200 watt solar panel unregulated
Submitted: Wednesday, Mar 05, 2025 at 21:36
ThreadID: 149833
Views:994
Replies:6
FollowUps:6
Craig S20
Can anyone offer me some advice where to buy a solar panel must be portable so I can just use it as an external source of power on my caravan.. happy for any recommendations please I’m not familiar with
Melbourne..I would like to get something out of
Melbourne if possible cheers
Reply By: RMD - Wednesday, Mar 05, 2025 at 22:01
Wednesday, Mar 05, 2025 at 22:01
Hello Craig. Not sure if this suits what you want and many panels have solar connectors on them, not Anderson. You would require a Positive and Negative MC4 connector and some suitable cable size to connect to the Blue Anderson you need.
My panel is semi flexible and thin. not a RIMMED solar panel with Glass which makes it heavier by far.
Panel is a SUNWAY, ie cheapie, I think it was purchased from SUNYEE in Melb West. Best to ring and visit to buy and pick up if possible. Saves hassles!
Specs, if true are
250W can't be that good but ok.
Voltage Vmp 20.5V
Current 12Amp Hmm probably not that good.
OC voltage 22v
Dimensions 1010mmx670mm x2.5mm with MC4 plugs.
I work on it being around 180 w perhaps.
Because it is thin it can be stored easily and hung up by the corner eyelets or propped against a frame or van wheel or placed on roof while stopped. It is as a back up for me.
Most times you would need a suitable MC4 or ANDERSON plugs fitted and an Anderson extension of Heavy Cable ending in BLUE to carry the energy with minimal loss to the Blue VAN plug.
Just an option to consider. If extension cable to van isn't a heavy lead, then quite a percentage of the panels output can be lost through cable resistance. ie NOT best harvest!
Two smaller, more easily stored panels could be useful and they can be connected in Parallel to DOUBLE their output of amps while keeping OC voltage within acceptable limits
I see Peters post above. A possible option, though House panels are often 30V Open circuit and while heavy and good out put, they might be quite a bit above the threshold Voltage max of your charger's solar input, Be wary there and
check what the charger will accept. I have 10 house panels for various uses and they run at least 35v OPEN CIRCUIT. More than the specs say!
AnswerID:
647535
Follow Up By: Peter_n_Margaret - Wednesday, Mar 05, 2025 at 23:29
Wednesday, Mar 05, 2025 at 23:29
That semi flexible would be about 120W tops......
Chances you will need another controller anyway for an extra 200W panel.
If you can pick up a nearly free panel adding another controller would give a better result as it can be chosen to be perfectly appropriate for whatever panel you find. Install it near the battery.
Cheers,
Peter
FollowupID:
928606
Follow Up By: tonysmc - Thursday, Mar 06, 2025 at 09:52
Thursday, Mar 06, 2025 at 09:52
RMD mentioned SUNYEE, When looking for reviews on panels some time ago I saw a Youtube video that compares 2, cheap vs expensive flexible panels and the cheaper SUNYEE came out on top and performed better than the expensive one. Probably worth a look and they are in Altona in
Melbourne. A flexible panel would be nice and light as my framed panel is 9.6kg
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3-sc4rlV93g
FollowupID:
928608
Follow Up By: Member - nick boab - Thursday, Mar 06, 2025 at 17:11
Thursday, Mar 06, 2025 at 17:11
Tony : It was sad to see "seek Adventures" to give the YouTube channel away . I used to enjoy his videos and he was someone you could trust I think with his reviews .
Two of the negatives for flexible panels is they do not like heat and they don't last as long as the glass panels as I understand . Although I do have one on my rooftop tent and it gets extremely hot on top .but it works just fine
FollowupID:
928609
Follow Up By: qldcamper - Friday, Mar 07, 2025 at 08:47
Friday, Mar 07, 2025 at 08:47
I have found on every flexable I have seen the major failure point I can see straight up is the cables, round, go into
the junction box through cheap glands that can not tighten enough to stop the cable twisting back and
forth if used as portable which will break the wire. The two panels I got stitched up with already had broken strands right out of the box.
I've replaced the round cables that entered the box through their own indicidule gland with a 4mm twin sheath through one gland. The flatter profile holds it firmly.
FollowupID:
928612
Follow Up By: Member - Bigfish - Friday, Mar 07, 2025 at 11:37
Friday, Mar 07, 2025 at 11:37
I had 4 sunyee panels at various times. Everyone of them was rubbish. Had 2 brand new fold up ones that were crap out of the box...full refund from both. Had another that was faulty from brand new..0 voltage output. Other one crapped out after 5 weeks...refund again Nowhere near the rated output. This is a case of buying cheap and paying the penalty. I now have 4 x 200 watt Renogy panels that are 5 years old and never miss a beat as
well as delivering about 10% more than the rated output when used with a Victron MPPT regulator.
FollowupID:
928617