Our Solar

I bought this $2000 solar system off of Hone Depot’s site plus another 1k in other upgrades and finally I’m ready to set it up this week.
Below is a link to the main system. Has anyone bought this one before? If so, what are your experiences with it?
https://www.homedepot.com/p/Renogy-800-Watt-12-Volt-Off-Grid-Solar-Premium-Kit-w-8-Piece-100W-Monocrystalline-Panel-and-60A-MPPT-Rover-Charge-Controller-RKIT800DPM-RVR60/314274561

Hi LD;
No experience with that particular system, but it sounds like a good start.
What batteries are you planning on using?

thomas rubino wrote:Hi LD;
No experience with that particular system, but it sounds like a good start.
What batteries are you planning on using?

It comes with two Renogy 200AH batteries which weigh 139 lbs each and were lots of fun to load in my SUV (sarcasm)

Is there any chance you can return it?  It is very over-priced for what you are getting.  It doesn't even come with an inverter.  Here's what I would suggest you do instead....

Buy high-voltage residential grid-tie type panels instead of those 12V panels.  You pay a price premium for 12V panels.  You get more W/$ with grid-tie style panels.

Shop for panels locally on Craigslist, so you can get cash and carry pricing.  Was helping a neighbor just three days ago, shopping for panels.  Found 280W Canadian Solar panels for 80$ each.  Four of those would give you 1120W for just 320$.  240$ to just to exceed what the kit has.

Get an Epever 4210 MPPT charge controller.  They are the parent company that makes Renogy controllers, but puts the electronics in their own box.  125$ on EBay.

Four 210Ah 6V golf-cart batteries from CostCo.  110$ each.  Tax and core a bit more.  Let's say 500$ for four batteries

Wire your system for 24V instead of 12V.  You can wire together a bigger system at 24V because the controller can handle only so many amps, but can easily handle higher voltage.

Add a 1500W sine-wave inverter for 650$  Add another 50$ for fuses, wires, ect.  Take a look at the Samlex PST1500.  It is sine-wave, can be hard-wired into an electrical panel, and is UL listed.  UL listing separates the quality products from the cheap imported junk.

So....
320$ for 1120W of panels
125$ for the controller
500$ for batteries
650$ for inverter
50$ for extras
1645$ total for a complete system.  To match what the kit includes is probably just 450$

Michael Qulek wrote:Is there any chance you can return it?  It is very over-priced for what you are getting.  It doesn't even come with an inverter.  Here's what I would suggest you do instead....

Buy high-voltage residential grid-tie type panels instead of those 12V panels.  You pay a price premium for 12V panels.  You get more W/$ with grid-tie style panels.

Shop for panels locally on Craigslist, so you can get cash and carry pricing.  Was helping a neighbor just three days ago, shopping for panels.  Found 280W Canadian Solar panels for 80$ each.  Four of those would give you 1120W for just 320$.  240$ to just to exceed what the kit has.

Get an Epever 4210 MPPT charge controller.  They are the parent company that makes Renogy controllers, but puts the electronics in their own box.  125$ on EBay.

Four 210Ah 6V golf-cart batteries from CostCo.  110$ each.  Tax and core a bit more.  Let's say 500$ for four batteries

Wire your system for 24V instead of 12V.  You can wire together a bigger system at 24V because the controller can handle only so many amps, but can easily handle higher voltage.

Add a 1500W sine-wave inverter for 650$  Add another 50$ for fuses, wires, ect.  Take a look at the Samlex PST1500.  It is sine-wave, can be hard-wired into an electrical panel, and is UL listed.  UL listing separates the quality products from the cheap imported junk.

So....
320$ for 1120W of panels
125$ for the controller
500$ for batteries
650$ for inverter
50$ for extras
1645$ total for a complete system.  To match what the kit includes is probably just 450$

I bought the 3500 watt Sinewave inverter and it came with a charge controller but I’m in the road right now so can’t recall it’s name. It was a nightmare to receive this through the UPS store and I already tossed all the boxes so I’m keeping it. Cost wasn’t an issue for me and I wanted something better than Harbor Freight.