Power supply: Flinraft+, inflatable solar system with up to 780 watts of power

With the Flinraft+, Flin Solar is adding an unusual concept to its portfolio: the solar system floats behind the yacht like a dinghy and can be inflated with any inflatable boat pump. In contrast to permanently installed solar panelsThe Flinraft+ is mounted on a raft, which requires sufficient deck space, or railing modules such as the Flinrail. When inflated, the system measures 1.7 × 1.15 metres (300 W) or 1.7 × 2.3 metres (600 W) and weighs 14.5 or 23.5 kilograms. When folded, it can be stowed away in the padded bag to save space.

More power through water reflections

The special feature of the Flinraft+ is its bifacial solar cells, which absorb light on both sides and convert it into electricity. Because the sun's rays are reflected by the surface of the water, the solar modules are said to deliver significantly more energy than front-only modules. The 300 watt version is said to achieve up to 390 watts and the 600 watt version up to 780 watts. The modules are rear-ventilated and are cooled naturally due to their proximity to water. The efficiency is 23 per cent. The system is also waterproof to IP67 and is designed to withstand wind speeds of up to 40 knots.

Plug-in system

The Flinraft+ is connected to the charge controller on board via a five metre cable with MC4 plugs. The open-circuit voltage is 72 volts (VOC), and at the maximum power point (VMPP) the raft operates at 60 volts. The short-circuit current is 5.4 amps (300W+) or 10.8 amps (600W+). The modules have nine or 18 bypass diodes, which minimise energy loss in the event of partial shading. Several Flinraft rafts can be combined to increase the available solar area as required without losing deck space. The 300 watt version costs 2,150 euros; the 600 watt version costs 3,750 euros.

On show at boot: Hall 10, Stand F64

Technical data:

Flinraft+ 300 W:

• Dimensions (inflated): 1,700 x 1,150 x 150 mm
• Pack size: 1,200 x 600 x 200 mm
• Weight: 14.5 kg
• Power, monofacial: 300 W, bifacial: 390 W
• Current at MPP (IMPP): 5.00 A, bifacial: 6.50 A
• Bypass diodes: 9

Flinraft+ 600 W:

• Dimensions (inflated): 1,700 x 2,300 x 150 mm
• Pack size: 1,200 x 600 x 300 mm
• Weight: 23.5 kg
• Power, monofacial: 600 W, bifacial: 780 W
• Current at MPP (IMPP): 10.0 A, bifacial: 13.0 A
• Bypass diodes: 18

General data (both models):

• Cable length: 5 m
• Connector type: MC4
• Open circuit voltage (VOC): 72.0 V
• Voltage at MPP (VMPP): 60.0 V
• Protection class: IP67
• Efficiency: 23 %

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• Charge controller for solar modules