Flexible RV Solar Panels
Flexible RV solar panels can be a good choice for RVer‘s who want to save weight on their solar panel installation or prefer to keep their solar panels detached from the RV roof, or install them without putting holes in the roof.
So in this post, we’re going to discuss the pros and cons of flexible RV solar panels, whether they would be a good choice for you, and what the best flexible solar panel brands are so that if you do buy some you get the highest quality long lasting versions.
Best Flexible Solar Panels for RVs
We don’t recommend going with any offbrand solar panels if you’re choosing a flexible type, because they are known to be a little bit more finicky in terms of hardware and lifespan. This is why you should always go with a long lasting brand, trusted brand if flexible panels are your primary sun source for your RV solar system.
Because of that, there are only three solar panel brands whose flexible panel options we will recommend.
Those are Renogy, SunPower, and TopSolar.
Renogy 175 Watt Flexible Solar Panel
Renogy Flexible Solar Panel 175 Watt 12 Volt Monocrystalline Semi-Flexible Bendable Mono Off-Grid Charger for Marine RV Cabin Van Car Uneven Surfaces
10 used from $222.01
SunPower 100 Watt Flexible Solar Panel
SunPower Flexible 100 Watt Monocrystalline Solar Panel
$149.99 in stock
TopSolar Flexible Solar Panel
Topsolar Flexible Solar Panel 100W 24V/12V Monocrystalline Bendable - 100 Watt 12Volt Semi-Flexible Mono Solar Panels Charger Off-Grid for RV Boat Cabin Van Car Uneven Surfaces
Pros and Cons of Flexible Solar Panels
Some benefits of using flexible panels as opposed to regular, rigid panels are that they can be roof mounted, you can supposedly walk on them, they are extremely lightweight, they are very low profile if you’re trying to stay stealthy, and they can adapt to curved RV and camper roofs very easily. You also don’t need to put holes in your roof to mount them on top of your camper, and if you want to use them as a portable option, they’re definitely the most light weight. Unlike tempered glass options, they also don’t have glass that can break.
The main cons are that they can overheat because there is no airflow gap underneath them since they mount directly to the roof, which is a big negative for solar panels since they become less efficient when overheated, and because of that they sometimes have lifespan or hardware issues.
According to first-hand reviews, they also may get warped, get scratched, or collect water unless they’re on a curved roof. But if having a super lightweight, glue on solar panel option that is really stealth is a priority for you, those cons may not be a dealbreaker.
One way some users have combatted overheating flexible panels is to use coroplast (corrugated plastic) sheets, which are used as sign boards and on the underbelly of some campers. This gives a way for some of the heat to escape from under the panels.
Something like this can help make your flexible panels last much longer than mounting them directly to your roof where they will eventually burn themselves up.
