You got me really worried now!
You mention that Solara AG decided to re-open the conversation after your
posting of the problems on the Internet. What was the final outcome of that
or is it still on-going?
Can you say anything more about the "failure" or did the panels simply stop
working? Had you installed them with a Solara regulator? Which model do you
have and does it have an inline tube with a protective circuit? Did you stay
within the maximum bending curve?

My panels work fine and are very efficient, but there was a practical
problem with the installation. I have model SM160M. The tube with protective
circuit required a big hole in the deck to feed it through. The installation
manual states (literally): "Do not cut this protective circuit off the cable
and do not shorten the cable! Otherwise the warranty ends immediately". I
cut the cable anyway and reconnected under deck. It was either that or
drilling a 3/4" hole in the deck to feed the tube through. I think they are
nervous about cutting the cable because if any light falls on the panel
while the cable is cut, the shorting will damage the panel. I shielded the
panel from light and as an extra precaution I carefully cut open the
insulation and then cut wire by wire, rather than a cutting the cable in one
go. I will probably have a problem if it ever comes to a warranty claim, but
from what you're saying I will have a problem anyway.

Plano




"Geoff Schultz" wrote in message
.. .
As the person who has had the warranty problem with Solara AG, I can
assure you that I've done everything possible to communicate with the
company. I have dozens of e-mails to them. The problem is that they
just stopped answering my e-mail. I was having a very good exchange
with their export manager until he just stopped replying. Once I posted
my problems with Solara AG on the Internet they decided to re-open the
conversation.

Please also note that it wasn't just me that they were ignoring. They
were ignoring the US distributor and the dealer who sold it to me. I
will also state that I e-mailed their general info address and the
president and received no response. My phone calls to the export
manager weren't returned. There is no customer service number and
whoever answers their general number only speaks German, which is
definately limiting.

I will also state that others appear to be having the same failure that
I'm having. Just this morning I heard from a cruiser in Turkey whose
panels appear to have the same failure mode.

All of this is probably moot as I don't believe that anyone carries
Solara panels in the US any more. The USD/Euro ratio has made their
panels way too expensive.

-- Geoff

"plano" wrote in
:

Solara, Hamburg, Germany. The only one I could find.
Excellent product. Highly efficient panels. I've got 3 x 40W, rather
expensive but worth it I think. They had a bit of bad press here
because of a warranty problem, but that may have been due to a
communication problem. A direct phone call to their customer services
dept. might have helped. Plano

"Jim Conlin" wrote in message
... Please identify
makers and vendors for flexible solar panels suitable for a curved
boat deck.

Yes, i know they're less efficient.