diy solar

diy solar

“Review” of Signature Solar 208w poly (used) - pallet of 20 @ $640

Thorium

New Member
Joined
Apr 8, 2021
Messages
69
Picked up a pallet (20 panels) of these used panels Signature Solar just got in.


I tested two of the panels at random
got 175w and 180w,
which was A-ok by me.

test context:
- used a “WS400A” auto mppt solar panel tester
(https://www.aliexpress.com/snapshot...d=8134822824065474&productId=1005002413187038)
- tested in Plano TX, 8/27/21, approx 2:30 pm (solar noon/peak sun approx 1:30pm)
- around 20 degree tilt angle, facing ~10-30 degrees off perfect south
- full sun
- 90 F, panels were out in sun for 1-2 hours before test so all heated up already

other details:
- $640 Or $32 per panel.
- $800 out the door for me ($40 per panel). Im in Dallas area, 1.5 hours drive to signature solar, so I a rented a truck ($100 with gas) and sales tax was $60.
- came filthy dirty (to be expected)
- previously purchased a dozen santan solar used “series T” 250w used panels. Ive got 210w (85%) max from them, but to be fair: this is with them at same test conditions above, except lying flat (0 degree tilt angle) — so call it even between these two sets of panels. I believe in both should be able to get up to 90% of rates output in ideal conditions (your mileage may vary)
- I bought these because I wanted to expand the santan solar 250w array, and these are a close voltage Match: 250w= (37.6 VOC, 30.3 VMP) vs 208w (36.3 VOC, 28.71 VMP). Strings of 3 250w + strings of 3 208w paralleled into my 150v charge controller should work seamlessly.
- they’re also cpcery close in size and weight to the santan 250w panels which again was ideal for me
- come with MC3 connectors, I cut off and replaced with staubli mc4
- claimed 7 years old and maybe that’s true, but I’d just be conservative & assume they’re older than that when making purchase decision — when did MC3 get phased out? But back to value - $35 a panel before 26% tax credit… and they’re performing
- not affiliated with santan or signature solar in any way, just happen to be a dude building an off grid system in Dallas area, wanted more panels than the dozen 250w santan used panels i initially got, and with signature solar a 1.5 hour drive (save freight shipping) realized how cheap I could make it happen. thought I’d post my test results since these panels just got on signature solars website in the past couple weeks.
 

Attachments

  • 38598165-0F9D-48D0-AC7A-CBD17FC353C0.jpeg
    38598165-0F9D-48D0-AC7A-CBD17FC353C0.jpeg
    158.7 KB · Views: 11
  • 5EA5651E-D17D-40A7-9125-13C4E233C8F6.jpeg
    5EA5651E-D17D-40A7-9125-13C4E233C8F6.jpeg
    139.2 KB · Views: 10
Nicely done!

here i was thinking I got a good deal with my $100 355w panels from craigslist.

Ps i am also in dfw area, and still building up. lmk if you ever need to get rid of extra panels
 
Nicely done!

here i was thinking I got a good deal with my $100 355w panels from craigslist.

Ps i am also in dfw area, and still building up. lmk if you ever need to get rid of extra panels

Yeah my 355W I was getting for $100 in south dallas suddenly all sold out last month and they say they are never getting any more in ... i mean thats like 4000 gone in 2 months ... now all they do are the 260's for $65 ....
 
Crap, I thought the 355s would last forever. I was going to get more.

They seem to have 315w available for $90. https://texoma.craigslist.org/fod/d/dallas-315w-canadian-cs6x-315p-solar/7378139544.html

Decent deal?

I think that they ALL come out to about 0.29 cents a watt .... looks like they only have 35 of the Canadian 315W left .. it is a POLY while the 355W are MONO (so that a slight DECREASE in efficiency thee) AND the 315's came out 7 years ago so not sure how old the cells are -- i would have to se the sticker on the back better ...
 
Back
Top