A sytsem basically still in the package

Someone is selling a system (minus the batteries) on an undisclosed site. Here is the list of items posted as items in a bundled sale:
Main System
10 120W 18V Semi-Flexible solar panels (8 sealed in boxes)
1 80A / 200V / 6KW Max MPPT programmable Charge Controller with remote control and display
1 24V to 110V 3.5kW Pure Sine Wave inverter with remote control and display
1 24V to 12V DC-DC step-down converter 480W
Monitoring and Cabling
1 DC Digital Battery Monitor with Volts, current and power display
1 AC Digital Power monitor with Volts, current and power display
1 DC Power distribution fuse panel
200 Feet 12 AWG copper outdoor solar wire (100' red, 100' black)
12 12 AWG fuse holders
1 MC4 Crimp tool
25 MC4 Female Connectors
25 MC4 Male Connectors
4 Male MC4 Branch connectors
4 Female MC4 Branch connectors
40 Feet 2 AWG large copper battery wire (20' red / 20' black)
10 2 AWG Terminal lugs
1 300A Fuse and holder
1 250A Circuit Breaker
1 300A Circuit Breaker

Even though this appears to be a private seller, I won't violate the rules of the forum by listing his/her URL. Other than the batteries, would someone opine as to whether this is a complete system? With two 100ah batteries hooked in series, this system appears to be able to provide enough power for possibly a medium-size RV. It may or may not be desirable for someone with a smalll cabin (Would a bigger battery bank be suggested?). The person is selling their RV and never got around to putting the system together for their trailer/vehicle. It's a bit overkill for my needs but it still sounded interesting and/or tempting.
This is my first post to this site so please let me know if I did anything inappropriate. I love this site too much to face possible exile.

Yes, it more or less appears complete, except for a few wiring choices. Depending on the voltage the panels are running at, 12gauge might be a little light? 2 gauge might be a little too heavy to connect the controller to the batteries, but somewhat light for connecting the batteries to the inverter. This could be corrected by a 30 minute visit to Home Depot.

For a system this size, I would not have gone with 12V panels, but because they were meant for a RV, space limitations might be the most important consideration. What's the asking price? This could be a very good deal, depending on what you have to spend.

MichaelK said:

Yes, it more or less appears complete, except for a few wiring choices. Depending on the voltage the panels are running at, 12gauge might be a little light? 2 gauge might be a little too heavy to connect the controller to the batteries, but somewhat light for connecting the batteries to the inverter. This could be corrected by a 30 minute visit to Home Depot.

For a system this size, I would not have gone with 12V panels, but because they were meant for a RV, space limitations might be the most important consideration. What's the asking price? This could be a very good deal, depending on what you have to spend.

Click to expand...

The asking price is $3,800. It’s on CL in Wisconsin’s beer city.

Since the largest demand is 145A, I am curious why the wire sizes and fuse sizes were chosen...

It looks pretty complete for a solar system, it might be missing a couple fuses or breakers. Of course the specifics of your installation and needs might drive out the need for a few more or different items. The only thing I see missing is a way to charge a 24V battery bank from shore power or alternator, but if that is not an option (off-grid cabin), or you're confident that the sun can keep up with your usage under all circumstances, that shouldn't be needed. Whether this is a decent deal or not probably depends on the quality of the components and how well they fit your particular needs. Unfortunately, buying used on CL, there is probably no transferable warranty on the panels or controller. The pictures show enough that you can figure out some of the brands and do some research. For the most part it looks to be basic stuff, not a bunch of Victron pieces
As a rule of thumb, this size of system might typically be paired with 400-600 Ah of Lithium batteries, or 600-900 Ah of Lead acid batteries. You wouldn't necessarily need that much battery, especially if all of your heaviest loads occurred during peak solar generation time, but the ad implies that you just hook this up to a couple 12V batteries and you all set, which is a bit oversimplified.

Seems overpriced to me, especially when the person didn't list the brand names of the devices. For a 1200 watt system, you could get:

(4) 300 watt solar panels from santansolar.com for $480 plus shipping cost (new panels, used ones are much cheaper from santan so that's an option as well)
(1) Victron 150/85 amp MPPT controller for $687 on Amazon, free shipping.
(1) Samlex 24 volt, 3000 watt inverter for $962 on Amazon, free shipping or
(1) Victron 24/3000 Victron Mulitplus inverter/charger for $1284 from Amazon, free shipping.

If you used the Samlex inverter, that cost is $2129, plus shipping cost on the panels.
If you used the Victron inverter/charger, that cost is $2451, plus cost of shipping panels.

Add in a few hundred for wires, connectors and fuses and if you went top of the line and bought a Victron BMV-712 battery monitor ($206), you still come out ahead and have a top of the line system.

If you're serious about purchasing this, I would ask for the brand names of those devices and search them online for reviews and actual price.

Victron is top tier equipment.

Charlie Bakken said:

The asking price is $3,800. It’s on CL in Wisconsin’s beer city.

Click to expand...

I found the ad on craigslist - I say way over-priced. Epever charge controller an off brand inverter and a $40 24-12 volt step down converter. You can piece together a top tier system for way less as I posted above and have all top tier equipment.

MichaelK said:

Yes, it more or less appears complete, except for a few wiring choices. Depending on the voltage the panels are running at, 12gauge might be a little light? 2 gauge might be a little too heavy to connect the controller to the batteries, but somewhat light for connecting the batteries to the inverter. This could be corrected by a 30 minute visit to Home Depot.

For a system this size, I would not have gone with 12V panels, but because they were meant for a RV, space limitations might be the most important consideration. What's the asking price? This could be a very good deal, depending on what you have to spend.

Click to expand...

Milwaukee CL listing, if that helps.

cwstnsko said:

It looks pretty complete for a solar system, it might be missing a couple fuses or breakers. Of course the specifics of your installation and needs might drive out the need for a few more or different items. The only thing I see missing is a way to charge a 24V battery bank from shore power or alternator, but if that is not an option (off-grid cabin), or you're confident that the sun can keep up with your usage under all circumstances, that shouldn't be needed. Whether this is a decent deal or not probably depends on the quality of the components and how well they fit your particular needs. Unfortunately, buying used on CL, there is probably no transferable warranty on the panels or controller. The pictures show enough that you can figure out some of the brands and do some research. For the most part it looks to be basic stuff, not a bunch of Victron pieces
As a rule of thumb, this size of system might typically be paired with 400-600 Ah of Lithium batteries, or 600-900 Ah of Lead acid batteries. You wouldn't necessarily need that much battery, especially if all of your heaviest loads occurred during peak solar generation time, but the ad implies that you just hook this up to a couple 12V batteries and you all set, which is a bit oversimplified.

Click to expand...

I knew something wasn't adding up. When I'm a newbie to something, I ask a lot of questions. Your answers were enlightening and extremely helpful. Unfortunately, to preserve my marriage, I have to sell all my other stuff before I dive head first into a hobby that would save on energy and save the planet at the same time.

If this system included a lithium-ion battery pack, I would say yes, worth it, but as it is, you could do a lot better with that kind of money (as has been highlighted).

And, btw, it's not against the forum rules to post links to products ... it's against the forum rules to post links that profit you e.g. affiliate links or shill postings etc. Such links would require a very deliberate act on your part so don't feel like you're one-step-sway from being exiled! This is a fun place to be, it's not a prison.

Well, I think it's a fun place to be ... other opinions are available.