Rigid vs flexible Solar Panels. Which is the best option
What type of solar panels are the most efficient? Rigid or Flexible? We will explore every crucial aspect you should consider when choosing between rigid and flexible solar panels. We will meticulously analyze its performance, durability, weight and efficiency, giving you a clear perspective on which one best suits your specific needs. Additionally, we will take you step-by-step through a detailed installation process aboard a vessel, illustrating the key differences and critical factors to consider to maximize the efficiency of your solar system. Specifying it in the installation of a set of rigid panels on the stern arch of a sailboat.
This episode has been possible thanks to the collaboration of SVB, which has provided us with both the necessary material and a great guide on solar energy: https://www.svb-marine.es/es/guia/energia-solar-a-bordo -all-about-solar-plates-for-boats.html?stm=TheLowCostSailor-solar-energy
Purchase links for some of the things featured in the video:
✅ SVB online nautical store: https://www.svb-marine.es/?stm=TheLowCostSailor-energia-solar
✅ Solar energy for boats at SVB: https://www.svb-marine.es/es/categoria/energia-solar-para-barcos?stm=TheLowCostSailor-energia-solar
🔵 By using the promotional code “THELOWCOSTSAILOR” when making a purchase of any value in the SVB online store, you will receive a multipurpose/Swiss knife as a gift (while stocks last) 🔵
As we tell you in the video, if you want to control any device that has an application to do it via Bluetooth, including those from Victron, it can be as easy as leaving an old mobile phone with an internet connection near the device, in our case on the boat , installing the application in question and TeamViewer Host in it.
🔵 Victron connect App https://www.victronenergy.com.es/panel-systems-remote-monitoring/victronconnect
🔵 App Team Viewer Host https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.teamviewer.host.market&hl=es&gl=US
On the mobile phone or computer where we want to control it, we will simply have to install TeamViewer.
🔵 https://www.teamviewer.com/es/download
But I have already told you that the good thing about Victron devices is that they are open and you can easily integrate them with your raspberry with Openplotter through a free plugin for signal K.
The steps are quite simple:
1️⃣ Have a Raspberry configured with OpenPlotter and signalK working. If you want to save yourself work, you can buy our SD card for the Raspberry: https://www.thelowcostsailor.com/product/tarjeta-sd-preconfigurada-para-plotter-raspberry-pi/
2️⃣ Install python 3 on the raspberry by executing the command: sudo apt-get install python3-venv
3️⃣ Connect to signalK and search and install the signalk-victron-ble plugin in the Appstore
4️⃣ Open the Victron Connect app on your mobile and look for the device that we want to add to the signalK, standing next to it. Entering it and clicking on the configuration gear and there the three points in the upper right corner, in the Product Information option we will find at the end an option to show encryption data, writing down the two data that we get
5️⃣ With these data we can go to Server/Plugin Config, choose Victron InstantData Over BLE and enter the configuration data that we have seen:
6️⃣ Finally we can consult all the data in the signalK databrowser and use it, for example, with Node Red as we have seen in other videos:
