dunfixing Posted July 4, 2020 Report Share Posted July 4, 2020 Hi, has anyone had crystal solar panels? The flexible types you can walk on. My panels have gone stripy, diagonal stripes in the top coating and some of the thin coating is peeling, but they still work. they were ok before lockdown. vernon. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tracy D'arth Posted July 4, 2020 Report Share Posted July 4, 2020 This is common with flexible PV panels, the efficiency will be deteriorating. TD' Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dunfixing Posted July 4, 2020 Author Report Share Posted July 4, 2020 (edited) Was a good idea having flexible panels, or so I thought. only three years old, warranty was for two. will try removing the coating, looks like a thin layer of varnish, it comes of quite easy. ? Edited July 4, 2020 by dunfixing Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan de Enfield Posted July 4, 2020 Report Share Posted July 4, 2020 The flexible / stick down type are not really suitable for use on NBs as the temperature on the steel roof gets far too hot for them. You need a nice air-gap between the panels and the roof which rather defeats the idea of stick-down / Walk-on panels. You are going to be replacing them very soon, personally I'd go for one mounted on brackets to allow the air flow, or, you'll be replacing them again in a couple of years. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murflynn Posted July 4, 2020 Report Share Posted July 4, 2020 9 minutes ago, dunfixing said: Was a good idea having flexible panels, or so I thought. only three years old, warranty was for two. will try removing the coating, looks like a thin layer of varnish, it comes of quite easy. ? err ......... no ! it's there for a reason - a protective layer extending the life of your panels. of course if you don't like the look of them ....................... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
matty40s Posted July 4, 2020 Report Share Posted July 4, 2020 32 minutes ago, dunfixing said: My panels have gone stripy, diagonal stripes in the top coating and some of the thin coating is peeling, but they still work. they were ok before lockdown. It doesnt match any of the published Covid19 symptoms. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jen-in-Wellies Posted July 4, 2020 Report Share Posted July 4, 2020 By contrast, rigid panels are likely to have a life of at least 25 years. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dunfixing Posted July 4, 2020 Author Report Share Posted July 4, 2020 23 minutes ago, Alan de Enfield said: The flexible / stick down type are not really suitable for use on NBs as the temperature on the steel roof gets far too hot for them. You need a nice air-gap between the panels and the roof which rather defeats the idea of stick-down / Walk-on panels. You are going to be replacing them very soon, personally I'd go for one mounted on brackets to allow the air flow, or, you'll be replacing them again in a couple of years. Yes I think you are right, they were sold as suitable for narrow boat use, but the roof does get very hot. and normal panels can be angled to face the sun better. we live and learn. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
frangar Posted July 4, 2020 Report Share Posted July 4, 2020 29 minutes ago, Alan de Enfield said: The flexible / stick down type are not really suitable for use on NBs as the temperature on the steel roof gets far too hot for them. You need a nice air-gap between the panels and the roof which rather defeats the idea of stick-down / Walk-on panels. You are going to be replacing them very soon, personally I'd go for one mounted on brackets to allow the air flow, or, you'll be replacing them again in a couple of years. Ive fitted the CIGS type flexible panels which are designed to be fitted to metal standing seam building roofs so theoretically should put up with the heat better...they were outputting well in the heat a few weeks ago..they also seem to cope quite well with cloudy days......I guess time will tell how long they last...5 year warranty on construction and 25 year on output...the "glue" is more like a coating of sikaflex on the panels too....we will see...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gbclive Posted July 4, 2020 Report Share Posted July 4, 2020 45 minutes ago, Alan de Enfield said: You are going to be replacing them very soon, personally I'd go for one mounted on brackets to allow the air flow, or, you'll be replacing them again in a couple of years. We fitted our rigid panels 5 years ago on the common type of bracket that allows a limited tilt. They have been a huge success story for us, but if I were to do the job again, I would use this clever system to enable a much greater degree of tilt. I’d be happy to trade the slight increase in time needed to set up and take down against the extra efficiency that would be achieved. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LadyG Posted July 4, 2020 Report Share Posted July 4, 2020 I have 550 watts , two panels on a fixed frame, was considering buying a portable set up designed for camping, for winter use, not sure how to feed the batteries [croc clips] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchcrawler Posted July 4, 2020 Report Share Posted July 4, 2020 3 minutes ago, LadyG said: I have 550 watts , two panels on a fixed frame, was considering buying a portable set up designed for camping, for winter use, not sure how to feed the batteries [croc clips] And what will that do that your fixed panels wont do Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Mack Posted July 5, 2020 Report Share Posted July 5, 2020 (edited) 15 hours ago, Murflynn said: of course if you don't like the look of them ....................... ...you could paint them!☺️ Edited July 5, 2020 by David Mack Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murflynn Posted July 5, 2020 Report Share Posted July 5, 2020 nah .... the stripey look is in this year. leave well alone and celebrate the diversity ................................. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LadyG Posted July 5, 2020 Report Share Posted July 5, 2020 (edited) 9 hours ago, ditchcrawler said: And what will that do that your fixed panels wont do I will still have 550 watts but flat, the camping solar kit can be oriented to winter sun, maybe adjusted one or twice during the day PS as a single hander, I find the space under the panels invaluable for keeping boat hook, and other stuff out of the way, but readily available. I paid about £450 for materials and £200 for labour, so well under the £1500 mentioned, agree that the extreme tilting is ideal for winter, but the panels are quite small, even though they are the most cost effective solar input. I think I am happy to have saved around £800 Edited July 5, 2020 by LadyG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Detling Posted July 5, 2020 Report Share Posted July 5, 2020 8 minutes ago, LadyG said: I will still have 550 watts but flat, the camping solar kit can be oriented to winter sun, maybe adjusted one or twice To get the benefit it needs adjusting every hour from 9:00am til an hour before sunset. It will also be nickable and likely to blow over. And you do not use croc clips, too much risk of springing off and shorting something. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bizzard Posted July 5, 2020 Report Share Posted July 5, 2020 I think I've recommended it before. Sunflowers, grow a few in pots and attach panels to their stems, just below the big flower and they'll always face into the sun. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Murflynn Posted July 5, 2020 Report Share Posted July 5, 2020 3 hours ago, bizzard said: I think I've recommended it before. Sunflowers, grow a few in pots and attach panels to their stems, just below the big flower and they'll always face into the sun. where do you attach the crocodile clips? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bizzard Posted July 5, 2020 Report Share Posted July 5, 2020 11 minutes ago, Murflynn said: where do you attach the crocodile clips? To the battery of course. Anyway all this solar business will soon be a thing of the past, as will alternators and generators when I've imported electric eels from Paraquay. To be bred in dustbins full of water, fed on minoes and prunes and connected in parallel with a big voltage stabilizer. 13 minutes ago, Murflynn said: where do you attach the crocodile clips? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LadyG Posted July 5, 2020 Report Share Posted July 5, 2020 4 hours ago, Detling said: To get the benefit it needs adjusting every hour from 9:00am til an hour before sunset. It will also be nickable and likely to blow over. And you do not use croc clips, too much risk of springing off and shorting something. Agreed, do you have a better idea, as it is six hours sunshine in winter, I would set it up at sunrise, adjust two hours later ......., remove at night. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan de Enfield Posted July 5, 2020 Report Share Posted July 5, 2020 17 minutes ago, LadyG said: Agreed, do you have a better idea, as it is six hours of daylight in winter, I would set it up at sunrise, adjust two hours later ......., remove at night. Small correction. Sunshine is not a given in Wintertime. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LadyG Posted July 5, 2020 Report Share Posted July 5, 2020 (edited) 6 minutes ago, Alan de Enfield said: Small correction. Sunshine is not a given in Wintertime. Or in summer, three days of rain are not unknown. I amsurprised noone uses bicycle power to top up? Edited July 5, 2020 by LadyG Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Alan de Enfield Posted July 5, 2020 Report Share Posted July 5, 2020 35 minutes ago, LadyG said: Or in summer, three days of rain are not unknown. I amsurprised noone uses bicycle power to top up? Wot - like this ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ditchcrawler Posted July 5, 2020 Report Share Posted July 5, 2020 1 hour ago, LadyG said: Agreed, do you have a better idea, as it is six hours sunshine in winter, I would set it up at sunrise, adjust two hours later ......., remove at night. I think you will be wasting your money Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cuthound Posted July 5, 2020 Report Share Posted July 5, 2020 4 hours ago, LadyG said: Or in summer, three days of rain are not unknown. I amsurprised noone uses bicycle power to top up? A treadmill connected to a generator and a large dog to provide the motive force could work well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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