Solid test, thanks for posting. Some notes: 1. Optimal angle in tests like these is not necessarily ideal. Panels in residential and RV installs are fixed and see ideal angles rarely. 2. Several comments mentioned high amperage being better. No. Low amperage reduces cabling losses. Which is why we do series connections in the first place.ld 3. Shade and hot performance is where 9BB should show some performance advantage.
A couple years ago i paid 135 a piece for used panels that are 235 watts each. Now i could buy new 450 watt panels for less than that. It amazes me at the price drop of the panels
I did the same test as you and came up with the same conclusion. The added cost of the 200w 9bb panel isnt worth it. Thanks for making people aware of this. 👍
I think the 9BB vs 5BB is supposed to give you an advantage in partial shade. They make no claim of a significantly higher wattage output in full sun (though they do say it's supposed to be slightly better). Test various real-world shading scenarios.
Enjoyed your video I had just purchased three of the 180 w 5 BB panels 3 weeks ago. Your results bolsters my view that these were the right choice over the 9 BB panels
Wow. They’re only $150 as of 4:30pm EST with the coupon (10/26/22). The 5 BB definitely seems like the better route to go. Thanks for sharing your results
I own the 9BB version of both the 180 and 200 watt BougeRV panels. My observations have been a little different, where I get about 85% efficiency from either size. If you get 80% efficiency from a panel that's considered pretty normal, so the 90+ percent you're getting from those 180w 5BB panels is very impressive. Admittedly the 200w panel takes up less space, so if you needed a lot of solar and had limited space, that might make a difference, but from a cost-per-watt perspective, it's clear which panel was better in your testing.
The BougeRV 180W 5BB version solar panels have been quietly dropped/discontinued by the manufacturer. They start to lose power after about 4-6 months and develop burnt edges alongside each cell. I would stay away.
@@BrianWatersOutdoors And, if your setting up a system for a house or cabin or even an Rv, I would get a 48 volt all in one unit like The EG4 3000 or the EG4 6500ex and stick with big solar panels 350 watt to 500 watt, I have a bunch of 400 watt panels..Delivery is expensive, I drove a couple hundred miles to New Jersey warehouse to pick mine up..And if you want to run 12 volt loads a 48 volt to 12 volt converter is cheap and easy..But those systems are very efficient and capable..I have one 3000 and 2 6500ex's and am completely off grid..I'm not sure if it's worth building modular systems anymore, maybe, maybe not..
I just ordered two of the 200 watts to replace the poor performance of the 180 watt 5BB's. I just cancelled it on Amazon. Thanks. a bunch. I wonder how well the 9BB 180 watt panels perform?
That's kinda like when Will Prowse tested polycrystaline vs monocrystaline panels (which were the new have to have at the time) and they were pretty much the same. Just because it is newer doesn't always mean it's better. Thanks for doing that test. Something I wonder about, would 4 -100 watt panels in series put out more than 2-200 watt panels in series? A 200 watt panel isn't much smaller (in most cases)than 2 -100 watt panels (the newer 100's). Is the surface area worth the price? Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong Brian.
@@williamsuttle3645 as far as I can tell it's all about the room you have for panels. If you are putting them on a van you probably want as many 200w panels as possible verses 100w. ground mount there again depends on space. But If you have space I would go with the harbor freight 100w panels for $99.
Well, the 9BB were definitely putting out a greater amount of amps! 1&1/2 to 2 amps more than the 5BB set. Its all about getting those amps back in the battery as fast as possible! The 5BB panels are a hell of a deal tho!!
I would get the 9BB. Here is why. Amps, which is like a car. Voltage is a highway. What you want is more cars "amps" going down the highway. Clearly, the 9BB is creating more amps with a smaller pannel.
I really feel these "200w" panels are really just 180w panels as I haven't seen a single video come anywhere close to 200 watts and are usually around 150 watts. Really they should be labeled as 180w panels.
Good output for a cheap solar panel. Too bad bougerv only offers a 18 month manufacturers warranty, and not a five year like other manufacturers. Makes me Leary on the longevity of these panels.
Electric Companies ship power through lines at very high Voltage, so there is less loss..Amps times volts equal watts..The higher the volts and lower the amps means less loss and more watts to the batteries...
Solid test, thanks for posting. Some notes:
1. Optimal angle in tests like these is not necessarily ideal. Panels in residential and RV installs are fixed and see ideal angles rarely.
2. Several comments mentioned high amperage being better. No. Low amperage reduces cabling losses. Which is why we do series connections in the first place.ld
3. Shade and hot performance is where 9BB should show some performance advantage.
Great advice👍🏻👍🏻
A couple years ago i paid 135 a piece for used panels that are 235 watts each. Now i could buy new 450 watt panels for less than that. It amazes me at the price drop of the panels
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I did the same test as you and came up with the same conclusion. The added cost of the 200w 9bb panel isnt worth it. Thanks for making people aware of this. 👍
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Thank you for taking the time and sharing with everyone!!!
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I think the 9BB vs 5BB is supposed to give you an advantage in partial shade. They make no claim of a significantly higher wattage output in full sun (though they do say it's supposed to be slightly better). Test various real-world shading scenarios.
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I like what’s going on. Test, test, tested. If the 200 watts were $125.00 less I could get them. Thanks for your posting.
Thanks👍🏻
In direct sunlight, both panels are more or less equal. The 9BB would excel in partly shady conditions or where tree limbs might interfere.
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just imagine that set up in Puerto Rico with the sun we have, wow! 😊
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Good Stuff Great Panels For The Money I Have 6 In Series Going Into My Ac200max For 2 Years Now No Problem 😉
Thanks👍🏻👍🏻
You review and the price of the panels goes up. It's a sign you must be doing something right.
There should be a $50 coupon code on Amazon bringing it down to around $150….at least it was this morning.
Enjoyed your video I had just purchased three of the 180 w 5 BB panels 3 weeks ago. Your results bolsters my view that these were the right choice over the 9 BB panels
👍🏻👍🏻 I’m going to buy some more for sure
Wow. They’re only $150 as of 4:30pm EST with the coupon (10/26/22). The 5 BB definitely seems like the better route to go. Thanks for sharing your results
Thanks👍🏻
Now $135 for the 5bb. Just bought two.
awesome video , thank you , I just got a 5bb panel and was thinking of getting another one
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Thanks for sharing your experiment very well done.... Brian " the mad scientist " Waters 👍
Thanks Trey👍🏻
Almost seems like the SCC was limiting the watts regardless of the panels, perhaps due to SoC of the battery or something.
Battery was around 70%, so I do t think that would have been an issue
I own the 9BB version of both the 180 and 200 watt BougeRV panels. My observations have been a little different, where I get about 85% efficiency from either size. If you get 80% efficiency from a panel that's considered pretty normal, so the 90+ percent you're getting from those 180w 5BB panels is very impressive. Admittedly the 200w panel takes up less space, so if you needed a lot of solar and had limited space, that might make a difference, but from a cost-per-watt perspective, it's clear which panel was better in your testing.
Thanks Jason
Good info and close enough for government work 😊
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The 9bb performance difference is in partial shading, and low light situations fyi.
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Great information thanks for posting.
Thanks Frank
@Brian are you going to do those other two Portable Solar Power Supplies away soon???
Not sure I follow ?
It seems to me, the premium is for the smaller size. Had the panels been equal in that respect, I reckon they would have done much better.
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The BougeRV 180W 5BB version solar panels have been quietly dropped/discontinued by the manufacturer. They start to lose power after about 4-6 months and develop burnt edges alongside each cell. I would stay away.
Good to know! Thanks👍🏻
The panels with more bus bars are "supposed" to perform better in cloudy, low light, and shady conditions...
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@@BrianWatersOutdoors And, if your setting up a system for a house or cabin or even an Rv, I would get a 48 volt all in one unit like The EG4 3000 or the EG4 6500ex and stick with big solar panels 350 watt to 500 watt, I have a bunch of 400 watt panels..Delivery is expensive, I drove a couple hundred miles to New Jersey warehouse to pick mine up..And if you want to run 12 volt loads a 48 volt to 12 volt converter is cheap and easy..But those systems are very efficient and capable..I have one 3000 and 2 6500ex's and am completely off grid..I'm not sure if it's worth building modular systems anymore, maybe, maybe not..
Thank you for another great video ! The information and test comparisons are amazing !
Thanks Wayne👍🏻
I just ordered two of the 200 watts to replace the poor performance of the 180 watt 5BB's. I just cancelled it on Amazon. Thanks. a bunch. I wonder how well the 9BB 180 watt panels perform?
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That's kinda like when Will Prowse tested polycrystaline vs monocrystaline panels (which were the new have to have at the time) and they were pretty much the same. Just because it is newer doesn't always mean it's better. Thanks for doing that test.
Something I wonder about, would 4 -100 watt panels in series put out more than 2-200 watt panels in series? A 200 watt panel isn't much smaller (in most cases)than 2 -100 watt panels (the newer 100's). Is the surface area worth the price?
Feel free to correct me if I'm wrong Brian.
I’d love to do a 100 watt comparison. I’m slowly building up my supply of those and will hopefully be able to test that exact situation soon👍🏻
@@BrianWatersOutdoors Sweet!!!!!! Just don't let it interfere with fishing.
@@williamsuttle3645 as far as I can tell it's all about the room you have for panels.
If you are putting them on a van you probably want as many 200w panels as possible verses 100w.
ground mount there again depends on space.
But If you have space I would go with the harbor freight 100w panels for $99.
The more panels you have in series the more you have to worry about shade hitting (ONE) of the Panels.
I would consider those 200w panels defective, as in I'd return them. Something isn't right with them. Maybe they sent you 150w panels?
Well, the 9BB were definitely putting out a greater amount of amps! 1&1/2 to 2 amps more than the 5BB set. Its all about getting those amps back in the battery as fast as possible! The 5BB panels are a hell of a deal tho!!
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Very cool.
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@@BrianWatersOutdoors my last name is also Waters. Very cool. 🤙🏾
I would get the 9BB. Here is why. Amps, which is like a car. Voltage is a highway. What you want is more cars "amps" going down the highway. Clearly, the 9BB is creating more amps with a smaller pannel.
Great anology👍🏻
No. Watts is all that matters in the end. You actually want lower amperage from the panels, to reduce cabling loss.
Let's go camping even try fishing cook and drink beer.
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I really feel these "200w" panels are really just 180w panels as I haven't seen a single video come anywhere close to 200 watts and are usually around 150 watts. Really they should be labeled as 180w panels.
I agree👍🏻👍🏻
Good output for a cheap solar panel. Too bad bougerv only offers a 18 month manufacturers warranty, and not a five year like other manufacturers. Makes me Leary on the longevity of these panels.
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200w panels are better because they produce more amps.
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No. Lower amperage is better for cabling loss. Now, shade performance is another thing, which is where 9BB should theoretically have an advantage.
Electric Companies ship power through lines at very high Voltage, so there is less loss..Amps times volts equal watts..The higher the volts and lower the amps means less loss and more watts to the batteries...
Most of mine were badly damaged when delivered . Cannot recommend them
Is that the shipping companies fault?
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Thanks👍🏻