Hi all, wanted to provide an update on this. Long-story short, FedEx is cutting me a cheque for the my declared value plus the cost of shipping. Success in that regard, good on FedEx to pulling through without any issues.
I've been looking for the same panels at stores, but they can't be found anymore, however, I did search the used-markek and have had success. Found a 1 year old, lightly used panel of the exact same mode and specs. So far, I've been able to purchase this one panel and install it on my shed as shown here:
Right now, I have 3, 100W NOMA panels of exact same specs, with 2 orientations: two panels are facing east (shown in photo) and one facing west (not shown, on the other roof), all have these specs:
Vmp = 18V
Imp = 5.5A
Voc = 21.85V
Short Circuit = 6.03A
I found a 4th one, and I will be picking it up on Oct 1. It is the exact same panel with the same specs!
My original plan was to install the 4th panel on the west facing roof, but, my neighbors trees are an issue. So now, I plan on installing the 4th panel beside the two I already have, on the east roof, as shown here:
I think it makes sense to install the 4th panel on this roof because the important morning suns comes here first, so I'll install here.
This is how my current set up of 3 x 100 watt panels works; at the the moment, its 3P because its just easier for me to do that (I don't have connectors for series, yet).
But, with the 3P set up, in the morning when the sun comes up, my home is blocking the sun until about 9:30 am, before the sun hits any of the panels, the amps going into the battery slowly increase from 0 to about 0.9 amps (basically, this is "shade sun"). The sun slowly approaches from the LEFT and moves to the RIGHT. Once the sun starts to hit Panel 1, the amps going into battery increase to about 1.5, then, as soon as the first panel is completely in the sun, the amps increase to about 4.5 amps! Even the slightest shade on the panel, and it doesn't produce all the power, but the moment the shade is gone, its just jumps to 4.5 amps. As the sun approaches panel 2, the amps increase accordingly, and as the sun completely hits the panel #2, the amps increase to 9.5 amps! I suspect with a 3rd panel on that same roof, it will do the same, and increase to about 14 amps in when the sun is fully on the 3 panels.
With this September sun, it takes maybe about 30 minutes for the sun to completely clear my home, and hit panels. In the really poor sunny months (winter), December and January, I suspect that will be a lot worse.
There is clearly a shading issue with my home blocking the sun even on my best roof.
So, a second option could be is to series these three panels, 3S and parallel the other panel in the back to make the 3S1P. But, with the shading issues of my home, will it have to clear my home first, before I get all the power (1/3 the amps)?
All the amps reported above, are battery amps (according the BMS), not PV amps.