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good deal on solar?

4K views 20 replies 15 participants last post by  M275sailer 
#1 ·
ive got an advert with a 149.99 price on this

45 Watt Solar Panel Kit

with an additional 20% off... no inverter... is this reasonably priced/does it look like a good cantidate for a foray into the solar realm?
thanks
 
#2 · (Edited)
Yes, that's a pretty good deal. I've got one of the Chicago Electric panels, a 30 watt, that I use for winter charging of my batteries. Its been pretty reliable, even though it is exposed to salt water and such. However, I have a single panel, rather than the three smaller panels you'll have. Mounting them might be an issue.

You'll want to get some 3/8" cable loom to protect the wiring from UV damage.

BTW, solar panels don't need an inverter... Depending on the size of your battery bank, you may need a charge controller.

BTW, a 45 watt panel will probably yield about 15 amp-hours of battery charging per day on average. This is based on 3 amps at 14.4 volts times five hours of full output on average per day.
 
#5 ·
ive got an advert with a 149.99 price on this

45 Watt Solar Panel Kit

with an additional 20% off... no inverter... is this reasonably priced/does it look like a good cantidate for a foray into the solar realm?
thanks
I wish someone would answer Q's question. I'm gearing up for a mini cruise and there's a HF nearby.
I would also like to know if this is a good deal.

Would getting one of these go very far in making up for the draw of one of those 12 volt travel coolers I was considering?
 
#7 ·
Hmmmm.....Harbor Freight usually sells very low quality stuff from China. am Not saying Chinese do not know how to make quality stuff. It is the merchant dictates the quality of the items that want to sell.

I would shy away getting it, especially for electronic stuff from HFT. YMMV
 
#8 ·
In looking at the unit and looking at and looking at the Manufacturer Warranty Detail OR lack OF Warranty i would worry about the units connections and wire quality on a boat in saltwater

100% Satisfaction Guarantee! If for ANY reason you are not satisfied with this item, you may return it within 30 days for a full refund or replacement.

BUT in reading the reviews the customers seam happy and this review
Quite Curious » Boris Gets New Solar Panels
Really shows what you getting
 
#10 ·
HF sends around circulars weekly (usually with Sunday coupons and it can be found online). This solar kit shows up at $149.99 almost every month. The $149.99 price does not appear to start until tomorrow, goes until 9/19 and then will be offered again 9/30 to 10/3. I'm not sure where the extra 20% off the OP mentions is coming from.

I've been tempted by this kit several times though I have yet to pull the trigger. I figure it would be a cheap way to start experimenting with solar. Just haven't figured out the best way to mount the things.
 
#11 ·
I work at a solar store, and get calls about those Harbor Freight and Northern Tool packages all the time. They are very cheap panels with very thin frames and small wires coming out the back with can be tricky doing a seaworthy wiring job on. Be careful about being penny wise, pound foolish. Those are 3 15W panels that need to be wired together in parallel to keep at 12V. Plus you have to figure out mounting for 3 panels which can add up quickly. I also replace lots of their charge controllers, they don't seem to last more than a year or two.

My boating customers LOVE the Kyocera panels. They are tested for salt water spray, have a sturdy frame with a water tight junction panel that allows you to use tinned wire to connect it to your charge controller and battery. There's a 50W Kyocera for about $250. Yes, it's $100 more, but in a few years when you are replacing the cheap ones, you'll see why.

Also, the Morningstar SunKeeper 6A charge controller fits nicely inside the junction box of the Kyocera, making for a sweet installation. It's only about $50 and will last for many years longer than the cheap one.
 
#15 ·
Amy-

Please read and follow the Special Interest disclosure rules posted as a sticky in the Boat Buying forum.

I'd point out that any one of those 15 watt panels will work at 12 VDC... despite what you say, since you mention they need to be hooked up in parallel. That means each panel is putting out 17-18 VDC for a 12 VDC system. That's pretty misleading information on your part. If they were required to be connected in series, your warning would make a lot more sense. These panels could be used in three separate locations, or even on three separate boats...

While I agree the Kyocera panels are far more durable as are the Morningstar charge controllers, for the OP's intended purpose, this may be a good start.
 
#14 ·
That's a ton of realestate on a boat for 45 watts. I guess it would be ok for a winter maintainer. Screw one down on a sheet of plywood and use bungy cords.

A dock mate did some research regarding panels for his coach top getting partial shade from the boom. Some panels perform better then others in this regard. I will see what he came up with.

Anyway, I thoght he came up with a good mounting solution. He didn't have room on his Dana 24 for any other spot except the coach top. He didn't want to drill holes so he found those big rubber suction cups used for cartop roof racks fit on the back of the panel. He then used some heavy duty bungees to secure that. It looked like a clever setup for a space that was not used. Easily taken off for the winter or changed down the road too. The panel is around 45-50 watts I believe and looks like 2'X2'.

I had a self regulated panel once built by Siemens years ago when panels first hit the market. No controller was required. I mounted it on a varnished piece of marine plywood and attached two aligator clips for battery leads. Dirt simple for a portable charger that I think was about 60 watts. It just wasn't as efficient as an unregulated panel. I was useing it for camping but I wish I still had it now to throw up on deck at anchor or maintain the batteries over the winter. Siemens makes good stuff so I found it worked really well.

Like others have said, it's the mounting and finding space for the panels that really has to be thought out, especially on a smaller boat.
 
#16 ·
Dog, where would you put all those cheesey panels on a boat? They don't generate enough power for the mounting expense and trouble. I think those cheap kits are a waste of money. Pay a bit more and get one decent panel in a reasonable size. A decent panel will also last for a long time.
 
#17 ·
i think the hf panels would be a good starter total area of all 3 panels is just over 9 sq feet each panel is: 12.40" x 36.42" x 0.75" the other thing is everyone is giving advise as to how to mount without actually knowing what boat he's puttin them on. or even if he plans on using this kit on a boat at all he just asked if people liked the price for a starter
 
#18 ·
Thought my questions and related replies was looking too much like a hijack so I've moved them to a new thread. (mitiempo see my note)
 
#20 ·
Yah, well...the panels are "■Weatherproof " which does not mean waterproof and often the warranty will exclude use on moving vehicles and salt water. Then there's Harbor Freight, which really is a slick toy store BUT I don't think you'd find parachutists or rock climbers betting their lives on HF quality.
And those panels look rather large, I'm thinking they are older lower-efficiency design and that something a bit more expensive would be half their size--which could be important on a boat.
I wouldn't buy it unless I could afford to replace it if it failed next year. I think Costco, Coleman, and Brunton all sell similar sets--but with better warranties. And a single 40-45W panel by itself isn't all that expensive, either. The stand, the inverter...I'd expect you can do better on the bits and pieces, in terms of quality or just not needing them. (Like panel mounts to fit a boat.)
 
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