used solar panel cost per watt?

[Jedi Clampette]

I have been following used solar panel prices on craigslist in the seattle area and they usually are asking about $3 a watt for used panels. Now at Backwoods solar and other places $1 a watt new cost can be found, just wondering how much I should pay for a used panel per watt?

 

[John61CT]

Buy new if they want more than 30-50¢ a watt.

 

[Jedi Clampette]

one guy near me has alot of them due to a cancelled project wants over $3 a watt. Just using backwoods solar for example, but they are 350 miles away. $1 doesnt include the cost of shipping, but I can drive that over, spend the night and then drive back and gas cost is less than $100 in my honda and get a vacation in the process. My guess Craigslist would work out better in the southern states where more solar panels are sold

 

[highdesertranger]

yeah 3 bucks a watt is way to expensive. highdesertranger

 

[MrNoodly]

Unless they're some kind of panel with radically different technology that does something like generate high voltage in low light, the seller is out of his mind -- or hoping to find customers that don't know anything about solar panel prices.

 

[sushidog]

Here's a link for a company selling new and used panels for a cost comparison.

http://sunelec.com/home/

Chip

 

[Jedi Clampette]

-my guess he is trying to get his money back and is not willing to discount, the thing is that I am often accused about being a "low baller" but this is an example of a "high baller" buying used is simple, the seller can put any high price he wants on his stuff because it is his. Just like I can offer any price I want that I can afford. The sale is concluded when the seller is offered a price that he will accept and the buyer is willing to pay, just that simple.
It is not logical to pay greater than new price unless some kind of antique or collectible. However I do not feel that antique solar panels have any value

 

[John61CT]

Yes shipping is the killer.

If you get familiar with the outfits doing house installs in your area, they usually buy by the pallet load, and then have leftovers.

That is if there aren't actually shops that carry inventory.

Sometimes a few buyers can get together and share costs on getting a pallet dropped.

 

[Seminole Wind]

i would not recomendpaying more than 30-50 cents a watt and at that i would make sure they were from a decent manufacturer and still in good shape. there are a lot of used panels from that are from companies that went out of business before the warranty period on their panels expired... you do the math

i buy and sell panels to make a little $, i sell used panels for 55 cents watt, so you know i am getting them way cheaper. i recently bought some almost new panels for less than 20 cents a watt. i also sometimes have new panels to sell. the most recent were american made brand new and i sold those for 75 cents a watt (still have a few, southern oregon ;-) )

 

[AuricTech]

Considering that Renogy 100W panels* can be had new for between $114.99 and $136.99 with free shipping, that seller is wildly optimistic if he expects to get $3/Watt for those panels.

*Except for their Eclipse panel, which is currently** going for $219.99.

**Pun intended, of course.

 

[CincyPlasmaTech]

altE sells a 300 watt panel for $186. Does the $1 per watt calculation come from including shipping cost as well?

 

[Seminole Wind]

altE sells a 300 watt panel for $186. Does the $1 per watt calculation come from including shipping cost as well?

that alte 300wat panels has $300 shipping to my location in the pacific north west. so you really need to include shipping costs when comparing panels. now that same panel shipping was the same for 2 panels. that brings the coast down some but shipping is a killer.

 

[Tom_M]

Here's a couple of panels available at Home Depot:

100 watt $109.99
180 watt $199.00

Free delivery to home or store.