Hi folks,This popped up and I thought it worth posting!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZ_jrSAk-DU

I was going to comment on the size difference between the mono and the poly but ... he figured it out. The Polys are larger... Interesting presentation. Looks like the flexible might work for me if I go Solar.

I have a friend in the business. He says, if you have the space, go with more/larger poly. Better bang for the buck.3rd hand ... I have heard that flexible panels do not last as long, probably because the are mounted on a surface flexes and they eventually start to crack. (duh !)

theoldwizard1 wrote:I have a friend in the business. He says, if you have the space, go with more/larger poly. Better bang for the buck.3rd hand ... I have heard that flexible panels do not last as long, probably because the are mounted on a surface flexes and they eventually start to crack. (duh !)The lack of air circulation at the bottom KILLS them.

What he doesn’t attempt to make clear is, why do two different types of panels (differing in substrates and size) that are rated at the same wattage (i.e. Power) might produce results that are different than their manufacturer’s 100w ratings??3 tons

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.

mono vs poly real life testing | Good Sam Community

red31
Explorer
Jul 17, 2020
from days of yore
'identical' 36 cell panels, 2x mono, 1 poly
graphs at 1:00
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lB-dVPrDwFI
12thgenusa
Explorer
Jul 17, 2020
red31 wrote:
from days of yore
'identical' 36 cell panels, 2x mono, 1 poly
graphs at 1:00
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lB-dVPrDwFI

A much more credible test. The Mono wins by a small mount. Still not enough to get excited about. My suspicion is that mono is slightly ahead in some conditions and poly is sightly ahead in others. Comes down to whether you like blue or black better and what is on sale.
pianotuna
Nomad III
Jul 17, 2020
So let's see this "more creditable" test with haze? I'd suggest this test is seriously flawed.

It is interesting that one of the mono's outperforms the other.
MrWizard
Moderator
Jul 17, 2020
I just got back from a weeklong trip to the edge of the Flat Tops Wilderness in Colorado. The elevation of the campsite was 9,500 feet,

You prove my point, you got lab tested output results, because of high altitude clear air

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