New lightweight Solar Panels - American Supplier?

[dewey02]

In searching around on the internet, I came across the following lightweight portable solar suitcase from Australian Kick-Ass Solar. It is 250 watts, weighs only 22 lbs, folds to 22 inches square by 1.3 inches thick, unfolds to 2ftx9ft, and comes with an MPPT controller. It is VERY expensive at $1350 Australian dollars = around $1000 USD.
Link to Kick-Ass website

I was unaware of this very lightweight technology in portable solar panels and would like to know more.

Kick-Ass does not ship to the U.S. Does anyone know of a U.S. supplier or another supplier that does ship to the U.S.? Is there more information somewhere on these types of extremely lightweight panels? This seems like a very effective portable system for RVers as it has a lot of watts with very little weight

Note: To try to keep this thread on-topic, I am NOT looking for comments on the following:

• The cost of these panels
• Attaching standard panels to the roof of the travel trailer
• Regular Portable Suitcase panels that are heavy and glass or semi-flexible panels
• Comments on Kick-Ass's videos and their over the top presentations

[westend]

dewey02 wrote:
Any info on who makes these lightweight foldable solar panels (not the semi-flexible ones or the blanket-type ones) or where someone in the U.S. can purchase them?

My take is that Kick-Ass is buying the individual cells and installing them in their own frame design. That means they are proprietary to Kick Ass and you won't find anything exactly like them anywhere else.

Others have given you good advice, including the 50W Jim linked to. If you're unable to figure out a mounting technique, there are folks out there that can do it for you.

[dewey02]

Any info on who makes these lightweight foldable solar panels (not the semi-flexible ones or the blanket-type ones) or where someone in the U.S. can purchase them?

[JiminDenver]

You could create something like that using 50w flexible panels at $82 each with shipping

50w felxible

100w flexible panels are larger but can be a better watt to $ ratio.

100w flexible with charge controller

Three of these would be a lot cheaper

folding solar mat

[tonymull]

I think you could use 50W panels and get a smaller stored size. Mine easily rides in the cabover or on the dinette. Would be thicker unless you use smaller material for the frame. That would increase your cost somewhat. But the one I constructed is very simple. All you need is a battery powered drill and hacksaw. I found the kick ass site when I was planning to build mine. You won't find a US supplier unless things have changed. Which is why, besides the cost, that I built my own.

[tonymull]

I made my own version, although it is 43x28, 200W. Just get any of the 'bendable' panels available on Amazon, built frames for each from aluminum stock from HD or Lowes. I used the V shaped pieces and self tapping screws, join them with a piano hinge and tack on suitcase handles and some latches to keep the whole thing closed. The panels come with nice thick foam for padding. I sandwich the suitcase in these and wrap a couple of bungies around the whole thing for safety. I added 20' of wire so I can move the panels around to 'chase the sun'. This suitcase weighs about 15 lbs. produces 8AH in good sun. About $400 including a PWM controller.

[2oldman]

dewey02 wrote:
This seems like a very effective portable system for RVers as it has a lot of watts with very little weight

I agree, very nice. (8 posts before someone comments on roof)