Renogy 175 Watt Flexible Solar Panel Performance

This is a performance test of the 175 Watt Renogy flexible solar panel. In this video I test a panel that has been on my caravan for 18 months but was damaged some months ago.
Turns out it's still working perfectly and need not have replaced it!
These panels work well and clearly are rugged enough to survive some significant damage without impact to performance.

[@raymonddriggers]

Good to know!!

[@SailProMarina]

Your comments are turned off on the install review of your Renogy 50amp DC-DC MPPT charge/control/monitor. First , the little green BTS input is for your Battery Temp Sensor and the BVS is your Battery Voltage Sensor for using an external unit OR some Smart Alternators have a connection. Now to clarify, as a Renogy Ambassador- The new units have software updated to calculate the Input and allow the Alternator to charge at a full 50amps However with your unit you will find if you install a CUTOFF switch from your Solar PV+ input, it will automatically charge at the Full 50amp rate when there is No Input from Solar PV+ Maybe you can copy/paste this comment into that video OR update your original video and/or notes to help folks in this regards. Cheers & Take Care

[@timterry8714]

Unless they have lowered the ALT input voltage required to achieve the full 50 Amps output (as is the case with the 40A DCDC charger - see my other Vid) its not going to help. The problem here that I was highlighting is that the ALT input voltage cannot drop below 13.2 volts to achieve the rated output and this is virtually impossible to achieve for a caravan or trailer situation due to cable loss and the practicable and manageable cable size. to output 50 amps the DCDC charger requires about 65 Amps input to overcome losses incurred through the charger. One of the primary objectives of a DCDC charger is to overcome voltage drop that will occur over 10 mtrs or 30' of cable plus connectors, etc. This was a failing in this product and may have been addressed and corrected in later versions.

[@stephenwalczak3166]

Hi mate, I'm about to buy a Renogy 50amp dcdc charger. I saw your old video about the alternator under charge situation. I was just wondering if you or Renogy worked out the issue? Sorry to bug you, but the comments have been turn off on that video. Thanks

[@timterry8714]

Hi Stephen, I think there are issues still with the 50 amp charger. You are better off buying separate solar and dc chargers and I use the 40A Renogy dcdc charger and it works properly as I mentioned in the description. I did a video on the 40amp dcdc charger also

[@peterleary2389]

Hi, what is the unit you are using to measure the voltage and amps from the solar panel? I need one like that. Thanks Peter

[@timterry8714]

The unit I was using is a project I built about 40 years ago and recently updated with the digital display meter that I sourced from Aliexpress a couple of years ago (not sure its available anymore). This unit is a constant current tester for power supplies, batteries, etc., and can sink over 40 amps continuously for short periods. If you check my other videos I created a short video on this unit a while back. Its a great tool to have for accurately testing high current power sources. For your application have a look at this from Amazon its rated to 180 Watts and good for solar panels: www.amazon.com.au/Electronic-Multitester-Discharge-Capacity-Monitoring/dp/B0CBN6W43M/ref=sr_1_8?crid=1KCOOFDF44CEO&keywords=Vastarry+180W+DC+Electronic+Load+Tester&qid=1693265310&sprefix=vastarry+180w+dc+electronic+load+tester%2Caps%2C277&sr=8-8