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Solar panels

There are many different types of solar panels on the market. Some are designed for vehicles some are not, so be careful of cheap panels.

There are basically three different kinds of solar panels on the market.

• Amorphous
• Mono-crystalline
• Poly-crystalline

Each sort has different qualities, but tries to achieve the same thing i.e. capture the suns energy and turn it into electrical energy.

Amorphous panels are mainly used on small portable type panels(i.e.suitcase/dashboard panels). They are generally cheaper to produce than the other types of panels, have a shorter life span (approximately 10 years), but offer smaller electrical output power approximately half the power compared to a mono-crystalline panel.

IIn short a mono-crystalline panel of the same physical size as an amorphous panel can produce twice the power and has a longer life span 25+ years. As space and weight is generally and issue then mono-crystalline is the way to go.

Solar panels work by harnessing the suns energy, and they do this at there most efficient when at 90° to the sun in pure daylight with no clouds or shadows cast over them. If like most people your solar panel is fixed flat to the vehicle then the panel will only work at its best when the sun is high in the sky. If wild camping is your thing or you rely on solar then an ALDEN SUNPOWER “PHENIX” 100w panel is the way to go as this panel automatically tracks the suns.

Which panel do should I go for.

Basically if you want to rely heavily on solar energy then you need to have the biggest or as many panels as either financially or physically possible. The solar panels below are rated at their maximum output power (i.e. 85 watts). This means that the maximum output power is the highest amount of energy that can be produced in ideal conditions (i.e. 85 watts) by the panel.

The fixed panels below are mono-crystalline panels mounted in aluminium frames with a good sized air gap to aid cooling of the panels. A hot panel is a inefficient panel and an inefficient panel produces less power.

ALDEN “KITECO” Solar Panels

All these Alden Kiteco solar panels are mono-crystalline and come with a regulator and appropriate fixing adhesives. The panels have a 25 year guarantee.

ALDEN SUNPOWER “PHENIX” 100w

The PHENIX is the business when it comes to solar panels. It uses very clever electronics to track the sun. I have installed these panels and it does make a big difference to the total output power throughout the day. They can produce up to 5 times the amount of a fixed flat panel.

When the sun goes down or the vehicles engine is started then the panel automatically folds down and locks. The panel comes with a 25 year warranty and the mechanism has a 3 year warranty.

The PHENIX comes with a regulator, the required adhesives and a control panel that operates the panel and also displays the output of the panel.

Also Available for solar panels

Alden 15 Amp (165 watts maximum) regulator £105.00
Alden Sunpower Display panel £ 85.00
(shows volts and amps and a LED indicates when the sun is charging)

Please contact me reference installation costs of all solar panels and equipment.

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