Best Small 200w-300w solar panels please?

[EuroTrotters]

I only have 80cm wide but can go to 260cm and 160cm

Any suggestions please?

These seem okay //........

2 x 200 w £240 with Ebay voucher

Pardon our interruption...

or these 300w but seem small for 300w

Pardon our interruption...

£160 each or £320 two

 

[EuroTrotters]

Is there a difference domestic / motorhome solar panels. ?

Yes, as Lenny said. Higher voltage. But the correct solar charger desks with that.

Most are made in china, like the ones going on our house in Spain.

The one I decided on for our motorhome. was the higher grade topcon manufactured in Spain. Same community our house is in.

Raul has explained in this thread

 

[EuroTrotters]

Has your panel arrived yet? My 2x 400w arrived today. I have to say I’m impressed, 400w in a size that used to be 230w 10 years ago. The buss bars are like a matrix at the back of the cell, not at the front, the cells have no space between them, and no solder, means no hot spots. Very slick 30mm black frames, and Staubli mc4 with double seals.
I hope for no rain on Sunday morning.

Looking forwards to seeing a photo of the finished project

 

[Raul]

Is there a difference domestic / motorhome solar panels. ?

Big difference, it's been discussed here few times. What do you want ro know specifically?

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

119 euros delivered to Spain from Germany.
In the uk they are£219 each??

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[BillyKontiki]

Big difference, it's been discussed here few times. What do you want ro know specifically?

What is the difference.

 

[BillyKontiki]

I think I understand that but is it not the controller that sorts out the power that goes into the battery.

 

[Raul]

What is the difference.

The main advantage is cost per W, and exceptional quality compared to leisure smal panels. Big panel manufacturers spend millions in R&D to stay on top of the game. Each trying to outdo each other, results in ever better product, with innovative technologies, making a better panel, more efficiency at a good price to stay competitive. Technologies used in commercial/ domestic panels are not used in leisure market panels, as it’s to much cost and less demand. The machinery automation is to expensive for low volume leisure panels. Hence the big boys have the upper hand in delivering a better panel. Most leisure panels are subcontracted at a price, with whatever material grade they can get. Also independent testing, warranty, and accreditation’s for a wide market, makes the commercial panel more market savvy.
They have one downside, it’s not for everyone due to size to be fitted on a motorhome. They run at higher voltage, so a mppt is a must, but have many more plus points, if you can fit one. They have real tested temp coefficient, very low or zero LID light induced degradation, N type tech ( boron doping), ARC on textured glass, anti reflection coating, high mechanical load, and the later ones, they don’t even use solder anymore. The soldered buss bars very often burns the cell, and later creates brown spots and micro cracks, due to heat shock. The best cells are used in the commercial panels, and the rest are sold on to smaller enterprises. Some manufacturers do not subcontract nothing, from ingot to cell, glass, frames, automations, etc. it’s all under one control, nothing goes out untested.
Leisure panels have a long way to catch up on domestic panels, some use 10 year plus old tech to keep the cost down. They never came up with any new tech, just copy the left overs from the big boys where thy can. But, true, there is a market for everyone.

 

[cyberyacht]

Thanks, I’ve just left a message for Andy at Magic Motorhome, if he’s booked up I’ll contact Roger

They have a fair bit of work on at the moment. I was there yesterday having a B2B fitted. Felt a bit of a poor relation in the shed with 2 Concordes and a Morelo.

 

[BillyKontiki]

The main advantage is cost per W, and exceptional quality compared to leisure smal panels. Big panel manufacturers spend millions in R&D to stay on top of the game. Each trying to outdo each other, results in ever better product, with innovative technologies, making a better panel, more efficiency at a good price to stay competitive. Technologies used in commercial/ domestic panels are not used in leisure market panels, as it’s to much cost and less demand. The machinery automation is to expensive for low volume leisure panels. Hence the big boys have the upper hand in delivering a better panel. Most leisure panels are subcontracted at a price, with whatever material grade they can get. Also independent testing, warranty, and accreditation’s for a wide market, makes the commercial panel more market savvy.
They have one downside, it’s not for everyone due to size to be fitted on a motorhome. They run at higher voltage, so a mppt is a must, but have many more plus points, if you can fit one. They have real tested temp coefficient, very low or zero LID light induced degradation, N type tech ( boron doping), ARC on textured glass, anti reflection coating, high mechanical load, and the later ones, they don’t even use solder anymore. The soldered buss bars very often burns the cell, and later creates brown spots and micro cracks, due to heat shock. The best cells are used in the commercial panels, and the rest are sold on to smaller enterprises. Some manufacturers do not subcontract nothing, from ingot to cell, glass, frames, automations, etc. it’s all under one control, nothing goes out untested.
Leisure panels have a long way to catch up on domestic panels, some use 10 year plus old tech to keep the cost down. They never came up with any new tech, just copy the left overs from the big boys where thy can. But, true, there is a market for everyone.

Thanks for the very informative reply

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[AlanandMayya]

Has your panel arrived yet? My 2x 400w arrived today. I have to say I’m impressed, 400w in a size that used to be 230w 10 years ago. The buss bars are like a matrix at the back of the cell, not at the front, the cells have no space between them, and no solder, means no hot spots. Very slick 30mm black frames, and Staubli mc4 with double seals.
I hope for no rain on Sunday morning.

 

[AlanandMayya]

All the best fitting them! We have big panels on our house, garage and van; in each case Mayya's job was to pass them up to me as I fitted them. As you know, they weigh about 20kg each. "My panels" she mutters each time she sees them, now they are up. "Those are My Panels". It wasnt a lot of fun. A Bonding Experience.

 

[AlanandMayya]

Hi Raul, could I ask what charge controller you are using? Wiring in parallel to use a 12V camper / boat charger, or in series to use a domestic one? For info, my 3 panels have just done 6,000 miles in France and Spain, some of it on terrible roads; most of the rest at 120 kph, had a few encounters with trees; worked perfectly, did not crack / fall off or even get loose, contrary to predictions by The Experts (all of my children). When off grid and not driving for a few days plenty of power for microwave, hot water, electric blanket and small fan heater (was 2C at night in some places). Have only done half the insulation so far, so quite a heating load until I get that finished. The battery (5 kWh) was empty (10% SOC) some mornings but soon charged up. This was 7 weeks in Jan / Feb.