solar panels v/s building integrated photovoltaic products - RV-Dreams Community Forum

jennifersmith · RV-Dreams Community Member

solar panels v/s building integrated photovoltaic products

BiggarView · RV-Dreams Family Member

BiPV products are designed to be integral parts of the building they are part of, like shingles or wall panels for example. Solar panels used on RVs are mounted on top or attach to the roof of an RV or are otherwise free standing arrays erected near one's RV. Perhaps someday soon, the industry will figure a way to integrate solar into the physical structure of the RV, but not yet. There are adhesive backed solar products but I don't think they are as efficient as regular panels and I also don't think they fit strictly in the BiPV concept (but close). The resident solar experts on here may chime in also.

FWIW, Brian

-- Edited by biggaRView on Friday 25th of April 2014 09:03:47 AM

Lonney Wade · RV-Dreams Family Member

I have been looking at these solar panels called Amorphous Solar Panels, this is what a customer said about them.

The best part of this panel is the 'peel & stick' installation. Drilling holes in my brand new RV's rubber roof is not an option. I got 18 years of no leaks out of my last RV's rubber roof by not messing with it. So that left me with one choice, peel & stick. Another plus is the fact there is no solar panel sticking up from the roof, this lies flat on the surface and will not lift. Once it's down, it will not come up so be 100% sure where you want it.

After many hours of research, I decided on UniSolar. I finished the install and am very satisfied with this panel. I am using it with a MPPT charge controller and remote display so I can monitor charging parameters. Since this is a high voltage panel, one must use a controller that converts the higher voltage down to 12 Volts required for a typical RV.

This is an amorphous (thin film) solar panel. Amorphous panels are less efficient than mono-crystalline panels, they produce less power per square foot than crystalline panels. They seem to perform better in shadows because they have a bypass diode on every cell whereas the crystalline panels don't. My casual observation is based on several lighting comparisons, they both reduce output by approx the same amount in overcast conditions and low light.
Anyway, I am very pleased so far.

Does anyone else know about these (thin film) solar panels.

Lonney

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

My question with a "stick-on" panel would be: What does one do after a hailstorm knocks out one's panels enough to require replacing? If they are difficult to take up as the "user" had indicated, would one then have to stick panels on top of older panels?

Terry

-- Edited by Terry and Jo on Saturday 26th of April 2014 07:04:41 AM

Lonney Wade · RV-Dreams Family Member

Terry, I saw this on a site, let me know what you think and I guess if you had to stack them they are very thin.
You can walk on them too.

Since a 5th is mobile, you will want to use an Amorphous thin film solar panels. These panels are flexible and virtually indestructible.

On a recent project of mine, the roof contractor had installed screws through 14 of of this type of panel shorting them out.

To our surprise we found out, once the screws were removed the panels, they still functioned producing electricity.

The other advantage of these panels is their peel and stick installation method design to be adhered to painted metal.

Lonney

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

I will be looking into these, but I've already run into a snag. According to what you "copied" from elsewhere, Unisolar is the brand that the author of that copied text went with, and it looks like Unisolar filed bankruptcy.

I'm kind of interested in what the others, particularly Jack Mayer, might have to say about these types of panels and where a good source of panels might be.

Who knows? With retirement, I might find time to do an installation, if the costs aren't too exorbitant.

Terry

Lonney Wade · RV-Dreams Family Member

Thanks Terry for your Kung Fu skills.
I'm looking at these solar panels, maybe 4 panels would be good for a start.
I need to be all I can be before I purchase these solar panels and your Kung Fu skills.

Lonney

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Lonnie,

One look at me (old and overweight) and you'd know that the "kung-fu" skills are non-existent. It is the "Bing-fu" skills that work pretty well.

I did find another article about Unisolar and it looks like the parent company was unable to find buyers for their two idled plants, and they were going to be laying off (probably laid off already now) something like 300 employees.

With all the issues of "alternative energy" companies going out of business in the last few years, I think one would really need to be careful of what they considered.

Terry

Lonney Wade · RV-Dreams Family Member

Terry, I knew it was something like that, "Bing-fu" skills works for me.
Do I get credit for even coming close, you know like a ride in your truck or show us a tour through your very nice trailer (maybe)?
I tell people retirement will catch up with you, it waits for no one.
As for the solar panels we will keep looking for the best way for our camper but it doesn't hurt to have help from friends.

Lonney

P.S. I don't know why but all my life people have always spelled my name wrong, I guess that's part of life. LOL !!!!

-- Edited by Lonney Wade on Saturday 26th of April 2014 06:18:54 PM

Terry and Jo · RV-Dreams Family Member

Lonney,

I've discovered over the years that the eyes have a tendency to be way ahead of my brain. Thus, names get contorted once in a while. You'd think that I would be more alert at names, because Jo's first name is spelled "Orrletta" and is seldom ever spelled right by others.

As for the tour, anytime, and instead of a ride in my truck, you can even drive it. When Ruth and Dale (Nwescapee) was through one time and considering their coach, I let them drive our F450, just so they would know it isn't really a beast to drive.

Oh, and regarding any tour of our fifth wheel, keep in mind that we "LIVE" in ours. That means that there can be stuff lying about on tables and counters. Jo and I have always "lived in" our residences. We've been in some people's homes and RV's and they look like they are just "passing through" and nothing they own is really there.

Terry

jimindenver · RV-Dreams Family Member

amorphous panels are good for those that camp in lower light situations but there is a cost to be paid in that they use 4 x the space for the same wattage. So it can be harder to meet your energy needs.

I have a friend with 256w of Uni-solar panels that he is replacing with poly panels this year. They take up the same space as close to 1000w of Poly panels and while he likes the ability to pull amps in low light, the combined output of the polys in low light would be near the same. The difference is that in bright light he will be able to run his 1200w air conditioner for a few hours at a time with his 875 ah bank. The panels wont do it alone but they will handle a large chunk allowing the bank to last longer.

I considered the strips for our trailer but found I could get a 144w strip on one side but only 128w on the other. With high voltage panels the bigger the panel, the higher the voltage. Mixing different voltages will confuse a MPPT controller so I would have had to stick with two 128w strips. 256w isn't a lot of power unless you are just running basic trailer functions and if you have a larger bank at 50%, it can take days to recharge it.

Later this year I will be mounting two 245w mono panels using glue down mounts. I will also keep a 230w portable for when the sun only wants to play nice early or later in the day.

bjoyce · RV-Dreams Family Member

Remember that heat is bad for solar, so sticking the cells right on the roof means they will get hot and not work as well.

Jack Mayer · RV-Dreams Family Member

I think jimindenver covered the issues with amorphous panels well. They are useful in certain situations, and do perform better in low light and partial shading. But in most RV applications they are not worth the bother. That said, they are appropriate in some circumstances...like for example covering the curves of an Airstream (which I have done). Or placing along the sides of narrow footpaths next to AC units. But in general there are better solutions for whole-house power needs.

The Hensons · RV-Dreams Family Member

Drilling holes isn't necessary with crystal panels, either. Mine are going to be mounted use an 3M adhesive.

Lonney Wade wrote:
I have been looking at these solar panels called Amorphous Solar Panels, this is what a customer said about them.

The best part of this panel is the 'peel & stick' installation. Drilling holes in my brand new RV's rubber roof is not an option. I got 18 years of no leaks out of my last RV's rubber roof by not messing with it. So that left me with one choice, peel & stick.

-- Edited by The Hensons on Friday 23rd of May 2014 06:19:50 AM