Solar Panels: What I can tell you about

[cj88]

Originally Posted by FLYSolartech-GiocoSolutions

About our Bifacial Semi-flexible panel, I'm excited because it will be on the market next week! Pre-order will be available from next week and the first deliveries will start on August 1st!

I'll make a post if you are interested.

Yes, please post about it as I'm interested to know more.

[Franziska]

Hey, great info so far. Good job. Thank you!

Maybe you could also write a chapter with specific recommendations for those amongst us who only have a very limited budget?

Like where we can cut corners and which specific medium to low budget panels are reasonably well lasting/warrantied for marine use? Which are the worst pitfalls to avoid if budget is low? If you would need create a low budget solution with medium to high output what would you do?

So far I understand that in our case (very budget conscious installation on a cruising catamaran arch):

Polycrystaline rigid panels which are fixed installed on a frame (which will not be walked on) might be cheaper.

Encapsulation, good EVA with glass top and silicone bedded cells in a framed construction.

Bus bar should be silver, aluminium to be avoided

Controller type PWM seems acceptable if MPPT is to expensive.
Do I need separate Schottky diodes if each panel has its own PWM controller?

Are there any of the panels used in the large industrial installations which could be adopted?

Thanks for sharing your knowledge!!!

[FLYSolartech-GiocoSolutions]

Originally Posted by Franziska

Hey, great info so far. Good job. Thank you!

Maybe you could also write a chapter with specific recommendations for those amongst us who only have a very limited budget?

Like where we can cut corners and which specific medium to low budget panels are reasonably well lasting/warrantied for marine use? Which are the worst pitfalls to avoid if budget is low? If you would need create a low budget solution with medium to high output what would you do?

So far I understand that in our case (very budget conscious installation on a cruising catamaran arch):

Polycrystaline rigid panels which are fixed installed on a frame (which will not be walked on) might be cheaper.

Encapsulation, good EVA with glass top and silicone bedded cells in a framed construction.

Bus bar should be silver, aluminium to be avoided

Controller type PWM seems acceptable if MPPT is to expensive.
Do I need separate Schottky diodes if each panel has its own PWM controller?

Are there any of the panels used in the large industrial installations which could be adopted?

Thanks for sharing your knowledge!!!

Hello!
Low budget, main big Chinese brand (standard modules) are ok, their warranty might not cover the marine use but for 40/50 cents/W you can't ask for more.

Tip: Sunrise with their 9 busbar or 12 busbar modules are a great compromise.

PWM is ok only if it is not much different from the Voltage output of the panel and the Voltage of the battery. For example, a domestic 300W panel with output +36V is not suitable for a 12V system if you use a PWM.


You don't need diodes if every panels has is own solar charger.

[Franziska]

Thanks for that too!

I'll look into those as our panels are well aged by now. Luckily the windgen bridged the gap nicely this summer.

[rgleason]

Search for Sunrise on alibaba

Sunrise polycrystalline 60 cell 250w 991(39") x 1640(65") x 40(1.6") 18kg (39lbs)
$0.37 - $1.00 / Watts | 1000 Watt/Watts sunrise 250w pv solar panels (Min. Order)
--The only problem is they want to send a whole pallet!
Rated maximum power at STC "250" "260" etc.
CBE250P-60
CBE260P-60
CBE270P-60
CBE280P-60
CBE285P-60
Open Circuit Voltage(Voc/V)
37.66 37.98 38.3 38.85 39.05
Maximum Power Voltage(Vmp/V)
29.94 30.55 31.21 31.88 32.13
Short Circuit Current(Isc/A)
8.92 9.04 9.16 9.33 9.53

Maximum Power Current(Imp/A)
8.35 8.51 8.65 8.78 8.91
Module Efficiency(%)
15.29 15.9 16.51 17.12 17.42
Power Tolerance
-0~+3%
Standard Test Condition(STC)
Irradiance 1000W/m2,Cell Temperature 25℃，Air Mass1.5


Another with better data
https://www.alibaba.com/product-deta...5591vdXB9A&s=p

Flexible panel from Alibaba
120w flexible solar panel for boats thin film solar cell with CE, ISO TUV ICE for boat
$0.70 - $1.10 / Watts | 1 Watt/Watts (Min. Order)

[rgleason]

Alibaba prices are very attractive, but I it is long distance and a different culture, and I have not purchased anything through this portal. With all the possible problems, it is not really a good alternative. I would prefer to work with known suppliers and end up with a good system that works for a long time.

[Franziska]

Agree Rick, still, maybe I can find a supplier over here who sells those or I find some other folks who want to buy panels together with us.

It's not urgent, but still good to have tracked down one more item.

Thanks for looking that up!

[Franziska]

One more on this. Would an Mppt controller allow the use of 36v domestic panels together with 12v batteries?
Should I get a separate Mttp controller for each panel in this scenario or instead use Schottskies in between and connect all to one Mppt?

Originally Posted by FLYSolartech-GiocoSolutions

Hello!
Low budget, main big Chinese brand (standard modules) are ok, their warranty might not cover the marine use but for 40/50 cents/W you can't ask for more.

Tip: Sunrise with their 9 busbar or 12 busbar modules are a great compromise.

PWM is ok only if it is not much different from the Voltage output of the panel and the Voltage of the battery. For example, a domestic 300W panel with output +36V is not suitable for a 12V system if you use a PWM.


You don't need diodes if every panels has is own solar charger.

[rgleason]

One more on this. Would an Mppt controller allow the use of 36v domestic panels together with 12v batteries?
Should I get a separate Mttp controller for each panel in this scenario or instead use Schottskies in between and connect all to one Mppt? Quote:

You definitely want to use MPPT controller(s).
Most modern panels have a diode in the little box at the back. If you read the data sheet I think it should say, so you likely won't need those.
You want MC4 Connections, but there are different types of MC4 Connectors, so you want to know who made them, then match those.
Regarding the single MPPT controller and wiring in parallel question, provided the controller is sized properly, wiring in parallel is like having each panel wired separately, and if one panel gets shaded it wont affect the other panels. You should be wiring all the same size and voltage panels on that MPPT controller however. The voltage is most crucial in this configuration as a panel with 22v will bring down the output of all panels that are 36v.

[Franziska]

Thanks Rick,

helpful as always. Great!

[FLYSolartech-GiocoSolutions]

Originally Posted by Franziska

Thanks Rick,

helpful as always. Great!

If you need a Sunrise reseller in europe contact qookka.com at supporto@qookka.com

[FLYSolartech-GiocoSolutions]

Originally Posted by cj88

Yes, please post about it as I'm interested to know more.

Here it is my friend! Double sided panels - pre order 50% discount - Cruisers & Sailing Forums




The bifacial solar semi-flexible panels are finally ready!

[Paul L]

Originally Posted by FLYSolartech-GiocoSolutions

Here it is my friend! Double sided panels - pre order 50% discount - Cruisers & Sailing Forums

How are these mounted on a boat to take advantage of the biface and still be secure?





The bifacial solar semi-flexible panels are finally ready![/QUOTE]

[Franziska]

Thank you. I had emailed to Sunrise but got no reply. So to have the distributer on hand is really good.

I also looked at these:
Solara S640P36

They look perfect, but are rather pricey. Do you happen to know if there is something comparable at a lower price around (from Sunrise or others?)

Thanks for sharing your knowledge. I wish more people would do that!

Originally Posted by FLYSolartech-GiocoSolutions

If you need a Sunrise reseller in europe contact qookka.com at supporto@qookka.com

[cj88]

Originally Posted by FLYSolartech-GiocoSolutions

Here it is my friend! Double sided panels - pre order 50% discount - Cruisers & Sailing Forums




The bifacial solar semi-flexible panels are finally ready!

Thanks, the figures look good.