When our supplier told me they had a new high output marine solar panel that was flexible I was skeptical. The specifications seemed just to good to be true. So I ordered some to test. Well, I was pleasantly surprised. These panels are very well constructed and they have a power generation comparable to our hard panels. These panels can be flexed to 30 degrees so can conform to most boat curved surfaces. The 100+ watt panels have an electrical box on the front (not shown in the picture) which contains two blocking diodes. The 50 watt panel has one blocking diode. The base material is very sturdy and strong. Each panel has grommets for attaching the panel. I have tested the output of these panels under various weather conditions and their susceptibility to shading. Below is a quick comparison of output of our three mid-range panels laying flat at mid day on a mostly sunny day measured with a meter: Flexible 100 watt Rigid 105 watt Rigid 100 watt Monocrystalline Monocrystalline Polycrystalline Short Circuit Current (Isc) 5.48 amps 5.50 amps 5.26 amps Open Circuit Voltage (Voc) 19.2 volts 19.7 volts 20.5 volts Computed Power (not rated power) 105 watts 108 watts 108 watts Additional information is available on our solar panel page.
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AuthorThomas Trimmer has been cruising with his Ericson 38 sailboat on the Great Lakes for over 20 years. He has pioneered the use of solar energy for wilderness cruising. He is continually designing and building equipment to simplify and enhance the cruising experience. Archives
July 2024
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