Alternate Solar Panel Dimensions

[ajriding]

New camper and there is limited space on the roof for solar.
I want 200 want total at least. 2 panes, one, four, does not matter so much.

I am looking for a long thin panel, flexible preferable. I cannot find.

Also, where is a good source other than Amazon? All the manufacturers seem to refer sales to a non-existent dealer, dealers charge double or triple prices.

I could squeeze a 39x18 inch panel in next to AC unit and another behind maybe.

Alternate is to get a big 250w panel and have it hang off the back, over the rear door, like an awning. Camper is fiberglass so I would use VHB tape and not drill holes. This is a TC and would be way higher than the trailer I tow so no clearance issues..

[time2roll]

Acampingwewillgo wrote:
I always refer anyone/everyone to "Solar Blvd", they are located here in So. Calif and while I have never ordered from them, it is my go to place to browse. When I finally do go Solar, they are within driving distance for me to save on shipping. While I'd love the 24 volt Panels, their size and my roof don't mix so I'm generally looking at the 12 volt Panel options. Good Luck...

I think SB is gone and closed. 😞 I liked them too. Bought all my primary equipment there.

"I believe this company is closed / out of business. Tried to place an order on their website but there was weird error on the website that wouldn't let orders go through. The phone number listed is out of service. So I stopped by the brick and mortar address listed and there is another business occupying the suite. All signs point to no more solar blvd."

https://www.yelp.com/biz/solar-blvd-norco

[CA_Traveler]

I mapped out my roof and determined my panel and controller options. It was apparent that power robbing shadows would prevail unless the panels were raised.

A big cost factor for 12V panels was the much higher $/W. 12V panels would also use more sq footage.

For equivalent panel watts the 60 cell panels with a Morningstar MPPT controller the total cost was $100 greater than 36 cell panels with a PMW controller. Note: This generally applied for 500W+.

Just suggesting that consideration of the overall installation and even future requirements might be worthwhile.

[bpounds]

I blamed tariffs for the problems at Solar Blvd back at the time I was shopping, which was around July of last year. Tariffs were all the hot topic at the time. In fact, that was what got me off my duff and moving forward with a solar project. Fear that panel prices were going to skyrocket. The rep at SB I spoke with said things were very volatile in the solar market, and often quotes were only good for 24-48 hours. They didn't know if they should stock up big at prices of the day, or hold off and see.

But that didn't happen. The trade wars didn't last long, and US/China is the only battle left. Turns out almost none of our panels come from China.

I don't pretend to know what happened to Solar Blvd, but solar installations are still going strong across the country, at ever decreasing cost, so it had to be more than just tariffs. Maybe more about fear and uncertainty than actual tariff burden.

I ended up buying my panels from Amazon. It was the best value and least risk for me, but only for 12v panels.

[pianotuna]

I blame tariffs.

[CA_Traveler]

OOB as in Out of Business?

To bad as they seemed to have a good solar business.

[bpounds]

I warned that Solar Blvd was nearing OOB last fall. They had almost no stock at that time, and were not helpful on the phone. Were not keeping their web site stock status up to date even back then.

I had hoped I would be wrong, but it doesn't come as a surprise. I just tried their phone and it is disconnected.

[CA_Traveler]

Use the larger panels and mount them higher over vents, ACs etc.

[ktmrfs]

Homeless by Choice wrote:

ktmrfs wrote:

KD4UPL wrote:
Try AM Solar, Northern Arizona Wind and Sun, Backwoods Solar, or Solar Blvd.

I've bought from Solar Blvd in the past, but went to the site (or should say tried to) today and no website. Anyone delt with them lately? or are the out of business? Always had good prices.

I just went to Solar Blvd website and got the following:

Your connection is not secure

The owner of www.solarblvd.com has configured their website improperly. To protect your information from being stolen, Firefox has not connected to this website.

So it appears that the website is in existence but Firefox and my AVG Internet Security won't let it open for me. Thank you Firefox and AVG for the warning.

LeRoy

chrome gives a similar warning. explorer says 404 website not found.

[Homeless_by_Cho]

ktmrfs wrote:

KD4UPL wrote:
Try AM Solar, Northern Arizona Wind and Sun, Backwoods Solar, or Solar Blvd.

I've bought from Solar Blvd in the past, but went to the site (or should say tried to) today and no website. Anyone delt with them lately? or are the out of business? Always had good prices.

I just went to Solar Blvd website and got the following:

Your connection is not secure

The owner of www.solarblvd.com has configured their website improperly. To protect your information from being stolen, Firefox has not connected to this website.

So it appears that the website is in existence but Firefox and my AVG Internet Security won't let it open for me. Thank you Firefox and AVG for the warning.

LeRoy

[pauldub]

This one is the probably the same one AM Solar sells except that it's a second and costs a lot less.

[pauldub]

AM Solar has a long skinny panel that's 13.5 wide by 60.6 long.

[ktmrfs]

KD4UPL wrote:
Try AM Solar, Northern Arizona Wind and Sun, Backwoods Solar, or Solar Blvd.

I've bought from Solar Blvd in the past, but went to the site (or should say tried to) today and no website. Anyone delt with them lately? or are the out of business? Always had good prices.

[KD4UPL]

Try AM Solar, Northern Arizona Wind and Sun, Backwoods Solar, or Solar Blvd.

[BFL13]

Air Conditioner shroud casts a giant shadow across nearby solar panels. No sense hanging a panel down the back unless that is towards South.

You seem like a good candidate for portable solar. Easy peasy. Just carry the solar panels up on the bed while going down the road, and deploy when you set up camp.