You probably have a big sufficient floor—even when it curves closely—you may simply match a BougeRV versatile panel to it. For caravans, motorhomes, or boats, the advantages of light-weight photo voltaic era are apparent.
I discovered the efficiency of the BougeRV 200W panel in low gentle to be unbelievable, making it superb for year-round everlasting installs the place cheaper inflexible panels aren’t an possibility.
- Model: BougeRV
- Sort: CIGS Versatile
- Energy: 200W
- Voltage: 25V
- Dimension: 66 x 217 x 0.15cm (26 x 85.6 x 0.06 inches)
- Weight: 3.2kg (7.05lbs)
- Ingress Safety Score: Totally waterproof (designed for everlasting out of doors set up)
- Worth per Watt: $2.90
- Most Present: 8.02A
- Connector Sort: MC4
- Effectivity: 16%
- Working Temperature: -40℉ ~ +185℉
- VOC: 31.5V
- Conforms to curved surfaces
- Skinny and light-weight, so the influence on gasoline consumption is minimal
- Distinctive efficiency in low gentle in comparison with monocrystalline panels
- Requires a big floor space
- Dear in comparison with static panels
BougeRV Yuma 200W Versatile Panel
In the event you personal an RV or campervan, you have in all probability thought-about placing photo voltaic panels on the roof in some unspecified time in the future. However inflexible panels require mounting holes to be drilled, they’re heavy, can create drag when driving, and the trade-off may not be value it for the additional gasoline you will have to burn by carrying them. Fortunately, there’s another: versatile, light-weight, skinny panels.
BougeRV affords thin-film versatile CIGS photo voltaic panels in 100W or 200W variations, and at the moment we’ll be taking a more in-depth take a look at the “Yuma” 200W panel to see if it is value investing in in your journey energy wants.
What’s a CIGS Panel?
In contrast to inflexible photo voltaic panels, which use crystalline silicone, CIGS thin-film versatile panels are constructed round a chemical amalgam of copper (C), indium (I), and gallium (G) on a substrate, which is annealed utilizing (S) diselenide vapor. The ensuing panels are skinny, versatile, and light-weight.
CIGS panels typically have a decrease effectivity than inflexible photo voltaic panels (BougeRV states 16% for the Yuma 200W panel, in comparison with a typical 20% for inflexible panels).
They’re additionally costlier. The BougeRV 200W versatile panel at present retails at $580 (although on the time of writing, you may take 15% off with the code NY15). I might supply two 400W inflexible panels domestically for that value and nonetheless have change. So there is a particular premium concerned. That is roughly the identical 4X premium as shopping for moveable folding panels, so that is what I will be evaluating in opposition to.
Design and Specs
Measuring 66 x 217 x 0.15cm (26 x 85.6 x 0.06 inches) and weighing 3.2kg (7.05lbs), the BougeRV versatile panel arrives rolled up. In contrast to inflexible panels, supply is straightforward and will not require a pallet truck.
There are two variations of the Yuma versatile panels; one with mounting holes alongside the sting, and one with high-temperature adhesive strips already utilized. We had been despatched the latter, designed to be completely affixed to any clean floor.
One other consideration is the cabling. It is fitted with normal MC4 connectors, however when you do not already a cable inlet in your RV, it’s possible you’ll have to drill one. You may discover appropriate cable entry glands accessible for underneath $20 on the BougeRV web site if you could embrace one in your order, nevertheless it is not included within the bundle, and the cabling supplied is comparatively brief, too.
With an Open-Circuit Voltage (Voc) of 31.5V, the BougeRV Yuma ought to be suitable with most moveable batteries, which usually settle for 16-60V enter. Nevertheless, it is best to test the specs of your battery to substantiate earlier than buying. 200W can be too excessive for many batteries underneath 500Wh capability.
You may additionally want to offer your adaptor cables to feed the ability from the BougeRV into no matter controller or battery system you are utilizing. I examined with a devoted photo voltaic take a look at meter, in addition to charging a Bluetti EB100 (1000Wh) battery by way of a 9mm DC plug.
In fact, as one thing designed to be fastened to your roof, the Yuma 200W panel is totally waterproof, nevertheless it’s additionally tolerant of upper temperatures with much less effectivity loss than inflexible panels underneath the identical situations. Previously, versatile panels tended to have a shorter lifespan, however for this newest era of versatile CIGS panel, BougeRV claims the Yuma 200W ought to be roughly the identical as inflexible panels, at round 20 years. They’re extremely sturdy.
Efficiency Testing and Comparability to Folding Panels
In the event you’re trying to take one thing tenting with you on a street journey, you might need dominated out mounting inflexible panels to the roof. However now you will have the selection of sticking down a versatile panel in your RV roof, or maybe shopping for a transportable panel which might be unfolded if you’ve stopped. It is a tough resolution as a result of the size-to-weight ratios are roughly comparable—as are the prices. So which is best?
So to assist make that call, I’ve pitted the 200W BougeRV versatile panel in opposition to a 200W Zendure moveable panel. Each are roughly the identical size when unfolded, although the BougeRV is barely taller. The Zendure panel at present retails at $550 (in comparison with $580), so the value distinction is negligible.
To check underneath superb like-for-like situations, I angled the Zendure towards the solar, and measured the output. On a considerably clear British winter’s day, I measured 85W from the 200W Zendure.
Laying the BougeRV on high of the Zendure to duplicate the identical angle, it produced 157W—virtually double! I did not discover any vital change in cloud cowl between the 2 assessments. Even accounting for the age of the folding panel, the BougeRV carried out significantly better in low luminance.
Repeating the take a look at with some heavier cloud cowl, the BougeRV output went right down to 40W, whereas the Zendure voltage was too low to supply a studying. The BougeRV versatile panel undoubtedly carried out higher than the folding panel in these winter take a look at situations. BougeRV claims its panel can produce 38% extra energy over the course of an 8-hour cloudy day in comparison with monocrystalline panels, and that strains up with my testing.
In fact, testing at an excellent angle to the solar is a bit unfair. Photo voltaic panels work optimally when dealing with the solar, not at an incidental angle. The primary promoting level of moveable panels is that they are simple to maneuver round and reposition all through the day. You’ll be able to all the time guarantee a comparatively good output when you take the time to micromanage them. However as soon as you have completely affixed the BougeRV versatile panel to your RV or caravan, you will be on the mercy of no matter angle you parked at. If it is laying flat on the roof, they will carry out finest when the solar is excessive in summer season, and worse in winter when the solar is low (even when it is a clear day).
Whereas I haven’t got an RV to connect this to completely, I emulated the impact by laying it in opposition to the rounded contour of my automobile. This additionally served to reveal how nicely it could possibly match the curve.
The entrance of the windscreen was instantly dealing with the solar. Below these situations–the place half of the panel is direct to the solar, and the one is flat on the roof at a extra oblique angle—it carried out barely worse than the peerlessly angled moveable Zendure panel (50W vs. 45W). Nonetheless, that is not dangerous in any respect.
This also needs to be balanced in opposition to the all-day nature of getting this completely in your RV. Even when you’re driving, when your moveable panel is packed up within the boot, the BougeRV versatile panel will generate one thing. Lengthy street journeys driving by means of the daytime might imply a full battery by the point you attain your subsequent vacation spot. It is also a lot much less effort than folding and unfolding a transportable panel.
Ought to You Purchase the BougeRV Yuma 200W CIGS Versatile Panel?
The adaptive and light-weight nature of versatile CIGS panels means they’re already making their means into new structure initiatives and autos, however you may profit now with a number of of the BougeRV panels. You probably have a big sufficient floor—even when it curves closely—you may simply match a BougeRV versatile panel to it. For caravans, motorhomes, or boats, the advantages of light-weight photo voltaic era are apparent.
I discovered the efficiency of the BougeRV 200W panel in low gentle to be unbelievable, making it superb for year-round everlasting installs the place cheaper inflexible panels aren’t an possibility.
In fact, there is not any cause you may’t mix a transportable panel with a versatile one, too. Both use one or the opposite relying on the situations. Or when you discover one with the identical present (amps) output, wire them in parallel utilizing MC4 Y-splitters to the identical controller. Even when one is shaded, the output shall be mixed.
