best prices for solar panels...?

Hi
I'm new here, just read the To Catch The Sun, and I'm starting to think of DIY Solar.  Costs are an obvious first consideration, and I'd like to know if anybody knows where one can buy panels at good prices in Southern California.  I've read that one can buy panels as low as $.25/watt, where I've only found $1 or a bit less...  Of course there are other components one would like to find at good prices, racking and inverters especially.  If there is anyone in the San Diego area who knows a competent installer who works independently (probably a rare creature!) that would also be good to know.  I'm quite practical, so I don't feel it should be difficult to do.
I'm looking forward to hearing great ideas!
Thanks,
Tom

Welcome! I just purchased a couple lithium ion batteries through Backwoods Solar, which is southern CA based as I understand. They have good support staff as far as I’ve found.

Thanks Ben, will look them up
Tom

See if you can find a local place and pick them up yourself, when I bought 4 panels a couple years ago from altestore.com the panels were about $700 for 1200w, plus $350-400 for a pallet to be drop shipped. Prices have probably bounced around as there were tariffs in response to China supposedly selling below cost. A part of me is always wondering how long the latest batch of panels will last compared to the old school panels too. Some manufacturers come and go often enough that the warranty is effectively gone.

Here's a seller in the San Diego area that has panels right now today.
https://sandiego.craigslist.org/esd/tro/d/santee-solar-panels-250-watt/7407447401.html
I now routinely buy only used panels with local pickup.  What I've found is the used quality panels produce better output than second-rate new panels.  Bring a voltmeter with you so you can reassure yourself you aren't getting a dud.

Michael Qulek wrote:I now routinely buy only used panels with local pickup.  What I've found is the used quality panels produce better output than second-rate new panels.  Bring a voltmeter with you so you can reassure yourself you aren't getting a dud.

I agree with Michael.  You get what you pay for.  About a dollar a watt is right.  My research shows that most PV cells are now made in China and the panels are made in the shown countries of origin.  As for batteries, it is horses for courses.  Don't be locked into the lithium hype.  Again do your own research and read reviews.  We have moved from lead acid flat plate to sealed tubular lead so our batteries are now in the "Pump Room" attached to the house and not in a shed away from the house.  They have a good profile for us.  We get down to minus 5 C and up to 45C (23 - 113 F).

Howdy,
Backwoods Solar is based up around Sandpoint Idaho.

Looking for used panels is a good way to go and you can find them on Craigslist. Here in southern Oregon you have to jump on those ads as they sell pretty quick. I have also seen new panels sold that just didn't get hooked up into a private home owner system. Some of the bigger solar installers sometimes have older models that they didn't/won't use because they are not the current model.

$1.00 a watt is a good going price. It does take some investigation/research. There is a lot of cheap junk out there.  I am still using lead acid batteries and they are user friendly, but I have to maintain them, care for them, keep my eye on them. I also have an alternative power supplier in Grants Pass, and have known Jerry going on 25 years.    Alternative Power and Machine  Grants Pass Oregon.  I have posted his wed site in some other post here on permies. It took about 18 years for me to finally get comfortable about living off grid, going on 41 years off grid.  My main system is a hydro electric, pretty much 24/7/365, but the few panels I have make it so I can be away from home and my system takes care of itself, spring and summer.

Howdy,
There are solar panels made in USA.

https://news.energysage.com/u-s-solar-panel-manufacturers-list-american-made-solar-panels/

https://sunwatts.com/solar-panels-made-in-the-usa/

Following on from my last post, have a look at: https://www.solarenergyworld.com/install-process/products/
It is a US company but sources its pv wafers from LONGi Green Energy which is a huge company looking to expand into various countries including the USA.  Its principal manufacturing base is China from where it exports the wafers for companies to make their panels up. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/LONGi_Green_Energy_Technology.

Companies often buy components from overseas and manufacture or construct and pack.  It can then show up as made in the country in which it is sold.  Some countries have "Truth in Labeling" legislation so companies have to list how much is made from local components and how much is made from imported components.

Prices all seem pretty close to me.  Around a buck a watt.  I'm not very well versed in solar energy but determined to get there.  I just bought some solar panels to go with my ecoflow battery pack from newpowa.com    I got a 100 watt panel for 89 dollars delivered.  From California to Maine. But more importantly they were very responsive in answering my questions.  One question that I sent Sunday morning was answered that afternoon.  

Good Luck

Howdy,

Paul, that is a good point and has been my understanding of the manufacture of panels.  Silicon discs from else where and panels are assembled here in US or where ever. I did hear of a solar panel manufacture that employed US Vets, don't remember the name, used to hear an ad on the radio.

If you just want to power yourself and not hook to the grid I would go to ebay and find second hand panels. I got a stack of 20x265 watt panels delivered for $1k. They generally have 15-10 years but fail some of the requirements for the farm.

Joe Wamsley wrote:If you just want to power yourself and not hook to the grid I would go to ebay and find second hand panels. I got a stack of 20x265 watt panels delivered for $1k. They generally have 15-10 years but fail some of the requirements for the farm.

Two years ago, I did almost the same thing, but I found a local seller off Ebay that was willing to do local pickup instead of shipping.  With that sale I got 1000W of panels for exactly 400$.  I paid through Ebay, then I drove over and loaded them on the back of my truck.

Last year I found another local seller marketing left-over installation panels.  Was getting 1000W of panels (four 250W grid-tie) for 220$, cash and carry.  Tried to buy enough for both myself and all the neighbors that wanted any.  Wish now I had bought even more!  They are the highest quality, highest performing panels I own.  Sadly, that seller has moved on.

Today I'm seeing higher prices, ~75$ for a 250W panel, or about 300$ per 1000W.  Still far better though than just 1W/$.

Michael Qulek wrote:I did almost the same thing, but I found a local seller off Ebay that was willing to do local pickup instead of shipping.  With that sale I got 1000W of panels for exactly 400$.  I paid through Ebay, then I drove over and loaded them on the back of my truck.

Last year I found another local seller marketing left-over installation panels.  Was getting 1000W of panels (four 250W grid-tie) for 220$, cash and carry.  Tried to buy enough for both myself and all the neighbors that wanted any.  Wish now I had bought even more!  They are the highest quality, highest performing panels I own.  Sadly, that seller has moved on.

Today I'm seeing higher prices, ~75$ for a 250W panel, or about 300$ per 1000W.  Still far better though than just 1W/$.

That's even better. I didn't take out a loan for my system so I scaled it up. First set I was able to buy from a local company for pretty inexpensive. That wasn't an option the next year. The second hand panels are way lower cost though (18 cents/watt including freight. They seem fine and have been in use less than a decade.

I'm looking at an auction for some panels.  No brand just this as a description: 365 watt 72 cell Monocrystalline.  They are an open box situation.  What would you all recommend I should spend per watt?  I'll have to have them shipped.  What other things should I consider?

If it matters I'll be building a system for off grid living. Between 6kw and 8 kw.

Joel Terrell wrote:I'm looking at an auction for some panels.  No brand just this as a description: 365 watt 72 cell Monocrystalline.  They are an open box situation.  What would you all recommend I should spend per watt?  I'll have to have them shipped.  What other things should I consider?

If it matters I'll be building a system for off grid living. Between 6kw and 8 kw.

That's a tough call because you have to ship.  That's  where the real expense lays.  I would not pay more than 50 cents per watt.  I think 1$/W is too high.  Local pickup is still the most economical way to get into solar.  What's your location?  Have you scanned Craigslist or another local venue for panels?

BTW, when you say between 6kw to 8kw, what exactly do you mean?  Do you mean you want 6-8kW worth of panels, or you intend to use 6-8kWh of power per day, or you want a battery with a capacity of 6-8kWh?

Michael Qulek wrote:

Joel Terrell wrote:I'm looking at an auction for some panels.  No brand just this as a description: 365 watt 72 cell Monocrystalline.  They are an open box situation.  What would you all recommend I should spend per watt?  I'll have to have them shipped.  What other things should I consider?

If it matters I'll be building a system for off grid living. Between 6kw and 8 kw.

That's a tough call because you have to ship.  That's  where the real expense lays.  I would not pay more than 50 cents per watt.  I think 1$/W is too high.  Local pickup is still the most economical way to get into solar.  What's your location?  Have you scanned Craigslist or another local venue for panels?

BTW, when you say between 6kw to 8kw, what exactly do you mean?  Do you mean you want 6-8kW worth of panels, or you intend to use 6-8kWh of power per day, or you want a battery with a capacity of 6-8kWh?

I've looked at craigslist and couldn't find any.  I'm in the Wichita KS area.  I'm looking at used at this point based on some of the experiences I've seen.  I know they won't last as long, but cashflow is pretty important for me right now.  I've decided to hold off on the auction as it's so far away and the guy doesn't seem to know what he's doing.  

I'm moving from a house to 2 campers so I'm struggling with what I'll actually need.  I know it's going to go down, but not sure how much yet.  We will go without AC if we need to.  We used 11,104 kWh in 2021 and averaged 32 kWh per day.  I was looking at 6-8kW worth of panels.  I'm just getting started and figuring this out as I go, so if I'm sounding like I don't know what I'm talking about, please correct me.

I am finding some used panels on ebay for 16 to 25 cents per watt before shipping.  Looks like shipping might bump it up 4 - 7 cents per watt. The cheaper ones are because of vinyl cracking on the back.  Can anyone tell me how big of a deal that is?  Can I reseal it?

Yes, I tried looking as far away as St. Louis, and I'm not seeing anything.  Guess I'm blessed here in California.  You can find panels everwhere.

So, I guess shipping is in your cards.