Wednesday, Oct 18, 2006 at 20:44
Here we go again, have you done a search? You'll hear from everyone who owns a panel telling you why the one they chose is the best (surprise surprise, just like the fridge argument). Then you'll hear from the "experts who'll talk about valence (they've just googled it to become instant experts, the net's full of them).
Here's my $ 2.50 worth (inflation, and it'll get worse with Global Warming)....
I purchased amorphous silicone (so they MUST BE THE BEST!!;-)). After considerable reading I figured they seemed to be the best option for long stays and high temperatures (as you find in somewhere like..eerrrmm.. Australia!). I have not had anything change my mind on this during many trips.
Amorphous crystalline are less efficient than either poly- or mono-crystalline panels (aout half) and they are larger for the same output and more expensive (sounds good so far...). Amorphous lose very little of their efficiency in temperatures above 25 degrees (C), unlike either PC or MC. Amorphous run (albeit at lower efficiency) much more efficiently at both lower light levels (that means they'll be still producing some energy right until sunset) and in partial shade (PC units are much better at this now, with cell group separation but still not as effective as AC in this regard).
What does this mean? I think if you mainly do longer stays (say over 4-5 days) or mainly
camp in hotter conditions, amorphous are still the go.
If you mainly go away for long weekends, don't want to pay the (substantial) premium or can't afford the space, by poly's.
On the other hand, I could be wrong (it has happened before... 1976 I think!)
Cheers,
Mark
FollowupID:
458714