160W Reinforced semi-flexible solar panel with a durable ETFE coating

At Photonic Universe we love high quality solar products. That's why we have developed this highly durable semi-flexible solar panel reinforced with anodised aluminium and a strong ETFE surface and made from monocrystalline solar cells. This high efficiency 160W solar panel is perfect for permanent outdoor use to provide free electricity for charging 12V batteries to power various applications, such as in a motorhome, caravan, camper, boat, or for solar lighting systems, off-grid, and back up solar power systems. The panel can also be used to provide direct power supply for applications not sensitive to changes in input voltage / current (e.g. electric motors or pumps) and for various grid-tie applications.

Aluminium reinforcement and strong ETFE coating:

This reinforced semi-flexible solar panel has a unique 7-layer construction, featuring an embedded sheet of anodised aluminium fully encapsulated within the solar panel. This additional reinforcement offers greater strength and resilience, making this one of the most robust semi-flexible solar panels available on the market.

In addition to the aluminium reinforcement, the surface of this 160W semi-flexible solar panel is made of strong ETFE material which has a longer service life compared to standard semi-flexible solar panels. As a result, these particular semi-flexible solar panels are extremely hard-wearing and less prone to cracking , delamination and corrosion. The lightly textured coating of this panel creates an anti-reflective surface which allows the panel to absorb a far greater amount of light, thereby increasing efficiency. ETFE material has long been used in applications where durability and high-temperature resistance is required, such as in the Eden Project, Cornwall. You can read more about ETFE and its benefits here.

High quality 5-busbar solar cells:

This panel also features innovative 5 busbar solar cells, which are more efficient than the 2, 3 or 4 busbar solar cells used in most other solar panels, and are able to extract more power from the same surface area. This results in a smaller overall solar panel, which is ideal for applications where space is limited. These solar cells are also the best choice for applications in warmer climates, as they operate well even in high ambient temperatures.

Other benefits:

• Semi-flexible design makes it ideal for slightly curved roofs and surfaces where bonding is preferable (though the panel can also be fixed by bolts or screws)
• The panel is incredibly light (only 5.75kg) which is great for all vehicles
• High resistance to salt water environments and possibility to walk on the panel make it perfect for boats and yachts.
• Sealed waterproof design ensures the panel can be used in all weather conditions.

The panel is fitted with 2 x 1m of cable specially designed for solar panels to carry high currents with negligible power loss (4mm² cross section). The cable comes with waterproof MC4 connectors which can be used for easy connectivity to your existing system, for linking several panels together or for connecting 4mm extension cable.

Click on the Details and Specifications tab for more information about this product.

Solar panel specifications:

• Peak power: 160W
• Maximum power voltage: 20.2V
• Maximum power current: 7.92A
• Open circuit voltage: 23.9V
• Short circuit current: 8.40A
• Power allowance range: +/- 5%
• Solar Panel Dimensions: 1365 x 665 x 4 mm
• Junction Box Dimensions: 90 x 16 x 16 mm
• Weight: 5.75 kg
• 2 x 1m of high quality single core solar cable (4mm² cross section)
• Male and female MC4 connectors

This product is covered by a 1 year workmanship warranty provided by Photonic Universe. We will repair or replace defective items at our discretion. For more information please refer to our Terms and Conditions.

This solar panel comes with a detailed instruction manual which explains wiring and operations. You can download the manual in the Documents tab.

Charging a 12V battery: please note this panel requires a solar charge controller / regulator to charge a 12V battery, it cannot be connected directly to the battery. All of our solar charge controllers include a detailed instruction manual which explains the installation and wiring. To view the full range of solar charge controllers we offer, please visit the Solar Charge Controllers category of our online shop. For boats we particularly recommend our 20A waterproof solar charge controller.

If you need help with your installation or have any technical questions we can provide FREE support - please contact us by email or phone (see Contact Us page for more information).

The following documents are available to download:

Technical Drawing of 160W Reinforced Semi-flexible Solar Panel ARFLX-160M

Handling and installation manual for Photonic Universe ARFLX semi-flexible solar panels