Roger Donoghue
VIP Trade Partner
- Messages
- 476
- Vehicle
- T5 Beach
We've been very happy with our DEFTE "knobbly" panels for 5 or so years now but its time for a change and upgrade. (we've kept a handful of the OG panels for people wanting to add a panel and them match visually (only 1 remaining now 24/7/26))
Our new panels, made specifically for us, feature the very latest Anti-shading technology, plus crack resistance cells (the main cause of flexible panel failures over time).
Solar panels are made up of many individual cells that are wired in both parallel, and series, to achieve the required voltage and current (Amps). They work as a "team". A consequence of this is that any cell shading can cause a huge loss in output, sometimes total loss if the right cell combination is shaded.
Our new panels have diodes inserted strategically to divide the panel up into "zones" - making it far more tollerant of shading. When you shade one "zone" it does not take down all the others, which is what happens in traditional panels.
The new panels are now significantly lighter (half the weight) and are taller and thinner, which allows 3 panels to fit far more comfortably on the roof on the T5/T6 (loads of room on the T7).
These are the results of tests I did yesterday, with no shortage of sun !
Some minor shading on the original DEFTE panels - loss is about 1 amp
Same shading, new panel - less loss.
Below, more significant shading of our original panel - a loss of circa 2 amps
...and below, the same shading, new panel, significantly less loss.
And now for some significant shading of one end of our original panel: Total loss of power (and half voltage)
...finally, same shading, new panel: Still a big loss, but still producing a usable 1 Amp.
Our new panels, made specifically for us, feature the very latest Anti-shading technology, plus crack resistance cells (the main cause of flexible panel failures over time).
Solar panels are made up of many individual cells that are wired in both parallel, and series, to achieve the required voltage and current (Amps). They work as a "team". A consequence of this is that any cell shading can cause a huge loss in output, sometimes total loss if the right cell combination is shaded.
Our new panels have diodes inserted strategically to divide the panel up into "zones" - making it far more tollerant of shading. When you shade one "zone" it does not take down all the others, which is what happens in traditional panels.
The new panels are now significantly lighter (half the weight) and are taller and thinner, which allows 3 panels to fit far more comfortably on the roof on the T5/T6 (loads of room on the T7).
These are the results of tests I did yesterday, with no shortage of sun !
Some minor shading on the original DEFTE panels - loss is about 1 amp
Same shading, new panel - less loss.
Below, more significant shading of our original panel - a loss of circa 2 amps
...and below, the same shading, new panel, significantly less loss.
And now for some significant shading of one end of our original panel: Total loss of power (and half voltage)
...finally, same shading, new panel: Still a big loss, but still producing a usable 1 Amp.
