RENOGY 50 Watts 12 Volts Polycrystalline Solar Starter Kit

[SoulRaven]

I purchased the above item thru Amazon at 3:29pm eastern time today and it has been shipped from Renogy TODAY AT 4:00pm eastern time.

I am going to turn it into a semi-portable by using a solar panel mounting kit I had previously purchased from Harbor Freight.

 

[eDJ_]

Have you received it yet and put it in service ?  Do you have a battery to use with it now ?

I was at Harbor Freight today and the Guy/Hunters were buying their 45 watt kit left and right.
In store marked down to $130 or something like it and using their 20% off coupons. 

Pre Christmas holiday weekend sale I guess.  Since I've been reading CRVL I noticed that kit
doesn't get a very good rating with members here so I'll lurk, read, and learn more before
buying anything.

 

[highdesertranger]

I got lucky on my 50 watt panel. a building was being demoed and they had a security camera with two 50 watt panels, 2 controllers, and 2 batteries. I asked if I could have them and they said yes. one of the panels got destroyed in the demo and the batteries were junk. so I threw out the bad panel, sold the batteries for scrap. so I got two temperature controlled controllers and one 50 watt panel plus 20 bucks for the two batteries. right place, right time. highdesertranger

 

[WriterMs]

I got lucky on my 50 watt panel.  a building was being demoed and they had a security camera with two 50 watt panels,  2 controllers,  and 2 batteries.  I asked if I could have them and they said yes.  one of the panels got destroyed in the demo and the batteries were junk. so I threw out the bad panel,  sold the batteries for scrap.  so I got two temperature controlled controllers and one 50 watt panel plus 20 bucks for the two batteries.  right place,  right time.  highdesertranger

You do have the Midas touch (not the muffler kind .. LOL).

 

[WriterMs]

Wondering how well the whole installation is working for you MLR?

Will it be enough to help you keep tunes spinning at your Florida gathering?

 

[SoulRaven]

I am not one the road yet for another two weeks so the panel is not in service.

The adjustable Harbor Freight mounting brackets have been installed and the panel is shown above at winter angle mode. I used one of the brackets existing mounting holes and only had to drill one new hole in each bracket to make it work.

I am going to use a group 24 battery in a plastic RV box and am going to use a starting battery I just replaced in my truck until I kill that off and use it for a core a new Walmart marine battery.

Please take note that the Renogy panel measures 22"x27" while the old school harbor freight panels combined measures 36"x36" and that controller is some sort of an abomination.

Please also make a note of the MTX speaker enclosures in the background of the above photo with 8" MTX woofers. horn tweeters, and bass reflex openings I obtained at a yard sale for $10 per pair. They weight 18 pounds each have built-in carry handles and were originally produced (no longer in production at MTX website) to fit behind the seat of a full-size pickup truck. Mounted on the back of one of the speakers is a small 12 volt (2 amp draw) 20 watt $10 automotive amplifier with bass boost which can rattle windows and produces an incredible loud and clear sound for a truly portable go anywhere take anywhere $20 public address system.