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A Quick Guide to Rigid and Flexible RV Solar Panels

If you are living or camping out in remote areas with no power grid, then RV solar panel kits can be your ideal source of power. RV solar panels are an environmentally friendly source of power. Installing of RV solar units is not a complex task and there are various DIY RV solar kits available in the market, which can help you to make simple and quick installation. But before purchasing the unit you have to decide whether you will buy a rigid or flexible RV solar system. Outlined below are the advantages and disadvantages of each of these systems if you are searching for DIY solar information.

Flexible Solar Panels

Flexible solar panels or thin-film panels are the latest types of solar panels, and they are extremely light. Unlike poly or mono-crystalline solar panels, the thin-film panels can be installed in large spaces without increasing the weight load. The flexible panels are also advantageous because they require less silicon to produce. Unfortunately, flexible RV solar panel kits have a shorter warranty compared to their counterparts. Also, these panels are thin and they cannot bear lots of weight without cracking. Flexible panels are also directly glued to your roof, and their removal may damage the panels or your roof. The fact that the flexible panels are closely glued to the roof means that they can trap a lot of heat and cause significant heating in the roof’s interior in hot seasons. Individually, these demerits may not be a deal-breaker, but they are worth consideration for individual desires.
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Rigid Panels
A 10-Point Plan for Panels (Without Being Overwhelmed)

Rigid RV solar panel kits are firmly fixed on an aluminum framework and firmly mounted on glass panes. This type of structure makes the rigid solar panels durable than their thin-film counterparts. Therefore, these types of solar panels can withstand rough handling during travel, movement, or installation. The fact that rigid solar panels can withstand rough handling makes them an appropriate choice for a long-lasting solar systems for your use. The rigid solar panels are also preferable because they need not be glued close to the roof’s surface.

The space that remains between the rigid panels and the roof prevents the build-up of heat within the roof during hot weather. Rigid solar panel kits also cost less to install when compare to their counterparts, and the tilt and mount capability allows easy handling of the units during roof cleaning. Unfortunately, rigid panels are heavier than flexible panels and thus challenging to handle for DIY solar power installers. Rigid panels may also appear as protrusions on your roof and this may negate their beautiful view.