Cruisers Forum
 


Reply
  This discussion is proudly sponsored by:
Please support our sponsors and let them know you heard about their products on Cruisers Forums. Advertise Here
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Rate Thread Display Modes
Old 08-05-2013, 11:21   #1
Registered User
 
endoftheroad's Avatar

Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Key West
Boat: Westsail 32 and Herreshoff 28
Posts: 1,161
Any Kyocera KC130 Panels Available?

I need to buy two 130 watt solar panels.

It seems the KC130 mono's are discontinued?

I'm considering a pair of Kyocera KD135SX-ufbs but they are multi-crystal.
Kyocera KD135SX-UFBS 135W 12V Solar Panel with J-Box

Should I buy these?

Should I consider comparable panels from Sun Electric brand?

Help me spend my money.

I will be buying 4 Trojan T-105 6 volt Batteries.

Thanks
endoftheroad is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-05-2013, 16:59   #2
Registered User
 
endoftheroad's Avatar

Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Key West
Boat: Westsail 32 and Herreshoff 28
Posts: 1,161
Re: Any Kyocera KC130 Panels Available?

Anyone?
I should order some panels soon.
Thanks
endoftheroad is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-05-2013, 19:38   #3
Moderator Emeritus
 
sailorchic34's Avatar

Cruisers Forum Supporter

Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: SF Bay Area
Boat: Islander 34
Posts: 5,486
Re: Any Kyocera KC130 Panels Available?

The KD 135 are basically the same as the KC130. Good panels. You might check solar blvd. You can get three off brand 85 watt panels for $318 or a savings of $200 over the two Kyocera's. If you have room for three that is. I have one 130w kyocera and one off brand 100w from solarblvd. Construction is the same.

Solar Cell, Solar Panel, Solar PV, Solar Products, Charge Controllers, Solar Trackers
sailorchic34 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-05-2013, 20:15   #4
Registered User
 
endoftheroad's Avatar

Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Key West
Boat: Westsail 32 and Herreshoff 28
Posts: 1,161
Re: Any Kyocera KC130 Panels Available?

Quote:
Originally Posted by sailorchic34 View Post
The KD 135 are basically the same as the KC130. Good panels. You might check solar blvd. You can get three off brand 85 watt panels for $318 or a savings of $200 over the two Kyocera's. If you have room for three that is. I have one 130w kyocera and one off brand 100w from solarblvd. Construction is the same.

Solar Cell, Solar Panel, Solar PV, Solar Products, Charge Controllers, Solar Trackers
Thanks Sailorchic,
The kd 135 panel is multi or poly.
Should I be getting mono?
I have limited space for only 2 of these panels.
Thanks
endoftheroad is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-05-2013, 20:20   #5
Registered User

Join Date: May 2008
Location: daytona beach florida
Boat: csy 37
Posts: 2,976
Images: 1
Re: Any Kyocera KC130 Panels Available?

i've had the kyo 135 for four years now. not a single problem.
onestepcsy37 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 08-05-2013, 20:52   #6
Moderator Emeritus
 
sailorchic34's Avatar

Cruisers Forum Supporter

Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: SF Bay Area
Boat: Islander 34
Posts: 5,486
Re: Any Kyocera KC130 Panels Available?

Quote:
Originally Posted by endoftheroad View Post
Thanks Sailorchic,
The kd 135 panel is multi or poly.
Should I be getting mono?
I have limited space for only 2 of these panels.
Thanks
I think multicrystal is fine for a boat. You really can't go wrong with kyocera. Oh yes westsail, So two panels
sailorchic34 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 09-05-2013, 03:37   #7
Registered User
 
endoftheroad's Avatar

Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Key West
Boat: Westsail 32 and Herreshoff 28
Posts: 1,161
Re: Any Kyocera KC130 Panels Available?

Quote:
Originally Posted by sailorchic34 View Post
I think multicrystal is fine for a boat. You really can't go wrong with kyocera. Oh yes westsail, So two panels
Thanks,
Looks like kd135's are the ones for me.
endoftheroad is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-05-2013, 20:49   #8
Registered User
 
endoftheroad's Avatar

Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Key West
Boat: Westsail 32 and Herreshoff 28
Posts: 1,161
Re: Any Kyocera KC130 Panels Available?

Quote:
Originally Posted by endoftheroad View Post
Thanks,
Looks like kd135's are the ones for me.


Sailorchic,
I just stumbled upon the Kyocera 140's.
They are the same size and weight as the 135's so they'll fit on my Westsail.
The only difference is the added 5 watts and the extra $13 per panel.
Seems like I should be getting the 140's.

Am I missing something?

Kyocera KD140SX-UFBS 140W 12V Solar Panel with J-Box

Thanks
endoftheroad is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-05-2013, 21:00   #9
Registered User
 
rebel heart's Avatar

Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 6,185
Images: 3
Quote:
Originally Posted by onestepcsy37 View Post
i've had the kyo 135 for four years now. not a single problem.
Same. Two of them supply most of our power.
rebel heart is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-05-2013, 21:15   #10
Registered User

Join Date: May 2008
Location: daytona beach florida
Boat: csy 37
Posts: 2,976
Images: 1
Re: Any Kyocera KC130 Panels Available?

good to hear, rebel heart; my one gives me about half the power i need, plan on upgrading to two and then i'll never need to run the engine or honda again!!!
onestepcsy37 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 13-05-2013, 00:57   #11
Registered User
 
rebel heart's Avatar

Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 6,185
Images: 3
Quote:
Originally Posted by onestepcsy37 View Post
good to hear, rebel heart; my one gives me about half the power i need, plan on upgrading to two and then i'll never need to run the engine or honda again!!!
I think we're good about 4/5 days. Sometimes it's cloudy, sometimes we go on a bender watching shows on the laptop for hours. But a gallon of gasoline probably lasts us 2-4 weeks in the generator, so I'm pretty good with that.
rebel heart is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 13-05-2013, 03:53   #12
Registered User
 
endoftheroad's Avatar

Join Date: Dec 2008
Location: Key West
Boat: Westsail 32 and Herreshoff 28
Posts: 1,161
bottom line, I can get an extra 10 watts with the 140 panels in the same space. I provided the links for the 135 and the 140 watt panels.

Can someone review the links for me and make sure that the only difference is price and wattage?
I'm concerned that I might be missing something.
endoftheroad is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 13-05-2013, 08:58   #13
Registered User

Join Date: May 2008
Location: daytona beach florida
Boat: csy 37
Posts: 2,976
Images: 1
Re: Any Kyocera KC130 Panels Available?

endoftheroad - can't see the links. if it's a kyocera panel i think you're good to go. i'd spend more time figuring out how you're going to mount them. you'll also need a good controller.

it may sound like a lot of trouble but in fact, once you've got it all in place, they run themselves with no attention at all for many years. can't say the same about any other power source, wind generators included.

there's loads of information on this board about solar panels. just doing a search will keep you busy the rest of the day....
onestepcsy37 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 13-05-2013, 09:05   #14
Registered User

Join Date: May 2008
Location: daytona beach florida
Boat: csy 37
Posts: 2,976
Images: 1
Re: Any Kyocera KC130 Panels Available?

rebel heart - sounds like you do the same thing i do. i can go about 2-3 days before i have to recharge. i use a honda 1000 and an automotive 35amp smart charger; my batteries are VERY accessible so it's easy to just hook up battery cables.

the more i read your posts the more i think that you and i are a lot alike. BUT, i don't use one of those expensive battery monitors that are supposed to tell you the in's and out's of your amps. i just check my volts.
onestepcsy37 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 13-05-2013, 10:11   #15
Registered User
 
rebel heart's Avatar

Join Date: Oct 2005
Posts: 6,185
Images: 3
Re: Any Kyocera KC130 Panels Available?

Quote:
Originally Posted by onestepcsy37 View Post
rebel heart - sounds like you do the same thing i do. i can go about 2-3 days before i have to recharge. i use a honda 1000 and an automotive 35amp smart charger; my batteries are VERY accessible so it's easy to just hook up battery cables.

the more i read your posts the more i think that you and i are a lot alike. BUT, i don't use one of those expensive battery monitors that are supposed to tell you the in's and out's of your amps. i just check my volts.
Yep, same for me. I flip to the solar controller's amp output just to smile at "free electricity" but in general I just want to see > 14.0v in any given day, and the controller throttling the amps coming in. If we have full sun and it never gets above 14.0 all day, then I get a little concerned.
rebel heart is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Tags
kyocera, panels

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Advertise Here


All times are GMT -7. The time now is 22:43.


Google+
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Social Knowledge Networks
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.

ShowCase vBulletin Plugins by Drive Thru Online, Inc.