For caravans, motorhomes, or boats, the benefits of lightweight solar generation are obvious.
Thankfully, there’s an alternative: flexible, lightweight, thin panels.
What is a CIGS Panel?
The resulting panels are thin, flexible, and lightweight.
They’re also more expensive.
I could source two 400W rigid panels locally for that price and still have change.
So there’s a definite premium involved.
Unlike rigid panels, delivery is easy and won’t require a pallet truck.
We were sent the latter, designed to be permanently affixed to any smooth surface.
Another consideration is the cabling.
However, you should check the specs of your battery to confirm before purchasing.
200W would be too high for most batteries under 500Wh capacity.
They’re incredibly durable.
It’s a difficult decision because the size-to-weight ratios are roughly similaras are the costs.
So which is better?
Both are roughly the same length when unfolded, though the BougeRV is slightly taller.
To test under ideal like-for-like conditions, I angled the Zendure toward the sun, and measured the output.
On a somewhat clear British winter’s day, I measured 85W from the 200W Zendure.
Laying the BougeRV on top of the Zendure to replicate the same angle, it produced 157Walmost double!
I didn’t notice any significant change in cloud cover between the two tests.
Even accounting for the age of the folding panel, the BougeRV performed much better in low luminance.
The BougeRV flexible panel definitely performed better than the folding panel in these winter test conditions.
Of course, testing at an ideal angle to the sun is a little unfair.
Solar panels work optimally when facing the sun, not at an incidental angle.
you could always ensure a relatively good output if you take the time to micromanage them.
This also served to demonstrate how well it can match the curve.
The front of the windscreen was directly facing the sun.
Still, that’s not bad at all.
This should also be balanced against the all-day nature of having this permanently on your RV.
It’s also much less effort than folding and unfolding a portable panel.
Should You Buy the BougeRV Yuma 200W CIGS Flexible Panel?
For caravans, motorhomes, or boats, the benefits of lightweight solar generation are obvious.
Of course, there’s no reason you could’t combine a portable panel with a flexible one, too.
Either use one or the other depending on the conditions.
Even when one is shaded, the output will be combined.
