new panels

[dnix71]

$235 for 100 watt including shipping from the Energy Mill in Gilbert Arizona. They were double boxed by the seller to protect them from the usual rough handling by UPS.
I bought 2.

I saw these originally on fleabay, but backed away when I saw a feedback that said the buyer had recieved a 40 cell instead of 48 like was pictured. I emailed the seller and then called and was told the output was the same but the maker was using higher quality mono chips to get the same output from 40 as 48. He said he needed to change the picture to match the new style. They were made by Guangyi Solar in China of course and have a CE mark, but I dont know how that would be accepted in the US for grid-tie. I'm off-grid so that doesn't matter.

4 x 10 is a different shape than 6 x 8. These are about 22" x 53" with MC4 connectors. The cells are grade A, no chips or blems and the soldering is first rate looking. Nice looking panels and a lot cheaper than Harbor Freight's stuff. These are real thin wafers so I imagine they will do well in less than blazing direct sun.

From the sticker on the back:
1000v maximum system voltage, Voc 24.8, Isc 5.4, Vmp 18.72, Imp 4.81   all values +/- 3% That's pretty close to the specs Sun Electronics in Miami has for their house brand of panel that size. Vmp times Imp is 90 watts. I don't know where they came up with the 100 watt rating.

[Rover]

Hi Dnix71, they look like 12v panels (slightly higher voltage than normal) based on what you are stating, you have a 12 v system or going to series them?

"Vmp times Imp is 90 watts. I don't know where they came up with the 100 watt rating."  good question  Voc x Isc is too high for 100W (which I sometimes see in the ratings of certain panels) . For me the  Imp seems a bit low for a 100W panel marketed at 12V (if it was)

You have an mppt controller? .. might all be moot

[dnix71]

Rover: I plan to get another MPPT. The BZ I have now is maxed out. Yes my setup is 12v. Harbor Freight panels were cheaper in their day but I really don't know how long they'll hold up. I'm very pleased that there are bargains to be had now without resorting to coupons or ebay or the hassle of dealing with Sun Elec's "advertised specials"

I like the guy I just dealt with. A phone call, give my CC number and in a week the panels arrive double boxed at work.

The hard part now is I need some kind of proper rack for these better panels. HF's metal rack is not very well made but it is a very nice extra from the users point of view.
These two panels take up the same space as 6 HF panels and put out twice the peak power. I'm a bit short of space now and may retire some HF panels if I need to.

[DanG]

"These two panels take up the same space as 6 HF panels and put out twice the peak power."

:::sigh::: That's music to my ears

[Rover]

Dnix71,

I have a set of HF panels on my shed roof that I no longer have connected to the battery bank , age 6 years.

Through a blocking diode, the output is not even enough to trickle charge, I will be replacing those with some poly crystallines in the near  future that match my others

[dnix71]

Rover, use a schottky diode if you must. You can series HF panels two at a time for better voltage if you need to.

[Rover]

Grin I may repurpose the HF panels... but the fact is mine have gone to doo-doo. These were my first foray into the solar world , as a few amongst us have done, and yes they are solar panels and do produce, I for one cannot quote their longevity claims. I have since moved on to other panels with greater, more consistent with the panel label , output .  I've actually become fond of qcell based panels ... and for the price ~ 2.50 $ / Watt , behave as expected.

This is all subjective, and when going into a batery bank, it is very hard to determine the true quality of a solar panel as the bank and its state of charge rule the day.