Is this good solar panel (Power Film)

[Jorgito]

Hi,

is the below powerfilm a good solar panel ? I know that powerfilm is solid company but never saw them making 54w panel and this panel looks very different from the others PowerFIlm is making.


54w PowerFilm 12V PF Power Film Thin Flexible Rollable Solar Panel Peel Stick RV

Jorge

 

[george_tlc]

Flexible/rollup panels are very expensive for the power they produce. In a rigid/folding panel you could get twice the power at half the cost (or better).

cheers,
george.

 

[Jorgito]

Flexible/rollup panels are very expensive for the power they produce. In a rigid/folding panel you could get twice the power at half the cost (or better).

cheers,
george.

I don't have space for fixed rigid / folding panel . What would you suggest as the best compromise then ?

Jorge

 

[george_tlc]

I use a folding (folds down the middle) panel in oz in a SWB vehicle. Doesn't take much room and I deploy it when stopped. I can't justify the expense of a rollup panel for the little it produces. To run a fridge in warm weather you really need to be looking at something in the 80W+ range, preferably closer to 100W or more if you want some surplus in case of clouds etc.

cheers,
george.

 

[Jorgito]

I use a folding (folds down the middle) panel in oz in a SWB vehicle. Doesn't take much room and I deploy it when stopped. I can't justify the expense of a rollup panel for the little it produces. To run a fridge in warm weather you really need to be looking at something in the 80W+ range, preferably closer to 100W or more if you want some surplus in case of clouds etc.

cheers,
george.

Hi George,

thanks for your time. Can you suggest something which would be closer to 100W and smaller size as really I don't have too much space left in the car.

Jorge

 

[george_tlc]

Well, the key is what is your vehicle setup - i.e. roof rack? Tent on top? Drawers etc in the rear? etc etc. I can't imagine not being able to find room for a folding panel - something like 28" x 20" x 3"

cheers,
george.

 

[Jorgito]

What about this one ?

Amazon.com : Renogy 100 Watts 12 Volts Monocrystalline Foldable Solar Suitcase : Patio, Lawn & Garden

Jorge

 

[george_tlc]

Yep, that's the kind of folding panel I was hinting at. You can possibly find a cheaper version with some searching...

cheers,
george.

 

[Cruiserdrew]

What about this one ?

Amazon.com : Renogy 100 Watts 12 Volts Monocrystalline Foldable Solar Suitcase : Patio, Lawn & Garden

Jorge

That's a decent panel. In full summer sun, I get about 5.7-5.9 amps into the battery. @PabloVTA has the same panel. It works extremely well for running a fridge and keeping your batteries topped off. I do not like the Renogy charge controller it comes with. It's confusing to program and is not sealed up. It works ok to get you started. Better to use a small Morningstar sunsaver 10 which adds $50 to the cost but works extremely well.

That Renogy unit is small and compact though and is easy to store inside your truck. It comes with a very good case. Highly recommended.

 

[surfpig]

What about this one ?

Amazon.com : Renogy 100 Watts 12 Volts Monocrystalline Foldable Solar Suitcase : Patio, Lawn & Garden

Jorge

That's what I will be going with eventually. I tried a flexible 45w panel for a while, it was just about useless.

 

[e9999]

interesting, that Renogy ad says it's mono but the pic doesn't look like a mono panel. Or did they cut the blanks differently for some reason?

 

[Cruiserdrew]

It's a monocrystalline panel. It has the usual corner cut outs but you just can't see it in the pictures because they are black. Once in hand, it's obvious.

 

[Jorgito]

I just bought it on Amazon. Thanks guys.