Solar panel lifespan...

Fresno Tundra Driver wrote:
So my question is two fold. Do solar panels age/degrade while in storage the same as if they are in constant use? We camp maybe 25-30 days/year and the rest of the time the panels would be inside my dark garage so will they loose the same .5-1%/year efficiency as panels in constant use?
Secondly, I'm looking at the Renogy suitcase(Two 50 watt panels)with 20 amp charger controller and the alligator clips. Do any of you fellow campers have experience with this company or product good or bad? All I'm really hoping to do with this is assist with my two group 27 battery charging needs...

Depends on the construction.

The semiconductors won't degrade in storage, since they're not being bombarded with radiation.

Some of the plasticy materials may yellow or fog, with or without sun. I have a 10w panel stored in my back shed, out of the sun, been there for years. I notice the plastic is yellowing already, and becoming less clear. I also have a much older mostly glass and metal panel, 5 watt, and it looks brand new.

We have solar panels on our RV roof but we did purchase a Renogy 100 watt suitcase 5 years ago as we often find ourselves in shaded sites. Our Renogy solar suitcase is solidly built and has endured all kinds of extreme weather over the years, although the original controller gave up the ghost during a monsoonal downpour a couple of summers back. It was not water proof, went to their website and purchased another controller from Renogy with water resistance capabilities.

Can not comment on solar panel efficiency degradation while in use versus stored, we use our Renogy solar suitcase sporadically as well, have not noticed much deviation in panel performance as it pertains to output voltage or amperage. Does a great job supplementing our rooftop solar, or all by itself as we can track the sun all day for maximum efficiency. Lent solar suitcase out to a few friends and family members, they were impressed and have since purchased their own.

Portable solar...set them up every morning. My roof mounted panels are already working. Move them as necessary and watch for theft. Take them in for lunch in town. Mine keep working. Return from lunch and set up panels again. Move them as necessary and watch for theft. Sundown, store panels. Repeat tomorrow and all that for two, three times the cost of roof mounted panels.