Rigid or flexible solar panel?
- Thread starter cavester
- Start date
If you want to minimise height for parking barriers etc, get a flexi.
If you want to maximise reliability and ease of replacement, or watts per pound spent, get a rigid.
If you care about the aesthetics, obviously personal preference, but this is why many people would fit flexi.
If you want to maximise reliability and ease of replacement, or watts per pound spent, get a rigid.
If you care about the aesthetics, obviously personal preference, but this is why many people would fit flexi.
The bulky panel and fixings look terrible on rigid
Flexi but make sure it’s a good un
Flexi but make sure it’s a good un
I am yet to fit a panel to my van but have thought about this for some time.
I listed my priorities and have decided from that, I plan on spending a lot of time in my van after I have finished building it. - not hooked up.
My priorities in order
Pro's
best performance per £
Easiy replaced if broken, can swap out for an upgrade.
No risk of damage, excessive clean up when replacing panel
Low cost
Con's
Aesthetics are lacking but with cost of panel being low I can spend money on making it look better (I have seen really good examples on this site)
Height is somewhat an issue but I do want roof bars on my poptop so I plan to fit the panel without increasing height further
MPG/Road noise will be degraded
I listed my priorities and have decided from that, I plan on spending a lot of time in my van after I have finished building it. - not hooked up.
My priorities in order
- Performance
- Fixability, servicing, maintenance
- Aesthetics
- Cost
- Vehicle height
- Upgradable
- Ease of install
- Affect of MPG/Road noise
Pro's
best performance per £
Easiy replaced if broken, can swap out for an upgrade.
No risk of damage, excessive clean up when replacing panel
Low cost
Con's
Aesthetics are lacking but with cost of panel being low I can spend money on making it look better (I have seen really good examples on this site)
Height is somewhat an issue but I do want roof bars on my poptop so I plan to fit the panel without increasing height further
MPG/Road noise will be degraded
The PV logic one with the aero brackets look smart, perform well and are easy to remove.
Seems a fair comment.
Thanks,
I came up with the same logic tbh. I've ordered 2 x 175w renogy rigid panels to mount width ways towards the rear. Hopefully the pop top will take the added weight.
I'm now trying to determine the best way to fix them. I've ordered the plastic corner and mid plastic brackets but I'm hesitant to want to glue them to my painted roof.
technograndad
Member
How did you get on cavester? I'm looking at a Renogy Shadowflux 200w fixed panel to replace my twice failed PVLogic flex planels which were Sikaflex'd to the poptop and also wondering if the plastic corner and side brackets would be man enough for the job.
That’s a very smart install! What brand of panel did you go for if not the Renogys?
Hi! Your setup looks absolutely fantastic.
My flexible panel has just failed on my 2006 VW T5 California, so I’m upgrading to a rigid glass panel. At the moment I’m trying to decide between the AIKO Neostar 2S and the new 3S+.
Would you mind sharing a few more photos of your installation, especially the mounting brackets, the front wind deflector, and how much clearance you have under the panel? I’m planning to fabricate my own low-profile aluminium mounting system, so I’d really appreciate seeing how you’ve done yours.
Also, how has the 2S been performing over time? Would you still choose it today, or would you go for the new 3S+ if you were buying now?
Thanks in advance!
Did the same myself last year with the 150W firefly panels, 110cm length, mounted width-ways on existing rails. Works a treat and no issues with the (Reimo) poptop. On a hot day, elevated, I get just under 20A into the battery.
Easy to unscrew and remove for the winter as well.
Is that air deflector a supplied part or bespoke?
no, just something I picked up off Amazon. Put one at front and rear, it deflects air flow and stabilises the panels.
