What made you go with the flexible solar panels? I just bought a set of overland brand solar panels. I liked the idea of the flexible but want sure of the durability. Keep us updated.
Sent from my SM-G935V using
OB Talk mobile app
Hi Fellow Jeeper,
Thanks for the interest. I had originally used a rigid panel which was too big, too heavy and too bulky although worked well here in sunny Cyprus.
I looked at what was available and discussed the ideas with a number of Overlanders in the UK who had travelled extensively and for often years at a time through the likes of Africa, Asia and both South and North America.
Nearly all pointed me to using more than one panel and an MPPT Controller to get better efficiency as you could have one in good sunlight and one in partial shade and the MPPT Controller will compensate to get a better charge into the batteries.
Sometimes I want to charge the Aux Battery in the Defender so I can split the Solar Panels and connect one to the trailer and the other to the Defender (Defender has an MPPT Controller of its own) or both to the Defender as we sometimes just use the Defender on shorter trips and don't take the trailer.
Vibration was also a concern. These Flexible panels are designed for boats so should handle vibration and bad weather.
And finally I wanted flexible so I can install them on the RTT when packed away and driving to allow solar to charge the trailer batteries on the move without worry about them flexing too much and cracking the cells.
Once RTT is set up I can place these lighter panels in the optimum positions to get the best sunlight and as they are light I can just Bungy Strap them to secure them even on top of the set up RTT to get more sunlight.
Ultimately we all have different needs and its getting a balance that works for us. There is no right way or wrong way, for me I wanted lightweight and flexibility on where I can put them so this is the route I took. I hope it works ;-)
