While they look good value and possibly are, they would not suite me because of the following.
a) It would still need some wiring done to the vans system to accommodate the power input.
b)I would have to pack it away and set it up every time I wanted to use it, risking damage in the process and in its place of storage.
c)Security; being on the ground it would need to be chained up to prevent theft and put somewhere safe to avoid the odd football.
d)To get the most energy from the sun it would need frequent adjustment.

The alternative permanent roof fitting would require:-
a) Wiring into the vans system.

Perhaps at the price paid, it could be fitted onto the roof.

Alan

 

Looks good could be fitted to a cycle rack easy enough, and just fold up to transport still on the rack. Power output looks slightly low 2.8 amp for each 50 watt panel.

steve @ ann. ------ teensvan

 

I would be interested to see how these panels compare performance wise with branded panels such as Solar Technology, Alden, Amperor, Solar etc. A £ to Perfomance ratio would be a useful comparison.

Has anyone ever done a comparison?

Regards,
Chris

 

Prices are falling fairly steadily, when we looked at 80W panels last January they were £150 or so each, but were down to £110 when we bought ours in June, now down to £75 including carriage this week.

Give it another 6 months and these prices are set to fall again, so whatever you're looking at now, it will be cheaper by next spring.

I don't see the advantage of a folding 80W panel, or any panel come to that. It's pretty clumsy to carry and put up, and I'd also be concerned about security. Of course, if you 'need' a separate folding panel then it's great.

Price looks good, but only if you need that facility, otherwise expensive.

It was a good call by the OP, shame we have shot him down a bit. Sorry.

Peter

 

Hi,

I have just brought one of these 100 watt folding briefcase solar panels of ebay, ended up paying £120.00 + 6.50 postage

I already have 2 x 80 watt panels on the roof running through a MPPT controller, there is very little room on the roof left.

The briefcase panel is addition too the above, plus I can use it to charge up my mobility scooter or lend to my brother.

 

I've been following the build of a camper similar to mine in Perth Aus. His plan is to store panels under the camper floor and mount them at the end of a cable facing the equator once parked up. He has camped a great deal in Aus and Africa to base his decisions on.

The fact he will lose all the potential solar charge while driving during the day is not important to him. I suppose if your alternator is up to entirely filling the batteries during short trips then solar input in that time is not important.

Once he's parked up for a few days/weeks however it would be a great deal more comfortable if the camper was parked in the shade making roof mounted panel output greatly reduced.

So if you were slowly travelling around the Med perhaps then a suitcase panel like this would be a very good choice?

 

I thought I would try out my new 100 watt folding/suitcase panel, it arrived yesterday.

Today at 16.00 in mid wales 100 watt folding panel 14.6 v and .03 amps. My 2 x 80 watt high efficiency panels mounted on roof running in series through epsolar MPPT zero. So there are some advantages.

 

I thought I would try out my new 100 watt folding/suitcase panel, it arrived yesterday.

Today at 16.00 in mid wales 100 watt folding panel 14.6 v and .03 amps. My 2 x 80 watt high efficiency panels mounted on roof running in series through epsolar MPPT zero. So there are some advantages.

I am sure you are getting the advantage of your suitcase panel tilted towards the sun. This is a huge advantage over panels flat on the roof.
I find our single flat mounted 90 watt is ample during sunny days, but not so good when it is winter time and cloudy. Our choice is do we get another and aim it at the sun, or do we run the geny or use camp sites during the winter.

 

It's a toss-up between convenience and having that bit more power when you really need it.

We are working on the basis that by January/February all these prices are going to be lower, and then we'll look at maybe doubling up on the roof panels, plus an extra controller.

Ours were showing almost zero at 15.00hrs, but that's what you're going to get with fixed panels at that time in winter, plus it is shaded by a big Ash tree.

Good to hear they arrived safely and you've got them running.

Peter