Renogy vs Grape Solar

[LandCruiserPhil]

That's awesome! I'm planning on doing the exact same thing on an Ursa Minor J30 in a couple of months.
Can you please share some more details

1. How much 3M tape did you use? i.e. is it just around the edges? How's it holding up long term?
2. Where is the wiring? Is there a hole in the roof under the panel the wires go through? I love the tiny junction box for the Grape Solar, do you have more of it underneath?

Thanks!
-Dan

I ran 1/2" VHB 40mil tape around the edges and because I had extra and added (not needed) a X in the middle. The tape recommended by 3M technical is rated at 90lb/sqin and up to 300°. You get once chance placing it and they cautioned me about the difficulty of removing it down the road. After a couple years of off roading and Arizona heat its never coming off without some serious effort. I have dragged tree limbs, loaded on top and stood on the panel without any issues. Being that you will have a fiberglass top I would consult 3M tech for the best choice given your top and application. At under 3lbs mounted its the only panel I want on top of my rig.

The wiring from the tiny Jbox goes through the top waterproofed by cork insulation and has proved itself waterproof since day one. As for the wiring and panel you get what you see, simple.

 

[Dan Grec]

I ran 1/2" VHB 40mil tape around the edges and because I had extra and added (not needed) a X in the middle. The tape recommended by 3M technical is rated at 90lb/sqin and up to 300°. You get once chance placing it and they cautioned me about the difficulty of removing it down the road. After a couple years of off roading and Arizona heat its never coming off without some serious effort. I have dragged tree limbs, loaded on top and stood on the panel without any issues. Being that you will have a fiberglass top I would consult 3M tech for the best choice given your top and application. At under 3lbs mounted its the only panel I want on top of my rig.

The wiring from the tiny Jbox goes through the top waterproofed by cork insulation and has proved itself waterproof since day one. As for the wiring and panel you get what you see, simple.

Awesome, thanks so much for the advice.

I agree with you on the weight - the flexible panel is the only one I want on the roof.

The Ursa Minor J30 roof has ribs which can't be sanded off (I think) so we're likely going to stick the panels to thin sheets of aluminum, then bolt those to the roof.
For wind resistance I still have no decided if I should block off the gaps between the ribs under the aluminum sheets, or leave them open for air flow.

I will post lots of build pics when the time comes in a couple of months.

-Dan

 

[ventura911]

Awesome, thanks so much for the advice.

I agree with you on the weight - the flexible panel is the only one I want on the roof.

The Ursa Minor J30 roof has ribs which can't be sanded off (I think) so we're likely going to stick the panels to thin sheets of aluminum, then bolt those to the roof.
For wind resistance I still have no decided if I should block off the gaps between the ribs under the aluminum sheets, or leave them open for air flow.

I will post lots of build pics when the time comes in a couple of months.

-Dan

Ill be watching for your work, Dan. I'm hoping to order a J30 towards the end of August. At this time, I'm thinking of doing the same with aluminum strips, mounted to the rack, and leaving room for air beneath it. Something like this (likely only one 100w panel, though):



Off topic (but what the hey, I started the thread!), what are your plans for an awning?

 

[Dan Grec]

Ill be watching for your work, Dan. I'm hoping to order a J30 towards the end of August. At this time, I'm thinking of doing the same with aluminum strips, mounted to the rack, and leaving room for air beneath it. Something like this (likely only one 100w panel, though):

View attachment 290948View attachment 290949

Off topic (but what the hey, I started the thread!), what are your plans for an awning?

Nice. You might want to reach out to Usra Minor now, they're pretty busy and soon taking orders for Aug/Sept delivery.

Currently have no plan for an awning... but I'm a little on the fence on that one.
My main "outside" area will be the tailgate table with the rear glass open.. so I'm contemplating a short rear awning, but have not locked anything in.
Likely I'll talk to John at Ursa and also Martyn at Adventure Trailers to get their input on what's best.

I'm trying excruciatingly hard to not add any more weight, especially up high, which is making me stay away from a full side awning.

-Dan

 

[LeishaShannon]

A neat method for flexible panels that I saw on another forum was to use strips of wood/ally/NEMA/whatever you like to provide an air gap and embed short bolts facing upwards. The panels are then secured using wing nuts giving you the option of easily removing them to use as "portable" panels if you're parked under a tree.

 

[ventura911]

Nice. You might want to reach out to Usra Minor now, they're pretty busy and soon taking orders for Aug/Sept delivery.

Currently have no plan for an awning... but I'm a little on the fence on that one.
My main "outside" area will be the tailgate table with the rear glass open.. so I'm contemplating a short rear awning, but have not locked anything in.
Likely I'll talk to John at Ursa and also Martyn at Adventure Trailers to get their input on what's best.

I'm trying excruciatingly hard to not add any more weight, especially up high, which is making me stay away from a full side awning.

-Dan

I'll be down that way in August and will want to talk things over with John. With luck, UMV's turn-around time will still be about 6 weeks. :sombrero:

 

[Dan Grec]

I'll be down that way in August and will want to talk things over with John. With luck, UMV's turn-around time will still be about 6 weeks. :sombrero:

Nice. I'm aiming to be there late August or early September. I might see you there.

-Dan

 

[LandCruiserPhil]

What can 100w Grape solar panel do mounted tight to aluminum?
Did some unscheduled testing this past weekend. The thermistor went bad in my Waeco 50qt fridge while in Mexico. The fridge ended up running non stop all day along with an aux PC fan with outside temps near 100° and inside cabin temps 130°-140°. Everything was frozen solid and batteries seem to be close to full. I have 110 AH capacity between 2 batteries.

 

[Wicked 2007]

I have had both panels in my hands (Renogy and Grape)

Both panels are the same - but construction is now different. Renogy is a 3mm panel, 6 small (2-3mm grommets) and they have reduced the MC4 "pigtails" to just under 10" - total weight 4lb 12oz. The Grape are now 5mm thick, has 4 larger 5-6mm grommets and the pigtails are close to 30" in length - total weight 5lb 8oz.

I will admit the thin renogy would be nice if you did want to stick them to your roof and have them contour the roof vs the 5mm grape. That said, there is a reason why grape went form 3mm to 5mm. People were experiencing "cupping" on the thinner versions.

I decided to go with grape since I know their quality is spot on (I own a few of their GS100 rigid panels), I felt the 5mm made it more durable and the longer pigtails help a lot for my application. Both put out the same power side by side. My main reason for going with the flexible is the weight savings and ease of packing up for trips.

I am using two of these panels on my truck to replace my two rigid grape GS100. Compared to my experience with the rigid - these perform exactly the same and I see 12 amps no problem in good sun with my MPPT controller.

 

[ventura911]

I have had both panels in my hands (Renogy and Grape)

Both panels are the same - but construction is now different. Renogy is a 3mm panel, 6 small (2-3mm grommets) and they have reduced the MC4 "pigtails" to just under 10" - total weight 4lb 12oz. The Grape are now 5mm thick, has 4 larger 5-6mm grommets and the pigtails are close to 30" in length - total weight 5lb 8oz.

I will admit the thin renogy would be nice if you did want to stick them to your roof and have them contour the roof vs the 5mm grape. That said, there is a reason why grape went form 3mm to 5mm. People were experiencing "cupping" on the thinner versions.

I decided to go with grape since I know their quality is spot on (I own a few of their GS100 rigid panels), I felt the 5mm made it more durable and the longer pigtails help a lot for my application. Both put out the same power side by side. My main reason for going with the flexible is the weight savings and ease of packing up for trips.

I am using two of these panels on my truck to replace my two rigid grape GS100. Compared to my experience with the rigid - these perform exactly the same and I see 12 amps no problem in good sun with my MPPT controller.

Thanks, Wicked, that's good to know. I'm not worried about the weight difference and will check out the durability differences before I decide.

 

[Wicked 2007]

Thanks, Wicked, that's good to know. I'm not worried about the weight difference and will check out the durability differences before I decide.

Exactly - I opted for the durability myself. The weight difference between the two is minimal - less than 12 oz. per panel and this is including the longer MC4 pigtails that the Grape comes with. If the pigtails were equal this weight difference would be even less.

Here is a little view of my solar setup: http://www.expeditionportal.com/forum/threads/101799-National-Luna-Power-Pack-Solar-Setup

As mentioned I expanded to two 100w panels now.

 

[unseenone]

I have and use both, the Grape 3mm and the 5mm, for what it's worth in my unscientific experience, the 5mm seems to perform slightly better. Most importantly it is very well made and will hold up on the long run.

 

[subdewd]

Give Grape Solars technical a call they have a lot of experience in mobile installation and are off road friendly. They recommended a panel that was designed for high heat and to be mount flush on a RV roof. I requested a panel with no mounting holes and they took car of me, great service.

http://www.grapesolar.com/files/9926/PhotoFlex-100W.pdf

I just picked up the Grape Solar flex 100W panel. Stuck it to the top of my cap with some 3M double sided tape. Connected it to a dual battery setup through a Morning Star ProStar 15. Kept our fridge cold and charged phones etc through several days of camping in 90F heat. Love it.

 

[GR8ADV]

(we have 1200W of rigid on the roof of our camper)
.

Wow 1200 w. Can you show us a pic of that rig?

 

[unseenone]

You can see most of it on post #20 in this thread, but more pictures would be nice.