80W Portable Solar Power Panels

80W Portable Solar Panels: Flexible Power for Curved Roofs and Decks

Most portable solar panels are framed glass. The 80W class in this collection is different: it is a thin, flexible CIGS module that sticks to a curved van roof, a boat cabin top or a fiberglass camper shell with adhesive instead of brackets. You get a permanent, low-profile panel with no drilled holes, sized to keep a 12V house or starting battery charged and to run small loads such as lights, a fan, a bilge pump or phone charging.

The collection holds one product, the Rich Solar MEGA FLEX 80W 12V CIGS Flexible Solar Panel at $85, rated IP67 with a 1-year warranty. It is sold out at the moment and restocks regularly; the guide below explains when it is the right choice and what to have ready for the install.

How to choose an 80W panel

• Flexible or rigid. Choose the MEGA FLEX when the mounting surface curves, when a landlord or marina forbids holes, or when a raised panel would catch wind at highway speed. Choose a rigid framed panel when you want to tilt it, move it between vehicles or expect heavy abuse.
• CIGS versus silicon. CIGS thin-film is what makes the panel flexible and lets it conform to a roof. Rich Solar lists it for marine, RV, van and residential roof types, and IP67 ingress protection covers rain, spray and washdowns.
• Daily output. At 80W, figure roughly 320 to 400Wh on a clear summer day and about half that in winter. That maintains a house battery, runs LED lighting all evening and keeps a phone and tablet charged; a compressor fridge needs two of these or a larger panel.
• Controller and wiring. As a 12V-class panel it connects to any small PWM or MPPT controller. Adding the controller, fuse and cable turns this single module into a portable solar panel kit for a van or boat at a modest total cost.

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Setup and usage tips

• Size the system before you bond anything. The Solar Kit Calculator converts your loads and ZIP code into watts, and a flexible panel is hard to move once it is stuck down.
• Clean and degrease the roof. Adhesive mounting holds only on a surface free of wax, chalked gelcoat and road film; wipe with isopropyl alcohol and let it dry.
• Leave a small gap for airflow where the surface allows. Flexible panels run hotter than framed ones, and heat costs output; a slightly ventilated mounting spot helps.
• Route the cable through an existing gland or a sealed entry. The whole point of a no-penetration panel is lost if the wire hole leaks.
• Pair it with a battery monitor. On an 80w solar panel system the margins are small, and knowing the state of charge tells you whether to add a second panel or trim loads.
• Consider two panels for a van. Two MEGA FLEX modules in parallel give 160W on the same controller and still sit flat enough to disappear on the roof.

Frequently asked questions

Can a flexible 80W panel be walked on? Avoid it. It bends to fit a roof, but stepping on the cells stresses them and shortens the panel's life. Mount it where boots and roof racks do not land.

Is an 80W solar panel enough for a van? For lighting, ventilation fan, phones and a laptop, yes. If a 12V fridge is on the list, plan on 160W or more and consider a framed panel on a rack, or two flexible panels.

How does it compare with the 50W and 60W Rich Solar panels? Those are glass-and-frame modules: the 50W for fixed brackets, the 60W portable for carrying out at camp. The 80W FLEX is the only adhesive-mount panel in the range and the only one that follows a curved surface.

The panel ships free to the mainland US from Rich Solar's partner warehouse when in stock, usually within a few business days, with 30-day returns. Call us for a restock estimate or to talk through the mounting plan for your roof.