110 Watt SUNPOWER Flexible Solar Panel vs HQST and RENOGY (Testing and Review)

[@RVwithTito]

Get 10% OFF SUNPOWER Semi-Flexible solar panels at SunPoweredYachts.com with the "RVWITHTITO" discount code. Check current prices at www.sunpoweredyachts.com/shop.

[@rdkuless]

I was one of the first to get a SunPower® SPR-E-170 (6x8) panels . with 29.4v and 5.84a. These are the very best on the market. I have a heavy recumbent trike with a heavy solar trailer. I left home on a sunny day with 54.2v and rode 30 miles.. Got home and it showed 55.4v. (increase of 1.2v higher after 3 hrs in sun) . So impressed I use a 52v -17.5ah lithium ebike battery. (NCR18650GA cells) . With a Bafang BBS02 750w 48v mid-drive set on assist level 3-5 our of 9 levels) I used a Genasun GVB-8-li-56.4v-WP boos charge controller. (takes the 29.4v from the panel and boost it to 56.4v) . ie: trickle charge. I got my 170w panel from SunPowerYachts.com . Maxeon gen III cells are smaller/more powerful. Theoretically 25+ miles more range on a sunny day. I will let you know after my solar recumbent trike tour. sunpoweredyachts.com/product-page/sunpower-e-flex-170watt-panel

[@RVwithTito]

That's very cool Rob. I have a 170W panel installed too and love it. Looking forward to hear about your trip!

[@arlenekufchock1394]

Thanks Tito! It'd be great if you could do periodic reviews of the same exact panels as they age to see their degradation, cheers.

[@aarons7975]

So basically, when you take into account the larger capacity of the sunpower module .vs. the other two and subtract the additional output expected, they both are performing pretty much equal, just that the sunpower cost almost twice as much. What would be worthy of seeing is, how they stand up after a year in general use, 2 years, 3 years etc.. You did a good review here, appreciate it, and obviously are shilling for the Sunpower module, since they are paying you of course, no brainer, however if you can we'd really like an honest test of several panels after they been in use a year or so and how they are faring then. Thank you for the review and keep them coming.

[@RVCrazy]

Your testing setup is super impressive.

[@RVwithTito]

Thanks buddy. I'd love to have a small 20 Ah lithium battery to test with instead.

[@RVCrazy]

@@RVwithTito That would be sweet for weight. I have a tiny 5 ah (PBEq) lithium in my 250cc scooter that is great. Crazy small, less than 12oz and it starts the bike no problem.

[@rdkuless]

you have an authentic SunPower (trademark) panel.. there are many that use similar cells, but are not true.. A real SunPower panel has solid copper backed cells, they are 25% efficiency rated. The 170w panel i have delivers 29v and 5.83a... I built a solar trailer with this SunPower panel.. I tried using other 200w panels, but they didn't have enough voltage or amps to deliver a current thru the Genasun GVB-8 -li-58.8v-MPPT boost/charge controller. I got no charge on my 52v ebike batteries.. The only panel that worked was this authentic SunPower panel.. I wasted a lot of money buying the cheap Renogy, HOST, and cheap imitation panels.. you will always know it is authentic if the junction box is off center.. Your's is the real deal.. And that is why they get more watts from the same number of cells..SunPower is a little more cost, but a whole lot more power.

[@j.a.b.9976]

Another example of how to produce a video when reviewing a product. Nice job, it's why I subscribed in the first place!

[@RVwithTito]

Thanks a bunch. I really appreciate that feedback.

[@MarkSpencerAZ]

Agreed, thanks Brian! If you ever make the rounds in SE AZ, let us know, we have full hookups at our ranch.

[@bobvila1010]

Great video and test. For information, when testing under 70 degrees, performance are slightly better and reverse when temperature is warmer.

[@RVwithTito]

Great point!

[@MikeSalsgiver]

Super review Brian -- heading to download the solar panel guide right now...safe travels my friend!

[@RVwithTito]

Hey Thanks! You too. Safe travels.

[@WillProwse]

If you use an mppt, you will get a higher reading for all of these panels. PWM shouldn't be used for this application. Try it out.

[@RVwithTito]

Hey Will. You think? I was measuring the current at the controller input, not output.

[@WillProwse]

PWM works by regulating the voltage with a switch. Mppt finds the power point. The efficiency loss of the pwm is not at the controller (so it doesn't matter where you measure it), it's that it's not using all of the power produced by the solar panel. Mppt tracks the power point and uses all the power available. Even if you put a shunt directly at the solar panel, the pwm controller isn't able to absorb all the power. The mppt absorbs nearly all of it. Give it a shot and put a meter on it. I think the results will surprise you.

[@WillProwse]

And make sure that vrsla battery is discharged a good deal. Lithium battery way better for these tests. That can throw off your results as well. Internal resistance of any lead acid battery changes with state of charge and ambient temperature.

[@RVwithTito]

Cool. I've got a spare mppt so I'll give it a go.

[@RVwithTito]

Yeah I'm with you on that one. I just got a small LiFePO4 delivered today from Amazon that I just got charged up. I'll use it next time. Thanks.

[@pooheadlou]

What I would love to know is how long will they last! What are they like after say a year or two?

[@johnbaker1039]

Always enjoy the level of detail you put into your reviews, that setup was great.

[@RVwithTito]

Thanks. Glad you like the setup. I'm always trying to find accurate and clear ways to do solar test with conditions changing so much.

[@wa8khp-468]

Good review. Thanks for taking the time to do it.

[@steveking4203]

How do these panels hold up during a hailstorm? What is the life expectancy of the panels. I will be running a residential refrigerator and I'm told I need 30 amps to pull this off. How many panels will I need, 5 to 6? Thanks for putting this out.

[@Arkad688]

Hey, run a 24v system and use 300w domestic panels

[@Arkad688]

4 of them

[@phillipmorris1334]

thanks for your precious time on these detail useful information. safe healthy and joyful journeys ahead

[@RVwithTito]

You're very welcome.

[@donaldwalls8568]

Liked the info and the guide, thank you for taking the time to share. Safe travels

[@RVwithTito]

You're welcome!

[@josephjohn907]

Thanks for the test. I will rather buy 2 100 watts of Renogy or HQST for their output is comparable to the more expensive Sunpower. My polycrystaline Solar panels are still producing as at last two years that I bought them. In all all Solar panels are good

[@paulseevers4626]

Really need to pay attention to dollars per watt when choosing solar panels. Although the sun power is more efficient the cost per watt is almost twice as much as renogy 100 W panel. So another 125 dollars for 1/2 amp. Good video enjoy your channel!

[@RVwithTito]

Thanks. They certainly don't win the cost per watt contest. They do have characteristices that may be appealing for those who may look beyond price alone.

[@ab6318]

Yea, but sunpower's warranty is the best in the market hands down.

[@georgewashington7444]

I know this is years old. The Sunpower will more likely last twice as long IMO as the less expensive ones so are the cheaper panels really “cheaper?”

[@ninorcsinned3465]

What's was the difference in cost of the panels????? If they all perform to spec, then the only thing left is COST

[@roughas100]

Impressed by the OC voltage of the sunpower as its only 32 cell. My crappy 100 w flexible solar panel gets about 18.7 v open circuit...... Was looking at Renogy 100w flexible panel , the long warranty seems impressive

[@utahiker]

Question. I have a 15’ teardrop with limited space on the roof. Would you recommend the SunPower 110 watt over the Renogy 175 watt flex? I have both. I plan to install Renogy Rover MPPT inside my trailer so I can also hookup a suitcase in parallel if needed. Either my Renogy Eclipse 100 or Bluetti SP120.

[@RVwithTito]

Either would work. Put as much as you can up there. The more the better. I prefer the SunPower cell technology personally, but either should work for you.

[@RVHabit]

Love that testing board. Clearly meeting its specs. Not sure if it is worth the extra price though. Great video, Lou.

[@RVwithTito]

Thanks Lou.

[@DinoCarroll]

Very informative video and I downloaded your solar panel guide...Thanks for sharing!!

[@RVwithTito]

Thanks Dino!

[@alanburke4699]

I’m new to this but looking at price the Sunpower is quite a bit more than the Renogy . So can someone get by with the Renogy than the Sunpower if money factor comes into play ?

[@RVwithTito]

Oh of course. Renogy panels are a very popular and affordable option for the price. As you can see from the tests, they also perform well. The Sunpower panels, are more of a premium option you're looking for that.

[@scotthelmann5156]

Renogy is great or for an identical panel check out HQST

[@patcellucci3431]

Dollar per watt would be useful info. Thx for doing this.

[@MiguelGONZALEZ-qm6ke]

I have on 800 watt system with hqos and it runs my whole house , I mightvadd some sunbpower and see if they perform better

[@Dave_Gurman]

Which panels use PET verses ETFE? I find even doggy cheap panels perform well on first install, but in a real life test over several year is the true guide.

[@RVwithTito]

Agree. Time will tell.

[@fratermus5502]

People who want years of performance shouldn't be looking at flex panels in the first place, IMO.

[@Dave_Gurman]

@@fratermus5502 I don't agree, as with most products you get what you pay for. One of best semi flexible solar panels we use is from Italy at Fly Solartech, they also use technology to mitagate for macro cracking. Linksolar also seem to be producing a good product. Using ETFE in lieu of PET is a good start to longevity.

[@fratermus5502]

@@Dave_Gurman High end flex cost 3x what framed panels do and are warranted for 1/4 to 1/7th of the time. I want newbies to understand flex panels are a *great niche product for niche uses* . Normal users don't have to pay 12 times to 21 times the total cost of framed panels for flex benefits if those benefits are not required. And they usually aren't.

[@chuckeastman6446]

Always the best RV information on KZbin! Look forward to all and your next shows. Thank you and maybe we will see you on the road sometime.. Great job!

[@diegolux29]

I just got 6 100 watt solar panel and 2 of 40 amps MPPT charge controller what do you recommend me to wire them series or parallel I appreciate it

[@LivingTheRVLocaLife]

glad to see ya again loving your videos helps a lot

[@RVwithTito]

Glad to have you watching. Not going anywhere.

[@HighlanderMikeGolf]

Great review and thank you for the Solar Panel Guide!!!!! Very well done, Brian!

[@HollywoodLT]

Great video and thanks for doing so much research for us! This video comes at the perfect time when I'm trying to figure out all I can about RV solar power. Your experience, expertise, and trusted advise comes in very handy! I'm more confident that I'll be able to purchase (and install) the right panels for me.

[@RVwithTito]

Thanks Mike!

[@Iamandthatiam]

I wonder if sun power is superior in terms of overheating and durability. When glued to the roof of a van?

[@jackmehoffer7819]

Good job, great video for us solar nerds.

[@RVwithTito]

Glad you enjoyed it. Who doesn't love staring at an amp meter :)

[@pjf7943]

Hola Tito... I have an unrelated question that you may wish to answer..? I have two solar generators and would like to power both at the same time using one 180 watt solar panel (instead of a separate for each).. Realizing that the sogens cannot be connected together in any way, my solution would be to provide the necessary branch mc4's for each sogen and isolate each branch with an inline mc4 fuse which already has the diode built in to prevent vdc back charging. Your thoughts..??

[@BarryDuttonSellsHomes]

I have a question since you guys focus a lot on RV'ing 101 to teach people things and you went thru this picking out your style of coach --- what type of coach is the cheapest for insurance, and why? Class A/B/C --- I know there is a general answer that is correct tied to whether it is classified as an RV or as a van/truck type of vehicle but I am still learning all this stuff.

[@RVwithTito]

I honestly don't have an answer. Insurance was never a criteria for choosing our class C. It's insured by State Farm just like another car. Nothing special. We don't have or see the need to carry special RV insurance. Hope that helps.

[@BarryDuttonSellsHomes]

@@RVwithTito That is OK, that is what I will be doing shortly, it is on my checklist but I wanted to ask some people in this community first. I heard it somewhere many many weeks ago on what is classed in the RV category vs what is a "vehicle" --- I think it was a #VanLife build out on a RAM Promaster van with some people who built it out and that was when I first heard of the idea on this. Thanks so much guys.

[@Yukonjackman1]

I love my sun power panels, have them on my trailer and 9660 watt's on my roof.

[@RVwithTito]

Thanks for the feedback. That's great to know. At first I thought you said 9660 on your trailer. I was thinking, WOW big trailer.

[@linz_in_NZ]

Free Download has lots of great info, Thanks for sharing

[@RVwithTito]

Glad you got something out of it. You're welcome!

[@AndreFB69]

Thanks a kit for such reliable informatiion!

[@loveu2222]

I wonder if those panels flat on the roof, how much less power would be

[@RVwithTito]

At this time of year you'd probably half the output. I had to get them angled just right to maximize their output during the test. BTW it was about 12 noon when I filmed the video. Just changing the angle a little impacts the panel output.

[@gabakusa]

please review PANASONIC solar panels

[@RVwithTito]

I'll keep an eye for them.

[@Spikestrip55]

Thanks Brian, I enjoyed this informative comparison! I just bought the cheapest panel on eBay and am looming forward to seeing how it performs. It won't have specs printed on the back, so it'll be a lot of multimeter work to gauge performance. Well see how it goes!

[@darkijah-andersjehovahsn7893]

I guess the important test, at least for me, how well does it do in Cloudy weather!

[@opaandomascampingadventures]

Brian. Can flex panels be mounted directly to the roof of a RV??

[@RVwithTito]

Yes. If possible, it's recommended to have a little insulation or gap underneath. Most are mounted directly to the roof though.

[@ARepublicIfYouCanKeepIt]

Mounting the panels to a UV stable corrugated substrate that's, in turn, mounted to the roof is optimal. This retains the low profile installation with no roof penetrations while providing some air flow under the panel, as well as a thermal break between the panel and the roof. This also results in shading of the roof, reducing interior temperature.

[@opaandomascampingadventures]

John Coloe I really like this recommendation. Thanks for sharing the idea.

[@fratermus5502]

Yes, but if you are mounting on the roof you can get framed panels for half the price and 4x the longevity. Flex panels are a niche product for niche uses. Like mounting to curved surfaces or extreme portability. They are not a good default panel for the average bear.

[@fratermus5502]

@@ARepublicIfYouCanKeepIt In my testing on sunny days with little breeze it was hotter under the panel than on the exposed roof. And that's with a *5"* gap. Panels run, absent a cooling breeze, something like 50F-60F over ambient in direct sunlight.

[@nofear2trek]

Is there a reason for the larger footprint (longer) requirements other than the desire for a large font of the brand name? Seems like just a bit longer and another row of cells could have been added. Yes, (efficient) size matters. Thanks for the side by side comparisons to visualize what the watt advantages cost in real estate.

[@sociopathmercenary]

Yeah. Looks like the 10% increased efficiency is eaten up by 10% more area. For the same coverage, you could use a cheaper less efficient panel and get the same output

[@RVwithTito]

I agree. I'd prefer the branding to be much smaller. I'm guessing it's to accommodate that larger junction box. If you look at the Sunpower and Renogy panel side-by-side, they're about the same height but the renogy has 4 more cells. So it seems like wasted real estate.

[@nofear2trek]

I saw the larger junction box on the Sunpower compared to the smaller one used by HQST. I suspect there is extra air in Sunpowers junction box in the same manner used by bigger cereal boxes to look like more is inside.

[@ronmagliacane]

I do like the testing set up you did. The dollar per watt might be useful, but I think the watt per sq mete;r matters when you have a limited amount of area to put them ;ie, RV roof. Great presentation.

[@bootyholeman5659]

why test using a pwm controller?

[@clintstinytrailerconversio5560]

Excellent comparo Brian. Your setup was pretty darn good, but you could have used a larger Ah battery. In your side-by-side Renogy 100 and the Sunpower 110 test, the Sunpower was making 4 to 5% more output but should have been closer to 10% more. I might have missed it, but didn't hear anything about cost. The Renogy 100 is about $1.28 per watt and the Sunpower 110 about $2.06 per watt. I tried flex on a truck camper and they just didn't hold up well. Hopefully someone will figure how to make flex hold up and maybe Sunpower has. The weight savings make these attractive for small campers and truck campers, in particular.

[@RVwithTito]

I agree, that battery is inadequate but easier to haul around. I've got a small LiFePO4 one on the way to replace it. I'm with you. I'm told Sunpower has engineered several improvements into their cells and panels that make them more robust. I'm excited to see how they stand up over time. Thanks for the comment.

[@ARepublicIfYouCanKeepIt]

Clint Johnson Could you please elaborate on your comment about the flex panels not holding up well? I plan to mount four HQST panels on my box truck's translucent roof (no roof penetrations), so I'm interested to hear your real world experience.

[@mikeswildoutdoors7279]

I have 4 of the sunpower 170 watt panels, could you do a review on them?

[@DennisWintjes2]

Thanks. Do you find that your RV heats up from flexible solar panels direct contact with your roof? Maybe you can do a video on this. Love your material!

[@RVwithTito]

Yes and no. Those long skinny Unisolar panels tend to transfer some heat into the RV, but the rectangular HQST and other flex panels don't.

[@ARepublicIfYouCanKeepIt]

Other than the black solar cells reflecting less energy than white roof, why would panels on the roof increase interior roof heating? If the solar panels weren't present, the sun would still strike the roof. I would think the heating factor would be negligible. Reduced power output due to cell heating from lack of air flow under the panel is a greater concern for me.

[@dontask8979]

Well done! Downloaded and now a insider. 👍 Not sure why I wasn't already.

[@RVwithTito]

Thanks. Glad you're signed up!

[@chrisb5839]

2 to 3x the price for an extra 10w output??

[@gort3969]

Is there a reason why the only advertised panels for vans and 4wd's are around the 100w mark? Instead of buying 3x 100w panels why not just use one 300w panel??

[@paulreading8980]

Please do the test again with the panels partially shaded and then again at a less than optimal angle to the sun. In my experience there is a big difference in how panels perform in real world performance.

[@paulainc]

Hi, would any know the hole pattern to the 110 watt panel? model spr-e-flex 110w panel. thanks

[@ffcolon2738]

Thanks Brian, for sharing your information on solar panel, I’m looking to perhaps add more panels to my camper. Frank

[@RVwithTito]

You bet Frank. I always warn folks "once you get solar, you'll always want more" :)

[@billsmith756]

Has the flexi panel been used for the last year? If so can we have a comparison as I believe the flexi panels lose efficiency over time.

[@jimmydeen58]

Great Video.. "Clearly you pay more and you get more with the Sunpower Panel"

[@RVwithTito]

Thanks. I think it's a great option for those looking for those features.

[@twothomas40]

I think a good metric would be cost per power output, or $/watt, when deciding which panel to purchase.

[@jenniferdurham2782]

Nice job, thanks. A huge factor is do they last longer? What about those claims? No way to know yet, I guess.

[@jerryjohnson6285]

Looking at the specs, it looks like these cannot be wired in series. 45v max system voltage. Am I correct?

[@RVwithTito]

I raised this issue with my supplier a while back who got some inside scoop from Sunpower. Apparently the lawyers came up with that spec, but it's not technically justified. Most other flex panels are rated at 600v max circuit voltage. We are trying to get SP to change it for reasons youve pointed out. Will keep you posted. I'm currently using three in series at 60+ volts.

[@nomadrvmontreal2733]

The SunPower is 110 watts.... the others were not 100 watts ? 10 watts lower to start with ?

[@markw6602]

Great video. It is cool to see real world testing!

[@featherstone5838]

Hi Brian, thanks for that. Just wonder, did you test those panels again after using them for a while? I am presently pretty fed up with semi-flexibles, having tried two different makes on my e-bike. One of them claimed using SUNPOWER cells. Power of both dropped by some 10% per year (=40% in 4 years!), but I am not sure - are the panels poor quality (and would the 'real' Sunpower panels be any better?), or are the vibrations from bad roads just wrecking them? BTW, great idea to have two inputs for comparing two panels, as solar radiation and temperature constantly changes!

[@erichill5679]

Thanks Brian, another good video. Always look forward to seeing them. One word of caution should be noted when adding solar panels is the charge rate the battery can take. According to Battery University here on the web, a lead acid batteries max charge rate should be no higher that 20 to 25% of its rated capacity. For example the 15 amp hour battery should not be charged at a rate higher than 3 Amps. Some battery types may take a higher charge rate but the lead acid battery can't be charged faster than it should without possible damage. So look on the output of the charge controller for that. Maybe on some charge controllers you can enter the battery capacity and type but I haven't seen that on the cheaper units.

[@s.mendez7160]

1). He has smart controllers to regulate current. 2). He is using Lithium Iron Phosphate Batteries. No lead.

[@000MACK000]

One thing you didn't mention each panel are they mono or poly?

[@RVwithTito]

All three are mono.

[@phillipmorris1334]

whats your thoughts on pvc and rubber roofs. thanks

[@RodrigoLobosChile]

Great resources!, many thanks Tito

[@RVwithTito]

You're welcome.

[@OscarHernandez-ck1xm]

Hey Brian I have a class C motorhome 28 feet I am trying to carry the spare tire underneath the frame. I was wondering where do you carry your spare tire or do you have any suggestions for mounting the spare under the frame please let me know thank you for your time love your videos. I have looked into hide a spare but it does it appear as if it would work

[@RVwithTito]

My RV came with a spare mounted underneath behind my gas tank. In 12 years, I've never used it.

[@csleclerc57]

Do you have an opinion on REC brand solar panels with the split cell technology? They are out of Europe but have US distribution. I think Arizona wind and solar have them.

[@RVwithTito]

I haven't tried those. I didn't realize you could get split cell panels yet. Cool.

[@darkijah-andersjehovahsn7893]

Where can I buy inside Roman Europe? Now that England is outside, which is the only place I seem to be able to find them sold. -edit- Gave up on Roman EU, found a seller in England and just mounted two of them in my window after getting some 12 hours ago. 80 watts, I'm happy... :P I did not expect much, and pretty much in the range of what I expected with all the bad conditions I have. But it's not bad I think, I have one window more... but... not in the other apartment I'm moving into.

[@Hundert1]

I was looking at the volts on your meter box because James at Trojan tech support says my Trojan T145 6 volt batteries like to be charged right at about 14.9 volts. Is this where the charge controller comes into play?? Thanks

[@RVwithTito]

Yes. You should set your charge controller to the appropriate battery type. The better charge controllers allow you to program the charge settings to the exact voltage needed for your specific battery.

[@Hundert1]

@@RVwithTito Ok, thanks much. I heard something like that before about the better charge controllers. I appreciate your helpful videos and in depth analysis of various RV topics. 👍

[@creepywhitva17ढ]

Berkeley or emeryville, EBT?

[@jmcgilvary]

Do you feel the additional price is worth the extra output? I'm looking to put Solar onto my Handicap Equipped Newmar Canyons Star 3911. Price wise, is the price difference a value?

[@RVwithTito]

I believe they are competetively priced for what you're getting, especially for those looking beyond just price. For me, knowing exactly what you're getting and from who (an established leader in the industry) is pretty important. These cells are also more damage tollerant than others. Had these been available when I got my other ones, they would have been my choice. As an RVer, having access to the highest quality solar cells is a pretty cool think if you ask me. Are they the least expensive? No. Are they the most expensive? No. But if flexible solar panels are on your radar, these may be worth looking at beyond just the price. I'll stop jibber jabbing now. Hope this helps.

[@andersjakobsen9906]

If you had put the price tag on the other two panels as well, it have been interesting. Then you can see what you pay for each Amp.

[@franciscojdeandreasanchez5486]

Hi Tito, congrats on your very good content. Can you post the link or tell me where I can purchase a "PV TEST BOX" like the one seen at 5:35 please ... or anyone else out there have the info ? THANKS !

[@RVwithTito]

Don't think you can buy it, but it's easy to make.

[@gobfranklin6759]

Q, I saw your previous flex panel RV roof install. With the airflow underneath, have you had any over heating issues? Also, given the warranty on the flexible panels is so much less, does it make more sense to just go with a normal panel (Ridgid)? Great work!

[@jecrpalier]

How does 75watt output come close to 100 rating. It’s new

[@iggykonrad8368]

Would be interesting to do a cost per watt comparison. Good video.

[@RVwithTito]

Cost per watt, the Renogy would certainly win.

[@tonyru303]

Thank you for the video, interesting. The problem is that the flexible doesn’t last as long as the other panels and they only cost about $100 a panel. I don’t think it’s worth the money.

[@RVwithTito]

You're not alone in that. They're not for everyone. The panels we see these days were designed primarily for sailing. Some RV applications probably put them in conditions they weren't designed for. They are still pretty new compared to traditional panels that have been around for decades. I like the benefits though and look forward to continued development and improvements.

[@gadgetphilosophy8290]

Can you tell me please. . I’ve had a very bad experience with flexible panels regarding longevity/rated output.am I better off buying an old school fixed panel like the renogy ? Thanks for the review. Quality stuff.

[@MiguelGONZALEZ-qm6ke]

Good stuff my friend

[@RVwithTito]

Thanks!

[@TerryManitoba]

How about these? DOKIO Foldable Solar Panel 200 Watts 12 Volts Monocrystalline with Inverter Charge Controller

[@BougeRV]

i have bought solar panel of BougeRV, feel better than DOKIO

[@RustyShakleford1]

Bouge RV why do you think the dokio is not as good?

[@gizmopilot]

I just got 6 renogy etfe 160 watt from amazon for $240 each(you have to keep watch for the price drop), they also have that dimple tech that is supposed to help with the angles, any thoughts on those?

[@ChrisDIYerOklahoma]

Cool! SunPower cells rock...

[@RVwithTito]

If you're looking for cells that rock, then YES :)

[@rhiantaylor3446]

Its not easy to compare panels, firstly you need to offer a consistent load to both panels but you also need to give both panels a load optimised to their specific characteristics, which include the daylight conditions. Given the latter I would have preferred to see a MPPT solar converter rather than the PWM Prostar 15. Similarly I was not sure what was going on with the load arrangement which clearly depended on the state of charge of the battery. Having said that, I thought you tried hard to give consistent conditions to the panels under test.

[@ramzy1013]

You have the best solar advice on you tube. My question is another you tuber says flex panels don't last long and over heat and melt. Can u update me on this or point me towards a post you made regarding the life span of flexible panels.

[@RVwithTito]

Thanks. Flexible solar panels are still farely new compared to traditional panels. They keep improving and I keep trying out the newer ones to find which works best. Since this video came out, I've since replaced all of my flex panels with Sunpower panels. I do a comparison of flex vs traditional in my free solar panel guide www.rvwithtito.com/solar-panel-guide. Check it out.

[@klyonsden]

I'm not that sold on this due to price and limited help/repair.. I like Ray's setup (who boondocks a lot) and still going with the 4 100 roof tops and a free standing 100 that can be moved to follow the sun. All Renogy. Pretty sure you know who Ray is and his RV site. I have followed years of , what I believe, are the best videos to make me more and more comfortable in how I want my setup, and, obviously you are one of them. Thank you!

[@RVwithTito]

Thanks for sharing your comments. Yes. I'm familiar with Ray's setup. What he has is a popular configuration that's quite affordable. I've also found it best to have a portable solar array in addition to what's on my roof. In fact, flex panels are great for that, because they're really easy to store. I'm certainly not trying to sell anyone on these Sunpower flex panels. Flex panels certainly aren't everyone's preference. But if you're looking for a high quality flex panel, then these new ones have great qualities worth considering. That's all.

[@klyonsden]

Thank you for your response! You Rock Dude! lol

[@OVER-bENGINEERED]

I think that Morning Star PS-15 is a PWM charge controller. Appreciate the video but I don't think this test did these solar panels justice if it is a PWM charger. Your sunlight conditions were ideal and you should have gotten much more power at those low temperatures, especially with an MPPT controller.

[@stevemcc4447]

Great info. Thank you. Been thinking of getting the HQST. I would like a panel to charge/maintain a 12 marine battery and recharge my 20v DeWalt. Could I do this with a single 100W panel configuration?

[@hassan.kerryzarif1807]

Thanks for sharing, great video

[@mainemotorhomeadventures4173]

Nice comparison.Something I am going to be interested in later on.But first I have to get a battery haha

[@RVwithTito]

Something about a cart and a horse... :)

[@mainemotorhomeadventures4173]

RV with Tito DIY My wife keeps telling me I’m a little bass ackwards. :)

[@aml363]

Great video! Thank you. I was going to get the 160 watt Semi-flexible Sunpower Gen 3 panel from Overland solar. It says that it has 23.7% efficiency. Is Gen 3 the same as prime cells?

[@RVwithTito]

If it's a Sunpower branded panel, then I think they may be the prime cells. Double check with Brian at Overland to confirm. He's a good guy.

[@ARepublicIfYouCanKeepIt]

Whoa! $389 per panel? You could get 200W with two HQST panels for $280!

[@MARIOSAILOR1]

Hi Tony, Thanks for your great vídeo😉😊 Im using flexíbel panels on my boat, even with no Shadows, i see that The out put amps GOES down extremely whend The boat balance just a litle... Do you think flexíbel panels are more sensitive to that? Are The normal rigid Inês better to me and less sensitive to The smal movements? Thanks for your opinion, Cheers, Mário

[@bobaloo2012]

Sounded more like an infomercial than a review.

[@The_VagabondZ_Jim_N_Amy]

Very informative video, thank you!

[@RVwithTito]

Hey James, glad you liked it.

[@EDLaw-wo5it]

My second time watching. A question if I may. Can you use a standard generator in conjunction with 2oo watts of solar and how to hook it in? We are retired folks, not well retired but retired on a budget and I need to build my solar a piece at a time. Thanks for all the info you give us!

[@bobvila1010]

If I may answer, your generator will charge your batteries and solar panels will speed up the process. I use and 30A-15A adaptor. Make sure the your fridge operate only in gaz mode.

[@EDLaw-wo5it]

@@bobvila1010 Thanks

[@pealingout3715]

Great video! Quick question, the read out unit you use, I have bought 2 of these and they both worked for 3 months then start to show way over what it really is, do you have this issue?

[@RVwithTito]

I have three and have also killed a couple. I find they fluctuate +/- 0.2 amps. I picked up a new one that doesn't use a shunt just a ring pass through and so far it's pretty accurate with my meter.

[@pealingout3715]

@@RVwithTito thanks I will look into that one

[@LanceMcCormick]

Nice setup for testing!!

[@scdreamers1764]

I wish I could see a comparison using Renogy Eclipse panels as they are their premium for a comparison with the premium panel from sunpower

[@RVwithTito]

I think those have the non-prime Sunpower cells in them. I'm guessing they would be similar to the HQST panels, but I haven't tested those.

[@1MoreFish]

Another well done, informative video. I downloaded your solar guide and read it this evening. I started to wonder if the amount of heat dissipated thru the roof into the RV could be a major concern in making a decision. I would think the semi-flexible panels mounted directly on the roof could heat up the inside quicker than the traditional panels which are raised a few inches with mounts. Your PDF mentioned the heat dissipation differences between the two types of panels. If panels are only 25% efficient at best, I would think much of the energy is released as heat on the back side of the panels. Perhaps an idea to test this? Is it worth something to ponder? By the way, do you go by Brian or Tito? 😏 Thanks for everything you do for the RV community!

[@s.mendez7160]

you can mount the panels on top of Lexan and orient it so the channels are facing front to back of RV. At road speed the wind will pass through the channels and keep the panels cool. Same when parked. Air can pass underneath to dissipate heat.

[@mrsunelectronics544]

Check with a MPPT for more efficiency..... (Morningstar ProStar "PWM" Charge Controller 12/24V, 15A)

[@rcsproject627]

Great info thank you.

[@RVwithTito]

You're welcome.