FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Flexible Solar Panel Mounts
Q: Do the Flexible Solar Panel Mounts require bolts or screws?
A: No, the Mounts are attached using heavy duty magnets and silicone or heavy duty double sided tape and silicone. Check out our Solar Mount Instructions Page for more details.
Q: Does the solar panel vibrate or resonate in the Mounts at highway speeds?
A: No it does not. The flexible solar panel is held securely in the mounts on all four sides to avoid any shifting or vibrating during high speeds.
Q: Do the Solar Panel Mounts create loud noises from the wind at highway speeds?
A: The Mounts are designed to be aerodynamic and are position in a low turbulence area to avoid any white noise or fluttering sounds at highway speeds.
Q: Can the 3D printed Mounts handle high temperatures and long exposer to UV rays?
A: Yes. We have different materials available based on your budget and environment that can handle any weather. Check out our Materials Page for more details and temperature ratings. We recommend your Mounts be Printed out of ASA filament if you will be in the Southern States of the US.
Q: How long does it take to remove or install a flexible solar panel into the Solar Mount?
A: Less then a minute. To install a solar panel into the Solar Mounts, remove the locking pins and slide the panel into the Mount tracks. Once in, re-insert the locking pins and you are ready for the road again! To remove the solar panel from the Mounts, remove the locking pins, lift up on the solar panel edge closest to the locking pins and slide the panel out. Don’t forget to re-insert your locking pins, you don’t want to lose those!
Q: Do the Mounts work on boats?
A: Yes they do! Email us at phillipssolarind@gmail.com for custom designs for your boat!
Q: Are the Solar Panel Mounts waterproof?
A: Yes, all the materials are waterproof and the install directions explain how to set up your Mounts so that any water or humidity can drain from under the solar panel.
BAILOUT PLATES
Q: Are the Bailout Plates made from recycled plastic as strong as the Bailout Plates made from ASA or Carbon Fiber PC?
A: The Bailout Plates made from recycled plastic are extremely tough and durable, but not quite as strong as the ASA and CF PC Plates. The main difference between the different types of plastics is their heat tolerance and UV ray resistance. You should use an ASA or CF PC Bailout Plate if the plate will be in direct sunlight or if the inside your vehicle reaches temperatures over 130 degrees Fahrenheit. ASA plastic has a high heat tolerance and UV ray resistance.
Q: How long does it take to remove the Bailout Plate from the harness vs. set it back up?
A: Removal is the easy part, it takes about 1 second to pull the pin, drop the pin, and yank the Plate off the harness and to safety. Re-setting the Bailout Plate is another story. Once you get familiar with your set up, it usually takes 3-8 minutes to get everything back in its place.
Q: How much weight can the Bailout Plate hold?
A: It is recommended to keep your Bailout Plate load under 10 lbs. because any more weight on the plate would make it very difficult to “bail out” with, defeating its purpose.
Q: What makes the Bailout Plate better/different then other molle vehicle seat organizers on the market?
A: The Bailout Plate is NOT designed to be a storage panel or depository for your vehicle, but instead an easily manageable platform/space to store just the essentials for any worse case scenario (i.e. first aid kit, fire extinguisher, maps, GPS, radio, multi tool, etc.).
Solar Panels
Q: Do you need to keep your flex panels clean?
A: To produce maximum power you need to keep dust and residue off your flex panels as much a possible.
Q: How do you clean your flexible solar panels?
A: Begin by rinsing off the flex panels with water to avoid scratching the panels with the dust particles accumulated on it. Then scrub panels with warm soap water before rinsing the soap off again.
Q: Do flexible solar panels need a heat sink to avoid overheating?
A: The short answer is no. When solar panels reach high temperatures their efficiency starts to decrease a few percent. This drop in efficiency usually isn't an issue until temperatures reach over 150𝇈F.
Q: Do flex solar panels work in the winter?
A: Yes, as long as the solar cells are not covered in snow or ice. Over the past several decades, solar cell efficiency has increased to collect more energy during longer periods of the day and even under overcast conditions. Furthermore, solar cells are even more efficient in cooler temperatures because they produce power from absorbing light, not heat.
Q: Can flexible solar panels stay outdoors year round?
A:Yes, they are designed for all seasons.
Q: What are the differences between monocrystalline and polycrystalline solar cells?
A: Monocrystalline cells can perform better in overcast skies compared to polycrystalline solar cells, which can perform better with clouds or minor shade. Monocrystalline cells typically have rounded off corners and are black. Polycrystalline cells are usually blueish and have a rectangle shape.
Q: Which direction should the solar panels be mounted?
A: The panels should be mounted facing true south if you live in the northern hemisphere. The tilt should be equal to your latitude, plus 15 degrees in winter or minus 15 degrees in summer.
batteries
Q: Do sealed batteries still vent?
A: Yes, sealed batteries vent through a valve that prevents electrolyte spillage and over pressurization .
Q: What is the difference between lithium and lithium ion batteries?
A: Lithium batteries are not recharge able while lithium ion batteries are.
Q: Do lithium ion batteries need a special charger?
A: Yes, because lithium ion batteries charge to a higher storage voltage then standard lead acid batteries.
Solar Charge Controllers
Q: What is the differences between MPPT (maximum power point tracker) and PWM (pulse width modulation) solar charge controllers?
A: MPPT solar charge controllers are more efficient then PWM controllers because it converters the excess panel voltage to amperage, which charges the battery faster and more efficiently. PWM controllers turn their excess voltage into heat and charge the battery at a slower rate. PWM controllers reduce the stress of batteries and can increase its battery life. The only downside to MPPT solar charge controllers is their high price compared to PWM controllers.
Inverters
Q: What should I avoid running off my solar generator?
A: Devices like heaters and AC systems require a large amount of power and can drain your battery bank extremely fast. Solar generators work best for supling bursts of energy or running efficient electronics like power tools or refrigerators.
Q: What is the difference between the inverter power and peak power ratings?
A: The inverter rating is what it can power continuously, like a refrigerator or lighting throughout the night. The peak power is typically twice the continuous rating and is used for short burst of energy, for electronics startup surges that last several seconds for instance.
Q: What is the difference between pure sine and modified sine wave inverters?
A: Pure sine (PS) wave inverters are higher quality but also more expensive then modified sine (MS) wave inverters. PS inverters are better for high tech, sensitive electronics like computers and power tools while MS inverters work well for lights or devices used for cooking like, electric kettles or hot plates.
Q: Why is my Modified Sine Wave Inverter reading low voltage, like 70-90 volts AC with my multimeter?
A: Most mutlimeters can not accurately read modified sine wave voltage. And the more DC input voltage is added to the inverter, the lower the inverter AC reading will get. To accurately read modified sine wave voltage use a true-RMS multimeter.
Watts
Customers often wonder what a solar generator can power, here is chart of a couple common electrical devices. All the devices run on 110 volts alternating current (AC), and this shows their typical amps and watts during operation.
*Wattage formula Watts = Amps x Volts
