As the market for portable power stations and off-grid power demands increase, solar energy has become increasingly popular among consumers and more adventurous IT pros. BougeRV, a manufacturer of solar products, has recently come out with a new high-output mount-anywhere solar solution: the BougeRV Yuma 200W CIGS Solar Panel. This flexible panel is designed to mount on a wide range of surfaces, while also providing maximum solar efficiency, all the while being simple to install.
As the market for portable power stations and off-grid power demands increase, solar energy has become increasingly popular among consumers and more adventurous IT pros. BougeRV, a manufacturer of solar products, has recently come out with a new high-output mount-anywhere solar solution: the BougeRV Yuma 200W CIGS Solar Panel. This flexible panel is designed to mount on a wide range of surfaces, while also providing maximum solar efficiency, all the while being simple to install.
BougeRV Yuma 200W CIGS Panel
One of the key features of the BougeRV 200W CIGS Solar Panel is its Copper Indium Gallium Selenide (CIGS) technology. CIGS offers increased durability, light sensitivity, and a long productive lifetime in solar panels.
BougeRV Yuma 200W Specs Sticker
The panel’s unique flexibility gives it the advantage of mounting on many surfaces solar panels wouldn’t normally be positioned, ideal for use on uneven surfaces such as the roofs of RVs, boats, or in the field. With a solar cell efficiency of 16%, this panel is designed to provide consistent and reliable energy, even in low-light conditions.
The Yuma 200W carries a street price at the time of this review of $480 on Amazon after coupon.
BougeRV Yuma 200W CIGS Solar Panel Specifications
| Maximum Power (Pmax) | 200±5％W | Operating Temperature Limits | -40℉ ~ +185℉ |
| Solar Cells Efficiency | 16% | Series Fuse Rating | 10A |
| Max. Power Voltage Vmp (V) | 25±5%V | Temperature Coefficient Pmax | -0.38%/℃ |
| Max. Power Current Imp (A) | 8.02±5%A | Temperature Coefficient Voc | -0.28%/℃ |
| Open Circuit Voltage Voc (V) | 31.5±5%V | Temperature Coefficient Isc | -0.008%/℃ |
| Short Circuit Current (Isc) | 8.64±5%A | Dimensions | 26*85.6*0.06 inches |
| Max. System Voltage | 1000V DC | Weight | 7.05 lbs |
| Warranty Description | 18-month limited warranty |
Build and Design
The dimensions of the BougeRV Yuma 200W CIGS Solar Panel measure 26″ wide by 85.6″ long, and it weighs 7.05 lbs / 3.2 kg. Its maximum bend diameter is 11 inches, with 360-degree flexibility to roll up if needed. This also has some other benefits like transport size or shipping, where it can become much more compact than rigid solar panels that might require freight shipping only in larger sizes. It also withstands a wide temperature range of -40℉ to +185℉, allowing it to withstand extreme weather conditions.
BougeRV Yuma 200W Rolled Up
The maximum power output of the BougeRV 200W CIGS Solar Panel is 200W ±5%, with a maximum power voltage of 25V ±5% and a maximum power current of 8.02A ±5%. Its open circuit voltage is 31.5V ±5%, and its short circuit current is 8.64A ±5%.
BougeRV Yuma 200W Power Distribution Box
Each panel includes a weather-sealed power distribution box mounted on the top surface, with IP68-rated waterproof power leads. The panel does support being connected with other solar panels, although the maximum limits are generally set by the portable power station you are using.
BougeRV Yuma 200W Adhesive Option
In our use, we looked at both the adhesive tape and pre-punched versions of the BougeRV Yuma 200W solar panel. The two versions come down to how you want to fasten the panel. The tape version includes thick adhesive strips on the backside of the panel to quickly mount it to the top of an off-grid roof structure. BougeRV states it is highway rated, requiring no additional mounts to secure the panels.
BougeRV Yuma 200W Pre-Punched
The other version BougeRV offers is a pre-punched style with attachment points around the perimeter of the solar panel. This mounting style may be preferred if maintenance is required around the panel itself, as removing a few fasteners will be much easier than removing near-permanent adhesive. Both panels are identical beyond that difference though.
In Use
In testing, we deployed a BougeRV 200W panel as well as two in parallel. It was about 1 PM in the day, so sunlight was not completely overhead but close with only very slight intermittent cloud cover. We leveraged an EcoFlow Delta 2 Portable Power Station as the load device. With a single panel connected, we saw power usage stay pretty consistent at 132-133 watts facing straight up.
Generally, solar panels need to be aligned with the sun for maximum efficiency. Given how the flexible panels are deployed, fewer watts is still better than no watts at all. These will be mounted in areas with not perfect sunlight, but still able to capture some amount.
With two panels connected together using a BougeRV Y Branch Parallel Adapter Cable Wire Plug Tool Kit, we saw incoming power reach up to 260 watts.
BougeRV Yuma 200W Charging
In terms of how much shadows across some or all of the panels would knock down power output, we created a small shadow on one panel with a bag of chips, and then a large shadow standing in front of the panel casting a shadow across the entire surface.
The small “spicy” shadow from the bag of chips knocked the total power output down to 220 watts, which isn’t that bad considering the effect of tree branches or other covers above the panel surface.
Next, we cast a large shadow across the entire surface by standing in front of it, which brought the combined power output down to 165 watts.
While these solar panels could easily get more power if you aimed them better into the sky, that isn’t really the goal of these panels. These are designed to capture missed solar opportunities on irregular roof designs or structures that might not be able to hold a traditional rigid solar panel. To this is “free” energy in the sense that without a flexible panel, it would be uncaptured sunlight completely.
Conclusion
The BougeRV Yuma 200W CIGS Solar Panel is an excellent choice for anyone looking to harness the power of solar energy. Its highly flexible design allows it to be easily installed on uneven surfaces, making it an easy choice for people with RVs, tapered rooftops, or other irregular roof structures.
With CIGS technology and glue-down or fastener models, the BougeRV YUMA 200W panel can work in a number of deployment scenarios. Overall we were impressed with the power output and build quality of the panels, which allow for a “deploy and forget” installation method. The only maintenance really comes down to keeping the solar panel clean to capture as much sun as possible, without getting too covered in dust or dirt from the surrounding environment.
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