BougeRV Yuma CIGS Solar Panel 200W

Words by Perry Mack

It will probably not come as a surprise to you, that our world is in fact, round. And much of what we use to enjoy the world is curved, not flat. Which is why a flexible solar panel makes a great deal of sense. The folks at BougeRV have developed a light, flexible solar panel that fits and is designed for the world around us. Yes, many RV’s have a nice flat roof to mount solar panels, however teardrop trailers, which have grown exponentially in popularity, don’t. Neither do Bimini tops for boats. Lazy, hot summer days floating on a lake, or tucked away in a secluded off-grid site, around can be enjoyed with the stereo on and the cooler on high for hours with constant power streaming in.

Recognizing the outdoors can be a rugged experience, the Yuma CIGS panel is shock and impact resistant with an IP68 water, dust, and weather-proof construction. The heart of this technology is CIGS, a thin film cell technology using Copper, Indium, Gallium, and Selenide, which is quite different from traditional crystalline silicon based solar cells. For outdoor enthusiasts this means better performance (more power output), even in the shade or damaged, and easy roll-up storage for travel, or when switching between uses (boat, RV, tailgating). The panels can be ordered with adhesive backing strips or hole-punched for easy installation in a variety of locations. Move it from your tent to RV to cartop to home.

We set-up this 200W solar panel, weighing in at just 3.2 kg (7.05 lb) by connecting it to a power station with the supplied MC4 cables. Storing power is essential for evening use, and a power station allows you to connect multiple devices, both A/C and D/C. The panel is just 66 x 217 cm (26 x 85.6 in) and just 1.5 mm (0.06) in thick, allowing to match the curve of our camp vehicles hard top. This flush mount is more aerodynamic than a flat mounted panel.

The power station display showed the panel generating 62W on this hazy, winter day. Another good reason to buy the largest solar panel you can afford, or have room for, as larger panels capture more energy during poor weather conditions. Check out our ‘How to Choose a Solar Charging System’ article for advice. It will help you determine how large a power station you need and what wattage of solar panels are best for where you play, which determines how many hours of sun you get. If 200W from a single Yuma CIGS isn’t enough, these panels are designed so you can connect them together. With three of them (600W), you could recharge the Flash 300 power station to 90% in just 1.5 hours with peak sunshine.

We love the ‘flexibility’ of this panel, for its adaptable shape, light weight, ruggedness, and performance. It is grab and go power for wherever and however your adventures take you.

Get the best current pricing – click here.

Related articles;

FlexSolar Briefcase Solar Panel Kit

https://suncruisermedia.com/Home/resources/portable-power-to-the-people/

How to Choose a Solar Charging System

https://suncruisermedia.com/Home/tech/how-to-choose-a-solar-charging-system/