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21-08-2019, 05:28
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#1
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always in motion is the future
Join Date: Feb 2009
Location: in paradise
Boat: Sundeer 64
Posts: 18,765
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Where to buy 300W+ solar panels in Florida?
Ahoy sailors,
We sailed our boat from Panama to Florida for some refitting and one of the projects is to upgrade our solar array. We’re currently looking at putting three big panels on our stern arch, going for a kW there instead of the current 220W that we put up there in 2004.
Can anyone recommend brand/model of panels and where to order them from?
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21-08-2019, 05:50
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#2
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S/V rubber ducky
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: heading "south"
Boat: Hunter 410
Posts: 20,362
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Re: Where to buy 300W+ solar panels in Florida?
Quote:
Originally Posted by s/v Jedi
Ahoy sailors,
We sailed our boat from Panama to Florida for some refitting and one of the projects is to upgrade our solar array. We’re currently looking at putting three big panels on our stern arch, going for a kW there instead of the current 220W that we put up there in 2004.
Can anyone recommend brand/model of panels and where to order them from?
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There's a wholesale type place in the Miami area, but they never have prices listed. When I replaced mine this past winter (was in Florida) I got from some a place in Arizona as even with shipping that was best deal. Unless you are going to have a truck available to go personally pick up the panels it doesn't really matter where they come from
https://www.solar-electric.com/marin...ar-panels.html
__________________
Don't ask a bunch of unknown forum people if it is OK to do something on YOUR boat. It is your boat, do what you want!
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21-08-2019, 05:54
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#3
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2018
Location: Daytona Beach
Boat: Gulfstar, Hirsch, 45'
Posts: 224
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Re: Where to buy 300W+ solar panels in Florida?
Hello, this place is amazing. One stop shop with GREAT customer service and turnkey options
https://www.solar-electric.com/
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21-08-2019, 07:14
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#4
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2018
Boat: 50ft Custom Fast Catamaran
Posts: 11,832
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Re: Where to buy 300W+ solar panels in Florida?
Sun Electronics:. 15901 NW 59th Ave, Miami Lakes, FL 33014
Good prices. They beat anything mail order due to shipping.
Watch out though. I hesitate to recommend because they sold me a broken panel and didn't honor it. Wouldn't respond to my inquiry about it.
However, if you're careful, it's a good place to get your equipment.
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21-08-2019, 08:31
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#5
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 138
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Re: Where to buy 300W+ solar panels in Florida?
It's been several years but had great experience with Sun - helped figure out optimal configuration & components, and were efficient and timely getting them to me in St. Lucia. Definitely worth talking to them, especially if you are nearby.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chotu
Sun Electronics:. 15901 NW 59th Ave, Miami Lakes, FL 33014
Good prices. They beat anything mail order due to shipping.
Watch out though. I hesitate to recommend because they sold me a broken panel and didn't honor it. Wouldn't respond to my inquiry about it.
However, if you're careful, it's a good place to get your equipment.
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21-08-2019, 08:33
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#6
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2016
Location: West Palm Beach, FL
Boat: Catalina 470
Posts: 1,131
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Re: Where to buy 300W+ solar panels in Florida?
E-Marine Systems in Fort Lauderdale can help you. Last year I bought two LG 350watt panels, no shipping as I picked them up in person.
https://www.emarineinc.com/
__________________
“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” – Mark Twain
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21-08-2019, 08:37
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#7
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2003
Location: Currently on the boat, somewhere on the ocean, living the dream
Boat: Morgan 461 S/Y Flying Pig
Posts: 2,298
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Re: Where to buy 300W+ solar panels in Florida?
Sunpower panels are the most expensive, but also cram the most wattage into an available area.
Ideally, you could buy them direct; I started that way with the marketing director, but migrated, eventually, to - with the East Coast's rep's assistance - a local vendor.
You can get my entire correspondence stream, if you like, which will include folks to contact, if you need the most possible wattage in a given space, which is what you'll get with Sunpower. My two 360s replaced, with only, literally, a couple of inches more on both dimensions, the 3 120 Kyoceras.
Pix of that change over here:
Pictures: Flying Pig 2015-2018 Shake-and-Break-Down/Electrical Upgrade/Solar
If you want the correspondence, including the pricing info, write me skip gundlach all one word at gmail and make the subject :solar upgrade:
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21-08-2019, 08:44
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#8
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Registered User
Join Date: Mar 2019
Posts: 2
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Re: Where to buy 300W+ solar panels in Florida?
Panasonic VBHN330SA17 HIT 330w 96cell 40mm panels from Coastal Climate Control in Annapolis, Maryland. $360 each and no sales tax. I installed three on the arch and one on each side of the cockpit after replacing the lifeline with an extension of the 1" rail from the stern pulpit to the boarding gate opening. At peak, that's 1650 watts, enough to run a long cord to shore and sell excess kWh to the locals.
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21-08-2019, 09:32
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#9
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CF Adviser
Join Date: Oct 2007
Boat: Van Helleman Schooner 65ft StarGazer
Posts: 10,280
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Re: Where to buy 300W+ solar panels in Florida?
Hi Nick
I would, 2nd Sunpower
The 4 x 327W units have been in use now for 4 years and comparing with other brands are of excellent construction.
Just put a 5th 365w panel athwartships above the tender davits which is a Q-Cell as Sunpower is no longer made in the Philippines.
Best I could find but not as good as Sunpower
https://www.solarreviews.com/manufac...north-america/
This drone shot shows the Sunpower installation which is now part of a hardtop.bimini
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21-08-2019, 11:08
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#10
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2007
Location: Live in Boise, boat is in the Rio Dulce
Boat: 56' CNSO Mikado Cutter Ketch
Posts: 367
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Re: Where to buy 300W+ solar panels in Florida?
Amazon Prime
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21-08-2019, 11:59
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#11
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 365
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Re: Where to buy 300W+ solar panels in Florida?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Chotu
Sun Electronics:. 15901 NW 59th Ave, Miami Lakes, FL 33014
Good prices. They beat anything mail order due to shipping.
Watch out though. I hesitate to recommend because they sold me a broken panel and didn't honor it. Wouldn't respond to my inquiry about it.
However, if you're careful, it's a good place to get your equipment.
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We bought 4KW from these characters-do your homework ENTIRELY
"forewarned is forearmed"
And you'll do best with these fellows
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21-08-2019, 12:00
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#12
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Wonderer
Join Date: Aug 2010
Location: New Bern, NC
Boat: Wellington 44 cutter rig
Posts: 22
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Re: Where to buy 300W+ solar panels in Florida?
Northern Arizona Wind & Sun
800 383 0195
375W for around $275 drop shipped from Canada.
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21-08-2019, 12:10
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#13
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2014
Posts: 365
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Re: Where to buy 300W+ solar panels in Florida?
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21-08-2019, 12:22
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#14
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cruiser
Join Date: Jan 2017
Boat: Retired from CF
Posts: 13,317
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Re: Where to buy 300W+ solar panels in Florida?
Mail order panels are not as large nor as good as proper ones from specialist B&M outlets.
Shipping costs can add a **lot** to the price, best to look locally.
Or get in on a full pallet's worth with a local group of buyers.
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21-08-2019, 12:25
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#15
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2014
Posts: 154
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Re: Where to buy 300W+ solar panels in Florida?
e-Marine, in Ft. Lauderdale. Also good for controllers (Morningstar), and all the rest
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