About three years ago I installed four Renogy 100W bendable solar panels on my hard dodger. Maine warned against their quality so I ordered 7 to get 4 that were well matched and returned the rest. I installed them in a 2S2P configuration and they've worked well but the polymer coating is now degrading in spots to the point that it's affecting output. Fortunately, Renogy seems willing to refund my entire purchase price under their 5 year materials warranty. Kudos to them.
Now I"m in the market for new panels and decided to go the rigid panel route. I've got room for 72 cell units (about 80" x 42") and I'm looking at Sunpower's E-series 435W units. I'd put two on the dodger, port and starboard and wired in parallel and the panels would cost about $1000 total. I've confirmed that my wiring and charge controller will easily accommodate the operating voltage and current these units, as I thought I might go this way eventually when originally designing the system. The rub is that Sunpower won't warrant any of their panels if installed on a boat. Is this an issue with most/all panel suppliers? If not, is anyone aware of other suppliers without boat warranty exclusions and comparable power output and cost?
Now I"m in the market for new panels and decided to go the rigid panel route. I've got room for 72 cell units (about 80" x 42") and I'm looking at Sunpower's E-series 435W units. I'd put two on the dodger, port and starboard and wired in parallel and the panels would cost about $1000 total. I've confirmed that my wiring and charge controller will easily accommodate the operating voltage and current these units, as I thought I might go this way eventually when originally designing the system. The rub is that Sunpower won't warrant any of their panels if installed on a boat. Is this an issue with most/all panel suppliers? If not, is anyone aware of other suppliers without boat warranty exclusions and comparable power output and cost?