How to compare good and bad flexible solar panels

Posted by Sammy on June 17th, 2019

How to buy the best lightweight, flexible solar panels for a caravan or boat?

You want your purchase to meet your expectations and provide value for money.

The problem is there are many claims about flexible solar panels and it can be difficult for a consumer to know what is accurate and what is misleading.  

This guide aims to assist you in your decision making so you can make an informed choice.  

Facts you MUST know before buying flexible marine or RV solar panels

It is in our best interest that both the public and businesses have a positive experience with flexible solar panels, and that will only happen if customers are happy with their purchase. 

Just because a website claims they have the 'best' solar panels does not mean you will get quality products and accurate information so 'Buyer Beware'!   We want you to avoid the pitfalls when buying flexible solar panels so you are not disappointed after your purchase. 

The owner of Solar 4 RVs is committed to providing accurate and honest information and undertakes extensive research and testing.  He is a highly qualified and experienced electrical/electronics engineer with over 30 years experience as a marine engineer and systems engineer working on some of Australia's largest and most complex defence projects.  Read his bio here

Are you only comparing prices?

The price can be a good indicator of the quaity of the panels.  If the price is too good to be true then it probably is too good to be true!

We constantly receive many ‘proposals’ from Chinese manufacturers that offer ‘cheap’ panels.  This can be very tempting for sellers of solar panels as it means they can achieve a better profit margin.  However, you get what you pay for so customers need to balance the risk of buying cheaper flexible solar panels against the purchase price.   

Flexible solar panels can be offered by Chinese manufacturers at a cheap price because they are mass produced in large production runs with low cost cells and materials and minimal quality control checkpoints.

Possible issues that could be encountered when purchasing cheap flexible solar panels:

• overlapping cells;
• damaged cells;
• inferior cells (are you really getting SunPower cells? see information below); 
• sharp edges; 
• inadequately sealed junction boxes allowing corrosion from water, particularly sea water;
• zinc plated fixings in the junction box which corrode with moisture;
• inferior by-pass diodes fitted or not fitted at all.

How long do flexble solar panels last?

This depends on the materials used during manufacture and how they are installed.  A vented air gap underneath the solar panel will prevent it getting too hot which has a positive impact on output performance and the longevity of your panel.  Solr 4 RVs provides an installation kit option with it's NEWLIGHT solar panels.

What materials are used in manufacture?  Does the supplier clearly outline what cells are used and the encapsulation?

Our RADpower flexible solar panels are made with the latest technology utilising an ETFE top surface.  We constantly undertake research testing to stay at the forefront of improvements.

ETFE (Ethylene-Tetra-Fluoro-Ethylene) is a high-strength fluorine polymer that is corrosion and stain resistant, non-stick self cleaning, and retains its clarity (and therefore light transmittance) ensuring long service life for solar panels.  It will not discolour or degrade from exposure to environmental pollution, UV light, harsh chemicals or extreme temperature variations.  The surface is textured for extra robustness.