Solar Panels

[Capella_Ben]

Has anyone bought folding solar panels recently? Can you recommend a good supplier?

There are a few cheap guys on Ebay ($189 for 120W) and the equivalent RedArc is $860

I'm hesitant to go with the cheap ones in case they fail easily and am too cheap for the RedArc.

[Dave]

I would recommend the cheap monocrystalline panels. They are more efficient than the poly versions, but dearer too. So just get a cheap version, as they are better than a dear poly version.

Option 2. I got a 100w thin/flexible version. The crystal segments are glued directly onto a 3mm aluminium panel. So it's somewhat flexible, but it's very light and thin. I wanted to install some guides under my roof platform to just slide the panel in from the rear. That way I can pick it up and keep it with the car when on a day trip (and then parked) away from the camp site.
Anyway, the panel is relatively light, but doesn't fold in half either.

[Puma]

Ben,
Deb has done a little reading a while ago, and a solar controller is needed as some panels in FULL sun can produce more 12-18 volts which will harm batteries. We have fold panels for the camper, problem we find is when folded the panels face outwards, storage is the problem in the car anyway as they only have a soft bag, and things bounce and risk breaking it, would be good if they folded inwards, We like the look of the roll up panels but talking money there.

[Capella_Ben]

Puma, Did you get a cheap panel or a more expensive one? How has it lasted.

Almost all panels have a MPPT controller these days, so that is not a problem.

The one I was looking at does have a bag, but it is not a padded bag. I agree that the simple bag is not good enough, might see if I can upgrade to a padded. Perhaps I can pull the panels apart and print out a new hinge so it folds inwards...

[Dave]

FYI ... a MPPT controller is around $10 off e-bay.

Could 2mm MDF sheets be the answer to a protective layer. I'm sure it would require some customer plastic clips to hold it in place as you pack it away in a cheap bag.

[Puma]

It came with the camper, but I think they were worth 240.00 from memory, no probs so far with them, light weight air core board may good to protect them, or thin MDF, we may look at that ourselves.