• Post Reply Bookmark Topic Watch Topic
  • New Topic
permaculture forums growies critters building homesteading energy monies kitchen purity ungarbage community wilderness fiber arts art permaculture artisans regional education skip experiences global resources cider press projects digital market permies.com pie forums private forums all forums
this forum made possible by our volunteer staff, including ...
master stewards:
  • Carla Burke
  • Nancy Reading
  • r ranson
  • Jay Angler
  • John F Dean
  • Pearl Sutton
stewards:
  • Nicole Alderman
  • paul wheaton
  • Anne Miller
master gardeners:
  • Christopher Weeks
  • Timothy Norton
gardeners:
  • thomas rubino
  • Jeremy VanGelder
  • Matt McSpadden

Good deal on solar panels

 
rocket scientist
Posts: 6460
Location: latitude 47 N.W. montana zone 6A
3307
cat pig rocket stoves
  • Likes 8
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
Hi All;  Thought I would share this for anyone thinking of purchasing solar panels this year.  180 watt panels assembled in America with as many US components as are available.  $175 each !  They take offers.  I paid $170 each . I bought 6 all together. 2 are in use & 4 are currently leaning against the wall waiting for a new project .  When I can afford it I plan on purchasing a super insulated full size 12 vt chest deep freezer!   Those 4 panels will be for it! Imagine...  a stand alone deep freeze that lives at our house … not the neighbor's.I have been waiting many years to get a chest freezer at home !
Ebay
Item # 272812576939


1- 180 Watt 12 Volt Battery Charger Solar Panel Off Grid RV Boat 180 watt total
( 272812576939 )
fred480v13361
Feedback percentage of
99.3%
Over 910 sold

solar-hydro.JPG
[Thumbnail for solar-hydro.JPG]
Solar panels & Hydro
 
pollinator
Posts: 217
Location: Western central Illinois, Zone 6a
121
3
hunting trees solar wood heat rocket stoves ungarbage
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
Less than a dollar a watt, that is a deal! I already have 4 - 100 watt panels I got on sale from Amazon for $111 each. When I bought them it was the best deal I had found in months of watching. If I hadn't just ordered a bunch of stuff to build my own Powerwall from reclaimed and recycled parts I'd be trying to snag a few...
 
pollinator
Posts: 3831
Location: 4b
1381
dog forest garden trees bee building
  • Likes 4
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator

Caleb Mayfield wrote:If I hadn't just ordered a bunch of stuff to build my own Powerwall from reclaimed and recycled parts I'd be trying to snag a few...



I think we need a thread about that.
 
steward & bricolagier
Posts: 14788
Location: SW Missouri
10333
2
goat cat fungi books chicken earthworks food preservation cooking building homestead ungarbage
  • Likes 1
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator

Trace Oswald wrote:

Caleb Mayfield wrote:If I hadn't just ordered a bunch of stuff to build my own Powerwall from reclaimed and recycled parts I'd be trying to snag a few...



I think we need a thread about that.


I agree. Write it up, Caleb! The rest of us are VERY interested!!
 
Caleb Mayfield
pollinator
Posts: 217
Location: Western central Illinois, Zone 6a
121
3
hunting trees solar wood heat rocket stoves ungarbage
  • Likes 2
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
You got it! In the mean time, check out Jehu Garcia on YouTube. A lot of information on it there about reclaiming and using lithium batteries. I ran across him in my research on if it could be done. Yes, yes it can.
 
Pearl Sutton
steward & bricolagier
Posts: 14788
Location: SW Missouri
10333
2
goat cat fungi books chicken earthworks food preservation cooking building homestead ungarbage
  • Likes 1
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
That ebay ad lists 17.0 % efficiency. Is that good? I honestly haven't done my homework, and have no brain RAM to do it now. If I buy one of these it will be just to stock it so later when I have time/space/etc I have a panel that was a good choice, already here. I am assuming Thomas makes good choices :) Just curious about that number.
 
Caleb Mayfield
pollinator
Posts: 217
Location: Western central Illinois, Zone 6a
121
3
hunting trees solar wood heat rocket stoves ungarbage
  • Likes 3
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator

That eBay ad lists 17.0 % efficiency. Is that good?



Yes, I believe that is a good efficiency rating if it's achieved. My panels are rated at 15.4% From what I've researched it seems like anything over 15% is good, 20% is close to the upper limit. I've seen claims of 22%, but I have to believe that is ideal lab conditions.

 
Pearl Sutton
steward & bricolagier
Posts: 14788
Location: SW Missouri
10333
2
goat cat fungi books chicken earthworks food preservation cooking building homestead ungarbage
  • Likes 1
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
Oh cool, thank you! :)
 
pollinator
Posts: 3827
Location: Massachusetts, Zone:6/7 AHS:4 GDD:3000 Rainfall:48in even Soil:SandyLoam pH6 Flat
557
2
forest garden solar
  • Likes 1
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
You bought 180w for $175. So just about $1/watt.
I see solar panels going for 50cent per watt. Thats half the price.

https://www.wholesalesolar.com/1977435/astronergy/solar-panels/astronergy-chsm6612p-hv-335-silver-poly-solar-panel
Same cost but twice the wattage. (52cent/watt)

https://www.wholesalesolar.com/1977280/astronergy/solar-panels/astronergy-chsm6610p-280-silver-poly-solar-panel
(50cent/watt)
 
thomas rubino
rocket scientist
Posts: 6460
Location: latitude 47 N.W. montana zone 6A
3307
cat pig rocket stoves
  • Likes 2
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
S. Bengi;  Those are 24 volt panels not 12 volt
 
Posts: 596
Location: South Tenerife, Canary Islands (Spain)
14
forest garden trees greening the desert
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
$ per watt is the important metric here. 12v or 24v doesn't  affect the value. $1 per watt is twice as expensive as $0.50 per watt.
 
S Bengi
pollinator
Posts: 3827
Location: Massachusetts, Zone:6/7 AHS:4 GDD:3000 Rainfall:48in even Soil:SandyLoam pH6 Flat
557
2
forest garden solar
  • Likes 1
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
12v solar panels for $1/watt, thats really is a steal
 
Posts: 76
Location: Northern michigan
5
building solar woodworking
  • Likes 1
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
Id jump on it but iv got a 48v system
 
gardener
Posts: 1325
744
8
hugelkultur monies foraging trees composting toilet cooking bike solar wood heat rocket stoves ungarbage
  • Likes 1
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator

Ryan Sleep wrote:Id jump on it but iv got a 48v system



With the right type charge controller you can use them in a 48 volt system.  My main system is 48 volts.  It's being fed by two different sets of panels, one set is 12 volt panels connected together into 2 series of 5 and the other set is 24 volt panels connected together in 5 series of 2.  Each set has it's own MPPT charge controller due to the different voltages.  They work in tandem to charge the 48 volt battery bank.
 
Ryan Sleep
Posts: 76
Location: Northern michigan
5
building solar woodworking
  • Mark post as helpful
  • send pies
    Number of slices to send:
    Optional 'thank-you' note:
  • Quote
  • Report post to moderator
Yes my current 48 volt panels are hooked up in series as well as they don't actually put out 48 volts as they say but at that point if I need five of them I might as well just buy full size 48v solar panel is they would not only match the current ones but it's easier to mount one and cheaper then to mount five
 
I have begun to write a book. I already have all the page numbers done! And one tiny ad:
turnkey permaculture paradise for zero monies
https://permies.com/t/267198/turnkey-permaculture-paradise-monies
reply
    Bookmark Topic Watch Topic
  • New Topic