Solar Panels - Whats The Latest News?

[GoingWalkabout]

Brand New Solar Synergy 320W Semi Flexible US $399.00 per 320W panel.

Given that on a cat you could easily have 4, 5 or even 6 panels I think the cost for max power is incredible. I am still looking for 400W and above single panels but these 320 W ones look great. They are a little larger than the 100W panels so i don't understand why a person would worry about a couple of hundred dollars difference when you could get so much more power for the higher Watt output panels. At the end of the day don't forget what you are doing. Your are instilling your own portable reusable power plant. The cost of the panels in my opinion is the last thought given the portable reusable power that you gain. And what is the price saving while traveling when you can live off the hook with all mod cons rather than paying like hotel room rates for a marina berth.


New 320 Watt Semi Flexible Frameless Solar Panel 24V Volts 320W Made In USA!
24 Volt 320W Solar Panel Mono w/Junction Boxes

320 Watt 24 Volt Frameless Glass Front Semi Flexible Solar Panels

(Only $0.40 / Watt !! )


If you have any questions please call us at 1-888-202-1573. Thanks!

These panels are semi-flexible, glass front, framless, and include the junction boxes (packed separately.)

http://i66.tinypic.com/2vll2xu.jpg




New 320 Watt Semi Flexible Frameless Solar Panel 24V Volts 320W Made in USA | eBay

[newhaul]

Originally Posted by GoingWalkabout

Brand New Solar Synergy 320W Semi Flexible US $399.00 per 320W panel.


New 320 Watt Semi Flexible Frameless Solar Panel 24V Volts 320W Made In USA!
24 Volt 320W Solar Panel Mono w/Junction Boxes

320 Watt 24 Volt Frameless Glass Front Semi Flexible Solar Panels

(Only $0.40 / Watt !! )


If you have any questions please call us at 1-888-202-1573. Thanks!

These panels are semi-flexible, glass front, framless, and include the junction boxes (packed separately.)

http://i66.tinypic.com/2vll2xu.jpg




New 320 Watt Semi Flexible Frameless Solar Panel 24V Volts 320W Made in USA | eBay

Don't know where you learned your math but mine says that those panels are 400 each which figures out to 1.25 a watt and that's plus shipping. I get renogy rigid panels for the same 1.25 a watt delivered.

[GoingWalkabout]

Originally Posted by newhaul

Don't know where you learned your math but mine says that those panels are 400 each which figures out to 1.25 a watt and that's plus shipping. I get renogy rigid panels for the same 1.25 a watt delivered.

I copied that figure from the web site on eBay. I will attempt to edit the wrong information from my earlier post. But even at $1.25 per watt plus delivery the increase in actual power for your portable power plant is the most important equation in my mind.

[TacomaSailor]

Originally Posted by Getweh

You sure your math is right? Thats only approx 2beer/day???

Statistics can be very misleading, as can beer consumption!

the 2 beer/day average is based on the entire 16-year time period.

During some of that 16-years I was forced to act like an adult and return to the real world for work, family events, attend to medical and dental issues. So the average per day is a more Australian 3.765213 beers per day for the days I was actually on the boat.

[newhaul]

Originally Posted by GoingWalkabout

I copied that figure from the web site on eBay. I will attempt to edit the wrong information from my earlier post. But even at $1.25 per watt plus delivery the increase in actual power for your portable power plant is the most important equation in my mind.

Agreed on the fact 1.25 a watt is great price. But I wonder what their delivery price would be. Have to figure that in the ppw I have seen a few panels on eBay that figure under a buck a watt but then they charge more for shipping than they sell the panel for.

[newhaul]

Looked at the description and they list shipping for various numbers of panels and the cost for shipping a single panel was listed at 250.00 with USA shipping only no out of country. That shipping cost brings the ppw up quite a bit to just a hair over 2 bucks still not bad for semi flex panels.

[GoingWalkabout]

I agree Newhaul. The price compared to other semi flex panels is a great price. Working out the best way to mount on a frame high up over the davits and in line with the back cockpit roof on a the cat is needing some thought. But I think attaching them to low gauge metal tubes that you can also run the wire through may be best solution.

By the way the shipping price doesn't go up very much for more panels.

3 - 8 Laminates = $296 S/H Anywhere within the USA mainland.

[newhaul]

True the cost per panel to ship does go down the more you ship and they would be great on a cat.

[GoingWalkabout]

Originally Posted by newhaul

True the cost per panel to ship does go down the more you ship and they would be great on a cat.

Agreed. By the way I would be interested in contracting you to help with my final design and install when that time comes around.

[newhaul]

Originally Posted by GoingWalkabout

Agreed. By the way I would be interested in contracting you to help with my final design and install when that time comes around.

Pm me when you are ready to do it.

[Kenomac]

Originally Posted by GoingWalkabout

I agree Newhaul. The price compared to other semi flex panels is a great price. Working out the best way to mount on a frame high up over the davits and in line with the back cockpit roof on a the cat is needing some thought. But I think attaching them to low gauge metal tubes that you can also run the wire through may be best solution.

By the way the shipping price doesn't go up very much for more panels.

3 - 8 Laminates = $296 S/H Anywhere within the USA mainland.

You need to read the fine print on the spec sheet, those things are ginormous!

77 inches by 40 inches and weigh 55 pounds each. Good luck mounting them on a boat. All they really did was combine two smaller panels into an unmanagable size.

[newhaul]

Originally Posted by Kenomac

You need to read the fine print on the spec sheet, those things are ginormous!

77 inches by 40 inches and weigh 55 pounds each. Good luck mounting them on a boat. All they really did was combine two smaller panels into an unmanagable size.

That's the reason I like my 100 watt panels 42x26 and at 16 pounds gives lots of flexibility designing systems.for smaller monohull boats.

[deluxe68]

What about temperature monitoring by the controllers? I would think it to be vital but my boatyard manager does not think it is needed.

[newhaul]

Originally Posted by deluxe68

What about temperature monitoring by the controllers? I would think it to be vital but my boatyard manager does not think it is needed.

The short answer visit depends.
What is the panel to house bank ratio? ( ah to panel watts output)
What type of batteries in house bank? ( Fla, ATM, gel, or )

For most of my customers the battery temp is available on the controller but rarely needed .

[cal40john]

Originally Posted by socaldmax

PWM controllers basically switch themselves off and on at a high frequency, in an effort to drop the solar panel voltage down to the charging voltage. MPPT controllers find the maximum power point of the solar panel(s) in real time and adjust the incoming voltage accordingly, while converting the high voltage/low amperage input to lower voltage/higher amperage output to the batteries. MPPT controllers are more efficient, it's not that they make power, it's that they don't waste any power, unlike PWM controllers that shut off for a percentage of the time, which is wasted power.

I prefer higher voltage, higher output panels, and MPPT controllers harvest the most power out of the array's output.

If you know what to look for, you can find good MPPT controllers for such low prices that it doesn't make sense to settle for a PWM controller, the price difference is almost negligible especially when you amortize it over the life of the system and the extra power you'll harvest.

I believe an MPPT controller has the same charge rate as a PWM once you are in acceptance and float modes. A liveaboard will benefit from a MPPT, but a weekend sailor probably not as much. Most likely after a couple of days the batteries will be in acceptance then float mode, making the added cost of an MPPT irrelevant. Unless the added 10-20% you get over the weekend makes a significant difference to you.

When in bulk mode the MPPT can transfer most of the power that the panels have to the batteries. PWM will not be switching on and off, it will be always on, but the power quoted for the solar panel is for a specific voltage. As the voltage is determined by the battery, you will not be at that point, but at a lower wattage point, so the PWM is less efficient.

Once you are in acceptance mode you have to throw away power to maintain the voltage setpoint. An MPPT controller maximizing power makes no sense here, it has to detune or go into PWM or shunt or something to throw away power.

What is Maximum Power Point Tracking (MPPT)