What Is A Sunpower Flexible Panel Used For
Flexible solar panels are primarily used to charge solar-compatible batteries, which can be used to power devices and small appliances in off-grid situations like camping, hunting, film productions, and power outages.
Many new motorhomes, campers and travel trailers are built with solar outlets to power the auxiliary battery. Youll need to ensure that the cabling has an MC4 connector to be compatible with our flexible solar panels. If it does not, then you will need to purchase an adapter.
In addition, many DIYers or organizations modify 12V batteries, like car batteries, for solar-compatible charging to power vehicles or other types of large equipment. This may require purchasing additional equipment, including a charge controller that regulates voltages to your battery and your devices. Always use caution and take protective measures when performing any DIY project, especially those involving electricity.
Sunvault Battery And Monitoring System
A recent study by International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, University College London and Finlands Aalto University found that without a battery, homeowners with PV panels typically only use about 30-40 percent of the electricity generated. With a battery, self-consumption almost doubles. And homeowners can save money by using stored power when electricity-grid rates are highest. SunPowers battery and storage component, SunVault, ensures that you never have to worry about losing power during an outage, not to mention in the evening or shade.
And with the MySunPower app, you can control the system, monitoring and managing your energy production and consumption. You can see how much the panels are producing on a daily basis, and how much is going to power versus the storage system, SunPowers Chapman says. The app makes it really easy to predict when to shift to battery loads.
During a power outage, the SunVault battery can help assure consistent power is maintained. Im frequently asked, If I have solar on my roof, will I still have power if the grid goes down? Not without a battery, Chapman explains. By rule, home systems connected to a grid must remain off in an outage. But SunVault can provide backup energy when the grid is down.
How To Install A Solar Panel In 7 Steps
1ST STEP: ERECTING THE SCAFFOLDING
The first step in the process is to erect the scaffolding. This will ensure safety for the installation team when they are on the roof
2ND STEP: ATTACHING ROOF ANCHORS
After the scaffolding is set, the installation team arrives. The team starts out by attaching the roof anchors, which will hold the base for the solar panels. The types of anchors used depends on the type of roof tile fitted on the roof.
3RD STEP: ATTACHING THE FRAME
The next step is to attach the frame, which is made up of aluminium bars. The bars must be fitted in a straight direction and parallel to one another.
4TH STEP: INSTALLING THE SOLAR PANELS
Once the frame has been attached, the installation of the solar panels themselves can begin. The panels are clamped to the aluminium frame, but initially not too tight so as to permit adjusting on the frame. Once they are set up at the desired position, these will be firmly anchored.
5TH STEP: WIRING THE SOLAR PANELS
6TH STEP: FINAL CONNECTIONS TO THE CONSUMER UNIT
After the panels are wired to the solar inverter, the final connections to the consumer unit will be made. A generation meter will also be connected, whose purpose is to monitor how much electricity the solar panels actually produce. During the time of the wiring installation, the electricity supply to the household will need to be shut off.
7TH STEP: TESTING THE PANELS
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The Benefits Of Using Solar Power
The use of solar energy in the United States is accelerating. By 2030, 13.4% of American homes will rely on solar power , and studies have shown that houses with photovoltaic panels can reap higher sale prices.¹As our lives become more connected and the devices on which we rely require more and more electricity, homeowners are looking for better ways to be sustainable, resilient and economic. Solar power, coupled with the latest generation of solar batteries and app-based monitoring systems, can deliver just that, providing reduced utility bills and backup power during outages.
Enter SunPower: one of the solar industrys most trusted brands thanks to more than 35 years of experience, culminating in technologies like the Maxeon solar cell, which forms the basis for the SunPower Equinox system and the SunVault battery. At SunPower, we are leading the industry with the most efficient, durable solar panels on the market, explains Jensen Chapman, SunPower regional sales manager. Now with our proprietary technology, we have created the all-in-one integrated system. And were the only solar company thats been around longer than our own 25-year warranty.
Why Chose Sunpower Flexible Solar Panels
- Powerful More power for more savings. SunPower leads the industry in solar panel efficiency available today.
- Weather Resistant Made with a thick copper foundation, our solar cells are able to withstand harsh weather conditions and are almost impervious to corrosion
- Flexible Constructed with top-grade, light-weight polymer materials, allowing for easy transport, installation and panel flexing up to 30 degrees.
SUNPOWER SPR-E-FLEX 50W 12V OFF-GRID SOLAR KIT
1 SunPower SPR-E-Flex 50W, 1 charge controller 10A with USB outlet and display, 5m extension cable w. plugs, 1 battery cable with fuse, 1 white roof duct, 1 Glue Cartridge Tec7, 1 Cleaner Tec7
SUNPOWER SPR-E-FLEX 110W 12V OFF-GRID POWER GENERATION SOLAR KIT
1 SPR-E-Flex 110W, 1 charge controller 10A with USB outlet and display, 5m extension cable with plugs, 1 battery cable with integrated fuse, 1 white roof duct, 1 Tec7 Glue Cartridge, 1 Cleaner Tec7
SUNPOWER SPR-E-FLEX 170W 6X8 12V OFF-GRID POWER GENERATION SOLAR KIT
1 solar module SunPower SPR-E-Flex 170W, 1 charge controller MPPT, 5m extension cable with plugs, 1 battery cable with integrated fuse, 1 roof duct, 1 Glue Cartridge Tec7, 1 Cleaner Tec7
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An Investment Worth Making
Solar is more affordable than ever, with PV costs dropping by more than 70 percent over the last decade according to the Solar Energy Industries Association, and a combination of federal and state tax credits further underwriting installation costs. Regulatory processes differ from state to state, and because the cost of power is different in each jurisdiction, so too is the time it takes to recoup ones investment. But no matter the location, PV panels pay for themselves over time.In a place like California with the third-highest electricity rates in the nation and 315 days of sunshine on average each year, theyre going to get a quick return on investment: five to seven years on average, Chapman explains. In other states, circumstances are changing rapidly. The state of Connecticuts price per kilowatt hour five years ago was about 11 cents. Now it has more than doubled, to about 23 cents, he explains. With solar, Youre buying into fixed-cost energy, hedging against future energy costs.
Sunpower Solar Offers The Best Panels On The Market
Strong, simple equipment offerings make SunPower a strong choice across the US.
Andrew Blok
Associate Editor
Andrew Blok has been an associate editor at CNET covering HVAC and home energy, with a focus on solar since October 2021. As an environmental journalist, he navigates the changing energy landscape to help people make smart energy decisions. He’s a graduate of the Knight Center for Environmental Journalism at Michigan State and wrote for several publications in the Great Lakes region, including Great Lakes Now and Environmental Health News since 2019. You can find him in western Michigan watching birds.
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Sunpower Solar Panel Prices
We want to make it transparent and easy to compare solar prices, but you can not buy Sunpower panels separately. However, we can compare real SunPower prices that are publicly available from California Public Utilities Commission.
- Average SunPower Cost per Watt Installed: $5.00
- Compare to SunWatts 8kW system for $2.25 per watt
This is the actual cost for SunPower modules and systems installed. The prices include modules, inverters, mounting, balance of system components and installation labor. SunPower Installation Dates through March 2017. Average Rated Power per System: 7.68 kW . Average # Solar Modules per System: 25. Average SunPower System Cost with Installation: $42,457. Total # SunPower Systems installed: 2,748.
Don’t pay more than you have to find some of the lowest prices for high performance solar panels here at SunWatts.
How Does Solar Energy Work
Our sun is a natural nuclear reactor. It releases tiny packets of energy called photons, which travel the 93 million miles from the sun to Earth in about 8.5 minutes. Every hour, enough photons impact our planet to generate enough solar energy to theoretically satisfy global energy needs for an entire year.
Currently photovoltaic power accounts for only five-tenths of one percent of the energy consumed in the United States. But solar technology is improving and the cost of going solar is dropping rapidly, so our ability to harness the sun’s abundance of energy is on the rise.
In 2017,the International Energy Agency showed that solar had become the world’s fastest-growing source of power marking the first time that solar energy’s growth had surpassed that of all other fuels. Since then solar has continued to grow and break records around the globe.
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A Tradition On The Cutting Edge
From its inception, SunPower has represented innovation. Dr. Richard Swanson, a professor of electrical engineering at Stanford, co-founded the company in 1985, and soon SunPower performed R& D for the U.S. Department of Energy. The results were literally out of this world: in the 1990s, SunPower cells powered NASAs robotic Pathfinder probe on Mars. In the 21st century, the company became publicly listed on the NASDAQ stock exchange and continued to set new world records for solar efficiency. The past decade has seen SunPower innovate at the residential level, in 2016 introducing SunPower Equinox, the nations first complete solar package to include the panels, micro-inverter, racking, and smart-monitoring system.
Can Sunpower Flexible Panels Charge Devices Directly
Every flexible solar panel comes with MC4 compatible connector cables .
An MC4 connector is a popular solar output connection for panels in the 50 to 150-watt range. SunPower flexible solar panels require your battery, charge controller or other device to have cables with MC4 connectors. You can also use a suitable adapter.
However, MC4 connectors do not include any electronic components that control current or voltage levels. Accordingly, the various components of your particular system may not be compatible simply because they all don’t have MC4 connectors. You still need to verify the electrical operating conditions of each component of your system to ensure compatibility.
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Sunpower Solar Modules Technology Overview
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Step : Upgrade And Add Batteries
If you are just using DC power and you already have 2 existing batteries that are fairly new, the best plan is to install the solar and wait until your existing batteries wont hold a charge anymore. The solar that has been installed and the PWM charge controller will insure you get all the life left in the batteries. There are many types and sizes of batteries. RVs require heavy-duty deep cycle RV/Marine batteries. Cheap batteries will not last very long and will have to be replaced. Batteries should always be of the same type and upgraded all at once. Adding two new batteries to two old batteries will result in the new batteries holding the same charge as the old ones.
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Better Product Better Warranty
| Product warranty term* | 10 years |
- *. Representative of standard efficiency solar manufacturers. Competitor warranty information provided from latest warranty documentation from various conventional panel manufacturer websites as of June 2017.
- *. Shipping of new panel covered by some conventional warranties.
- *. 25-year coverage for all core components on the roof: solar panels, microinverters and racking system. 10-year product warranty term for monitoring hardware.
How Do Solar Panels Work
When photons hit a solar cell, they knock electrons loose from their atoms. If conductors are attached to the positive and negative sides of a cell, it forms an electrical circuit. When electrons flow through such a circuit, they generate electricity. Multiple cells make up a solar panel, and multiple panels can be wired together to form a solar array. The more panels you can deploy, the more energy you can expect to generate.
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I Am Using My Sunpower Flexible Panel To Power A Solar
First, youll need to connect your batterys charging cord to the MC4 connections on the panel. Then set your panel out in the sun. We recommend angling the panel toward the sun. This might require moving the panel a few times throughout the day.
If you are camping or hunting, you can use a camp chair, storage box, or duffle bag to prop up the panel. We also recommend putting your battery behind the panel to keep it shaded or purchase an extra-long cord to keep the battery out of the sun.
While not necessary for basic functionality, the use of a compatible charge controller is highly recommended, especially with systems using more than one solar panel. A compatible charge controller will regulate voltage and current from the solar panel to the battery, and from the battery to your devices. A charge controller that can prevent overcharging, over-discharging, and overloading damage to the battery and your devices is recommended.
How Do Solar Panels Generate Electricity
PV solar panels generate direct current electricity. With DC electricity, electrons flow in one direction around a circuit. This example shows a battery powering a light bulb. The electrons move from the negative side of the battery, through the lamp, and return to the positive side of the battery.
With AC electricity, electrons are pushed and pulled, periodically reversing direction, much like the cylinder of a car’s engine. Generators create AC electricity when a coil of wire is spun next to a magnet. Many different energy sources can “turn the handle” of this generator, such as gas or diesel fuel, hydroelectricity, nuclear, coal, wind, or solar.
AC electricity was chosen for the U.S. electrical power grid, primarily because it is less expensive to transmit over long distances. However, solar panels create DC electricity. How do we get DC electricity into the AC grid? We use an inverter.
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Does Sunpower Operate In My State How Do I Order
SunPower operates in all 50 states.
SunPower has an online tool that lets you get an idea of your solar array’s appearance and your estimated savings. You do have to provide contact information. The estimated array for my home seemed to include panels on a small walkout balcony, so it’s a bit of a blunt object.
To get a quote, fill out a short form on SunPower’s website, which will prompt a call or email from a solar advisor. You’ll work to design your solar system with a SunPower employee, which will require 12 months of electricity bills. This often takes place online, SunPower said, though conducting the meeting in person is an option. Once you’ve reached an agreement, a site visit does occur to check the condition of your roof and electrical panel.
Online, you get very little information about your potential costs before you have to provide contact information. This is fairly common, and companies that do offer upfront cost information offer only rough estimates.
SunPower operates in all 50 states.
SunPower works with both in-house installation teams and dealers around the country to install their panels.
How Does Weather Affect Solar Energy
Weather conditions can impact the amount of electricity a solar system produces, but not exactly in the way you might think.
Perfect conditions for producing solar energy include a clear sunny day, of course. But like most electronics, solar panels are actually more efficient in cold weather than warm weather. This allows the panel to produce more electricity in the same amount of time. As the temperature rises, the panel generates less voltage and produces less electricity.
But even though solar panels are more efficient in cold weather, they don’t necessarily produce more electricity in the winter than in summer. Sunnier weather often occurs in the warmer summer months. In addition to fewer clouds, the sun is usually out for more of the day. So even though your panels may be less efficient in warm weather, they’ll still likely produce more electricity in summer than in winter.
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How Much Solar Energy Does Arkansas Produce
In 2020, solar energy accounted for 6% of the renewable electricity production in Arkansas. The southern states solar capacity currently equals 581 MW.* While these are modest numbers, the solar energy production in Arkansas is 60 times higher today than it was in 2015 a promising trend for the future of clean energy in the state.
- *. Magnolia Reporter, Entergy Arkansas wants to bring 300 megawatts of solar/wind power online by 2026 .
How Does A Solar Panel System Work
Here’s an example of how a home solar energy installation works. First, sunlight hits a solar panel on the roof. The panels convert the energy to DC current, which flows to an inverter. The inverter converts the electricity from DC to AC, which you can then use to power your home. It’s beautifully simple and clean, and it’s getting more efficient and affordable all the time.
However, what happens if you’re not home to use the electricity your solar panels are generating every sunny day? And what happens at night when your solar system is not generating power in real-time? Don’t worry, you may still benefit through a system called “net metering.”*
A typical grid-tied PV system, during peak daylight hours, frequently produces more energy than one customer needs, so that excess energy is fed back into the grid for use elsewhere. The customer who is eligible for net metering may receive credits for the excess energy produced and can use those credits to draw from the grid at night or on cloudy days. A net meter records the energy sent compared to the energy received from the grid. Read our article on net metering and how it works.
If you’d like to see how much your home or business can save, schedule a time for us to create a personalized design and potential savings quote.
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