How to Buy Solar Panels

[unckybob]

Can someone who has already done this explain what you need to know to buy solar panels?<br /><br />Also it would be great to know where you bought your own solar panels.

 

[peacetara]

Bob wrote some great articles on Solar.&nbsp; You should read those, <a href="http://cheapgreenrvliving.com/Page_Index.html">try here</a>. and look down the list for solar articles.<br /><br />I wrote a bit about my solar setup, and I wrote a post or two <a href="/post/solar-hokup-help-needed-6027552">here</a> on how to hook them up.<br /><br />Basically to buy solar panels you need to know:<br /><br />1) How much solar panel you NEED.&nbsp; (the alternative it just to buy as much as you can reasonably afford, and hope it's enough).<br /><br />2) How are you going to mount it, and connect it all up. I.e. what other things do I need besides just the solar panel. (because you do need more than just the panel).<br /><br />3) Where to buy it <img src="/images/boards/smilies/smile.gif" border="0" align="absmiddle"><br /><br />I bought mine from a local solar builder here in the San Francisco Bay Area.&nbsp; Unless you happen to be in the area, it probably doesn't make sense to buy from there.<br /><br />Hope this helps!<br /><br />

 

[akrvbob]

This is my favorite place to buy solar panels, they are in Flagstaff, AZ:<br /><br />http://www.solar-electric.com/hiposopa.html<br /><br />Notice the column marked "single module", that is the price per watt. So if you are looking at a 100 watt panel, and it costs $100, that is $1 per watt. You want to get as close as you can to $1 per watt. But also bear in mind that you pay more for a big brand name like Kyocera (I own 2 Kyocera panels, and highly recommend them) but to me it is worth a little more. They come with 25 year warranties and you know a big company like Kyocera will be around in 25 years. <br /><br />Also, notice this paragraph:<br /><br />"All solar panels 85 to 140 watts will be shipped individually to prevent damage during shipping.* All solar panels above 140 watts must be shipped freight as they are over-sized for UPS. Call us at (800) 383-0195 or <a href="mailto:[email protected]?subject=Shipping%20Quote">email</a> us for a shipping quote" <br /><br />Panels over 140 watts generally have to go freight instead of UPS/Fedex and so shipping will be much more.<br /><br />My advice is to buy the most solar you can afford. Start with at least a 140 watt panel and buy a controller that can handle more. Then buy another panel when you can afford it. <br /><br />Some of these are physically very large, be sure to measure how much room you have on your roof. <br /><br />The high wattage panels are often high voltage, like 36 volt and even higher. You will need to buy a MPPT controller to handle the higher voltage. But you should buy a MPPT controller anyway.<br /><br />Here is another place with very good prices. They have warehouses in both Phoenix and Miami. if you can get there you will save a lot on shipping:<br /><br />http://www.sunelec.com/index.php?main_page=phoenix&nbsp; <br /><br />Hope that helps Bob

 

[dragonflyinthesky]

Did I do the math right?&nbsp; 85 watts=850 dollars?<br />edit 1, I think I figured it out, 85.00 right?

 

[blars]

I purchased mine from AM solar, http://www.amsolar.com/ more expensive but smaller size/watt than most pannels. With all the stuff on the roof of my motorhome, there is not room for the large pannels.

 

[akrvbob]

Hi Dragonfly, an 85 watt panel at&nbsp; $1 a watt is $85. However, the smaller panels are usually more per watt, maybe as much as $2 a watt so it would be $170 and probably more. That's why I generally recommend 140 watt panels or larger, you get a lot more panel for you money. But you do have to take the cost of shipping into account for the very large panels. Bob

 

[unckybob]

Thanks for all the posts and links. And thanks for all the webpages that helped a lot, akrvbob! I'll post here what I decide to do.

 

[VanLifeCrisis]

I know that the company is less reliable than something like kyocera, but i was wondering what you guys think of these panels<br /><br />http://www.amazon.com/145w-Polycrystalline-Solar-Panel-Pack/dp/B007VPQP5Q/ref=cm_cr_pr_product_top<br /><br />They seem to have good reviews and they ship for free.&nbsp; The images/description seem to suggest they are 145 each which would make them less than a dollar per watt.&nbsp; At that price i can upgrade my planned charge controller to mppt maybe.

 

[unckybob]

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dl...00319934833&amp;ssPageName=ADME:X:RTQ:US:1123<br /><br />Can I just connect the leads on this to my battery and make it charge it?

 

[VanLifeCrisis]

I think you have to have a charge controller and some fuses in between.

 

[wrcsixeight]

You can attach the panel directly BUT, &nbsp;You need to make sure battery voltage does not rise above 14.8, and you need to disconnect it at night or the panel might draw energy from the battery. &nbsp;Spend 40 bucks on a morningstar 8 amp PWM charge controller so you don't have to worry about boiling your battery dry or disconnecting it at dusk.<br /><br />The charge controller will ask for a fuse between battery and controller, but not between controller and panel, usually.&nbsp;

 

[drivebyandy]

Dazar, I've been looking at those panels for a while now. I think I'm finally going to bite the bullet and order them next week. I had planned to start out around 80w for more than half the price of those two. Overall they're a little more than I wanted to pay for panels in the beginning but the price is too good in my mind. And I have an Amazon Prime account with the free two day shipping so I'm trying to stick with Fulfilled by Amazon items when I can for this project.

 

[VanLifeCrisis]

Let me know how they work out!&nbsp; Im still a ways out from needing solar on my van but I might have to strongly consider grabbing em for later.

 

[drivebyandy]

I'm in the same boat, really. I don't even have the inside fully insulated yet and nothing but a bed half way built. I'll probably hold off on getting a battery for a little bit. I don't know. I feel like if I just keep THINKING about things and never actually DOING them, I'll never get anywhere. And by getting it now I can better figure out and plan my wiring needs before the walls go up.

 

[karl]

Been looking at them for a bit too...just can't seem to get my trigger finger to launch that order.....but, since you all aren't quite ready- if you want to order&nbsp; and ship them here, I'll try 'em out for ya!<img src="/images/boards/smilies/biggrin.gif" alt="" align="absmiddle" border="0" />