This month, I’m testing a new Renogy solar panel called the ShadowFlux. It’s designed for better shade tolerance with 16 bus bars and 28 bypass diodes, plus it offers higher conversion efficiency, longer lifespan, and improved performance in hot conditions. I’m really interested in how it’ll work on my boat, with the mast and rigging shadows, and during RV trips, where trees often create partial shading.
I have two of their 195-watt panels, and I’ll be splitting this into a few videos. In this first one, I’m doing some basic output tests here in early spring at around the 49th parallel, along with some shade testing. Later, I’ll take them camping in a provincial park under trees to check daily averages, and then do a full update once they’re installed on the boat in peak summer sun.
Fair Disclosure: I received a free review sample of the product
Right now, testing at solar noon, with the panels angled straight at the sun, I’m seeing outputs varying from 150 to 179 watts on a single panel due to some haze in the sky. When I hook both up in series, I get an average of about 330 watts and peaks up to 403 watts at times.
For shade testing, a line across one or both panels doesn’t drop things much; we stay over 300 watts in parallel and around 260-300 in series. Under partial tree branches, it holds up decently in some spots, but heavy shading across multiple cells can cut output to 35 watts or so. Overall, the shade tolerance looks promising for my boat setup. I’ll follow up soon with how they perform when paired with my Renogy off-grid RV power system camped under some trees.
ShadowFlux Solar Panels – Unboxed, Features & Initial Demos
Product Links:
- Amazon USA – https://amzn.to/4dukUUo
- Amazon Canada – https://amzn.to/4dul5iw
- Renogy Website – Use code: LYRV9OFF for 9% off the ShadowFlux solar panel
- Renogy Off-Grid System Build Idea List – https://amzn.to/4kB3x5K
Longer Term Update after Real World Testing
In this 4th video, an update on how my newly installed Renogy off-grid RV power system has performed after some real-world spring camping.