Semi flexible solar panels on a pop top. Is it a good idea?

[Clewie68]

Hello everyone.



I've got a few questions on semi flexible solar panels. Has anyone used semi flexible panels on a pop top?. Are they any good?. How do they fit on?. Are they easy to get off again for a possible future replacement/upgrade?. Are they durable to the elements?.



Thank you to everyone replying.



Best regards,

Mark.

 

[Richard n Ann]

No experience of them myself but most funsters say they overheat and only last a few months. Also difficult to remove the adhesive. I would look at portable ones first.

 

[Gromett]

I believe TheCaller knows about this subject?

 

[bigtwin]

A lot of the (negative) opinions on ‘flexible’ solar panels are based on experience of earlier panels.

The latest CIGS panels are much better and more efficient. Many narrow boaters use them S they need the ability to walk on the roof of their boats.

Would ‘hard’ panels be better? Probably, but then they’re unlikely to be suitable for your use.

Ian

 

[Guigsy]

With the angle on a pop top, aren't they going to be facing the wrong way more often than not? The yeild isn't going to be great.

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[scotjimland]

Fitted with an air gap there should be no problem,,,

Suggested method for installing NDS LightSolar solar panels.

When installing a semi-flexible solar panel in the NDS LightSolar range on the roof of a campervan, motorhome or caravan, we strongly advise using this method. It will allow air to pass under the panel, helping to avoid excessive heat build-up which could damage it.
If an NDS LightSolar panel is not installed according to these instructions, the warranty may be void should the panel fail within the warranty period.

https://www.roadpro.co.uk/userfiles/PDFs/product%20information/NDS/LightSolar%20panel%20installation%20instructions.pdf

more info here

Flexible solar panels

Ive heard they are unreliable if glued down, but has anyone fitted them on a rail or similar to give rear ventilation. Will this make them reliable? They are very cheap now, a 130w for under £70 so thouht of getting one to either put on my windscreen when parked , or fitted on ali sections on...

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

 

[Tonks]

I've got a semi-flexible panel on mine. It has an aluminium strip through for strengthening, and can be walked on. Apparently!
Mine is a 180w panel and powers my van's needs fine. The first panel had to come off as it was part of a faulty batch. At least seven panels installed by the company I used to fit mine, and with the same batch number had the same fault, after several years of them installing from the same manufacturer without a single failure! Typical... The panel came off, and the new one on, with no obvious marks at all. I did not want to have the new one stuck on the old one as I've seen with some other vans. The failure was annoying, especially as a considerable amount of research and conversations with my convertor had been done to reach the decision to install the semi-flexible panel rather than a rigid one.

Edit: The fault was not related to overheating. In fact, the panel worked absolutely perfectly all through 2022's absolutely sweltering summer, with day after day of 30deg plus temps. It was actually well into the winter months when it suddenly packed in.

I'm not bothered about the panel being angled to the sun, Guigsy. I seem to get a reasonable input regardless. So long as the panel is in strong light. I even had some input to the battery when the van spent quite a bit of time in mixed shade under trees last week. Maybe newer panels have the benefit of better absorption without having to be directly in line with the sun's rays. I have a portable panel too (a 200w one) but I hardly ever carry it because it's pretty hefty inside the van when travelling, and I worry about it when 'deployed' for theft or damage reasons. That said, if I were touring in southern Europe it would be very helpful as that panel could be deployed in the sun while the van is parked in the shade.

 

[Jev88]

Raising flexible panels off roof.

I have read about stick down panels burning out prematurely and happened to be watching Wheeler Dealer World Tour. Adding solar to a VW curved roof pop top van. Not seen these plastic strips before but look a good idea but only stuck with 3M tape?

www.motorhomefun.co.uk

 

[TheCaller]

I believe TheCaller knows about this subject?

Yes, did a bit of research for the new van.

The latest CIGS panels are much better and more efficient.

Indeed. Expensive, unfortunately, but worth it if you intend keeping the van for more than a few years, because if they live up to their longevity claims, you won't need to replace them every three or four years.

They are too new to have proved their longevity yet, but the signs are good.

With the angle on a pop top, aren't they going to be facing the wrong way more often than not? The yeild isn't going to be great.

With the pop-top down, no different from a fixed roof of course. With it up - one move thing to take into consideration when deciding which way round to park. Swings & roundabouts - if you manage to park the right way round, you will have the panels almost perpendicular to the sunlight, so will produce considerable more than from a flat roof. If you have to face the wrong way for some reason, then yes, you are going to lose out.

If I remember rightly, the newer panels are less dependent of direct sunlight & continue to work reasonably well if it's just light, rather than in direct sunlight, but obviously you would try not to point the panel due north if you could avoid it!

 

[bubble63]

Lying all forlorn on the A14 near Cambridge was a detached flexible solar panel complete with wires
Oh we laughed
I hate the f-ing things ever since mine went open circuit ( bonded on to a fibreglass roof)
Avoid is my advice

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[Gromett]

The other thing to note with the expensive CIGS panels and perhaps others is that they can have a bypass diode for each cell rather than per group or as is the case with cheap ones none at all.
This makes a big difference in partial shading situations.

 

[Gromett]

https://www.electronics-tutorials.ws/diode/bypass-diodes.html

 

[TheCaller]

I didn't have time to lookup a link earlier, but if anyone is interested in these newer type panels -
MIPV solar panels

Note - if you are happy to fit, remove & replace your own panels as needed & if you don't need to capture the maximum possible energy from your limited roof area, then it may be more economic to fit the older & much cheaper type of flexible panel & just replace them when they fail.

Bimble Solar stock them. Choose your size - they are cheaper per watt the larger you go - & then follow through for more details on your chosen panel. If you have a big lithium battery to feed.....

 

[CAB96]

Advice from other forums is to put PPF (clear film) on the pop-top, where the panel is going, and then stick it to that.

If it fails, you can remove the PPF and the roof should be pristine.