ebay solar - is this a good deal?

[valterra]

Is this a good deal?  I've been looking for places to buy solar, and don't want to buy from a scam site, or pay through the nose.

This looks like a scan from a catalog - just wish I knew which one, so maybe I could buy from THEM!

http://cgi.ebay.com/45-watt-15W-x-3-Solar-power-lighting-system_W0QQitemZ190070380402QQihZ009QQcateg



oryZ3240QQcmdZViewItem

or click here to view the auction.

[kurt]

looks like the setup harbor freight is selling. if it is that controller is junk and the panels are cheep thin film like the 1.5w for $10 ones not going to last you a lifetime like good panels would.  

[thefinis]

It is harbor frieght but is cheaper on ebay. Must have been bought on sale.

You should have been able to find this out even on ebay with a little searching. Others here can tell you if they are worth buying or are old tech. The price per watt is not much better than some of the better bigger panels.

Finis

[ghurd]

It IS the same setup, right down to the photo with the HF part number!

HF sells them cheaper, when an email coupon is out. Less S&H too.

G-

[nothing to lose]

If your going to buy HF pannels why not just buy them from HF? Cost may be a little more but not much. Your looking at $220 with shipping on that auction.

That 45watt kit is on sale now again, I just got the HF sales e-mail.

$200 for the kit. You should get new perfect stuff and have some type of waruantee. HF shipping is not normally too bad, and you get a free gift (A $49.99 Value) but I did not look to see what was. Anyway I dought shipping would be more that $30 so you might as well it about the same price.

If you have a HF store nearby they normally will give you the online price, You might have to pay sales tax then but not the shipping.

I always check online for anything I specifically want before I make the 150 mile drive to the HF store. Sometimes the stores do not have an item at the same price as online, they do match the price though if you show it to them.

Awhile back I had a 15% off coupon for any one item, I got a $329 bandsaw on sale for like $270 and 15% off that and the bandsaw cost me about $210 though you may have sales tax on that. I should have bought 2 and put one on EBAY

[valterra]

These Guys look pretty legit to me.  Anyone have any experience?

Some of the things they have that are similar in capacity to the ones I mentioned from eBay:

CSC-20020 Thin Stainless Steel Backed 20 Watt Module PRICE: $179.97

and a 40W BP Module for $299.97

Which both seem more pricy than the eBay ones.  Any thoughts on BP Solar or C-sol modules?

[ghurd]

"Those Guys" were recommended before by someone.

BP's seem all made in China, and pricy, but they look pretty decent to me. I never had a problem with a BP panel.

Better bang for the buck will be to get past 55W. $7.50/W goes down to $5/W.

There are some KC-65 PVs floating around now for a decent price (~$325).

G-

[BrianK]

i bought a setup from hf like stated on this board the controller is no good

the panels seem to be doing ok they are now hooked up to a better charge controler

.