well I took the plunge

[anm]

I did it...

I often look on Amazon at solar panel prices, Blue Sea Systems stuff, books, van parts, etc, etc. When I went there yesterday there was the Renogy 100watt poly kit for $154, but there was also a blurb from Amazon saying that if I apply for their card I'd get it for $50 off. That's $104 dollars for the Renogy 100watt kit with 30amp charge controller! I didn't think anymore about it, but this morning I looked at it again. Why not? I will be able to have a complete solar system, Renogy kit plus Walmart battery for $200 total! My electrical demands are modest and I think that will fulfill my needs.

So I did it...

 

[Van-Tramp]

You will be happy with that panel. I have two and they do me well.

 

[VanLifeCrisis]

Did it come with the 13$ brackets? Don't forget mounting

 

[akrvbob]

Screaming deal!! You are going to be very pleased with that setup!!
Bob

 

[anm]

Did it come with the 13$ brackets? Don't forget mounting

Bugger! I forgot them... but I think I'll wait 'til I get the kit and then decide what I need. I'm going to put the panel on the roof rack, which is probably going to be dedicated to solar panel(s). My roof rack has 4 adjustable cross bars, I'll use the last two for this panel, mounting it as far aft as possible. If I decide I need them, I'll be able to put two additional solar panels on the roof rack.

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Screaming deal!! You are going to be very pleased with that setup!!
Bob

Yeah, I thought it was a great deal, Amazon really came through. Work on my van is moving a lot faster than I anticipated...

 

[christine]

That's a good deal. I have Renogy panels too. They've been going for several months with no problems.

 

[Optimistic Paranoid]

I assume you have other credit cards as well as the Amazon one? How do the APRs compare? Affiliated cards often have a MUCH higher APR than bank cards do.

I once took advantage of a special deal at Gander Mountain. Sign up for a new card from them and get 6 months of no payments and no interest. I used it to buy my Springfield Armory M1A.

It was only later that I discovered that the APR on the Gander Mountain card was 24%!

Fortunately, I was able to save enough in 6 months to pay the whole thing off when it came due. I never used the card again, and eventually cancelled it.

Regards
John

 

[anm]

I assume you have other credit cards as well as the Amazon one? How do the APRs compare? Affiliated cards often have a MUCH higher APR than bank cards do.

I once took advantage of a special deal at Gander Mountain. Sign up for a new card from them and get 6 months of no payments and no interest. I used it to buy my Springfield Armory M1A.

It was only later that I discovered that the APR on the Gander Mountain card was 24%!

Fortunately, I was able to save enough in 6 months to pay the whole thing off when it came due. I never used the card again, and eventually cancelled it.

Regards
John

My intention is to pay off the Renogy kit and never use the card again... of course we all know how that works...

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...
My roof rack has 4 adjustable cross bars, I'll use the last two for this panel, mounting it as far aft as possible. If I decide I need them, I'll be able to put two additional solar panels on the roof rack.
...

I hate quoting myself, but sometimes you just gotta do it:
I can't fit three panels onto the roof rack, just two, but I really think one panel will be enough for me...

 

[AltTransBikes]

Congrats, you're on your way with a good deal!

I'm curious: if someone wanted to add another 100 watt panel or 2 more 100 watt panels at a latter date, what else would be needed in addition to the original 100 watt kit? Would that controller work adding more panels?

 

[anm]

Congrats, you're on your way with a good deal!

I'm curious: if someone wanted to add another 100 watt panel or 2 more 100 watt panels at a latter date, what else would be needed in addition to the original 100 watt kit? Would that controller work adding more panels?

The Renogy kit comes with a 30amp charge controller, so as long as the wires used for the original single panel installation will handle the added current, it should be fine...