Should I Put Flexible or Rigid Solar Panels on my Boat?
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- čas přidán 4. 07. 2024
- Rob asks "What is the difference between rigid and flexible solar panels and which one should I put on my boat?"
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Love this “Ask PYS “ series. So clear and to the point!
Thanks!
So glad I found this channel. Thank you PYS! I'll post it around some facebook pages, more people should see this stuff.
Thanks Peter.
Weight, I had not considered ty!!
Glad to help.
There are questions regarding heat build up on flexi panels. Best yard stick is to compare warranty periods and expected life time degradation. Think rigid panels will win out every time, and cheaper too. Check out "Will Prowse" for in-depth solar knowledge.
Hey MHappy01, from a panel cost perspective, you are correct rigid panels are definitely less expensive. Here's are some reasons why boaters choose flexible, 1) no place to mount rigid panels 2) they want panels to follow the lines of their boat 3) they want to walk a solar panels.
@@PacificYachtSystems Thanks for the comment. Horses for courses :-) Great channel, keep them coming!. Cheers, mike
Hi Jeff. My 32 foot sailboat has a 480 watt solar array (3x 160 watt panels in series; no shading). This is connected to my Victron 100/50 Solar charge controller and then to my house battery (fused) via an unswitched distribution bar. The battery is a lead acid 270 amp hour Deep Cycle Master Volt battery. According to the user manual; Voltage settings: float charge 13.80V @ 25oC / 77oF; absorption charge 14.25V @ 25oC / 77oF (max 5 hrs).
No mention of Voltage setting for Bulk charge? Interestingly the Victron connect app also does not allow for manual input for Voltage setting Bulk Charge. Is there a universal voltage for bulk charge for all AGM batteries?
Hi Jean, it really depends on how they interpret 3 phase charging. Bulk is max current until you get absorption voltage, then current diminishes to keep absorption voltage constant for an absorption timer, then goes to float.
Hi Jeff. Do power boats owners use solar systems? Or it is just a matter of sail boats.
Solar arrays are beneficial to both sail and power boaters. Our ratio is about 50/50 here in the pacific NW.
I recalled her that the flexible panels tend to overheat quicker because of its design thus having a shorter lifespan. Is that true or has flexible panels already resolved that issue?
Hmmm, rigid definitely seems to have a better life then flexible, by how much, don't know.
Ok so flexible panels are great .. but the question is .. what is the "best" way to stick/fix them down?? Cheers
make it so that air flows beneath them, you dont want them heating up. some ppl have used Lexan (multi wall sheet) as a substrate which, by keeping an air gap, enables heat to disperse.
Hi Alistair, unlike rigid panel, flexible panels can be directly affixed to a hard surface without an air gap. We use 3M VHB double sided tape. Some boaters use a light adhesive, other boaters are using fasteners.
@@PacificYachtSystems Thanks Jeff. I'll see if VHB is available here in NZ. Cheers
@@PacificYachtSystems so the claim that performance gets affected with temperature is incorrect, correct?
@@pmnfernando I think I can answer to this question. Every solar panel has a property called temperature coefficient. Good quality panels have about -0.3% efficiency drop per degree Celsius. If we assume 10 degree difference between ventilated and non ventilated panels that is %3 drop in efficiency. In a 500W panel system that equals to 15W difference. I don't know how this plays out in practice but in theory, the difference between ventilated and non ventilated should not be important.
Are flexible solar UV stable? How many times more expensive are they than rigid?
Do they derate if you heat sink them ie. hard mount them to a metal surface?
Good questions, flexible is probably 2 - 10 times more then rigid
@@PacificYachtSystems love your work Jeff...what you don't say says a lot.
I'm still trying to understand why you like MasterVolt...I'm throwing a Mass Combi in the bin. Studer stole my heart.