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Originally Posted by sailingdog
CD-
Unless they have a radically new photocell technology, they are 50 W panels. I've looked at the dimensions, and it is unlikely that they could generate 65W per panel. I have two 130W panels on my boat btw, so I have a pretty good idea of what solar panels are capable of. I've also installed a few panels, both amorphous and poly/monocrystalline types on several boats. Also, from a manufacturing viewpoint, it wouldn't pay to advertise the panels as being only 50W panels if they were actually 65W panels. The price difference between the panels is significant, and anyone who prices them would opt to buy the ones labeled 65W panels, since I seriously doubt that they could sell 65W panels at the price of 50W panels.
LaleLu-
A smart controller makes the use of the electricity coming out of the panels more efficient...but you still lose a goodly portion of what the MPPT controller reports as heat. Battery charging tends to have significant thermal losses.
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You don't get it - your fixed panels are only efficiant 1/3 of the time the sun is up. My 50 watt panels are 100% efficient as long as I have them pitched to maximum sun. So, I can get 3 x the power from my panels than you can. That makes my 50 watt panels the same out put as a 150 watt panel***.
**** Edit - I should have said same efficiency as a 150 watt FIXED panel!!!