Solar Panels - Solid or Flexible?

Thank you for your view on the word "Maintain" :)
That's ripper

$2005 or $1750... So you didn't like these for $270?

https://www.4wdsupacentre.com.au/specials/weekly-deals/adventure-kings-120w-portable-solar-blanket.html

Or even these for $830?

https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/BAINTUFF-FOLDABLE-SOLAR-180W-BLANKET-CHARGE-POWER-LIGHT-W-PROOF-/192114749951?_trksid=p2385738.m4383.l4275.c10

Thanks mate, very interesting that you have all 3 Solar PVs

My only thought with the blankets, is it would be hard to set the correct panel angle to follow the sun most effectively.

As with a solid construction, you can swivel East through West and set the desired angle

Nice to know the Projector has some kind of frame.
To be honest, i was looking at the $269 4WD Supercentre ones

I had previously considered a fixed 250W-300W panel on the roof, but release i'd loose to much with it not being aligned correctly, and vehicle in hot sun.

It is interesting to hear you are so happy with the blankets....
I didn't expect this

MY usage is a lot greater than yours, I have a 40Ltr freezer and a 80ltr fridge/freezer to feed, plus all the other mod cons hence the multiple types.

Laying them flat is not so much of an issue if there not obstructed, most caravans have them flat on the roof, keep in mind they'll always be in the sun as they won't be pointed away from it.

If you point them then you need to keep changing their position if you want to maximise their output, I find if your not there for the day that the blanket laying flat on the ground harvests more than the pointed array. Personally I don't want to hang round all day chasing the sun, I just lay one on the ground and point the others where the sun will be at midday and then take off. Of course it helps if you have excess capacity so that you can tolerate some inefficiency.

I have the three types but generally the 200W on the Van covers us most times, I tend to just raise the panel on the Vista if we there for a day in the sun. If staying a couple of days I'll take the two panels (200W) of the van and set them up. If we're staying longer then it depends on how much sun we get, as to if we break out the blankets.

Personally if I could I would mount flexible panels on the roof and hopefully they would cover the usage without needing to setup the blankets. Problem is don't want to have to park it in the sun, prefer to park under cover.

Thanks mate, really appreciate the insight into your usage and recovery methods.
As i will be adding a 60lt Fridge and making the 40lt i have a freezer in time.

Yes, you can never have too many panels, shallow discharged batteries are happy batteries, no matter what is asked of them ;)

Road Tech Marine have flexible panels, Salty, up to about 100 watts, from memory. They are a branch of Jaycar, so maybe Jaycar sell them too?

These flexible panels look quite sturdy, have a thin nylon backing and would free stand, up against a tyre, post or similar. They can't be folded like a blanket, but are thin enough you could fit them literally anywhere.

If you're going to run your 40L as a freezer, then shallow discharged batteries will be a thing of the past.......to a degree.

Bob

The Supercheap ridge Rider is a good blanket but ditch the regulator. I have both a Redarc 190w and Super cheap 150w running through a Redarc 30amp regulator for the price of the Ridge Rider was great value $400 at the time. I like the fact they fold up and are easy to stow

Thanks mate, that sounds like you are really sold on the blanket.

Yes, i will not be using the reg that comes with it, have Victron and Redarc products to look after Batteries, which allows a better voltage delivery over that longer lead.

Thanks rlhydn.

IS it the PV type that determines what effect partial shading has on output or the controller type? IE: MPPT vs PWM

Yep can be an issue, we usually camp remotely so not so much an issue for us. If I'm worried about losing them I loop a stainless steel cable around them, through holes etc, and another that has an alarm on it that activates if you cut the wire.

Thank Joe

That is very glowing review :)
I had just been researching flexible or foldable panels, seems a of cheap one break the electrical connection at the folding points after a while.

Nice to hear you have had a good run from yours :)
Thank you for sharing that.

Thanks TTTSA,

I was just about to pull the trigger on a Traditional 200Watt Panel for reasons of Output and Price...

Your post has me reconsidering.

Salty Dog

$ per output W is pretty favourable for the traditional panels, the Redarc in particular aren't cheap. The size that they fold up and the total weight just suited us much better.

Cheers
Peter