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--- electrical:solar:gentle_intro [2024/07/09 11:11]
frater_secessus [rack mounting]
+++ electrical:solar:gentle_intro [2025/04/10 10:27] (current)
frater_secessus [What about flexible panels?]
@@ Line 21: / Line 21: @@
     * Making sufficient power from solar alone to cover your daily power needs //in all conditions, seasons, and locations// is so difficult and expensive that few attempt it;  instead we [[electrical:12v:alt_and_solar|augment solar with other forms of charging]].
   * panels rarely make their rated output under real conditions
+  * solar makes power as needed.  If there is no user or charging demand solar will twiddle its thumbs, waiting
   * your //location// will have a huge effect on solar harvest
   * //time of year// will have a huge effect on solar harvest
@@ Line 86: / Line 87: @@
 Con
+  * **they have to be deployed in order to work**.  This would seem to be obvious, but setting out portable takes time and effort that humans do not always expend
+  * portables can be tilted.
+      * to seasonal optimal angles/azimuth. "Set it and forget it"
+      * or turned to face the sun as it moves.  An overlooked downside is that panels that are set up to follow the sun **must follow the sun** throughout the day.  Human intervention required.
   * panels made to be portable tend to be expensive per-watt.
-  * **they have to be deployed in order to work**
-On the last point:  many people believe they will [[opinion:frater_secessus:beginner_mistakes#believing_they_will_set_out_portable_panels|set out their portables any time they are stopped]];  far fewer actually do it.  And even if they set them out they are sometimes placed in shade or facing away from the sun.  We must pay attention;  solar is unforgiving.
+On the first point:  many people believe they will [[opinion:frater_secessus:beginner_mistakes#believing_they_will_set_out_portable_panels|set out their portables any time they are stopped]];  far fewer actually do it.  And even if they set them out they are sometimes placed in shade or facing away from the sun.  We must pay attention;  solar is unforgiving.
 ===== What about flexible panels? =====
-Flex panels are very expensive by the watt.  They are a great fit for people who need to mount on a curved surface (boat hull, teardrop trailer, etc) or store/lift a portable.
+Good reasons to use flexible panels:
+  * you need to mount panel on a gently curved surface  (boat hull, teardrop trailer, etc)
+  * you need lightest weight for portability
+  * you are willing to tolerate higher costs and shorter life to get the above
+Bad reasons to use flexible panels:
+  * because they are "cool"
+  * because you saw an influencer use them on Insta/YT
+  * because you want to walk on them (you can't)
-Otherwise framed panels are the standard for many good reasons.
+Framed panels are the standard for many good reasons.  If you must use flex, consider one of the non-crystalline types (CIGS, amorphous, thin-film, etc).  It is not surprising that solid crystals a few inches wide don't like to flex.
 ===== How much solar do I need? ====

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