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SummitPond
04-06-2020, 11:53 AM
My SIL sent me this link, thinking I might be interested in solar (I'm not at present as we don't boondock). But others may be interested:

$80 for the Home Depot 100-Watt Polycrystalline Solar Panel (https://www.homedepot.com/p/Grape-Solar-100-Watt-Polycrystalline-Solar-Panel-for-RV-s-Boats-and-12-Volt-Systems-GS-Star-100W/204211365?irgwc=1&cm_mmc=afl-ir-43629-456723-&clickid=xCk0763y-xyOUImwUx0Mo3YXUkix3QVRR3rZQg0), and $66 for a solar controller (https://www.homedepot.com/p/Grape-Solar-COMET-12-24-Volt-40-Amp-Solar-Charge-Controller-GS-PWM-COMET-40/305498558).

GHen
04-06-2020, 02:20 PM
This is good pricing but....
Polycrystalline panels are considered low efficiency compared to Monocrystalline which are considered high efficiency.

I have 3 Renology brand monocyrstalline panels that Amazon has occasionally on sale between $64 and $119 per 100 watt panel.

I’ll look at the controller, but there are also good, better and best available for those also. I went middle of the road and spent about $200.

There are a lot of people that will chime in with their opinions.

GHen
04-06-2020, 03:44 PM
I keep trying to find fault with the HD solar deal, but can’t. Looks like a good entry level solar system.

Customer1
04-06-2020, 05:20 PM
Two years ago I bought four of those panels and the controller. My controller looks a little different. I am very happy with the system mounted flat on the roof.

Edit; The current price for the panel is a little less than I paid two years ago but the controller is about $10 more.

A nice bonus is the free shipping, you may find better prices some places but the shipping will kill the deal.

KRumm
04-07-2020, 05:16 AM
The charge controller can handle up to 500w of solar... I would recommend buying as many 100w panels as can comfortably fit on your roof up to the 500w limit... A single 100w panel will not do much to charge your batteries...

Here is a similar US based kit that includes mounts and wiring...
https://www.amazon.com/HQST-Polycrystalline-Negative-Ground-Display-Controller/dp/B07CNX1LPP/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?crid=2V7Z01B08VF41&dchild=1&keywords=180w+solar+panel&qid=1586265196&sprefix=180w+solar%2Caps%2C525&sr=8-2-spons&psc=1&spLa=ZW5jcnlwdGVkUXVhbGlmaWVyPUEyU0NZSFI3RjVDUzlKJ mVuY3J5cHRlZElkPUEwNzMzMzUyMTFZTkhITUYyTVVMRSZlbmN yeXB0ZWRBZElkPUEwODE2NTA4MkgxNFFLQlIxNUVHRyZ3aWRnZ XROYW1lPXNwX2F0ZiZhY3Rpb249Y2xpY2tSZWRpcmVjdCZkb05 vdExvZ0NsaWNrPXRydWU=

JRTJH
04-07-2020, 08:53 AM
I'm certainly no solar panel expert, so take this for what it's worth:

Polycrystalline solar panels are "old technology".

Buying them is sort of like buying a second or third generation smart phone. They may work OK today, but they aren't as good as today's technology and they may not be able to work on "tomorrow's technology"...

Like that "older smart phone", it connects to G-3 and G-4, but not to G-5 and more and more apps won't function on the older phones... You can still "make calls and use most of your current apps, but as they are outdated, they're no longer supported and the phone becomes "an old NOKIA" that works on 911, but not much else...

Solar panels are "solar panels" but as things change, how many of the "new technology components" will still work with the "old technology components".

monocrystalline panels are not that much more expensive, significantly more efficient (fewer panels to get the same watts and they work better on cloudy days) and there's a much better chance that 'tomorrow's technology" will be able to support them. Polycrystalline panels, on the other hand, work great today but in 4 or 5 years, will you be able to connect them to your new controller when this one dies ???

To me, buying "old technology" is much the same as buying a "Windows 8 computer because it's cheaper than a Windows 10"

KRumm
04-07-2020, 07:35 PM
https://youtu.be/TCq0K3DlFdc