Solar Panels - Harbor Freight

[w6lmj]

I note the 45-watt panels are on sale in my city for $129.99. Is there a reason not to buy a set? Is there a clearly better solution?

[Cosmo]

This is a good panel ($125 for 100 watts) - I have 2 renogy panels:

https://www.amazon.com/Renogy-Watts-.../dp/B009Z6CW7O

[TurnerFam]

or try HQST Solar on amazon - 100w panels around $120, or 200w 2 panel kit with wiring and 20a controller for $280 - shipped free if a prime member

[scrubjaysnest]

Yes, don't buy the Harbor freight panels. They are amorphous cell material which tends to separate from the glass. Home Depot has 100 watt panels for $109 with free shipping. Have to order on line. The HD panels are poly crystalline.

[w6lmj]

Thanks. That is a much better panel. I have a Thor Citation 24SR and need some way of charging the battery without resorting to the generator. First solar panels, then a beefy inverter and finally lithium batteries should allow me to dry camp off the grid for a few days at a time. Thanks for the link to the panels at Amazon.

[jpmihalk]

Agreed, don't buy the Harbor Freight panels... I got the 400W Renogy Solar kit from Amazon and coupled with our 4 house batteries, we can stay off grid for a while without using the genset (unless we need AC or the microwave!)

[w6lmj]

Originally Posted by jpmihalk

Agreed, don't buy the Harbor Freight panels... I got the 400W Renogy Solar kit from Amazon and coupled with our 4 house batteries, we can stay off grid for a while without using the genset (unless we need AC or the microwave!)

Four batteries and can't use the microwave, interesting. If the four batteries were replaced with lithium batteries, I wonder if you would then be able to use the microwave? As you add solar power and improve storage, I suspect less LP will be needed and more electricity means an increase in its use to cook and use electric devices.

I have also noticed others are installing flexible solar panels that stick to the roof. I haven't compared pricing, but the downside is you can't tilt the panels to increase power generation.

[jpmihalk]

I'm sure lithium batteries would make a difference. It would also create some other requirements like needing a bigger and better charger (in addition to the solar.) I think the microwave just requires too many start up amps to be useful off of the batteries, not to mention that it currently isn't wired to the inverter circuit.

Someday I see an upgrade to AGM batteries, but lithium batteries are a ways off.