIGH amperage with low voltage into higher voltage to power any USB-Fast chargers or charge big batteries or Lithium-ion stuff.
BEWARE OF THE SPECS ON THIS PANEL: I purchased 2 of the 200W CIGS YUMA panels in this review. My generator needs 60-150V to operate. These panels are 30.5 Volts each so I wired them in series. They did not work. I checked the Voltage on each panel and it was 25.5 Voc and not the 30.5 stated. I checked the VOC when wired in Series and it was 51.5 V for the 2 panels. I just wish that the lower than stated VOC on these panels was reviewed. I like that they are indestructible but am SUPER DISAPPOINTED they do not live up to their stated Specs. I did contact support but their support is iffy at best for my experience. I have a few days left in the return period so will probably do that if there is no resolution with support.
No panels meet spec for Voc if you got other panels you would run into the same problem. And even then you need to be a decent amount above turn on voltage or you will just be clipping Voc of at least 80v would be ideal
@@johnnysweekends We already have significant delamination occurring within the first two years on new CIGS panels despite their high cost. At five years, they're likely to have a high failure rate assuming normal atmospheric exposure, so the net cost of their power production will also be high. The technology in most new vehicles, including EV's, has many years of durability testing behind it and the pros and cons can be reasonably anticipated by the buyer. The more experimental aspects are known to be that, such as the various levels of self-driving capability, and they aren't essential to the basic transportation value of the vehicle. A delaminated solar panel, by contrast, has lost its usefulness and value.
@@johnnysweekends That they are aware of the issues (including the problem that if you use a strong enough adhesive to actually keep the panel firmly adhered to the substrate that you will likely damage your roof trying to remove it for warranty-and obviously that or the hours taken to remove it are not covered), and the warranty only applies to the original date of purchase, not extended by the new installation of panels replaced under it. Otherwise, buyers would have free panels for life. Any warranty longer than two or three years is one of the reasons they cost $2.40+ per watt-there has to be enough margin there to cover the inevitable replacements for full-timers, especially, who don’t put their rigs away under cover for most of the year. Of course they didn’t say that last part, but taking a look around the most popular DIY solar forum is instructive.
@ReflectedMiles flexible panels have a place but will never replace rigid. It’s another option or tool for people who want a different solution. There are pros and cons to both for the correct install. Rigid panels are cheaper but pose there own problems on RVs and we may see a change in the next 5 years for the way RVs are built or what’s allowed. We will see. Because with more and more installs, more and more are flying off and becoming a big hazard that can be deadly. There are a lot of variables to it but again. Both have a place, but they are not replacements for rigid.
Your heat gun measurements are inaccurate.Because you're too far away from the test subject. You will be reading the heat from adjacent objects at that distance.
The differences are minimal. Go buy 3 infrared temp gun. Then find the measurement ratio…12:1 50:1 or what ever. Measure it at that distance and start backing away. You see little change in the 15 inch to say 3 feet. Maybe .5 degrees. Then try again at that same 3-4 distance again almost the same temp by .5 maybe 1 degree difference at most. Then try 10 feet and you’ll see no more than 1-2 degree difference at most from original from the required 15 inch’s or so. It’s a ball park but if a more scientific or accurate measurement is needed then take multiple readings at the required for the instrument your using
CIGS-solarpanels produce MORE energy than standard panels, sir. My 2W-Panel can produce ~3 Watts under the sun (low sun light = 50% more than rated!) and 2 Watts under a typical 20W-Lightbulb/LED. See? A standard-Silicium-solarpanel (Mono) produces 200W at MAX Sun and 100W or even 50W at low sunlight. And even ZERO watts under a lamp. ou CANNOT produce 300 Watts with a standard 200W-Panel unlike with CIGS-tech.
@@johnnysweekends You can even produce energy with CIGS-Panels under artificial lighting (such as LEDs, Lightbulbs or others). LOTS of energy! since CIGS-Panels can collect any form of green and blue lights! I made the test with my 2/3W-Rated CIGS-Mini panels yesterday: 1.8 Watts in the NEAR of a 20W-Halogen bulb (old, soon to be replaced by LED). That´s 1.5 Volts at 1.2A of energy! I mesured it with a voltmeter (Fluke 73, very good model not a cheap model which gives out inprecise readings lol). If i put my CIGS-mini panel fully under this lamp it would give about 4-5 Volts at about 0.3A. More than enough to power a small battery and charge it.
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Is the CIGS the best flexible solar panel? Let me know if you would buy it??
#solar #solarpanel #offgridliving #rv #cigs
200 Watt CIGS Tape: www.bougerv.com/products/200w-flexible-solar-panel?aff=Johnny
200 Watt CIGS Holes: www.bougerv.com/products/yuma-200w-cigs-flexible-solar-panel-with-holes?aff=Johnny
Code: JOHNNY27 27%off
100 Watt CIGS Tape: www.bougerv.com/products/yuma-100w-cigs-flexible-solar-panel-with-adhesive?aff=Johnny
100 Watt CIGS Holes: www.bougerv.com/products/yuma-100w-cigs-flexible-solar-panel-with-holes?aff=Johnny
Code: JOHNNY21 21% off
ENDS August 27th 2023
Amazon links No discounts:
200 watt cigs holes: amzn.to/3OuLL4z
200 watt cigs tape: amzn.to/3ORqovF
100 watt cigs: amzn.to/3Yyzgd2
Renogy Flexible 200 watt: amzn.to/3KAcQlL
Renogy Flexible 175 watt: amzn.to/3s6GGbb
Ecoflow power Station
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Have a buddy who has a CIGs panel glued on the top of his teardrop trailer. It's so nice, as soon as the sun comes up it starts sipping power into the battery and doesn't stop until the last ray of sunlight in the evening. He can park the trailer in shade to keep cool and never has to worry about positioning panels.
@@cgillit do you know what glue was used? I'm considering this on my trucks bed topper
@@frp1276 The manufacturer has the option to buy the panels with industrial adhesive already applied to the back of the panel. Just peel off the protective paper and press on. It's like putting on a big bumper sticker.
I own two BougeRV CIGS panels and love them. They perform well under cloudy conditions. I will get almost 280 watts combined on a completely cloudy day
Yea these are pretty much the best shade panels I have ever tested. Did very well.
Good to hear. Looking forward to the panel costs coming down, but even now, the savings on installation hardware/labor and performance in cloudy conditions (wh/$ vs w/$) make them a better value for me.
@@marklundegren They won´t get cheaper as too few people buy them. I just got a SIGS-small Solarpanel as well. But i would never pay the 800$ they charge for a 200W-CIGS panel in my country! Forget it!
Only REGULAR cheapo-cheapo Solarpanels are getting cheaper because they are simply produced a lot more.
I bought the Bouge CIGS (100w x2, they were on sale and I couldn't pass it up!) for my teardrop (Hiker Trailer) and I have been impressed by their performance even when I have parked in partial shade. Your video just quantified their performance and validated my decision! Thank you!!!
Awesome!! They do perform well. Now as long as they last 5 plus years I think it will be worth it.
Wow! The shade test is the deal breaker for me. I’ll have to go with the CIGS because of that!
Yea impressive results in the shade for sure. Like crazy good. With RVs or others who encounter shade from a AC unit or cross bars this is a big win. But man they are spendy for sure!
Thanks for checking it out Jeff..😀👍🏼
Fully agree in Midwest Lake Effect😂
Very good test. I have had my doubts about traditional silicon flexible solar panels and this video convinced me that the C.I.G.S. panel is worth the extra cost.😮
Thanks 👍🏼😀
I ended up buying 600 watts of CIgs for my travel trailer with 400amps of Lipo4 batteries. It's roof is radiused (or rounded) so half the panels have to face opposite directions from each other. Despite that, I get tremendous output from all of them - out of 600 watts, I get 490 to 605 watts even with marginal sun. Because of their positioning, I thought I would never get that much energy from all of them and I am thrilled with the results. I run a 10 cu/ft fridge lights, pump, etc and have no shortage of power.
I installed 2x100 watts on my buddy's teardrop and they not only keep up with his 12v fridge and other daly usage, they constantly keep the 2x100A Lipo4's at 70-100%.
I've been looking for a comparison video like this for a long time, so thanks! Confirms what I've been led to believe. I have always used portable panels so as to capture the best sun, but these are the only panels I would consider attaching to a vehicle.
I to was pretty impressed. Glad I could help 👍🏼😀
This is the most thorough and scientific test of solar panel shading I've ever seen :)
Thank you 😊 👍🏼👊🏼
Johnny, What a gem you are. Love how you think. Great demo on the panels. I will be buying the Cigs. I currently have two of the 50 watt Renogy panels for my boat. They have been great. Thanks for sweating your arse off in the hot sun making this video. I follow Will Prowse, the professor out in the desert, and now you. Thank you Sir..
I have a trimaran and i am loving how these panels might just be the ticket for me. I just tie them down to the netting between the amas and the main hull. Move them around a little bit with the sun direction. Believe it or not...in San Carlos, Mx. I can get almost 5 amp at 07:00 in the Spring time if I tilt the panels toward the rising sun. Now I have switcjhed over to LiFePo4 bank of 400+ amp/hr.
Awesome glad you found it helpful, and yea I have followed Will for a long time as well. Sounds like a decent setup you have 👍🏼
Wow! Best and most detailed shade testing of a solar panel i have ever seen! The price is actually inline with portable offerings from Bluetti and EcoFlow with far superior shade performance. Depending upon the latitude, laying a panel flat will yield 86% on average of what the panel is rated at (as opposed to pointing the panel south and adjusting your panel tilt by your latitude) with the added bonus of not having to adjusting the panel during the day to get the optimum power. I will get at least one of these because they are so light! One of my Bluetti PV350s weighs in at about 36 pounds. Two of the CIGS weigh less than a 1/3 of the PV350 and have more usable power.
Thank you 😀👍🏼
And yes performance wise i was impressed, i need to get optimal angle on a cooler day. I also live in a very sunny area where solar radiance is optimal so i can normally get excellent results, but more so in spring than fall. ‘/thanks for the comment checking it out. 👊🏼😀
I have bought quite a few and going to cover the truck camper in the CIGS self adhesive 200w panels. I was worried about too much heat but i figured it will work itself out. I usually travel when it is cooler. 4-6 to charge an AC200MAX + 2 B230's and a CHINS 12v300ah house battery. That should do the trick, lol! Great video and research.
Thank you, looks like you have a great setup. Should be good 👍🏼
I have a class B rv, I'm liking the cigs for it. I'll have to measure again to make sure . Love the shading test done on this, which is a huge factor if I have to mount close to the a/c.
Great video. I really like the Cigs panels. I have the folding version from BougeRV. In my testing, it does not have the same shadow performance, maybe I am testing wrong, but it really performs. In fact, it outperforms two other folding and a rigid glass panel I own. I love how small it folds and how light it is. I also love 5hat you don’t have to worry about bending it too much and hearing the dreaded cracking noise. These panels are tough.
• This is by far in the Top-3
Panel Reviews i've seen yet
( maybe even the best ! ) 👍
• Definitely goes into my FAV
list so i can easily find it again.
• Too busy @ the moment , but
definitely going to check-out
more of your vidz
• THANKS VERY much for all
the on-screen data right @ the begining. THAT is what initially
KEPT me watching , rather than
yahoos that just rattle-off #'s .
• i'm still in the design phase ;
YIKES that panel is HUGE ! That
would've been a dealkiller but
the on-screen SPEC-DUMP kept
my interest , & it's not too late to
tweak some build-dimensions.
• i haven't checked that price💸
yet , but i'm _really_ leaning towards
the CIGS based on its STELLAR
Performance.
Wow thank you. Yea was really impressed by how this performed. I may have to swap some stuff out😂
I have 2 of the Renogy flexible 200W panels (series) and 4 of their flexible 175W panels (series) that are permanently laid flat on a shed roof and they’re never far off their quoted wattage when the sun’s out, with the coating the sun doesn’t need to be directly above them either. I also have a 400W Ecoflow folding panel and that’s just as good.
I’d be interested to see how long the thin film panels actually last, I’d want at least 5 years out of them.
Edit: HOLY COW they’re expensive! 😳
Yea the renogy are still good panels but wow the Cigs really are impressive, and yes they are a little spendy!! 🫢
I just got into an EF Delta Pro and 400 w folding solar panel. I was not told at purchase that they were not for full-time use. How long have you used yours and how are they fairing as to weathering?
@@fuzfire I’ve been using mine nonstop for over a year now without any issues and it’s been running with the EF Powerstream for some of those months and that is designed for full time use.
@fuzfire any flex panel will wear quicker than a rigid. Some last longer than others.
Also depends where you live. I live where it’s hot and lots of sun so I would go through panels quicker.
@@johnnysweekends I haven't used mine and I'm thinking I should sell the 400 watt foldable and put that towards a CIGS. I should have asked more questions. It never occurred to me that they were prone to deteriorate in weather. Oh well I won't make that mistake again. I don't do camping so up for sale it goes!
Finally a real life test, those Amazon boxes are everywhere these days 👍
I have 500 watts of CIGS on my GMC 2500 HD short bed w/ camper shell , 100W on my cab roof and two Yuma 200W panels on my OVS Mamba III clam shell tent. Connected in parallel I get about 28 volts. I can run my EcoFlow Wave 2 with my Delta 2 Max just fine, keeping my tent quite cool in the Baja summer desert…
Heck yea that sounds like an awesome set up. Wave 2 still working good? I find they do well definitely in smaller quarters
@@johnnysweekends The Wave 2 is supposed to deliver 5100 watts. I found it suitable in my bedroom in Cabo, but not as good as my one ton mini split!! The clam shell is well suited!! Not sure about heat??? I will see soon in the desert east of San Diego, as it is getting in the 30’s at night.
@billbugg1456 Yuma or the Q or Glamis ?
@@johnnysweekends Blythe / Quartzite area…
I was just there at the Q. I got home yesterday. 7 days..👍🏼
Did you happen to do a low sun angle comparison? On a fully sunny day I'd love to see what happens on the meters as you gradually tilt different panels away from the ideal perpendicular angle. It would also be interesting to include a standard glass 200 watt panel in this type of test. I suspect that the CIGS panel would do pretty well at off angles since it did so well when shaded but hard numbers would be great to see. I'd also like to see how all three panels perform in the full shade of a building but on a sunny day, a bright 100% ambiant light test. Thanks for the tests, hope to see more!
I will add this !
lovely test!!! i found another usage for the tester i have since i quit the idea of making 18650 packs !!! lfp makes it easier and less time costy
When It comes to life expectancy I'd rather take my chances on more conventional solar panels with glass on top, but their output was impressive considering they are flexible, Thanks for the test.
You might want to look up "solar panel fire", micro fractures are pretty much inevitable with crystalline panels, but not with thin film panels. I have a UNI-Solar panel that is I think about thirty years old and it still works well, it's a different technology though, it's amorphous where as these are CIGS, but the data I've seen suggests extremely long life from both types of thin films.
Now this was a great test. awesome job.
Thank you 😀👍🏼
What kind of a solar panel that said 200 watts put out 217 watts? I just installed the 200 watts CIGS panel last week on top of my semi truck. Today, I am in Tampa, FL. and my reading is maxed out at 217 watts. That's awsome!!! CIGS YUMA solar is truely the best there is. Worth every penny.
Excellent job!
Wow Wow CIGS is the champ when comes to shades charging! Too bad it needs more real estate space. I would go for the CIGS anytime!
Great testing and nice attitude in general.Thanx for not shoving your face in the video the whole time!
Thank you, and you’re welcome. Maybe if I was a little better looking I would do more face time 🤣👍🏼
@@johnnysweekends PLEASE DON’T!!!! If I want to see a pretty face I’d not be looking at solar videos!!!! Thanx again!
@@johnnysweekends also, I’ll wait until the prices come down. And Bouge will only ship the 100 watt versions here to Hawaii. Enjoy!
😂👍🏼
Good test. I could never glue them to the top of my van. May be great in winter but, you'd broil in summer... then you'd need AC.
Outstanding review... I plan to buy renogy because much less expensive here in Europe. I pay 217 eur for the 200W panel without tax...
Thank you, yes I was impressed with the cigs.
@@johnnysweekends Hi after some additional investigation, I am considering the BougeRV 200 CIGS the best option available, especially for an RV where partial shading will be common. I have found the 200W for 426 USD VAT included and the price difference with Renogy 200W is small enough to go for the best. Thank you again for your review ! It really helped selecting the best
@francisdebriey3609 I may have to swap out to these. My Rv around the ac units kill my input because a little shading and that whole section is gone.
I just installed 4 of the 100 watt Renogy panels on my trailer. They seem well made and I hope they hold up well. I also have 2 of their rigid bifold 200 watt panels for a total of 800watts. I haven't tried them all out together yet. Will be interesting. I've heard they aren't as efficient and may not last as long when mounted directly to the trailer surface. I used double stick 3M tape. They look great and I hope they work well with my Victron solar controller and LiTime 300AH lithium battery.
Mine are a year old through some serious heat… still working good.
Rigid is always better but there are pros and cons to both.
Bonjour merci pour cette comparaison de panneaux solaires cordialement
👍🏼😀👊🏼
Would have preferred a test on the grass for example, a concrete driveway in my option is an extreme medium. Have ridged panels on my boat and I'm looking forward to upgrading to flexible. Ready for your weird question of the day? Could these panels tolerate being walked on If you were carful? That would allow me to install more of them on my boat in area's that I couldn't with ridged.
These panels according to bougrv and other types of cigs panels advertise they can walk on them, dance and more. I dont recommend it anymore than you need and definitely take care when you walk on them as to not put pressure points. All these are probably the most walkable flex panel out there
Great! Thanks for this.@@johnnysweekends
I have had 3 RENORY flexible solar panels intalled on the top of my semi in a little over a year cost over $600 now it's yielding only 25-35 watts every day -bumer. The CIGS solar panel shows better performance and last 25 years under warranty. It's a worth while investment. I can't wait to install the new panel.
Which renogy panels did you have or do you
I like the CIG, it’s just a little too big for the top of my Casita. I don’t have a lot of real estate up there.
They do make a shorter wide version in the 100 watt. Maybe two of those will fit ?
Great Review, that Yuma seems ultra tough, but at the extra 170$ I don't know, I noticed that the Renogy is the older design and today they are releasing their late to the party Yuma version.. They should send you that one to compare apples to apples. Subscribed!
I saw that!! And thanks for subbing and stopping by.
And yes the price is a little high but more competition lower the prices go!! 👍🏼😀
Great Video, I like the CIGS but here in Australia I can get the new Renogy CIGS 150w (looks like a copy of the Bourge) or the normal flexible Renogy 200w. With the difference of efficiency in your test especially in the shade. (i understand it is a difficult question to answer) but which one will i get the most power for a campervan between the 150w CIGS or the 200w standard flexible. thanks for your help
You’re right that is tough because it’s new for one, and does it perform as well in the shade with bypass diodes.
I know so far my cogs does well in low light and shade but o haven’t had enough good days for peak performance to gauge what it’s really doing. Also the fact it’s towards the front of the Rv and slightly curved. Always mount as flat as possible
Thank you for that test. It was amazing. I guess if you calculate the surface size, they would be about the same over all?
Yea biggest problem with the cigs is the size. If they were they same size the renogy would put out more wats because more rows for full cells. The cigs is just amazing for shade performance.
Super informative vid - Thx!
Im curious if the panels were placed with a spacer underneath mounted on FRP panel or even a thin piece of plywood.
You left out the test where you pump 5 bullets into each. The Yuma excells.
I was just talking to Tom about that last night at the bonfire lol….
@@johnnysweekends i just saw his video after I tried and failed to order a folding one from Bluetti (credit card was suspicious of midnight purchase lol.) A blessing in disguise. I'll be getting the Yuma instead.
I am experienced with solar and camping. The real issue when camping is you never know the solar conditions, the shade coonditions before you set out. I always had enough solar in theory but it was always just minour shade that would ruin my days and forced me to get a gas generator. I will get 1. See how the performance is. Then replace the other panel and sell ny generator.
I wouldn’t sell the generator. Like you said, you never know what the conditions are like. I have a lot of solar and still, sometimes it’s not enough depending on conditions
@@johnnysweekends okay I'll see how it is first. I have a tear drop(or like a very big tear drop trailer) so my electricity demand is very low. Even a consistent 25-50 watts is all I need. And I can probably fit 2 150 watt panels. My current issue is a couple trees just make my solar useless when camping. Especially sense my panels are old and have even worst shade resistance then modern flexible panels.
So we will see if I need the generator still. I'll test it before I sell it.
Wow, the CIGS 360 flex is pretty impressive. Does CIGS give a decent warranty with the 360 Flex? Also, is it possible the hotspot on the Renogy may have affected its numbers some(?) Great video, luv these comparison tests, especially when newer/more unique cutting-edge items are tested.
It’s possible that may have but only one spot will be minimal. Even then I think we know which performed better.
Could I use the CIGS on a ribbed van roof? (Promaster) or will they mold to the rib shape damaging output? Thanks.
I would find a way to make sure it doesn’t flap in in the wind. The ribs will create air pockets and allow it to flap which over time I think will damage it fairly quickly and not to mention allow it to fly off. Maybe fill that area in or creat a flat mount with some board of some type like sign board.
Great video. the CIGS are a winner. Where did you get the load tester you used in the video?
Thank you and yes the cigs did very well.
I bought the tester. They are Dc testers.
you did not say if they were internally wired parallel or series, which I bet that the ren is series in which shade really affect them and the cigs is parallel which shade not so bad to output.???
The ren is a series parallel in the panel, they doing well but like any single panel after about a 1/4 third shaded that’s it. The benefit to the cigs as mentioned in the video is all the bypass diodes.
My man really throwing shade on those panels
Do you see any significant decrease in output as the temperature of the panel / surface goes up?
Every solar panel will put out less power when at higher temp and produce more when cooler, ones these were heat soaked they didn’t drop any more from there numbers you saw. But i was also not at a very optimal angle since the cigs is so flexible.
good video BTW very interesting wattage on the shaded CIGS panel. Im sure this has many benefits for those who just cant get away from shady areas.
Definitely performs very well in shade. Very surprised.
Will have to get it mounted and see how it lasts
Good work
@johnnysweekends I am looking at getting one of the 100 watt ones but was curious as I have the same River 2 Pro did you need a special connector to connect the BougeRV to it?
On the cigs panel I see a lot of them showing that they flex/curve well length ways. Are you able to flex them width wise at least somewhat?
Yea they can twist as well. But with any solar panel try to keep as flat as possible or best angle towards the sun if possible. Vans,RVs boats or Recreational vehicles in general are tough
What printed circuit board are you using to take the measurements?
great,,im looking for decent output , for my camper..
So far both have been pretty impressive for flex panels
What's a 'dime' and what's a 'nicol'???
Your obviously not an American.
He's referring to American coins. A dime, .10 cents A nickle, .05 cents
Well done 👍 😊
Thank you 👍🏼😀
I've seen reviews where the coating on the sigs comes off way too easily.
That’s what we will find out in six months and one year through the torture heat!
I want to put it on a Toyota Sienna or Dodge Grand Caravan but its too long. But with the way it performs, I was curious if anyone has any ideas of how I can make it work - I think its 6-8 inches longer than most minivans roofs.
Which one the cigs? You could do the 100 watt?
The Renogy panel was obviously defective. Did you get it replaced to perform a correct test?
How was it defective?
Your heat probe identified an area of overheating. That is not normal as you know and you pointed out. You mentioned that the panel was defective or damaged in the video. The output would be different if the panel did not have the overheating. I purchased a defective Renogy panel as well, they have a high defective rate. It would be nice to see your result with a panel that was functioning properly. Ben S/V DAWN @@johnnysweekends
Oh yea forgot about that. So much to remember. Funny I have two panels still sitting here as I want to use them on my Rv.
I need to rescan all of those as well now that it’s been almost a year but they are still rocking.
I’ll need to test each one individually as well. That should be fun 🫤
Even with the one hot spot I can’t imagine a major difference unless it truly took out the whole cell.
Now that the sun is out again I’ll pull them out and check 👍🏼
Can I replace my UPS battery with a lithium battery 100ah for more capacity? I have a 600 watts UPS in which I have my computer, 2 monitors and the router plug in. Can I use that type of battery ( lithium battery 100ah and can it be charge by the UPS) Thank you for your time and assistance!
I would not modify an existing product as you don’t know the charge voltages and more. It’s not setup for correct charging of Lithium batteries.
I don’t recommend
Do you have a link on the load tester used in video?
👌👍❤️🇨🇦, gr8 review, but pricey. I just purchaced 405 watts for $351
Thanks, yea unfortunately a spendy panel. They perform well. Be curious to see how long it lasts. I need to mount it to something soon.
@@johnnysweekends keep up the videos they are good
Thank you so much 👍🏼😀
@@johnnysweekends I was wondering why you didn't put them on a sheet or two of plywood to get the full test parameters. Of course many times those panels would be mounted flat on an RV or the like, so in a sense was a better real world test. Thanks, was informative. Would love to see a Kennedyesce speech about every home being energy independent in the next 50 years.
You could now with enough batteries and solar but would need space. But also depends where you live and the climate.
I mean people lived off grid forever till just about a 130 years ago lol
What can you do with a panel like this?
Put it on a Rv or a boat or a shed and more. Many things
But what can you power with 20 volts?@@johnnysweekends
@curtyanok9871 you are charging batteries with this. You typically don’t power anything direct with solar.
You then power what you need from the batteries. You can directly run things from them but can also damage items as well.
@@trainmaster0217 I am having a very small CIGS-Panel now as well! It only can produce 2-3 Watts, but this can be done even under lamps!
See? And it only produces 1.5 volts there in the near of a lamp and only 4 volts under the lamp directly. But this is enough for a usb-power converter. Which converts this HIGH amperage with low voltage into higher voltage to power any USB-Fast chargers or charge big batteries or Lithium-ion stuff.
so i guess theres a price difference between these two yeah?
Prices fluctuate all the time
My cig from rich solar failed just after a year. I am replacing all
I wonder how close it is for build type. They look similar but still different
@@johnnysweekends the lamination came off and the panel wires rust
500 bugs for 200Watt???
A bad idea to beginn with. 2018 I paid 200 bugs for 200 Watt flex panel - 6 years ago!
btw: still working.
Dude there pricing is insane right now!! Idk what the heck they are thinking !
They are supposed to be way less
What is everyone’s preference tape or holes?
With holes you can add tape. But I think also depends on where and what you are installing on.
@@johnnysweekends on top of my minivan likely
BEWARE OF THE SPECS ON THIS PANEL:
I purchased 2 of the 200W CIGS YUMA panels in this review.
My generator needs 60-150V to operate.
These panels are 30.5 Volts each so I wired them in series.
They did not work. I checked the Voltage on each panel and it was 25.5 Voc and not the 30.5 stated.
I checked the VOC when wired in Series and it was 51.5 V for the 2 panels.
I just wish that the lower than stated VOC on these panels was reviewed.
I like that they are indestructible but am SUPER DISAPPOINTED they do not live up to their stated Specs.
I did contact support but their support is iffy at best for my experience. I have a few days left in the return period so will probably do that if there is no resolution with support.
No panels meet spec for Voc if you got other panels you would run into the same problem. And even then you need to be a decent amount above turn on voltage or you will just be clipping
Voc of at least 80v would be ideal
Why would you pay that much for a solar panel?
There is no way I would pay over double the price for 1/10 the lifespan of the panel
Shut up, you’re wrong.
Interesting. Do you have a reliable link for that, please?
Black Friday sale should be a good time to grab 40% off
@@ClarkyMalarky Have you seen any specific deals, please?
@eliaustin3745 check here www.bougerv.com/products/yuma-200w-cigs-flexible-solar-panel-with-holes
Show us the delamination level of each in 5 years. Not worth the investment for either without proof of durability.
Show me durability testing on a brand new $50,000 car.
@@johnnysweekends We already have significant delamination occurring within the first two years on new CIGS panels despite their high cost. At five years, they're likely to have a high failure rate assuming normal atmospheric exposure, so the net cost of their power production will also be high.
The technology in most new vehicles, including EV's, has many years of durability testing behind it and the pros and cons can be reasonably anticipated by the buyer. The more experimental aspects are known to be that, such as the various levels of self-driving capability, and they aren't essential to the basic transportation value of the vehicle. A delaminated solar panel, by contrast, has lost its usefulness and value.
@ReflectedMiles they have a warranty what did they say?
@@johnnysweekends That they are aware of the issues (including the problem that if you use a strong enough adhesive to actually keep the panel firmly adhered to the substrate that you will likely damage your roof trying to remove it for warranty-and obviously that or the hours taken to remove it are not covered), and the warranty only applies to the original date of purchase, not extended by the new installation of panels replaced under it. Otherwise, buyers would have free panels for life. Any warranty longer than two or three years is one of the reasons they cost $2.40+ per watt-there has to be enough margin there to cover the inevitable replacements for full-timers, especially, who don’t put their rigs away under cover for most of the year. Of course they didn’t say that last part, but taking a look around the most popular DIY solar forum is instructive.
@ReflectedMiles flexible panels have a place but will never replace rigid. It’s another option or tool for people who want a different solution.
There are pros and cons to both for the correct install. Rigid panels are cheaper but pose there own problems on RVs and we may see a change in the next 5 years for the way RVs are built or what’s allowed.
We will see. Because with more and more installs, more and more are flying off and becoming a big hazard that can be deadly. There are a lot of variables to it but again. Both have a place, but they are not replacements for rigid.
Please add Metric conversions to your measurements, your losing most of the world as we don't understand imperial
I would never buy fake bendable panels...
and the prices for these are Criminal
Your heat gun measurements are inaccurate.Because you're too far away from the test subject. You will be reading the heat from adjacent objects at that distance.
The differences are minimal. Go buy 3 infrared temp gun. Then find the measurement ratio…12:1 50:1 or what ever. Measure it at that distance and start backing away. You see little change in the 15 inch to say 3 feet. Maybe .5 degrees. Then try again at that same 3-4 distance again almost the same temp by .5 maybe 1 degree difference at most.
Then try 10 feet and you’ll see no more than 1-2 degree difference at most from original from the required 15 inch’s or so.
It’s a ball park but if a more scientific or accurate measurement is needed then take multiple readings at the required for the instrument your using
200 watt solar scams. Inferior product short lifespan won't even barely produce 200 watts maybe If you're lucky.
CIGS-solarpanels produce MORE energy than standard panels, sir.
My 2W-Panel can produce ~3 Watts under the sun (low sun light = 50% more than rated!) and 2 Watts under a typical 20W-Lightbulb/LED. See?
A standard-Silicium-solarpanel (Mono) produces 200W at MAX Sun and 100W or even 50W at low sunlight. And even ZERO watts under a lamp. ou CANNOT produce 300 Watts with a standard 200W-Panel unlike with CIGS-tech.
Nice comparison but at almost $2400 for 4-200w panels?? I think you fell n bumped your d@m head... No thanks
lol they are spendy, but that shade output!! Crazy right
Black Friday I got two 200 watt. For 800$
@@ClarkyMalarky You didn´t say wether that´s CIGS-panels or not?
@@SmartZero-f8e cigs
@@johnnysweekends You can even produce energy with CIGS-Panels under artificial lighting (such as LEDs, Lightbulbs or others). LOTS of energy! since CIGS-Panels can collect any form of green and blue lights!
I made the test with my 2/3W-Rated CIGS-Mini panels yesterday:
1.8 Watts in the NEAR of a 20W-Halogen bulb (old, soon to be replaced by LED). That´s 1.5 Volts at 1.2A of energy! I mesured it with a voltmeter (Fluke 73, very good model not a cheap model which gives out inprecise readings lol).
If i put my CIGS-mini panel fully under this lamp it would give about 4-5 Volts at about 0.3A. More than enough to power a small battery and charge it.
Fail advertising
Not sure what you mean ?
Fail comment
In just 6 months they bump the price up to $599 for the taped panel :(
I would use my own tape. The tape they have is a little over kill. Plus ye, that’s spendy. Not sure whats up with that.