New panel advice requested

[jcfaber1]

I have a 260 watt large panel measuring 39 x 65 inches.  I am using the panel in a portable setting, photo attached.  I am able to get back to full charge each day that I have sun so it is working great (Trimetric meter).   I connect the panel using a 50 ft. 8 gauge cable to the Kidd mounted in the camper.  I have 2 AGM 225AH 6 v golf cart batteries wired in a series.  The problem I am having is that the physical size of the panel is a pain to put into the camper on the bed while travelling and then transfer to the vehicle when stopping for the night.  I am considering purchasing 3-4 Renogy 100 watt semi-flexible panels 21 x 41 inches and 3 pounds each to replace the large glass panel.  These should fit in the car until I am ready to set it up.  Does any one here have any experience with this type of panel?  Do they work well?  Thanks for your input.  Any ideas welcome.

John

[Jacotenente]

No experience with flexible solar panels. I do own six Renogy 100D panels are they are great. You got a really cool set up there...thanks for the pic. 300-400 watts of panel is quite a bit...are you storing the energy?

[thanasis]

I do not have any experience with flexible panels. Have you considered making  platform under your teardrop and slide the PV panel on it when not in use?

[jcfaber1]

Thanks for the replies.  I use a CPAP at night so I want a little over kill in the wattage area so that I can get back to 100% each day.  While in Glacier, we had cloudy rainy days for 3 days straight and they began to drop down to 70% range.  Our batteries are 2 225AH 6V AGM wired in a series.  I also realize that the window to the sun in may be limited in the various campgrounds and that I will not be in camp to move the panels as the sun moves through the sky while we are out having fun.  I may put in a larger fridge some day as well.  Does this answer your storage question?

I had not thought about the slide out underneath.  I will need to give that some thought.  I am also thinking of putting car top carriers on the Jeep and put the panel up there.  I do not care about the flexibility of the Renogy panels, but the size and weight is very appealing.  I do not like the $2.00/watt versus the $1.1/watt I paid for the 260W panel.

John

[ZoNiE]

Keep watching Craigslist for some Battery panels. 120-130W. Get two or three, mount them on the roof. Sell that 260W slab on Craigslist to pay for them. I had the same problem. My panels were too big and heavy. I kept my eye out and found three new in the box Kyocera 130W Panels cheap. They are even Grid Tie Rated, not that I need that.