Stick on Solar panels

DRM, have you seen these solar panels that you say are ""virtually unbreakable - high efficiency solar (work under street lights and shade) "" actually working under a street light, do you know what Amps they produce at night when parked under a street light?

Shade is only relevant to % loss of capacity anyway, as there are other brands that will work in shade also, but they put out 7+ Amps, not ~2 Amps in full sun

Link: 32 watt Solar panel specs.

Solar is a very complex 'science' and every situation is different.

Rev's has stated he needs to replace "approx 80 amp hrs per day" so how many of these "very light, virtually unbreakable - high efficiency solar panels" will he need ??

The largest capacity Unisolar FLEXABLE panel is only 32 watts or about 2 Amps, and about 1400 x 400 in size.
DRM you say -> "But suggest fixing them with mechanical means rather than just self stick tape or adhesive" why would you not use a conventional aluminium framed Solar panel ??

Mainey...

The site you nominate shows they have a black anodized aluminum frame, therefore they are not 'flexible' or capable of being “stuck on” panels, as we were talking about.

Umm, under 'fluo' lights at night, not any of those up in the Kimberley, NT or FN Queensland either where I would think you would want to sleep at night.


The largest capacity Unisolar panel, Link-> UNISOLAR Panel
has a maximum operating current of only 3.88 Amps, and is 136 x 74(cm)
this equates to 1.00 Square Mtr of panel surface area.

The 123 watt Sharp Solar panel, Link-> SHARP Panel
has a maximum operating current of 7.16 Amps, and is 149 x 66 (cm)
this equates to 0.98 Square Mtr of panel surface area.

Therefore the two panels have the same surface area
(Ok, the Sharp is actually a bit smaller but lets not get too pedantic)

Or looked at more straightforwardly:

Unisolar 64 watt panel produces: 3.88 Amps per Sq Mtr
Sharp 123 Watt panel produces: 7.31 Amps per Sq Mtr


Is one panel therefore more "EFFICIENT" than the other ?

You do the math’s:
(Unisolar 3.88A) 3.88 x *90* % = 3.49 + = 7.37 (Sharp 7.31A)

I don't know, the *90* % number certainly looks wrong, my mobile phone calculator says it's correct per Sq Mtr.

Both panels are about the same price per Amp

Mainey...

Mogul,
yes, Sharp definitely make technologically advanced Solar panels, absolutely no doubt about that at all, your Sharp averaged more than any Unisolar panel can even get close to, and your Sharp is a smaller physical size than the Unisolar panel to boot.

To put it into perspective, you averaged 5.8 Amps per Hour, this average is ~50% more than is even possible from a Unisolar panel (~3.9 Amp Maximum) and the Unisolar is a slightly larger physical size.

I'm sorry if some think I'm knocking Unisolar panels, but as can be seen, the 'results' just don't stack in their direction.

Mainey...

Mogul,
Great performance from the panel.

How much did it cost for the 123w panel?

It was around $960.00 inc. GST. There's a store on ebay called "Invironment" and they are at Glebe in Sydney.

The last couple of days I have been averaging 30AH to 40 AH per day with only one panel move at around lunchtime.

blue,
you should know Unisolar panels CAN'T bleep ter !

Fact is they just CAN'T match the performance of the equivalent size of ANY other Solar panel in the World either !

Yes, they certainly do have thinner aluminium frames when compared to just about all other panels, don't they !

Mainey,

This is slightly OT but with your knowledge in Solar power is that how you keep Greenpeace off your back about Whaling??

Cause that is a fine looking whale in your rig pic;))

Cheers Kev

is a bit of Kakadu 'baitfish' from Shady Camp.

Yes blue, I do know about "robust" equipment, I've had no breakage due to 'dropping' or even malfunction of roof-rack etc. in the 12 years travelling the North West and Kakadu areas and yes most of it's been on dirt.
If your travelling on rough ground in 4wd you have to travel slower than when in 2wd on corrugated roads.
Mainey...

Saw one of those glass panels fall over in the wind at Lawn Hill. Good night Loretta for that one.

Cheers

blue, I hope your not suggesting they will break by just "falling over in the wind" because I for one believe that's just absolute biased rubbish.

Am prepared to allow you to let either of my Solar panels "fall over in the wind" conditional that if either break it's my own problem, HOWEVER, if they DON'T break you will buy me an other panel of exactly the same model and specifications - it's your chance to prove a point !!

( and my opportunity to get a FREE Solar panel L0L )

Mainey...

Now now,
Lets not get all emotional and personal. I'm just telling you what happened.

Cheers

I'm just giving you the opportunity to recreate the scenario, entirely at my risk.
Obviously I don't believe a Solar panel will break by falling over, and I say that 'cause I've seen them fall in the warehouse - onto concrete floor and with-out breaking, I think there may be more to the story than just "falling over" LOL

Well it didn't fall onto a concrete floor as they are rather rare at Lawn Hill, though it did fall onto some small rocks and didn't work again.

Cheers

blue, yes glass will break when it falls onto rocks, however the panel would work with-out glass, may I suggest the individual solar cells were 'seperated' by the fall onto the "small" rocks, I think it was a big fall.

Most, if not all solar panels incorporate bypass diodes, this allows the panel to still work to some degree when damaged, just as Unisolar will also work when damaged for the same reason.

Any person who puts a solar panel in a position where it's likely to be damaged has to pay some price, that said I'm still prepared to offer my own solar panels as 'test' material for you.
Yes, I could do with another 123 watt SHARP, it's physically smaller than a Unisolar, but how many times more efficient, was it 90% and yes both cost the same per Amp. lol

Mainey...

The bloke who owned the panel was very upset when it stopped working and he wasn't expecting the gust of wind.

Yeah your right about the cost per amp though I got two panels instead of the one which allows for more redundancy.

I don't need to break your panel as I've seen it happen before and it would be a waste.

Cheers

In any case if you feel the desire to smash your solar panel that's up to you.

Nice little out with "most panels have bypass diodes", your not even sure if it had them, then how can you comment on whether it would work or not.

I don't care if you are uncomfortable that the glass panel broke after falling on the ground and can't deal with it, nor do I care whatever type of glass panel you have.

Time you start replying with more logic and less emotion, fancy wanting to break a solar panel, you would have to be stupid.

Here are some previous threads which detail similar experiences with breakages.



AnswerID: 13415 Submitted: Tuesday, Feb 18, 2003 at 19:41
firey replied:
Peter, Purchased 21lt Engel today and looked at solar power for that size in flexible matt style but none big enough. Would only buy flexible one because solid panels don't travel all that well unless mounted on a roof rack etc. Have mate who bleep tered two solid style ones on his travels that were stored in camper trailer. A solid will cost around $800 which is the price of a good 4 stroke gen set. If you know the max amps to run the fridge I found a site on internet to work out solar panel size at extreme 4x4..
Cheers Firey

Reply 2 of 4
FollowupID: 7893 Submitted: Wednesday, Feb 19, 2003 at 11:03
Bruce posted:
If your mate had a Uni-solar panel it would not have bleep tered as they are made of steel...I know of a chap who also bought a glass panel ...had it all of two days...then bingo..a pile of useless glass..the old saying ..ya get what ya want and what ya pay for..cheers


(Unisolar)
FollowupID: 348574 Submitted: Tuesday, Dec 21, 2004 at 17:58
Member - Jimbo (VIC) posted:
Sav,

Nothing is unbreakable. They are a thin panel with an aluminium frame, and have a bit of useful flex. The robustness refers to the fact that they have no glass and should you put a hole in it, you simply fill the hole with silicone and it is supposed to be as good as new.

I left mine on the back verandah over the weekend and it blew over in a strong wind. No sign of damage.

cheers,

Jim.

AnswerID: 32507 Submitted: Wednesday, Oct 01, 2003 at 18:08
chrisfrd replied:
Under no cercumstances should you attempt to replace the glass in a BP or solarex panel!

The glass is a low-iron safety glass specially manufactured for use in solar panels by Dow-Corning and a few other companies. Standard glass will reduce the effectiveness of the panel and removing the glass may actually break the epoxy seal between the cells and the glass or the electrical configuration.

Once these panels are manufactured, they are supposed to be completely sealed to the IP 68 standard, which entails no dust or water can get in. They also are sealed up in a partial vacuum, in a 1% or less humidity environment to prevent corrosion of the metal layers.


History repeats.

Yeah, blue now your getting off track, "most panels have bypass diodes" ALL quality Solar panels do have bypass diodes.
As to the 2 panels broken when stored in the camper trailer :-((

I've had mine on the roof for 12 years and hundreds of thousands of Klms with-out any damage, I don't have power supply problems either, probably because of the 90% more efficient panel that I use.
I'd offer to get you one to try but you may drop it off the Troopy too LOL

Any way your now happy

Cheers
Mainey...

Most, should, if, but, all excuses, specious and emotion..

As I said I couldn't careless about you and your fantasies.

Why don't you stick the 90% more efficient panel where the sun doesn't shine.

lol

Mainey , just remember its school holidays ,, the little richard craniums go backto school or the reformatory at the end of January ,,,LOL.

Cheap shot numnuts

now for the link.....

http://cgi.ebay.com.au/2x-NEW-Uni-Solar-62w-12V-Uni-Solar-UniSolar-Panel-124w_W0QQitemZ250199503057QQihZ015QQcategoryZ78859QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem