mono vs poly real life testing
Hi folks, This popped up and I thought it worth posting! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZ_jrSAk-DU
Forum Discussion
In terms of plywood construction analogy, mono is plywood and poly is OSB.
The poly is made of chips of silicone, while the mono is a whole piece. The mono is better for RV use. Mono should be more efficient. In reality there is minimal difference, but I spring a few bucks extra always for the mono.
You see in the video there are a bunch of squares in the panel, then there are about 4 faint lines running up and down within each square. The more lines the better. Some cheap panels will have only 3 and higher quality will have 4 or 5. These lines are conducting the power from the silicone and more is better in this case.
(not so much the number, but the distance between as the square sizes might not all be uniform).
Panels need air flow under them or they overheat. Too many people use the inferior flexible panels and mount them directly to a surface where there is no air flow; you must have air flow to cool the panels, they will get VERY hot otherwise and degrade.
I once had to use the flexible for an application, but mounted them on corrugated plastic mounted on strips of corrugated plastic strips so there was 100% airflow under them. This kept them cool.
Flexible panels will have a much shorter lifespan than glass, so choose glass every time if you can.
Flexible panels are meant to flex once! Put them in place and do not ever bend them again. Bending will eventually break or crack the conductors.
The poly is made of chips of silicone, while the mono is a whole piece. The mono is better for RV use. Mono should be more efficient. In reality there is minimal difference, but I spring a few bucks extra always for the mono.
You see in the video there are a bunch of squares in the panel, then there are about 4 faint lines running up and down within each square. The more lines the better. Some cheap panels will have only 3 and higher quality will have 4 or 5. These lines are conducting the power from the silicone and more is better in this case.
(not so much the number, but the distance between as the square sizes might not all be uniform).
Panels need air flow under them or they overheat. Too many people use the inferior flexible panels and mount them directly to a surface where there is no air flow; you must have air flow to cool the panels, they will get VERY hot otherwise and degrade.
I once had to use the flexible for an application, but mounted them on corrugated plastic mounted on strips of corrugated plastic strips so there was 100% airflow under them. This kept them cool.
Flexible panels will have a much shorter lifespan than glass, so choose glass every time if you can.
Flexible panels are meant to flex once! Put them in place and do not ever bend them again. Bending will eventually break or crack the conductors.
