180W Solar Panel Light Weight Corflute Backed & 3M VHB Tape (SHINGLE CELLS)

5 YEAR MANUFACTURERS REPLACEMENT WARRANTY!
30 DAY MONEY BACK GUARANTEE!

• Premium quality A grade monocrystalline shingle cells
• Minimum 22.4% efficiency meaning more power for their size compared to other panel brands
• Excellent temperature tolerance outperforming other panels in high temperature conditions
• Made with high quality ETFE optimizing light transmission to the cells
• Fitted with polycarbonate twinwall backing sheet to protect against heat transfer
• Easy installation with pre-fitted 90 cm cables, MC4 connectors and a 15A MC4 fuse 
• Service life of 20 years and a 5 YEAR WARRANTY - a testament to their high quality construction 

Q. Why do the panels have a corflute backing?

A: The decision to add corflute as standard to our light-weight panels was made for two main reasons.

The first reason was due to the reduction in performance experienced by light-weight panels when adhered directly to a surface. Solar cells will de-rate as temperature rises. What this means is, the hotter a cell becomes, the lower the amount of power is produced by the cell. The corflute backing acts as a barrier to direct heat transfer from the surface the panel is adhered to. 

The rate at which cells de-rate is determined by the quality of the cell. The cells we use will de-rate at approx. 0.3% per degree of temperature increase over 25C (which is the standard testing condition temperature). Lower quality cells can de-rate as much as 1%/degree of increase. Over time, the high temperatures experienced by cells adhered directly to a surface will result in permanent damage to the cells. 

The second reason for the addition of the corflute is for structural integreity. Light weight panels do not have the structural integrity of glass panels, and as such they are prone to mis-handling. Prior to adding the corflute to our light-weight panels, we found that customers installing these panels would inadvertently over-flex the panels during installation, which would create micro-cracking in the cells. This damage would result in the cells under performing. 

Q. Is the tape strong enough to not let go at speed?

A: Yes. 3M VHB (Very High Bond) Tape was used to bond 401,202kg (884,500 lbs) of steel panels to the stiffeners on the Walt Disney Concert Hall - it is not coming off.  We have personally used this method of installation ourselves on our truck and caravan, and have never had any customer have an issue with panels becoming unstuck.  

When adhering to the roof of the vehicle you need to be careful as, if you incorrectly install it, it will not come off - use care when mounting, multiple people/hands

Q: How do I connect multiple panels together? 

A: You can connect up to three in parallel (positive to positive, negative to negative, which add together amps, but voltage stays the same) or three in series (positive to negative, which adds together voltages, but amps stay the same). 

Q: Can I attch this to my roofrack?

A: For those roof racks with flat slats, yes you can, but it is important to understand the due to the fact that flexible panels don't have glass faces or aluminium frames, they must be securely fixed to the surface to ensure that they cannot flap up and down/vibrate with highway wind speeds through the roof rack. We recommend using both the tape (some parts will be exposed), and also screw fixing through the eyelets if possible. At least 3/4 of the panel must be attached to a solid surface. Keep in mind, also, that you cannot place luggage/items on top of the panel, so you will lose the ability to use this area for storage. If weight is not an issue, we recommend going with an AllSpark Glass Solar Panel, or if you will need to use the roof rack for storage/luggage, an AllSpark portable Solar Panel is recommended. 

Q: Do I need any fuse protection?

A: Every panel needs a 15amp inline solar fuse (supplied) installed before it connects to another panel regardless of parallel or series connection. 

Q: WIll I get full wattage from my panel at all times?

A: The wattage on solar panels is measured in lab conditions on a light table which produces 1000 watts/m² at 25^oC (these are global standard testing conditions (STC)). The amount of power produced by your solar panel in real-life conditions will be dependent on the amount of solar radiation being received by the panel at any given time, the temperature, air quality, angle of sun etc.

You can check your location's solar radiation values online on a number of websites, one example is over here. In general terms, the amount of solar radiation you are receiving at any given time (as a ratio) is an approximation of how much power you should be receiving from your panel. For example, if the radiation is 750 watts/m² (which is 3/4 of the light table at 1000watts/m²), then you potentially can receive approximately approximately 101.25W out of a 135W panel (3/4 x 135W) at that particular time of the day (assuming your angle to the sun is correct and enivornmental conditions are optimal, ie. there is no shade/cloud, no smoke/haze/pollution, temperature isn't too high (as solar output reduces at higher temperatures) etc).