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 03-04-2009, 07:04   #1
Ram
Registered User
 
Ram's Avatar

Cruisers Forum Supporter

Join Date: May 2005
Location: Cruising Greece
Boat: Cat in the med & Trawler in Florida
Posts: 2,323
Images: 27
Where to Buy Solar Panels?

Anyone know of a good place to buy solar panels & why you think so?
Ram is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-04-2009, 07:25   #2
Registered User
 
sv_makai's Avatar

Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Currently, cruise is over and back in Solomons MD, USA
Boat: Voyage/Maxim 380 - Makai
Posts: 543
Images: 10
Send a message via Skype™ to sv_makai
solar

When i was outfitting makai I found the best place to get good information, great support, and awesome prices was Solar panels. Discount solar power kits for homes, cabins, RVs. and used the forum at windsun.com for questions. Use the home/commercial solar sites over the marine related ones. I got 4 kyrocea 120's (5 years ago) for barley the price of a single identical panel the west marine had listed. Basically saved more than $3K.
__________________
Captain Bil formerly of sv Makai -- KI4TMM
The hunt for the next boat begins.
https://www.sv-makai.com
sv_makai is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-04-2009, 07:33   #3
Senior Cruiser
 
bstreep's Avatar

Cruisers Forum Supporter

Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: San Antonio, TX/Bocas del Toro, Panama
Boat: 1990 Macintosh 47, "Merlin"
Posts: 2,844
My understanding is that there are some BIG developments coming on solar - from a price, performance and durability perspective. If you can, you might want to hang on...
__________________
Bill Streep
San Antonio, TX (but cruising)
www.janandbill.com
bstreep is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-04-2009, 07:37   #4
Registered User

Join Date: Sep 2008
Posts: 30
This may be true -- I hope so for the sake of my solar stock (which desperately needs help), but the immediate advantage of new developments will likely be that the present technology will be a bit cheaper. The new stuff itself will be very expensive, even if suited to a marine environment.

But wouldn't it be wonderful if solar (and battery technology) were cheap enough and/or efficient enough to run a/c?
JimM is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-04-2009, 07:58   #5
Registered User
 
Reality Check's Avatar

Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: West Indies, Now live aboard as cruiser/ voyager often with guest/ friends
Boat: 36' Bene
Posts: 585
Send a message via ICQ to Reality Check
I had great experience with Solar Panels from Wholesale Solar Renewable Energy had panels and Outback controller shipped to a trans-ship company for delivery in the West Indies and everything arrived in ship shape on schedule with no problems and they were at the time the best overall price. You'll have to check on how they stand now but they are a very reputable company as I've also had other friends purchase from them with the same experiences. They are tops but it would have been easier if they had the connections to directly ship to the Carib but they don't seem to have an interest in getting into out of US shipping at this time... but they did say ... but they may soon if they get enough interest.
__________________
I prefer a sailboat to a motorboat, and it is my belief that boat sailing is a finer, more difficult, and sturdier art than running a motor.
--- Jack London
Reality Check is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-04-2009, 08:23   #6
Registered User
 
mickmul's Avatar

Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: Ireland
Boat: Van de Stadt 34'
Posts: 288
Images: 1
Just checking out solar myself - a friend has fitted a BP 50 Watt panel and regulator and paid over twice here in Ireland than I found it for on the net from the U.S. (Shippeing may erode much of that saving though) The U.S. company I came across is www.affordablesolar.com might be worth checking out. . .
__________________
[SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]
mickmul is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-04-2009, 08:26   #7
Registered User

Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Bellingham
Boat: Outbound 44
Posts: 9,319
Quote:
Originally Posted by Ram View Post
Anyone know of a good place to buy solar panels & why you think so?
Check the price for the Sunpower 90's here:
Solar Panels under $3 per watt, Worlds Lowest Price, Solar Panels at very low cost, SunElec.com

Paul L
Paul L is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-04-2009, 08:27   #8
Registered User

Join Date: Apr 2008
Posts: 122
I was referred to these guys by another member on this board. I bought 3 Kyoceras and a charge controller. Excellent price. Great service. Highly recommend.

High Power Solar Panels - Over 100 Watts
waterdog is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-04-2009, 08:56   #9
Registered User

Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: San Juan Island, WA.
Boat: Mariner 32 ketch- Independence
Posts: 78
I was searching solar panel costs on the web and they were all running around $4.15 to 4.80 per watt and then I came across DM Solar 200 watt panel at $3.20 per watt. That's $640 for the 200 watt panel.
Solar Panels, Grid Tie Systems and Photovoltaic Solar Cells
San Juan Sailor is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-04-2009, 10:10   #10
Registered User
 
cdennyb's Avatar

Join Date: Jun 2007
Location: Northern California
Boat: finally a catamaran dive boat...
Posts: 505
Send a message via MSN to cdennyb Send a message via Skype™ to cdennyb
Arizona solar is overpriced... compared to the florida location. Think about the cost of shipping as well. Phoenix or Miami? Hmmm. Check the prices on comparible outputs and SunElec is by far cheaper and they're closer to the Florida coastline, and they ship to the islands.
__________________
the perfect dive boat is one you're on...
cdennyb is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 12-08-2009, 22:11   #11
Registered User
 
Martinini's Avatar

Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: Where ever my boat is.
Boat: Allied Princess 36'
Posts: 323
Best place i have found for panels---http://sunelec.com/
Martinini is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 15-09-2009, 02:16   #12
Registered User

Join Date: Jun 2009
Location: Central/lower Earth
Boat: 1970 42' ChoeyLee
Posts: 28
svvalkyrie@aol.com
Nirvava is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 15-09-2009, 02:25   #13
Registered User

Join Date: Aug 2009
Location: CA
Boat: Cal 34
Posts: 127
This SPAM appears to be a blatant phishing attempt, don't reply to it.

the website is in chinese and has pictures of vegetables and the email is from hotmail and yahoo.

Considering that any reputable supplier will have a legitimate address, I would regard this as a likely sign of a scam.

Caveat Emptor.
HobieFan is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 15-09-2009, 05:02   #14
Registered User

Join Date: Jul 2009
Location: Part time C.L.O.D. in Velcro Beach, FL
Boat: Jeanneau SO 42.1
Posts: 63
Check out affordablesolar.com
I've used them several times. Bought my Kerocera 130's and Blue Sky MPPT controller from them. Very good prices and service. No affilliation.
sailing now is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 15-09-2009, 11:58   #15
Registered User
 
lorenzo b's Avatar

Join Date: May 2009
Location: Panama
Boat: Steel trawler 63' Eileen Farrell
Posts: 961
Down here in the oil patch, good used panels can be had second hand as the oil rigs change theirs out every two years even if they're still good. Supposedly there is a place in Lafayette La. If anyone's seriously interested, I can chase it down the address.
lorenzo b is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

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


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
For Sale: Solar Panels - FL dolcesails Classifieds Archive 4 02-10-2009 20:07
Solar Panels boto Electrical: Batteries, Generators & Solar 32 13-08-2009 05:41
Controller for solar panels dennisjay Electrical: Batteries, Generators & Solar 1 13-03-2008 21:09
Do You Need Solar Panels? StoutWench Electrical: Batteries, Generators & Solar 3 15-12-2005 20:33

Advertise Here


All times are GMT -7. The time now is 07:40.


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.