The short answer: all four are 100W, 12V-class Rich Solar panels, and they differ in shape, cells, weight and warranty, not in what they charge. The MEGA 100 is the standard rigid panel. The MEGA 100 SLIM is narrower and longer, uses N-type TOPCon cells, and fits between roof vents and on van roofs. ONYX is the black-finish version of either, with the same electrical specs. The MEGA 100 FLEX weighs about a third as much and bonds to a curved roof, but carries a much shorter warranty.
Side by side
| MEGA 100 | MEGA 100 SLIM | MEGA 100 FLEX | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size | 39.0 x 21.3 x 1.2 in | 50.0 x 15.8 x 1.2 in | 57.8 x 15.7 x 0.1 in |
| Weight | 13.2 lb | 12.4 lb | 4.8 lb |
| Cells | 9-busbar monocrystalline, up to 22.6% | 16-busbar N-type TOPCon, up to 25.1% | 10-busbar monocrystalline, up to 22.8% |
| Open-circuit voltage (Voc) | 22.8V | 23.6V | 20.4V |
| Max power voltage / current | 18.6V / 5.38A | 19.6V / 5.1A | 17.1V / 5.85A |
| Front | 3.2 mm tempered glass, aluminum frame | 3.2 mm tempered glass, aluminum frame | Frameless, flexible |
| Mounting | 14 pre-drilled holes | 12 pre-drilled holes | Adhesive backing and pre-drilled holes |
| Snow / wind load rating | 5,400 / 2,400 Pa | 5,400 / 2,400 Pa | 5,400 / 2,400 Pa |
| Warranty | 25-yr output, 10-yr workmanship | 25-yr output, 10-yr workmanship | 1-yr material and workmanship |
| Black version | MEGA 100 ONYX | MEGA 100 SLIM ONYX | No |
All figures are Rich Solar's, from the product pages we list. Cell efficiency is the cell's rating, not the whole panel's. All three come with 3 ft, 12 AWG leads and MC4 connectors.
What ONYX means
ONYX is Rich Solar's black-finish option. On its MEGA 100 product page, Rich Solar offers the same model as "MEGA 100 ONYX (Black)" or "MEGA 100 (Silver)", and the size, weight, watts, voltages and currents in our listings are the same for each pair. Choose ONYX if you want the panel to disappear against a black roof rack or a dark van roof; choose silver if you don't mind the look. The same applies to the MEGA 100 SLIM and SLIM ONYX, the MEGA 130 SLIM and SLIM ONYX, and the 200W and 250W ONYX panels.
MEGA 100 vs SLIM: shape is the real difference
The SLIM is 15.8 in wide against 21.3 in for the MEGA 100, and 11 in longer. On a crowded RV roof that narrower width is often what lets a panel fit between an air conditioner, a vent fan and the roof edge, or run lengthwise on a van roof. By area, the SLIM also makes a little more power: we work it out at about 18.2W per square foot against about 17.3W for the MEGA 100, using the rated watts and outer dimensions. It is also slightly lighter at 12.4 lb.
Need more than 100W from a narrow panel? The MEGA 130 SLIM is the same 15.8 in width at 65.0 in long and 15.4 lb, with the same 23.6V open-circuit voltage.
Rigid vs FLEX: weight against lifespan
The MEGA 100 FLEX weighs 4.8 lb against 13.2 lb for the rigid MEGA 100, a saving of 8.4 lb per panel, or about 34 lb across a 400W array. At 0.1 in thick it can bond to a curved fiberglass roof or a boat bimini where a framed panel can't sit flat. It makes a little less per square foot (about 15.9W by our arithmetic, since it is 57.8 x 15.7 in), and Rich Solar backs it with a 1-year material and workmanship warranty against 25 years of output warranty on the rigid panels. That warranty gap is the clearest signal of expected life.
A flexible panel glued flat to a roof has no air gap underneath and runs hotter than a framed panel on brackets. Rich Solar rates the FLEX at -0.35% per °C, so heat costs output. If your roof is flat and can take the weight, a rigid panel on Z-brackets is the longer-lasting choice. Our general flexible vs rigid guide goes deeper on mounting.
Other FLEX sizes: the MEGA 50 FLEX (2.6 lb), and two 24V versions, the MEGA 100 PRO FLEX (40.8V open circuit) and the MEGA 200 PRO FLEX (8.6 lb, 57.8 x 31.3 in). The 24V versions need an MPPT controller.
Match the panel to the controller
The MEGA 100, SLIM and FLEX are all 12V-class panels with open-circuit voltages between 20.4 and 23.6V, so they work with Rich Solar's 25V PWM controllers and its MPPT controllers. The SLIM's 23.6V leaves the least margin under a 25V PWM limit, and panel voltage rises in cold weather; Rich Solar's SLIM kits all ship with a BRAVO MPPT, and we would do the same. If you plan to wire panels in series, or to mix in 24V PRO panels, you need an MPPT. See which BRAVO controller to buy.
No permanent mount at all?
The MEGA 100 portable briefcase uses the same electrical figures as the rigid MEGA 100 (22.8V open circuit), folds to 25.2 x 18.1 x 2.4 in, weighs 15.7 lb and has built-in kickstands and 5 ft leads. Rich Solar gives it a 25-year output and 5-year workmanship warranty. The charging kit version adds a built-in waterproof 10A controller so it can charge a battery directly.
Which should you buy?
- Flat RV roof with room: MEGA 100 or the 200W MEGA 200, in silver or ONYX.
- Crowded roof or a van: MEGA 100 SLIM or MEGA 130 SLIM, or a SLIM kit with the controller and cables matched.
- Curved roof, boat, or weight limit: MEGA 100 FLEX, accepting the shorter warranty.
- Parking in the shade: the MEGA 100 or MEGA 200 portable briefcase.
FAQ
Can I mix MEGA 100 and SLIM panels?
Their voltages are close (18.6V and 19.6V at max power), so they can share an MPPT controller in parallel, but mixing panels with different ratings costs some output. Matching panels is best, which is how Rich Solar builds its kits.
Do the rigid panels come with brackets?
The single panels come with pre-drilled holes; brackets are separate. Rich Solar's Z-brackets and tilt mounts fit them, and the roof kits include Z-bracket sets.
How many watts do I need?
See What size Rich Solar kit does my RV need? for daily output by array size.
Where do they ship from?
Every Rich Solar panel ships from our warehouse in Upland, California, to the lower 48 states only. Browse the full Rich Solar collection.