Flexible panels

[Dibsy]

Why do flexible solar panels only put out about half the amps of solid ones .

Dibs

[BruceS]

Same size? Dusty? Pelican visit? Some connected back to front?
Parked in the garage? Bad Karma?
Squirt them with cold water & check the output a few mins later?
I dunno Graeme.... can you tell us?

[bob r]

I'll be interested in the answers I have some that do the same.

Bob

[T1 Terry]

Why do flexible solar panels only put out about half the amps of solid ones .

Dibs

More information please We have had a bad run with one batch of panels but they just died, not a drop in output. The panels we are using now actually have a better output than their rigid mates when the heat is on but we only have a few mths of experience with them at the moment so if they have a problem that develops over time we need to know before we fit any more.

T1 Terry

[Dibsy]

I was commenting on the advertised amps on new ones I musta missed something I better check again lol.
Dibs

[Dibsy]

200 watt flexable panel from bideals 9.19 amps .
200 wat solid panel from lowenergydevelopments 11.89 amps
Thought I was rite lol

Dibs

[BruceS]

Graeme my understanding is that it's really only the watts that matters.
Both are 200w so divide both by whatever Volts you have (at that time) to see the Amps.
Flexible = 200 / 9.19 = 21.762Volts ??
Solid = 200 / 11.89 = 16.82Volts.
Now if both are hooked to a battery at 13.8Volts you are talking 14.49Amps.
In reality you'd never see that though as the controller would have restricted it.

[T1 Terry]

200 watt flexable panel from bideals 9.19 amps .
200 wat solid panel from lowenergydevelopments 11.89 amps
Thought I was rite lol

Dibs

Is it this one Officer Dibble? http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/200W-12V-Fle ... SwA3dYWyHs
The specs say the max power voltage is 24.28v so useless for 12v or 24v battery charging, the short circuit amps are 9.19amps but the max output is 8.32amps. A panel made by someone who doesn't have a clue as far as the output voltage required.
The same 200w made up from 2 x 100w 12v panels http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/2Pcs-100W-18 ... Swo4pYO6fZ has an short circuit output of 5.9 amps x 2 = 11.8 amps and a max output of 5.55 amps x 2 = 11.1 amps.
The rigid from Low Energy Developments [urlhttp://www.ebay.com.au/itm/200-Watt-12V-Solar- ... Sw-itXtqJk][/url] is listed as 11.12amps, so basically the same output if the Vmp is the same. Semi flexible panels don't loose as much output when they get hot though, so the real world output is higher

T1 Terry

[Dibsy]

Better when explained ta
Dibs