FINALLY! A Solar Panel DESIGNED For Shading Performance! Optivolt 100w Solar Panel - TESTED

You can purchase the 100 watt glass panel HERE:
optivolt.com/100-watt-solar-p...
**SAVE 15% with Discount Code JASONOID15 **
Learn more about the Optivolt solar panel technology HERE:
optivolt.com/technology
Thank you Optivolt for sending out your 100w solar panel for testing. I was not paid to do this video, I only received the solar panel so I could test it on the channel.
Have a solar or power station question? Get in contact with me HERE:
asqme.com/@Jasonoid
#jasonoid #solarpanel #solarlife

[@ericaepperson8928]

So glad I found this channel. Thanks for your content, and for always answering questions in the comments. Very appreciated!

[@CuriousinNY]

Renogy has bifacial (collects the sun from both sides), 10 bus bars, and partial shading. They have had partial shading for a couple of years now. I’d like to see you test one these panels to see if their bifacial gives you as much increased energy per panel as they say. So I would like to see how Optivolt compares with Renogy’s 100w panel which only costs $89 now on sale and $129 when not on sale.

[@Jasonoid]

I have five 200w panels from Renogy with a similar design to their 550w model (they aren't bifacial though). They are excellent panels in full sun, however, if shade covers only part of the panel you'll lose all power, just like the BougeRV panel in the video.

[@CuriousinNY]

Not now. I have 2 of the 200w suitcase panels and they work when partially shaded. I live in NY and camp a lot in the state parks and most sites are shaded. I am only assuming that if the 200 w works that the 100w works too? Maybe yours were bought before they had the shading feature? Plus with Renogy you can connect series or parallel. What do you think? Especially since Renogy is only 1/3 the cost of Optivolt. Maybe a call to Renogy to inquire about their 100w would be worth it?

[@Jasonoid]

@@CuriousinNY those suitcase panels are wired in parallel together. You can shade one of the panels in the suitcase and still get 50% of the power. However, if you put shade on a corner of BOTH panels at the same time they will lose all power. Normal solar panels perform the same, the optivolt panel is wired like 6 small panels together and functions like 6 small panels wired in parallel so any shading on the panel wont kill the entire output.

[@af1023]

0:45 😂😂😂

[@jashannon]

Bifacial is dumb as its more bang for the buck to buy 2 single sided panels.

[@johntate5284]

Interesting. This is even more expensive than the BougeRV CIGS panel, which i think has far superior shading performance. I don't know if you have tested that one yet, but it is truly amazing. There is of course a longevity issue with CIGS technology, but it you have some complex shading issues and still want some solar, the performance is amazing and can probably pay for itself in those special types of shading issues far quicker than a standard type of panel. Another popular KZbinr actually shot the CIGS panel several times and the panel kept on putting out the power with only small losses (a few watts!) Thanks for another informative review!

[@Jasonoid]

Yes, Hobotech shot up the CIGS pretty good and it still performed well after the bullet holes. For how long will it function that way? Not sure... Haha it's hard to know what long term damage the panel sustained and how water pemetration will effect the electronics of the panel. CIGs panels perform well due to the many bypass diodes in the panel. I wish they made 'glass rigid' panels with CIGS technology so they were more durable long term. The plastic coating will eventually fade and crack with uv damage. I plan to test CIGS panels in the future to see how they perform.

[@CuriousinNY]

@@Jasonoid great! I look forward to seeing that review.

[@teuton6167]

Love your channel. You provide tons of useful, practical, and unbiased information. Plus you make it easy for folks to understand. Thanks for the great reviews-they are appreciated.

[@Jasonoid]

Glad you enjoy the content :)

[@gr0uch02a]

Thanks for the black bean tip. I find the canned corn just wasn't getting the job done. Kidding aside, thanks for this. Great video and review. Always appreciate the step by step and side by side approach to your reviews/critiques. Even-handed and by the numbers. Could not ask for more.

[@katers22]

Make sure it's no salt added great value brand 😂

[@darylefleming1191]

Beans provides more power than corn.

[@RadiantJasmin]

As a vegetarian I can vouch for that!!!! 😄@@darylefleming1191

[@ronbridegroom8428]

Excellent information in the video and comments you made about the impact of shading that I needed to know. Thanks much!!

[@Jasonoid]

Glad it was helpful!

[@NoZenith]

Always so informative

[@Jasonoid]

Thanks @NoZenith

[@renyraiche-gregoire4921]

WoW an other great review. Thanks Jason it's appreciate to see news technologies.

[@Jasonoid]

It's cool to something new like this come to market!

[@renyraiche-gregoire4921]

Yes and when it's more common, the price will drop.@@Jasonoid

[@davecroft2991]

I love that you took the time show us the comparison, and provided the price points. I bought the Yuma cigs 200w panel last week, which if my understanding is correct also does well with shading and has a comparable price. Thanks again.

[@Jasonoid]

Yes, the CIGS panel performs much better than a typical solar panel due to the many included bypass diodes in the panel. I will see if I can test this panel VS the cigs in the future.

[@davecroft2991]

@@Jasonoid awesome. I decided to only buy one 200w cigs, (considered two), because you mentioned 200w for you is enough for running a fridge etc. thanks for saving me money! I'll be using it with the bluetti ac180 and a 40l 12 fridge. For my use the panel will be exposed to light less than 1000 hrs a year. I hope it lasts a long time.

[@johnnysweekends]

Excellent shade test and cool new panel! I wanted to see more mountain bike in the garage 😂 👍🏼 Thanks for the shout out as well 😀👍🏼

[@Jasonoid]

That's my wife's bike 👍 With winter around it's not going to be used for a bit! Haha

[@Brandonsmith901]

My two 100 Watt Eco Flow solar panels work in the summer but not in the winter due to shading and the lower angle of the sun. I bought two 100 Watt Optivolt panels with the 15% discount code that you provided in the details. Hopefully these panels will work better. Thank you for sharing this video.

[@Jasonoid]

Let me know how the install goes and how you like them!

[@billw6903]

Thanks for responding to trolls, it helps us

[@lynnbb]

Thanks Jason 😎💐

[@Jasonoid]

Thank you for watching!

[@todd.parker]

Impressive results. It's wild how much even shading a tiny corner kills output that much. I find I get about 4% better output if I use a can of tomatoes to aim the panels but black beans also work in a pinch.

[@Jasonoid]

Lol.... 🤣😂

[@markbajek2541]

I have better luck with a power aid bottle half full of used power aid

[@esecallum]

Shading causes output impedance to go up sharply.

[@markmonroe7330]

Excellent review. Thank you. I would go with three (3) of the Bouge RV panels for the same price and take my chances with partial shading. It would be hard to justify the cost even if you put these on top of a van/truck where space is limited.

[@Jasonoid]

The pricing difference makes the decision a bit harder to choose the optivolt. If they were more closely priced I think it would be a no-brainer.

[@DYT-jx4jp]

That Walmart black bean bit was 🤣🤣 No change in your voice, etc. I had to do a double take, “did he just do that?” I’m like he hasn’t done that in any of the other videos that I’ve watched. Nice job, keeping us on our toes! Thanks for helping me understand one of the things I’ve been doing wrong! 🤣🤣 And, thanks for the good laugh! 😂😂

[@Noelshepherd]

Thanks for the review on a new technology solar panel. The solar production with shading is amazing. The price is high but that’s expected with any new technology. I’m sure that in time the price will go down.

[@Jasonoid]

I'd love to see this type of performance on all panels! (but also the ability to connect in series would be nice too).

[@twloughlin]

Thanks for the review. Shading issues is why I've always gone portable. Extension wiring is way cheaper than the cost of these shade-resistant panels.

[@Jasonoid]

You have a valid point! I guess it just depends how safe you feel leaving a panel out farther away from your rig. At home, not an issue. While in public camping? I might think twice about moving the panel too far from my rig.

[@ericaepperson8928]

exactly @@Jasonoid

[@mosler302]

Understood, but portables aren't designed to be out in the elements all the time, can't take rain(says the maker). I've been putting my portables out & it's a real pain folding them up & covering with a tarp whenever raining(they're up on a flat section of my roof), & I'm seeing sun damage already in the fabric & panel plastic coating. I intend to replace them with standard panels, but was researching the Bouge RV flexible panels. Warranty says 12 years, but Jason says the plastic panel coating will degrade in sun, so that kinda kills it for me.

[@NurseAcrobat]

This sort of product gives me hope that rooftop solar may eventually make sense for my current location. Local solar installers say that with the number of trees I have it doesn't make financial sense, and that was when there was a good net metering agreement available two months ago. With new net metering changes I would likely only consider an off grid setup.

[@jefflunt9615]

I enjoy these, right to the point reviews. You've hit the ball out of the park with your new style. Also, this gives me time, and I'm sure others, to go over the comments. Those of us with less knowledge often read something and then make statements without real proof. This site is nothing but proof. As I read the comments, I was pleased with your answers to questions and showed some where they were slightly off. And as always, you were totally professional. Thank you, Jason.

[@Jasonoid]

There are certain features on a solar panel that will help with very small shading. Some of those features include half-cut cells, bypass diodes, and multiple busbars..... but in real world testing you can see that those features don't help much. It's awesome to see a panel with technology thats different and that actually performs different than other panels on the market. The only other panel that will compete with this option is a CIGs panel. I am going to get one and do a head to head comparison! I appreciate your comment, Jeff.

[@stickman-1]

It'd be useful to see how they do on a cloudy day vs. traditional panels.

[@yochanontheseeker1942]

I too am interested in this, as I live in PNW Washington where it is overcast’d most the year.

[@chancefluke7833]

Thats what i came here for...disappointed we dont get to see that here!

[@timcat1004]

This is about partial shading. Cloudy days is full shading. Duh

[@rorymax8233]

This side of the pond, beans in tomato sauce work best. Good article, thanks for posting 👍

[@Jasonoid]

Yum! :)

[@stingk5295]

Great video

[@Jasonoid]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@hitsonthehill]

Wow, I need one that works in shaded areas!!

[@fvrrljr]

photovoltaic / solar thermal technician here: one panel has 3 additional cells 36 cells vs 33 cells having an advantage over the other. so you need to shade 6 and 3 on the other. *Keep Up The Good Work Bro*

[@Jasonoid]

I think they added the three additional cells so it could be divided evenly. The BOUGERV can't be split evenly in half. Technically the optivolt is split into 6 micro panel sections and they combine those into the central hub to add up the power. The extra 3 cells might also offset the power consumption of the electrical components in the junction box. There's a bit of tech going on it there, I noticed a couple microprocessors and such.

[@fvrrljr]

@@Jasonoid *duly noted* 👍 *cerveza for you* 🍺

[@kathrynck]

Theoretically, this could also extend the life of the solar panel. Since it has 4 areas with well thought out power flow, a single bad cell won't take out the whole unit.

[@user-ib9gk4xw5m]

I would like to see shade tolerance comparison between optivolt tech and BougeRv cigs , which I hear has good partial shade results. Great episode, appreciate you.

[@Jasonoid]

I will plan on doing that!

[@brianrichardson653]

Great review! Can you also reveiw parallel with parallel is better . The other panel is probably built in series format between cells which cut energy completely if just one cell is covered.

[@Jasonoid]

Correct, most small panels are wired in a chain so any shade kills all power. I want to review the BougeRV Yuma CIGS 100w panel to see how it compares.

[@MondaCandy]

Please test one of CIGS panels. Best shade tolerant panel I've come across.

[@Jasonoid]

Great recommendation!

[@RandiG63]

This was surprising to me. Very funny about the black beans 😂😊

[@Jasonoid]

I'm glad you enjoyed the humor :)

[@larrylp2192]

I second what @johntate5284 said. I have seven BougeRV CIGS panels (4x200W & 3x100W) and am very happy with the performance. Not only are they better than what your tests reveal here, but they are flexible, light weight and cheaper. They have no active circuitry so are probably more reliable, and they can be connected in series, parallel or series-parallel.

[@greensavant2573]

I would love to see a comparison to the BougeRV CIGS. The 100w versions, not the 200w. BTW, it looks like BougeRV cut down on the # of diodes they use. It used to be 48 on the 200w, now it is 24. The 100w is lower too, but various publications give different numbers of diodes!

[@Jasonoid]

I will definitely plan on testing this panel vs the CIGS! :)

[@palindromeambigram4852]

An interesting observation about the Bouge panel. I'm betting it has 2 bypass diodes in the junction box. Two bypass diodes on a three string panel likely means there's 1 diode "protecting" 1 string and 1 diode "protecting" 2 strings. When you did the 1 cell (bottom left) shade test (at about 3:30), you got 27 watts (about 1/3 of un-shaded) out of the panel. All other things being equal, I'd bet if you happened to have shaded the bottom right cell, you would have got about 54 watts (about 2/3 of un-shaded) out of the panel.

[@Jasonoid]

That could definitely be the case! Thanks for sharing your breakdown of what you think is happening.

[@hardtruth2039]

I’m running 3 3s2p arrays using JJN 100w 9bb half cut cell $59 panels. They work very well with shading.

[@josephmiller6866]

I bought 3 200watt bifical from JJN and they are pretty good from my testing. I am going to purchase a 4th one. I am using them for bluetti AC200p.. i am impressed with the panels. I will post results once i put them in there designated spot

[@Jasonoid]

Comparing 1 of those JJN panels to 1 of the Optivolt panels you'd see a major difference in output under shading. By putting multiple panels in parallel in a larger array of course you'd offset the shading losses, but you'd have to have a bit of real estate to do that. I think the main benefit to the Optivolt panel is that you get the performance of multiple panels in parallel in a very small space. It's like the Optivolt is 6 small panels in 1. They are expensive though.

[@hardtruth2039]

@@Jasonoid I can buy 6 of the Jan 100w panels for the cost of one of those. I’ll pass until they get reasonable.

[@josephmiller6866]

Jason if you can get ahold of a 200watt bifical from jjn please do so and try it out. The test i did of it were pretty decent and there was some shading but the results were still good. They actually surprised me. I have them set up in series to because of my bluetti AC200P

[@imscanon]

FInally. Panels should have all been like that from the start. It's so inefficient for them to not work with just a little shading on a corner. Glad they're finally figuring that nonsense out. lol

[@ImASurvivorNThriver]

Cool! I like the new solar panel, but, it working only in parallel is a deal breaker for me. Thanks for sharing.

[@Jasonoid]

If you want a high voltage array, like 120v, you'll need another option for sure.

[@uselesseater5916]

Thanks for highlighting this. That makes it a deal breaker for me as well.

[@jimdaly5077]

Hi good move in a good direction, hopefully the price can also do that move 👍 thank you 👍🐝🌞

[@Jasonoid]

I'm sure with time and more production numbers it will get better 👍

[@jimdaly5077]

@@Jasonoid yes hopefully, good video 👍👍well done 👌😊

[@tbareham6241]

hopefully they will become available in EU/UK soon

[@Robulite]

I like the panel just was hoping it'd be half the price it is. If they make a bigger panel I'd be down to get that if it was cheaper

[@mr_scruffles_ytminecraft1110]

I understand this particular pannel is designed for outputting more power in shade then typically would but all solar panels now do actually collect from both sides, back being a fair bit less but still does

[@johnmal5975]

I prefer the organic black beans for testing myself. Lol

[@Jasonoid]

😂🤣

[@davef.2329]

Leaf spinich.

[@ProfSimonHolland]

how do they work?

[@JouniKyyronen-nv1ep]

in south where its summer 24.12 isnt santa clauses name day, then the sun rebirths

[@StevefromOhio1972]

Hi Jason, Well that's a nice innovation. That is good performance from the Optivolt panel. I see they are making a 100 watt off grid and 400 watt residential panel. If they could use the same electronics on different size panels, it may be more cost effective to buy a larger panel seeing that a lot of the cost is in the electric box. It would be nice to see them offer a 200 watt panel. The shade performance on the BougeRV is disappointing.to say the least. I thought half cut cells with more bus bars were supposed to be better in partial shading than standard full cell panels with less bus bars. I wonder if a bifacial panel would fair any better? BougeRV just released a bifacial 100 and 200 watt panel. Maybe BougeRV would be nice enough to send you one to test. I also noticed the Optivolt panel is also slighty larger than the BougeRV both being 100 watt panels. I don't know if that makes any difference or not. One last thing I gotta know....Why do Black Bean cans from Wal-Mart make the best cans to check the angle on the panels? Why would that be any different than , oh say, a can of green beans from Kroger? LOL. When I heard you mention that I thought it was April 1st instead of December 1st. I hope you're not pulling our legs! 😃 Thanks for the review, Steve.

[@Jasonoid]

The partial shading 'perk' of half cut cells helps, but very minimally. My Renogy 200w half cut cell solar panel performs the same in shading. It's kind of a markting gimmick. Shade is the enemy when it comes to a single solar panel and it's output. It's nice to see the Optivolt offering way better shading performance in a single panel. The can of beans was just a joke, any can will work well :) hehe

[@Ethan.s..]

My whole setup is usually shaded in various amounts from November until February. The sun is just so low that trees block it. I have 8X JJN bifacial 200 watt panels in 2S4P. I also have 3X Eco-Worthy 195 watt panels running in series. The JJN’s perform better in shade, I estimate by about 30%. All these panels always produce power even under full shade. Interesting to see your Renogy panel drop to 0.

[@Ethan.s..]

Regarding the size difference in the 2 panels tested here. One is taller but it’s skinnier. The overall diameter of the two looks to be pretty similar.

[@StevefromOhio1972]

Maybe the panels being Bifacial helps?@@Ethan.s..

[@Ethan.s..]

@@StevefromOhio1972 they are roof mounted atop of dark shingles. Not their ideal application, but great panels at a reasonable price.

[@jw3843]

I just bought a renogy cigs 150 watt panel on black friday special. It is supposed to come in soon. I am hoping it will be good. It was a bit cheaper than that panel but not by much. When it is at full price the one you just showed will be cheaper unless that is a sale price. Good to know they are making rigid panels that way. The renogy one is supposed to be 65 inches by 15 inches I think. Which is 20 inches shorter than the bougerv ones and about 5 inches wider than the 100 watt one, I think. On sale it was around $290.

[@Jasonoid]

Let me know how you like it! I didn't know renogy made cigs panels

[@jw3843]

@@Jasonoid They just released it for Black Friday or just before it. Not sure if they make it or not. They have a youtube video on it. But they say it is 150 watts. I had to look up the specs on it because I could not find them on their site. Just off of memory I think it is 23.75 open circuit volts at 9.3 amps.

[@gumpster6]

When you were getting "0" watts on the partial shading test, it's very likely you were getting some power but the Ecoflow will just show "0" when the power drops below about 15W.

[@Jasonoid]

Good point, @grumpster6. I have seen as low as 8 watts input on the Delta 2 before, so it was least lower than 8 watts.

[@gumpster6]

@@Jasonoid Interesting that you have seen down to 8 watts. I have a Delta 2 as well, though it's a 220v model (for Asia/Australia)... maybe it varies based on the model. As soon as the input drops below 15w the display goes to "0", but I have a DC power meter inline and it still shows power being sent to the Delta 2 so I have to assume it's still charging.

[@luisgonzalezjr.7465]

I would've been curious to see what the output would've been on the "Optivolt" if you would've shaded 50% of the panel. For me, that would be more of a practical test. Nice review, though.

[@Jasonoid]

I'll do more testing in the future since I'd be curious how they perform in other conditions. I'll make sure to test 50% coverage next time. Thanks for the recommendation!

[@luisgonzalezjr.7465]

@@Jasonoid Thank you.👍

[@markbajek2541]

maybe fake rolling cloud coverage with a drone being used as the cloud

[@Bellasafari]

I want panels that perform better on cloudy days. I read that someone is inventing panels that perform with infrared rays. That would be great!

[@Jasonoid]

That would be really cool!

[@ParksWithPoints]

Interesting technology, Hope it becomes mainstream

[@Jasonoid]

I was impressed with the performance. They are designing larger residential systems too!

[@stevenblack122]

Your prior ecoflow bifacial portable 220watt panel performed well in shading too. Would you consider that equivalent performance to this?

[@Jasonoid]

Great question. That 220w Ecoflow panel is actually four panels wired in parallel together. Each section is a 50w panel. If you shade one of the sections, you'll get 25% power loss or around 150 watts total instead of 200w. So technically you are losing all the power to that single 50w section. If you had two of these optivolt panels wired in parallel and shaded one of them, youd see around 175w - 150w output. So yes similar results.

[@evronetwork]

any monocrystalline panel does work in the shade ...not it's best but it does produce power

[@mosler302]

A couple questions: 1) where can I buy that special can of beans; 2) Do I need a separate can for each panel or does 1 can align all panels? Thx!

[@Jasonoid]

Wallyworld is where you can find them, I know... pretty crazy! You can actually use the same can on each solar panel. That will save you some money in the long run LOL

[@dogedogego]

i can’t believe i’m seeing optivolt on this channel and the guys there didn’t tell me they sent you a unit wtf 😂 (i’m friends with them lol, hi dany)

[@Jasonoid]

I heard they wanted to send them to a bunch of people, I must be the first one who got a video out? Colin emailed me.

[@tomnorman5461]

Wondering how robust the "circuitry" is in terms of longevity/maintenance, the premium cost makes it hard to justify installation, but that should come down over time.

[@Jasonoid]

That's a good point to think about as well. How hot will this panel get in the summer and can the electronics hold up.

[@campinwill9977]

How about a CIGS panel?

[@Jasonoid]

That would be a great comparison! I'll see if I can do that test in the future. The only downside to a CIGs panel is that they are a flexible design with a plastic coating. So for durability a glass rigid panel will probably outlast it.

[@user--PM]

would be interested in seeing that comparison (the CIGS, vs this one)

[@nobodynemoq]

Interesting product. However, due to it's really high price, it definitely is to be used in some specific environments like on the RV.

[@Bwanar1]

They're going to have to do better than 5yrs. for triple the price! That's like going back in time 10yrs.

[@litnoregrets7551]

How interesting. I had no idea they made panels specially for shade. I know some brands claim they do better than others in shade. My question is how does this panel compare with a CIGS 100W, like one from BougeRV. They also claim to do well in shade. Thanks.

[@Jasonoid]

The claims of 'partial shading' performance are a gimmick on normal solar panels. Its a marketing tactic for sure. (You can see that with my BougeRV panel in the video. My Newpowa and Renogy panels perform the same in shading). Now a CIGS panel is different because of the many built in bypass diodes. I will get my hands on a CIGs panel and see how they compare :) :) :)

[@litnoregrets7551]

@@Jasonoid Thank you this would be great. I love my folding CIGS from BougeRV. I missed my chance a month or so ago to but a couple of the rollable versions. Now, even on Black Friday, they are too much for me. Would love to see them go through the Jason tests.

[@ericaepperson8928]

@@litnoregrets7551 I heard that the CIGS from BougeRV can create hot spots since they're so thin and essentially damage the surface they're attached to. I don't have one, but I decided against buying that style due to this feedback.

[@r33llifeoutdoors]

Do an apples to apples comparison with the BLUETTI PV200 or pv350 they been out and work in the shade better than that opitwhatever I’m sure!

[@stevesidare2493]

I find it interesting that the Bouge Rv panel cuts out with the most miniscule amount of shade. I'm curious as to whether other brands are the same.

[@Jasonoid]

Partial shading is the enemy to most solar panels. The only way around it is to wire multiple panels in parallel so they share the load and balance out.

[@beemrdon52]

So this is basically a commercial for the panel company?

[@rwLincoln]

Thanks for the research ---what would be the results if the test was apples to apples ? ---Bouge RV has a new Yuma series panel (CIGS) that is designed with bypass diodes to do what your Optivolt panel does ---the cheap 100W BougeRV panel you show is an "orange" not an "apple" ---the real question is which of the two "apples" would perform better ?

[@Jasonoid]

The comparison in the video was to show what a 'normal' panel would behave like. I'll be comparing this Optivolt 100w panel to the Yuma CIGS panel soon as well.

[@tammydennison1025]

Your test and a few others I have seen simply "shade" the panel by blocking various areas of the panel. I'm curious to know--what about cloud cover?

[@Jasonoid]

For full cloud cover expect 5 to 10 percent of rated power.

[@tammydennison1025]

@@Jasonoid Thank you so much for answering. I really appreciate it!!

[@michellelaclair]

$320.00? for100 watts? What a deal!!!!!

[@Jasonoid]

New tech is always expensive. Should come down with time.

[@Billie-solarproduct]

We are excited to introduce our cutting-edge Foladable Solar Panels with USB QC3.0 Type-C Ports and DC Output-your solution for sustainable, on-the-go power

[@Jasonoid]

Excellent!.... So where is your product?

[@ddd9803]

The Delta 2 doesn't show power below 15W, so the white panel's production is not zero, but less than 15W.

[@Jasonoid]

Thanks! I will be comparing the Optivolt panel to a CIGS panel in the future. I'll make sure to use an actual charge controller that displays wattages under 15w.

[@mosler302]

Newbie question... why use 100W panels instead of 200W or higher? Is the voltage chosen based on the inverter requirements? Seems like the higher the wattage, the better performance. I know I'm missing something important.

[@Jasonoid]

It's all based on how big the project is. If you have lots of space definitely go with the larger panels.

[@shmayazuggot8558]

Good test though this highlights the BougeRV 9BB is ineffective. I get excellent results in shade with a 9BB panel, if the 9BB circuits were well designed the shaded cell should of been isolated and synchronise the volts across the remaining cells for reasonable output.

[@Jasonoid]

The panel in the video is a BougeRV panel, I didn't test a Renogy in the video, however, I have 5 Renogy 200w panels I use daily. All my panels perform the same way in shading... If I shade a portion of any single solar panel the power will drop dramatically (and trust me, I have tested lots of panels...from 410w Rooftop commercial UL listed panels to cheaper Renogy, Newpowa, Ecoflow, BougeRV and more). The only way to off-set the power loss of partial shading is to wire multiple panels in parallel.

[@shmayazuggot8558]

@@JasonoidParallel is by no means the only way, look for better BB isolation. Works well for me.

[@user-pp9ot5ul4n]

I have many 100 -325 watt panels and my issues almost always revolve around shading, trees, neighbors house, flocks of birds. This technology might be worth 1.5 times price but triple seems extreme. One question, can I add a single panel to replace an existing panel in a parallel array? I have 4-100 watt panels in a parallel config, because of shading issues, and if I could replace one with one of these to improve production, that may be a game changer.

[@Jasonoid]

It's usually not best to have mismatched panels. If the voltage and amperage specs are similar on your existing panels and these new ones, they would be pretty compatible.

[@fvrrljr]

photovoltaic / solar thermal technician here: mixing different solar panels is not recommended but not forbidden. everything would be ok as long as each panel's electrical parameters are considered very carefully (voltage, wattage, amps) plus you'd be adding more charge controllers example: 100W 24V, 200W 24V, 50W 12V + 50W 12V each string needs it's own charge controllers. keep it simple Bro's as it can lead to loss of efficiency and power output. i prefer Micro-inverters for shading problems *edit:* one more thing, polycrystalline with monocrystalline solar cells can be connected on same string but it's not recommended because of the different electrical characteristics the other cells give each panel. just don't do it will give you headaches that's when solar gets a bad wrap. in an apocalyptic scenario i'll do it

[@rickhunt3183]

Instead of throwing money at a problem the best solution is to eliminate all of the shading and spend that extra 200 dollars on a higher output panel. Big panels greatly decrease the wiring and mounting complexity associated with smaller and multiple panels. However you're going to be required to man up to wrestle a 450 watt panel. My guess is the electronics the company adds to the panels are DC optimizers. 100 watt panels are best used for small and independent isolated systems requiring less power.

[@beholder4465]

will optivolt parralel or series with other brands?

[@Jasonoid]

Parallel connections only. It should be fine other brand panels if the voltage and amperage ratings are similar between models. You'd want the voltage and amperage at peak power to match.

[@Martinko_Pcik]

The difference is caused by different architecture of panels. Look up half-cut solar panels. There are many manufacturers who make them today.

[@Jasonoid]

These both use half cut cells though

[@Martinko_Pcik]

@@Jasonoid Half-cut cells ? Or panels ? The fact the cells are smaller doesn't mean the panel is thr "half-cut architecture". The difference is in the internal wiring. In normal panels all cells are connected in series. In half-cut panels 2 halves are in parallel with each other. That causes the difference in performance in your test case, where the shade is limited to affect only one half of the pannel

[@Jasonoid]

@@Martinko_Pcik the difference in performance comes from the optivolt being wired in 6 different sections which combine together into one larger panel. If one section of the 6 are shaded. The panel still outs out power. Go to their website and see how it works. The BougeRV panels cells are wired in one continuous string of series.

[@jolieb9138]

I use a dolly and move a 400 W panel into the sun. I should try a can of soup.😂

[@EricPeelMusic]

Like like 30% more surface area needed to get same output. I value solutions which require less cost and less surface area over solutions that allow me to partially shade my panels. Shade is too easy to control. Square footage and project cost often is not.

[@Jasonoid]

Good point!

[@corcorandm]

I wonder what the lifecycle is on the "optivolt" circuitry

[@Jasonoid]

It's a glass rigid panel, should be quite good. I'll find a good way to test these out long term.

[@yblue-kr2jl]

My eBay 100w hqst solar panels work in full shade I get 22watts

[@Jasonoid]

I figured out this power station doesn't show input below 13 watts. So the power was around 13 watts or less. I will use a different charge controller to test for true wattage next time.

[@DaytonaJim78]

How about a cloudy day

[@Jasonoid]

You'll see 10 to 15 percent of rated power.

[@user-ke9yk5qp3u]

You can buy a cheap irradiance meter which you mount to the edge of the solar panel so you have the solar irradiance in watts per square meter and then use a temperature gun on the back of the solar panel. You need both if you really wanna geek out on this stuff. I did solar installs for over 20 years and whenever my customers asked me about solar panels that would operate in shade I would tell them that I would never put my name on an installation that included solar panels that sat in the shade. Sorry folks but I am going to decline to bid.

[@ErtsenPlayGames]

IF YOU WANT TO KNOW THE DIFFERENCE --- cheap panels dont have bypass diode - meaning power go through each single cell ,and if one is shaded it won't allow the power to go through or work like a resistor heating up in more expensive panels there are bypass diodes that are connected to + and - to one section (or even a single cell in rly expensive options) and if that one cell is shaded power go trough bypass diode like if there was never any solar cells there in rly big installations like multiple panels , 10kw power , of one panel is shaded without diodes it can burn / or there wont be any power produced with bypass diodes connected to + and - of each single panel (+ of diode to + of the panel and so on,, like if you were connecting standard DC light diode to make it glow) you only lose power from the single shaded panel

[@ItsEverythingElse]

Not being able to series them may limit what charge controllers you can use, and you may have to oversize the controller.

[@Jasonoid]

Yeah, I agree. That's why I chose the 48v option so I could at least lesson the amps through the wiring.

[@optivoltsolar]

Our High-Voltage (48V) option allows for up to a six-panel string. We’ve specifically designed our 100W panel to be compatible with the vast majority of charge controllers without needing to upgrade.

[@vim55k]

1usd per watt?? We have here in Israel 570w bifacial panels for $214. So 0.4$/w

[@teemum.9023]

Working partially covered does not mean it doesn´t need sun (work in a shade)

[@Jasonoid]

I was putting to test the claim of the company. From my understanding, there are no solar panels on the market that perform decent in full shading.

[@teemum.9023]

@@Jasonoid Yes, this panel works in partial shade. All panels produce 7 % in cloudy weather and rain during daylight

[@Moes_Prep_and_Tech]

Impressive (in my Darth Vader Voice)

[@Jasonoid]

Awesome! Haha

[@-iIIiiiiiIiiiiIIIiiIi-]

The price is a dealbreaker. 10-15% premium for this new feature is acceptable. Any more is ridiculous.

[@Jasonoid]

Thanks for the feedback

[@rsj3039]

what about the other end of that ...the most voltage you see?

[@Jasonoid]

What do you mean?

[@rsj3039]

@@Jasonoid Do they perform to the upper end of voltage during full sun? I am sure they do, but it would be good to hear the voltages they both put out in direct sun and how they compared.

[@rsj3039]

either result does not justify 3 times the price imo.

[@teuton6167]

@@rsj3039 maybe for many people that’s true but my property has large trees all around it so panels like these are very interesting to me. It’s almost impossible for me to get full sun in the late Fall and winter for more than a couple of hours.

[@FJRyder]

Cool tech for sure, But.... Dang, @ 3x the price I think I will just buy 3 panels.

[@Jasonoid]

Yeah, they are a bit pricey

[@FJRyder]

@@Jasonoid But like with any new technology, it gets cheaper in time. Combine this with bifacial panels, it starts to open lots of possibilities. Anyways, great video. Thank you for taking the time to showcase these.

[@ohary1]

show the numbers

[@james6420]

Cant purchase from website

[@Jasonoid]

They said they will have these panels in a few months.

[@james6420]

Omg that's like a hole lifetime to wait. I greatly appreciate letting me know. I just purchased the renogy N type 250 watt 16 bus panel hopefully it does good

[@rcguymike]

$1/W is crazy expensive...like portable folding panel territory. You can easily find pairs of ecoflow 100W panels for less than $.70/W. If these are that expensive I'd rather go with the CIGS I think....

[@Jasonoid]

70 cents!? Where you finding those panels? That's great. The Ecoflow panels sell for $2 a watt usually. Sometimes more than that!

[@OnusBones]

Interesting. Definitely a niche product though; if the space is available, you can buy three "normal' 100W panels for the same price, and position them differently to account for shading on one or two of them.

[@Jasonoid]

Yes, if the space is available use a normal panel. There are specific applications where these would work well and you'd still get decent performance. Some people put thousands of dollars into an overlanding build, the price of these panels won't matter too much if want power.

[@NoZenith]

​@Jasonoid I want to build a little cargo trailer camper and maximize what roof space I can for a couple very high powered efficient panels so I don't have to carry a bunch of portable ones to set up and when I'm parked somewhere it can be charging my battery..... I'm even looking at the cigs panels so thank you so very much for bringing these to my attention

[@bigj5119]

Price ouch!

[@Jasonoid]

It's a bit more than a normal panel.

[@kerry5972]

Before too long they will have refurbished Opivolt 100 watt solar panels. Probably at half the price.

[@Jasonoid]

Keep an eye out!

[@TheWoodHaven]

Amorphous solar panals (old Harbor Freight thunderbolt) have worked in the shade for years and years. Just sayin.

[@Jasonoid]

That's good to know! They aren't super efficient for the size but at least they work well in shading.

[@TheWoodHaven]

@@Jasonoid yeah, I have a set at my off-grid cabin that charge at night under a full moon. Not a ton of current, but enough to register.

[@greensavant2573]

Be aware that the glass on those old Harbor Freight panels are not safety glass, and shatter in large, sharp bits.

[@Jasonoid]

@@greensavant2573 thanks for clarifying!

[@TheWoodHaven]

@@greensavant2573 Ouch. Didn't know that.

[@r33llifeoutdoors]

BLUETTI PV200 & BLUETTI PV350 best portable solar n WORK IN SHADE! Compare them!!!

[@Jasonoid]

I have plenty of videos of the Bluetti panels on my channel being tested in shading. A 400w panel comparison and a 200w panel comparison are both popular.

[@r33llifeoutdoors]

@@Jasonoid maybe so but the new PV panels are made fir shade specifically

[@Jasonoid]

@@r33llifeoutdoors each section of the panel is wired in parallel so they perform well in shading. I was suggesting you watch to see they are good in partial shading.

[@ernieschatz3783]

The Bourgeoisie panels are too entitled to work in the shade.

[@Jasonoid]

LOL Love that!

[@divergentthg7925]

So you're dealing with some shady solar paneling

[@KJPage]

I lost interest once I realised they are not Bifacial. I bought Renogy bifacial panels instead. 🤷‍♂️

[@wt9653]

I can buy 5 Bougrv 100 watt panels for the price of one Optivolt. Hmm? 😂

[@Jasonoid]

Yeah, these panels sure cost a bit more than a normal solar panel! With time I hope the tech is more common and the prices drop.

[@darrenorange2982]

Crazy expensive just buy more panels...

[@gonzalez7805]

Too bad , i thought this was about indirect solar panels.... Would be nice ....

[@Jasonoid]

What is an indirect solar panel?

[@gonzalez7805]

It would be a solar panel that didn't need to be in direct sunlight.... Just what i first thought when i saw your thumbnail...

[@Jasonoid]

@@gonzalez7805 gotcha, I don't think there are any solar panels like that yet.