Solar panels at harbor freight

[howlinowl]

Looked at some solar panels at harbor freight today....

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=90599

Didn't pick 'em up, as I dunno diddly about solar panels.  These any good?  Would like to go boondocking and not have to worry about the battery in the ole pop up going dead on me...

Allan

[Beerlifter]

I looked at that link. There were some cheaper alternatives on the links to the right ....but as you said I don't know diddly about them either. I will be going to texas next spring and I'm looking for a better route of keeping my battery charged besides a noisy generator. Keep us informed on how it goes with the panels if you decide to grab them.

[wavery]

You might do a "Simple Search" on "Solar panels". There are quite a few discussions about them. The following is from a post that I made about a year ago:
------------------------------
IMO, it would be a waste of time & $ to buy anything less than a 40W array. Actually, I wouldn't do it, myself, unless I went with a 200W array. eBay is always a good source to check out prices IMHO.

At 45W, you would be getting about 4A at peak sunlight (trickle charge), for a few hours a day. At 200W you would be getting 16A at peak sunlight, for a few hours a day. To me, that is a viable resource that should take care of the batteries even if you have a cloudy day or two and I would feel comfortable leaving the gen-set home. Anything less would still warrant me bringing both systems on a camping trip. In my way of thinking, it just isn't worth the hassle to do both.

A good compromise might be a 100W array. You can figure about $4 per watt when you get into decent arrays. So about $400 and some wire and you'd be set. With a 100W array, I wouldn't bother with any kind of controller. They are expensive and actually reduce your maximum output (a small amount). You would just have to remember to disconnect it from the batteries at sunset. If you don't, they will work in reverse and put a discharge on your batteries.

In your situation, with boondocks camping, I'd take about (2 lengths + & -) 100' of 12g wire. That way, you could put your PU in the shade and set your panels up in full direct sun. It would give you flexibility to move the panels into different positions to maximize output also.

[wavemaker]

Alright against your oppinion i went and bought one because i cant realy afford 1000 bucks so 200 bucks i can afford then thee was a 10% coupon on eveything i bought...
ill let ya know how it does
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

You might do a "Simple Search" on "Solar panels". There are quite a few discussions about them. The following is from a post that I made about a year ago:
------------------------------
IMO, it would be a waste of time & $ to buy anything less than a 40W array. Actually, I wouldn't do it, myself, unless I went with a 200W array. eBay is always a good source to check out prices IMHO.
 
At 45W, you would be getting about 4A at peak sunlight (trickle charge), for a few hours a day. At 200W you would be getting 16A at peak sunlight, for a few hours a day. To me, that is a viable resource that should take care of the batteries even if you have a cloudy day or two and I would feel comfortable leaving the gen-set home. Anything less would still warrant me bringing both systems on a camping trip. In my way of thinking, it just isn't worth the hassle to do both.
 
A good compromise might be a 100W array. You can figure about $4 per watt when you get into decent arrays. So about $400 and some wire and you'd be set. With a 100W array, I wouldn't bother with any kind of controller. They are expensive and actually reduce your maximum output (a small amount). You would just have to remember to disconnect it from the batteries at sunset. If you don't, they will work in reverse and put a discharge on your batteries.
 
In your situation, with boondocks camping, I'd take about (2 lengths + & -) 100' of 12g wire. That way, you could put your PU in the shade and set your panels up in full direct sun. It would give you flexibility to move the panels into different positions to maximize output also.

[wavery]

It will certainly be better than not having any charging device. As long as you can get it in direct sunlight, you will get some charge out of it.

I had 4 - 48w solar panels on my sailboat for 14 years (I lived on-board with no hook-ups)). I know what they can do and what they can't do. What they can't do is, charge your battery if there is no direct sunlight. It was pretty easy on the boat. I think that you may find it a bit more challenging in the camper.

As I stated on the other thread, I wouldn't permanently mount them on my camper. If I had them, I would have a 100' 12g cable so that I could place the camper in the shade (if there is any available) and the panels in the sun. It would just give me more options

You're right about the cost. You can buy a lot of solar panels for the price of Honda EU2000I generator.. The only thing is, the generator will work in any light conditions and it will also power 110v items.

It all boils down to personal choice and the type of camping that you do. My intent was not to advise against the solar panels. I just wanted you to be aware of their short-comings. Generators have their short comings too. I think that the ideal situation is to have both, if you like to boonie-camp and only use the generator if needed.

I am currently preparing to put a 10,000w array of solar panels on the roof of my house in Fallbrook, CA. We get a LOT of sunlight there and my house is on top of a hill with nothing around. That doesn't mean that I will unhook from the grid though. In fact, under the right conditions, I will get credit for the power that I put back into the grid. I am just waiting for California to put tax incentives in place to do so. The current price is about $4 per watt. I would like to see it get down to $2 per watt. It has to come soon. It is one good way to get out from under the Arabs clutches. The are billions of sq ft of roof space in the US that is going to waste. At some point in time, we will be forced to go 50% solar, at least.

[tlhdoc]

Chasd60 is a good source for solar information.

[minerz]

I have a 30 Ft 5er. I have two 125 watt solar panels on a frame that with a hand held remote will raise panels to 45 degrees, then spin unit to put in the face of the sun. Then unit will automaticly track sun for full power all day, and I run 10 storage batteries for night. Here in Idaho I spend most of my time in the mountains. I do pack a 3000 watt generator for back up, but run off the solar 90% of the time.
I bought this unit for my last 5er and then took it off and mounted it to the new 5er. We use all the power we need. Granted it wasn't cheap, but it was not as spendy as a built in Onan generator. And it is quite. No fumes. No fuel.  Send me an email and I will give you a website to take a look. Happy Quiet Camping.

[wavery]

I have a 30 Ft 5er. I have two 125 watt solar panels on a frame that with a hand held remote will raise panels to 45 degrees, then spin unit to put in the face of the sun. Then unit will automaticly track sun for full power all day, and I run 10 storage batteries for night. Here in Idaho I spend most of my time in the mountains. I do pack a 3000 watt generator for back up, but run off the solar 90% of the time.
I bought this unit for my last 5er and then took it off and mounted it to the new 5er. We use all the power we need. Granted it wasn't cheap, but it was not as spendy as a built in Onan generator. And it is quite. No fumes. No fuel.  Send me an email and I will give you a website to take a look. Happy Quiet Camping.

IMHO, you have the ultimate set-up for a camper. If I were to put solar panels on, I would do almost exactly what you did. The only thing that I would do differently is the batteries. I would just use 2 - 8D gel-cells. That's what I had on my boat. I tried every combination imaginable. I even tried 2 banks of 6v golf cart batteries. 8 batteries on each bank (16 in all). I got better performance from the 8D gel-cells.

[minerz]

Thanks for the info. I will check into this batts, as I imagine I will have to replace by next summer. As with these batteries as well as the rest here on the ranch that are in equipment they need to be replaced every so often, and the batteries I have in there now were used in my previous 5er. Although I find in the winter if I keep a small electric heater inside the fiver I get better life out of them as they are not just charging all the time with no use, this way they are working all winter while the unit is sitting. Even though it was 9 degrees here last night the sun was out all day and all batts are up. This system was a bit spendy, but I figure it is a one time expense with a few minor changes. It was not hard to change over to the new 5er, just time consuming to get it mounted. One thing it is less maintenance compared to a generator. I spend more time maintaining my pack along generator than I do the solar system. With the panels being under warranty for 25 years I should get my moneys worth in the long run.
When we go to the mountains I spend more time explaining to passers by what it is, and how it works rather than working on it. Thanks again.

[chasd60]

Minerz,
Who makes the tracking rack you have?
I have seen many of them but none designed for an RV
 
Thanks in advance

[wavery]

Thanks for the info. I will check into this batts, as I imagine I will have to replace by next summer. As with these batteries as well as the rest here on the ranch that are in equipment they need to be replaced every so often, and the batteries I have in there now were used in my previous 5er. Although I find in the winter if I keep a small electric heater inside the fiver I get better life out of them as they are not just charging all the time with no use, this way they are working all winter while the unit is sitting. Even though it was 9 degrees here last night the sun was out all day and all batts are up. This system was a bit spendy, but I figure it is a one time expense with a few minor changes. It was not hard to change over to the new 5er, just time consuming to get it mounted. One thing it is less maintenance compared to a generator. I spend more time maintaining my pack along generator than I do the solar system. With the panels being under warranty for 25 years I should get my moneys worth in the long run.
When we go to the mountains I spend more time explaining to passers by what it is, and how it works rather than working on it. Thanks again.

I put 4 Arco 48W solar panels on my yacht in 1986. I sailed around the world with them twice and put them through punishment that you couldn't even begin to imagine.

The guy that bought the boat from me in 2000 is still using the same solar panels (he's currently in New Zealand). They still put out as good as they did when they were new and I've done nothing but wash them. Batteries are a whole different story though.

You would think that someone would come up with a new technology for storing electricity. When you use batteries 24/365 for your house current, you find out just how bad they are. Over the long haul, batteries will keep your cost per watt relatively high.

I would recommend not keeping your batteries under constant use. I'd put a solar regulator on them and not use the batteries unless you need them. A battery's life is measured in numbers of cycles. What you are doing is increasing the number of cycles that you are putting the batteries through. A good regulator will just keep them topped off and they will last a lot longer that way.

I put a relay on my boat. When the voltage reached 14.6v (from either the wind generator or solar panels), the relay kicked over and the solar panels went directly to the element in my hot water heater. That way I wasn't waisting any sunlight.

[wavemaker]

well the first one didnt work i think one of the panels was the problem
went back to harber frieght and returned it and got a new one this one here is alright got it outside all hooked up and its charging my battery it comes with  lights and a phone charger plug they should of made a 12volt cigarette lighter socket.. now i cant use it for atleast 1 weekend
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Chasd60 is a good source for solar information.

[chasd60]

You would think that someone would come up with a new technology for storing electricity.

Try searching for EESTOR on Google.
An article on CNNMoney.com
 
Another good article here with an MP3 file with ZENN Motor Company CEO Ian Clifford speaking

[wavery]

Try searching for EESTOR on Google.
An article on CNNMoney.com
 
Another good article here with an MP3 file with ZENN Motor Company CEO Ian Clifford speaking

Good read.....................thanks.


If they can get the leak down factor under control. This could be HUGE!!!