Whilst at the Melbourne caravan show a rep. from coromal suggested flexible solar panels as a better option for our van roof {aluminium panel roof} as opposed to screwing and gluing a frame for rigid panels. This frame would need to be large to fit 4 panels, and hence heavy. A couple of questions regarding 90 &120 watt solarplex or solabian solar panels. Has anyone got them fitted and if so how. Secondly does anyone know of their reliability and durability.
there are a few people that have the Flexible solar panels out there..
I suggest that you wait till they can get back to you regarding them..
-- 1 issue that has come to mind.. is Heat.. the Flexible panel do heat up so need some way of removing the heat..
- A Frame that has standard panels mounted on it does 2 thing's -- Help to provide you with a Tropical roof.. and also allows the heat to dissipate via the Air Gap.
That's all I have heard so far..
Juergen
__________________
IF I say something Dumb.. Just Smack me..
I'm full of Knowledge.. I don't profess to know EVERYTHING, but I'm constantly Learning new thing's..
Hi Alan, I have been experimenting with semi flexible panels for some months, the good ones work well, but as Juergen mentioned they do get hot, I have measured 70 plus degrees on the back in full sun.
I have a van on order, and when it is delivered in the next week or so we will start fitting up the panels, we are going to mount the panels on top of a layer of insulation, this reduces the temperature on the roof by about 25 degrees, which is cooler than plain roof.
With the layer of insulation under the panel mounting the panels has proven tricky, but I think I have it solved. I will know how well it works in a couple of weeks.
I am also based here in Melbourne, if you would like to see what we are doing just PM me.
I've yet to get a flexible panel, but in my research thus far I've only seen one vendor make any claims regarding durability - a Melbourne retailer who sells two flavours of flexible panel with different surface coatings. One is claimed to be good for five years, the other for ten, neither of which is anywhere near the 25-year life claimed for your average glass panel.
