PRODUCT INFORMATION
The Carbon series features stainless press-studs and can be installed using either Carbon Velcro Battens or LOXX mounting kits (both sold separately). Cables are 70 cm long and fitted with waterproof Sun-Click connectors.
Carbon Velcro Battens are always recommended for marine use and generally provide a longer service life for both the canvas fabric and the panel itself.
Take care with panel orientation in relation to recurring shadows and the stainless framework beneath the canvas. On standard Carbon models, shadows from the boom, for instance, should fall along the length of the panel. No stainless tube should sit directly under the panel, and there must always be a safety margin to all fixing points.
The supplied installation manual provides detailed instructions for both mechanical mounting and electrical connections, along with guidance on how to register the product to apply for the extended warranty.
A LONG LIFE SOLAR PANEL
56.3 x 55.4 cm
55.4 Watt
23.7% Efficiency
VoC 21.76 Volt
FOR CANVAS & BIMINI
The Carbon range, with its carbon sandwich core and Shadow Optimized–IQ, is the ideal way to turn otherwise unused canvas and bimini space into serious solar charging. You get high-quality charging from a flexible area that normally only keeps sun and rain off the cockpit.
At the heart of each panel is a rigid carbon sandwich core, providing the stability needed to protect the solar cells on what is fundamentally a soft surface. The carbon construction keeps the weight extremely low – crucial to avoid dragging the canvas down or distorting its shape.
The soft, transparent edges are a key part of the design: they protect the canvas from chafe and create a smooth, clean transition from fabric to the panel’s black surface. Whatever colour your canvas, a Carbon panel blends in discreetly and looks purpose-built rather than "bolted on".
The two larger Carbon models use cells with 23.7% efficiency, while the 55 W Carbon averages 22.6% – all tuned for real-world use on canopies and biminis, where every square centimetre of canvas counts.
PROVEN TEST WINNER
TOUGH SOLAR PANELS HAVE REPEATEDLY DISTINGUISHED THEMSELVES IN INDEPENDENT TESTING, PROVING THEIR PERFORMANCE IN REAL-WORLD CONDITIONS – NOT JUST IN LAB FIGURES.
TEST HIGHLIGHTS:
- Performs in high temperatures: Only about 13% power loss at 75°C compared with the standard rating at 25°C.
- Highest output: Best measured performance with the panel square to the sun compared with other panels on test.
- Smallest footprint: Highest real measured Watts-per-square-metre compared to alternatives.
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THE FIVE-DIMENSIONAL TECHNOLOGICAL EVOLUTION
SUNBEAMsystem’s Carbon series continues to push development with genuinely innovative engineering. Five dimensions work together to create some of the most powerful, efficient and durable panels on the market:
1. NEW G8 reinforced outer surface: SUNBEAMsystem’s unique, highly UV-resistant and exceptionally clear surface outperforms other so-called "high performance" finishes such as ETFE.
2. Premium Maxeon (SunPower) cells: Higher efficiency (more watts per m²), broader light uptake, deep black appearance and extended service life.
3. Advanced, robust internal cabling: In-house developed cabling that can flex and expand, using hard-wearing conductors to ensure long-term reliability.
4. Upgraded G8 shock-absorbing layer: A robust intermediate layer that protects both cells and cables, improving durability and lifespan.
5. Lightweight composite sandwich core with high strength: A high-tech carbon sandwich that protects the cells and behaves almost like metal – but without the delamination risks that plague metal/plastic hybrids.
CARBON SANDWICH
Carbon panels are engineered specifically for fabric-based structures, where high stiffness and low weight are critical. Because canvas offers limited structural support, ordinary "soft" flexible panels wear out quickly and are poorly suited to soft tops.
Thanks to the advanced carbon sandwich core, Carbon panels maintain their structural integrity and deliver outstanding output and long life even under challenging conditions. The design balances robustness with minimal weight, making these panels ideal for mounting on biminis, sprayhoods and other fabric roofs.
SLIM JUNCTION WITH MICROPROCESSOR
The upgraded Slim Junction box has a sleek, low-profile design with waterproof Sun-Click connectors, fully compatible with common MC4 connectors. The box is slim enough not to chafe or dig into the canvas, preserving both fabric and panel over time.
SHADOW OPTIMIZED – IQ
MICROPROCESSOR ENHANCED
With Shadow Optimized–IQ, a microchip built into the panel takes over the job normally handled by bypass diodes. The result is higher real-world efficiency, reduced energy losses and automatic shade management, whether your array is wired in series or in parallel.
SUPPORTS BOTH SERIES AND PARALLEL CONNECTIONS
By replacing traditional silicon bypass diodes, Shadow Optimized–IQ removes the weakest link in an otherwise robust construction. Diodes are well known for failing under heat, over-current, over-voltage and electrical spikes – all of which are everyday realities for solar panels on a yacht. When a diode fails, the panel will, sooner or later, fail with it – often without any obvious explanation to the owner. Our microchip-based solution is not only more efficient; it is also, compared with diodes, far more robust and effectively fail-safe in normal operation.
Shadow Optimized–IQ eliminates that vulnerability by replacing diodes with fully potted micro-electronics designed to handle shading events intelligently.
WE PARTICULARLY RECOMMEND IQ MODELS WHERE SEVERAL PANELS ARE CONNECTED TO THE SAME REGULATOR:
Essential in series strings: Protects shaded cells under partial shading, where they would otherwise run hot and suffer a dramatically shortened service life – or, in the worst case, create localised hot-spots.
A major benefit in parallel systems: Especially on yachts and motorhomes, where partial shading is a fact of life. The IQ microchips react instantly to shade that would otherwise, over time, begin to compromise even a parallel-connected panel.
For maximum energy yield and long service life we always recommend parallel connection. If your battery voltage forces you into a series string – or you are considering a regulator with a high start-up threshold or one mainly optimized for series arrays – you are better off choosing a regulator designed around parallel installations afloat, such as SUNBEAMsystem Moonray.
