Best single solar panel for $250 ???

[Steadfast]

Where can I buy the Best (most watts/buck) Solar panel with a 30year life span for around $250???

[Steadfast]

These guys are looking pretty good what do you think?

http://www.ul-solar.com/UL_SOLAR_125_WATT_12VOLT_SOLAR_MODULE_p/stp125p-ns.htm

[Basil]

I just ordered another set just now. $490 free shipping. Already have 2. Fast shipping, no hassle, last time. Panels did as advertised.
Just check them before singing for them. They could be wrapped better for shipping I think.

[Mary B]

http://www.solarblvd.com/Solar-Panels-&-Systems-Individual-Solar-Panels-175-Watt-+-%2811%29/c1_25_203/p2649/Perlight-Solar-PLM-235P-60-235-Watt-24V-Solar-Panel/product_info.html

[Steadfast]

what if I scaled it down to an 80watt 12v panel, to mount on the roof of my shed,
as my turbines back up system to charge my 12v battery system?

here is an ebay auction I am interested in.
What do you guys think?

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&&item=221062799923

[Steadfast]

This is the Panel I ended up buying on EBAY, to back up my Turbine...

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=320937207807&ssPageName=ADME:L:OC:US:3160

100Watt 12Volt Solar Panel 100W 12V Poly crystalline.
$182.63

[oztules]

The panels MaryAlana  pointed too look the goods to me. Less than a buck a watt is very tough to beat.


................oztules

[liquidsign]

you asked a question, it was answered, you dont even acknowledge the answers you got, you then ask another pointless question, then state you bought a 100watt panel for almost the same price mary alana told you for a 235w, im sure your a nice enough guy, but wtf? do you have ADD? im pretty sure I know people like you, they ask for advice, people waste time explaining something to them, then they do the exact opposite of what they were advised to try to show how smart they are, your "build strings" are currently at close to 50 pages of how not to build a wind turbine, people are donating all kinds of free parts and hours upon hours of advice, you claim youve spent over $3500, and still nothing spinning...

[birdhouse]

you asked a question, it was answered, you dont even acknowledge the answers you got, you then ask another pointless question, then state you bought a 100watt panel for almost the same price mary alana told you for a 235w, im sure your a nice enough guy, but wtf? do you have ADD? im pretty sure I know people like you, they ask for advice, people waste time explaining something to them, then they do the exact opposite of what they were advised to try to show how smart they are, your "build strings" are currently at close to 50 pages of how not to build a wind turbine, people are donating all kinds of free parts and hours upon hours of advice, you claim youve spent over $3500, and still nothing spinning...

liquid, lets be nice here.  you've written three posts now, and are already stirring up trouble.  FYI:  the panel maryalana posted will only work for 24 or 48v (pairs) systems.  SF runs 12v. 

your posts do nothing to help and are rude.  what gives? 

adam

[oztules]

Agreed Adam, it is nicer to be nice..... but I must say liquid is on the money..... I just didn't say it

As for panels, MaryAlana pointed to a far better panel. It would still charge @ 12v@ over 8 amps.... the one he got only does <6A

Get an mppt controller, and your way in front..... maybe >14A

.............oztules

[liquidsign]

sorry if i upset you or SF, not trying to be rude, just not good at sugarcoating as some, i call it like i see it and i promise i wont get in a funk if you all do the same with me, i was maybe a little frustrated after reading his threads, so i apologize. I belong to several different forums on different subjects, so i understand how it works with newbies, and i realize im one to you all, but to me im just me

[birdhouse]

It would still charge @ 12v@ over 8 amps.... the one he got only does <6A

good point Oz!  even with battery clamping, it would be the better buy!

@liquid-  just a little odd to see a brand spanky new member flinging sh!t in the first few posts.  no you didn't offend me.  i've got thick skin as well.  i'm sure you read back where i gave SF a hard time as well.  but now he's in a better place and listening and learning before acting, and i believe he's had a hard enough time with all this as is; without another newbie adding to the pile. 

adam

[Steadfast]

Sure maryalanas panel was better and it says $200...
but the shipping charge of $150 is a scam...   

My 100watt cost $185... delivery to my door.... free...

You do the math...

[oztules]

If you split the 240w panel into 2 X 12v units of 15A, then direct drive into a needy battery will yield about 195w. (takes 1/2 an hour to do )
If you direct drive the 100 watter into a needy battery you will yield bulk of about 75w

If you did pay the ......seems to be very high shipping, ......then $350/195w=1.80/watt
or the 75 watts for $185= 185/75=2.46/watt

One chinese / usa unit had CE and UL... so you will get at least what they say... usually more
Experience with chinese non UL or non CE means be happy with  what you get... what ever that may be.

If you could get the shipping down, then the $1.80 will drop.

Did I miss something?



................oztules

[Mary B]

130 pounds = motor freight shipping

Sure maryalanas panel was better and it says $200...
but the shipping charge of $150 is a scam...   

My 100watt cost $185... delivery to my door.... free...

You do the math...

[Steadfast]

If you did pay the ......seems to be very high shipping, ......then $350/195w=1.80/watt
or the 75 watts for $185= 185/75=2.46/watt

................oztules

HECK NO!!!
I had $250 to spend not $350
and I had to spent $80 on a new 12AWG drop line for the turbine.
I just need this as a back up genny for the wind turbine...

The 100 watt should work just fine...

[birdhouse]

i think oz was purely getting at the best value...  $ per watt. 

SF-  do you have a battery bank set up?  just curious as to what size type ect. you decided on. 

adam

[Steadfast]

So far my Battery bank is four 6v golf cart batteries
wired in series and parallel to make a 12 volt system.


I've been mulling over the idea of buying another set of batteries to add into this array.
why do you ask??
.
.

[Steadfast]

i think oz was purely getting at the best value...  $ per watt. 

then $350/195w=1.80/watt
or the 75 watts for $185= 185/75=2.46/watt

I bought a 100W solar panel for $185....
So... the math is actually 185/100=1.85/watt.   

[oztules]

Good luck with that...... but your max current is less than 6 amps in charge mode into a 13v battery.

How many watts do you think that yields?


I doubt you'll ever see over 80 watts with that into a battery without some form of mppt.

Sometimes the "math" only tells what you want  the math to  tell you...... ..... find out what happens to the last 5 or 6 volts you don't get to use with your panel.... or the last 30 watts for you.... then subtract that from your 100w and then do the math.



.............oztules

[mathelm]

I know this is an older post now, but FYI to anyone reading it (like myself),  The best site I've seen for comparing panels/price is:

{ sorry for the link removal but rules are rules }
Bruce S

[thirteen]

Thanks for the site. I have been trying to make a list and this will do it just fine.

http://www.ecobusinesslinks.com/surveys/free-solar-panel-price-survey/
Thirteen , sorry but there are rules we have to abide by.
I hope you don't mind , but the link was so nice to use I'm re-posting here in your post to preserve it.
Thanks
Bruce S

[DamonHD]

Don't want to be harsh, but we don't like people posting even semi-commercial links until they've made a substantial number of posts of their own.

I'll let the link stand for now, but another mod may zap it.

We've had HUGE fights about this sort of thing in the past: it's not about you!  I've also been known to delete entire accounts on the basis of a single dodgy commercial link, paper tiger that I am.  %-P

Rgds

Damon

[mathelm]

It wasn't meant as an endorsement of any company.  I liked it because of the info on different panels and sorting ability's.  One should always (and I'm sure most/all here do) find the best price/place to buy any individual part of their system.


Edit:  Just took another look at the link.  Is it a commercial link?    I think it's just a free survey of grade A panels and what price it's listed at.  It list several different venders listed price ( same panels on list many different times from diff venders).  I don't think it promotes any one of them.  It even ask you to report any vendor who doesn't honor the price listed.

[Bruce S]

We understand and that link was nice to look at.
However, the rules Damon and other (me too  ) need to keep is that new people aren't supposed to post a link to other websites.
As Damon stated there's been some rather heated flame wars in the past.

Thanks for understanding.
Technically is it a commercial website as they derive profit from hits on their website as well as advertisements:).
Cheers;
Bruce S

[gww]

I just got delivered 6- 235 watt panels that came out to $0.92 per watt.  listed on e-bay for $0.87 per watt.  listed with 25 year warrenty.  I do think they must be seconds as one had chiped cell and one has glass on backwards.  It has rough finnish.  I have not looked them over closely yet.  they do have tags that say they are cl, ul aproved. fredv such and such is seller.  I don't know if I got a good deal or not but thought I would try it for $0.92 a watt.  I made a bunch of panels and can't do it cheaper.  I didn't vacume my eva and the only ones that don't show moisture are the ones that I used liquid incapsulant on.  will see if bought ones are better.  I did not recieve any warrenty papers.
gww

[bart]

I have been reading (and a very small contributor)  this outstanding forum for over a decade. 
   GOOD GOD PEOPLE!
  And what is the difference between a moderator and an absolutionist? (SP)
The whole point of having a moderator(s) (one who moderates the gray areas) is to DECIDE what breaks the bounds of the rules as they were intended.
  The above link does not. It is one of information and could save a few folks some hard earned cash. THAT is what this should be about. That should be the deciding factor.
If you want to slam someone or website for making a buck, start right damn here.
OtherPower.
There is ALWAYS gray areas. That is why we have Jurist and Moderators.
  Every one here knows that Ghurd is making a few bucks selling his dump load controllers and yet this site has not banned or deterred him from posting about it.
 Fine with me.
But to deter a link that OBLIVIOUSLY is a benefit is just almost outrageous.
     GOOD GOD PEOPLE!
Bart
   
 

[birdhouse]

Ghurd makes good products! For a great price.  Newbies that post links get their li.ks removed.  Period.  Once you've been around a bit, sure post some links. 

There have been WAY too many newbies fishing, or advertising to try and allow such links.  Im on the mpds side on this one! 

Adam

[Bruce S]

birdhouse,
 thanks. and ohh so true, just finished up removing crapola spam over the the remote living area.

BART;

YOU seem to have missed the point of that rule. There is NO grey area. less than 50 posts "NO POSTING LINKS"
I do not link into Otherpower, and will not comment on how they moderate over there.
IS it possible you were having a bad day when you posted this slam? if so thenokay, we all have bad days.
TRY to second guess us and you might want to speak with people such as TomW, Kurt, Wofferhound, and other LONG time mods/admins and ask them about this rules and come back with their answers. heck you can even reach out to TimS or the Dans and ask them.

mathelm seems to understand AND just in case YOU missed it , I didn't kill the helpful link I kindly moved it to 13's post, and luckily he didn't mind me doing that.
IN the past it would've been nuked no questions asked.
IF you have any questions  feel free to ask or re-read the FAQs/rules.
GHURD ASKED first long before offering them for-sale; never mind the fact that he's given away as many as he's sold.
 

[Steadfast]

I ended up buying a 100watt Poly-crystaline pannel on Ebay from the Chinese for  $185.00
Shipping included... I recieved it broken in the mail (they sent me a second one free)

So, rather than chunking the broken one, I started this extreamly informitive thread (see link below) on broken solar panel resurrection... (As I repaired it with varnish)

It worked great and I am now running both pannels and cranking around 140 watts on a clear day.

Let see: 
Thats 140 Actual Harvested watts divided by $210 (including panels, varnish & supplies)
which equals,  $1.50 paid out, for each Actual Harvested watt!

So things worked out VERY WELL...

Here is the link
http://www.fieldlines.com/index.php/topic,146895.0.html

[Steadfast]

Ghurd makes good products! For a great price.  Newbies that post links get their li.ks removed.  Period.  Once you've been around a bit, sure post some links. 

There have been WAY too many newbies fishing, or advertising to try and allow such links.  Im on the mpds side on this one! 

Adam

Me too!

In fact, Ghurd's switches ROCK and they ROLL!
His load dump kit and switch is "ALL THAT" and a bag of chips!

You should ALL buy one!

(Hows THAT for a shameless avertising testamony)