Choosing and Installing our Solar Panel! [Solbian 130W Flexible Panel]

After making a list of what we needed in a solar panel and carefully weighing our options, we decided to go with a SP 130 flexible solar panel from Solbian, along with a 75/15 MPPT controller from Victron. (We do NOT get any affiliate money from these links, just FYI!) Solar panel: https://www.solbian.eu/en/5-sp-series MPPT: https://www.solbian.eu/en/victron-energy/17-bluesolar-mppt-7515-1224v.html The excellent “marine how to” website has long been our source for really thorough advice, especially on electrical matters. Rod Collins runs the site, and he’s an “ABYC Certified Marine Electrical Systems Specialist.” Beyond the fancy title, he seems to have a real love to getting to the bottom of electrical questions, measuring every last detail, and making the safest, most reliable, and long-lasting choice. His site is what first got us curious about solbian panels, through this very thorough and nicely explained article, in which he also shows how to mount a flexible panel to a bimini using velcro: https://marinehowto.com/installing-a-solbian-semi-flexible-solar-panel/ A great review that explains how micro cracks in solar panels occur, what the dangers are, and how they can be prevented. A big point the article brings up is that micro cracking often occurs in the factory itself, or in transportation. https://review.solar/solar-panel-micro-cracks/ Solbian panels vs. competing panels: safety and performance under stress. This review is from the solbian website, so bias has to be taken into account. Also, the review was translated into English from Italian, so please account for some minor grammatical errors. However, to us, the ability of solbian panels to avoid hotspots and remain functional even under the extreme stress applied in this test proves that they are a more reliable AND far safer option than cheaper competitors. https://www.solbian.eu/en/blog/testing-competitors-surprises-n195 These videos are made possible by you. Check out our Patreon account to get access to Maya’s secret journal, early access to the videos, surprise handwritten letters delivered to your mailbox, the chance to meet us in person, AND our neverending undying gratitude! https://www.patreon.com/user?u=13249792 Check out our website to learn more about us: https://sailingmagiccarpet.com/ If you’d like to support us but patreon isn’t your thing, you can make a one time donation via PayPal, and we will send you many thanks in return!! https://www.paypal.com/paypalme2/TheMusicianGirl Check out Maya’s music on Spotify and iTunes! SPOTIFY: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3ypa1AKDFqSOP6Cg2GX53p?si=SLM8H6ZPR4CXyDtaqVDWGA iTUNES: https://music.apple.com/ca/artist/maya-eliza/1518186756 CAMERA GEAR WE USE: (when you purchase anything from these links, it costs you the same and we get a small commission!!) Action cam 1: https://amzn.to/2Q0HK9j Action cam 2: https://amzn.to/30g1pqI Amazing, wonderful, inexpensive, superb main camera: https://amzn.to/2Q0HNlv Drone: https://amzn.to/2Hj2lTO Microphone for voice overs: https://amzn.to/30jO8Nw