This high efficiency semi-flexible 50W solar panel kit 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.

Solar kit includes:

50W reinforced narrow semi-flexible solar panel with a durable ETFE coating
Advanced 10A solar charge controller with LCD display and powerful 2.4A dual USB output
A pair of 5m 4mm single core solar extension cables with MC4 connectors
5m of 4mm dual core battery cable

50W Reinforced narrow semi-flexible solar panel:

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 50W 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.

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.

The semi-flexible design of this panel makes it ideal for curved roofs and surfaces where bonding is preferable (though the panel can also be fixed by bolts or screws). The panel is also incredibly light (only 2kg) which makes it an ideal option for all vehicle applications. The unique narrow design of this panel also makes it ideal for applications where space is restricted, or where there are obstructions on the roof. This panel is also highly resistant to salt water environments and it is also possible to walk on the panel, making it the perfect choice for boats and yachts.

The panel is fitted with 2 x 1m of cable with MC4 connectors at the end which simply plug into the 5m extension solar cable supplied with the kit, to join the solar panel and the charge controller.

10A Solar charge controller:

The kit includes a 10A 12V/24V Photonic Universe solar charge controller designed to protect batteries whilst charging them, with automatic cut off to prevent over-charging and deep discharge. The controller uses PWM (Pulse Width Modulation) technology which increases charge acceptance and prolongs the life of your battery. Often PWM technology can recover some lost battery capacity.

This controller stops reverse current at night (from the battery back to the solar panel) so your battery won't lose any charge. It has many other protection functions such as over charge / discharge, over load, short circuit, overheating etc.

The LCD display shows information regarding real time solar panel and battery performance, including: voltage, current, battery state of charge, and battery temperature. An energy statistics counter also displays the accumulated daily and monthly charge values (useful for comparing solar panel performance between different periods).

This solar charge controller also offers the rare and highly sought-after feature of a dual USB charging output. These 5V USB ports have a total combined output of 2.4A, offering fast and powerful charging of USB compatible devices such as mobile phones, tablets, mp3 players etc.

An optional programmable load (e.g. 12V lighting / fans / water pumps) may also be connected directly to the solar charge controller. Using the buttons and LCD display, the user can set personalised On/Off timers for these appliances. In addition, this controller also offers various charging programs for different battery types, which can be easily selected by the user. In addition to the built-in temperature sensor, the controller has a pair of terminals for connecting a remote temperature sensor, which can be attached directly to the battery to measure the battery temperature more precisely and optimise the charging process.

Additional items:

The kit also includes a pair of 5m positive and negative solar extension leads (4mm cross section) and 5m of 4mm dual core battery cable for use between the solar charge controller and your battery, making the total cable length between the solar panel and the battery 1m + 5m + 5m = 11m.

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

Solar panel specifications:

Peak power: 50W
Maximum power voltage: 20.2V
Maximum power current: 2.48A
Open circuit voltage: 23.9V
Short circuit current: 2.62A
Power allowance range: +/- 5%
Solar Panel Dimensions: 880 x 350 x 4 mm
Junction Box Dimensions: 90 x 16 x 16 mm
Weight: 2.00 kg
2 x 1m of high quality single core solar cable (4mm² cross section)
Male and female MC4 connectors

Charge controller specifications:

Fully automated operation and auto 12/24V selection
Rated charge/discharge current: 10A
Maximum solar panel input power: 160W (12V) / 320W (24V)
Maximum solar panel input voltage 50V
Temperature sensor for automatic compensation: -3mV/C/2V (25C)
Working temperature: -25°C to +55°C
Self-consumption: max. ≤9.2mA (12V); ≤11.7mA (24V)
3 pairs of terminals (solar, battery, optional load)
Terminals for wire up to 4mm²
Multiple mounting holes for ease of installation
Size: 14.2 x 8.5 x 4.1 cm
Weight: 220 g

Please note: due to our warehouse arrangements, the solar charge controller and accessories may be shipped from a different warehouse to the solar panel and therefore delivered in a separate package.

The panel and solar charge controller are 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.

Electrical connection: the solar charge controller included in this kit comes with a detailed user manual which contains a wiring diagram and explains installation / operations (see Documents tab). Please ensure that you read the full user manual before starting the installation.

Fitting: before installing this solar panel, please read the handling and fitting guidelines, available to download in the 'Documents' tab.

The solar charge controller in this kit is not waterproof and should be mounted indoors.

If you need help with 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:

User Manual for Photonic Universe 10A solar charge controller with LCD display and dual USB output (VS1024AU)

Technical drawing of Photonic Universe 50W Reinforced narrow semi-flexible solar panel ARFLXNR-50M

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

50W 12V Reinforced narrow semi-flexible solar charging kit