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gotwind
Forum Admin
United Kingdom
843 Posts |
 Posted - 12/03/2008 : 17:56:52
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In preparation for the summer months, I am going to buy 300-400 watts worth of solar panels.
We have a quite a successful solar panel hunt post
http://gotwind.forumco.com/topic~TOPIC_ID~404.asp
I notice the larger panels are rated at 24v, that isn't a problem.
If anyone has any advice I would appreciate it (I'm U.K based obviously).
Ben.
The Futures Green - Getwind of it.
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Del
Junior Member
United Kingdom
368 Posts |
Posted - 12/03/2008 : 18:14:12
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Hi ben,
Not so much advice, as such, but I decided not to go with very large panels on the basis that if I broke one it wouldn't cost the earth to replace. I've now got a 320W system (4 poly crystalline 80W panels) and a Steca PR1020 30A charge controller. I'd love a grid tie inverter but it would have to be compatible with it being transferred to France and so I'm holding off at the moment. I'm also a bit mindful of mounting my panels on the roof as it's a lot of money to fret about in a gale. But I don't think I'd want so much money on the floor and asking to get nicked.
I'd avoid amorphus panels (thin film) as although they are pretty much unbreakable (compared to mono and poly crystalline panels) and they do perform better in cloudy conditions, they don't last as long (so I've read) and they are twice the size of the equivilent output mono and poly panel as they are less efficient.
Not too sure about the timing of a purchase. Summer should demand higher prices, but I'm not sure what the prices are doing (movement wise) anyway.
Best of luck.
Cheers
Del. |
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ghurd
Junior Member
USA
304 Posts |
Posted - 12/03/2008 : 18:21:42
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Many of the larger PVs can be wired 12 or 24V. Often it is a footnote in the pdf under "connections".
If you don't have 24V already, I would seriously look into 12V.
Things are different here (US), but 24V is not a good way to go for a normal system here.
Everything from inverters to CFLs to switches are more expensive and often much lower quality.
Or a lot larger, as in 24V inverters. Small no-name junk, or huge expensive big brand. Nothing in the middle anymore (since the Xantrex & Statpower thing), and they seem to bring a high price if a stray one shows up on ebay.
I almost got a generic 400W 24V inverter on ebay, from the UK but lost it when it went about 3X higher than I was willing to pay. :-(
G-
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gotwind
Forum Admin
United Kingdom
843 Posts |
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gotwind
Forum Admin
United Kingdom
843 Posts |
Posted - 12/03/2008 : 19:41:20
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I emailed the guy selling the above panels on eBay.,
He did post his panels on the solar panel price hunt post, he had this to say;
Ben i've just sold out 2 pallets and the pallet i have coming in 2 - 3 weeks is all 30 have sold at £2.77 /w its no surprise.. I'm about to place orders for 2 more pallets from the USA will be here end April early May if your interested.. sales@freesolarenergy.co.uk we will happily take a 10% refundable deposit by cheque to secure.
So they are manufactured in Germany, shipped to U.S and then back to U.K - seems a bit daft, I think Del commented on this before.
I would love to know who the German manufacturer is??
The Futures Green - Getwind of it. |
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ghurd
Junior Member
USA
304 Posts |
Posted - 12/03/2008 : 21:54:13
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I don't see any difference between mono and poly.
Some people say mono is less fragile.
I often use mono because they are cheaper when I order, sometimes a lot cheaper.
Evergreen? I was under the impression they were USA made, and the cell factory was in Maryland (USA).
Maybe they make the cells in the US, ship them to Germany, assemble, then ship them back for stickers, #SN, inspection and QC?
That's the only thing I can figure. Waste of shipping, common, but still a waste.
Those US eBay cells are often Evergreen.
G- |
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Del
Junior Member
United Kingdom
368 Posts |
Posted - 12/03/2008 : 22:40:05
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A monocrystalline cell is made from a single crystal. A polycrystalline cell is made from a number of crystals. Mono is slightly more efficient and therefore should be slightly small in size to produce the same power output. In reality no real difference.
I'd go for 12v panls that way you can wire them up in various voltage formats if you need to change at any point. |
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gotwind
Forum Admin
United Kingdom
843 Posts |
Posted - 12/03/2008 : 22:46:25
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Thanks Ghurd.
Yes the eBay listing points to an evergreen PDF spec, so I suspect your thoughts are correct.
Terribly wasteful in terms of shipping costs.
Are evergreen the 'big boys' over there for solar cell manufacturing?
It's all a bit new to me.
Ben.
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dc2000
Starting Member
16 Posts |
Posted - 13/03/2008 : 10:50:52
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hi Ben
are you looking to purchase now or in a few weeks reason I ask is I may be on to some slight 2nds of panels ( kinked frames odd sized )I will know in the next week or so what is available |
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gotwind
Forum Admin
United Kingdom
843 Posts |
Posted - 13/03/2008 : 11:44:27
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Hi dc2000
I'd be definatly be interested in those, pm me when you know for sure please, any idea of the wattage rating - 180 ish?
as I said I am looking for around 350 watts total - 12v seems the most appealing.
Ben. |
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dc2000
Starting Member
16 Posts |
Posted - 13/03/2008 : 13:27:05
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The ones ive had so far are 120, 175 and 185 watts with a mix of 12 and 24v they come from a large commercial installer so each panel tends to be over 100watts as soon as I get details on more I will PM |
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ghurd
Junior Member
USA
304 Posts |
Posted - 13/03/2008 : 19:49:40
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I don't know anymore.
I used to keep track, but it does come down to the panel I get for the price. (except for thin-film, which I won't sell)
I didn't think Evergreen was the 'big boys'. I thought Photowatt / Matrix was far bigger, and made cells for other brands too, then 'Poof'... they closed the factory.
I never did get those skids of PVs that shipped about 2 years ago. Maybe that's why they went under?
(me and 1000 other people like me)
G-
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BushWhacker
Junior Member
Canada
276 Posts |
Posted - 14/03/2008 : 02:07:01
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http://www.celsias.com
"Their mission: to deliver cost-efficient solar electricity. The Nanosolar company was founded in 2002 and is working to build the world’s largest solar cell factory in California and the world’s largest panel-assembly factory in Germany. They have successfully created a solar coating that is the most cost-efficient solar energy source ever. Their PowerSheet cells contrast the current solar technology systems by reducing the cost of production from $3 a watt to a mere 30 cents per watt. This makes, for the first time in history, solar power cheaper than burning coal."
If the panel is assembled in Germany, perhaps you could work something out to save shipping as you mentioned.
Ben you are two mouse clicks away from the story. http://preview.tinyurl.com/2v2ptc
I am personally going to hold out for a bit and get far more watts for my buck. (buck is north american slang for money, in case anyone wondered)
Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not one bit simpler. - Albert Einstein |
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dc2000
Starting Member
16 Posts |
Posted - 14/03/2008 : 20:49:15
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pinch of salt comes to mind
for years we have heard how some super manufacturing process will make solar cheaper and to date the only time they came cheaper was when the dollar value fell last year
there is a new factory in Wales UK that has a cheap thin film process but they are targeting small mobile chargers rather than large panels quite why celsius would sell at 30 cents a watt is beyond me every man and his dog are paying $3 so why not go in at $1.80 you will still corner the market although it wont make quite as good a headline |
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gotwind
Forum Admin
United Kingdom
843 Posts |
Posted - 14/03/2008 : 21:23:52
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I think 30 cents per watt is a long way off Bushwacker personally, could be wrong.
dc2000.
I tried googling for the cheap thin film process Factory in Wales U.K, I couldn't find anything unfortunatly - I only live 8 miles from the English Welsh border.
Ben. |
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BushWhacker
Junior Member
Canada
276 Posts |
Posted - 15/03/2008 : 06:46:49
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Hey, I can't back it up. Just sharing what I have read.
I'll wait on the simple fact that the article (and product) might have some impact on solar panel pricing. Fair enough if you think it won't. Thats what the free market is all about.
In electronics all I have to say is "look at the price of computers and processing speed over the last few years". I'll just hold my tongue now.
Cheers!
BW
Everything should be made as simple as possible, but not one bit simpler. - Albert Einstein |
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Topic |
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I'm buying 350w solar panel - Advice?
