Dipping a toe in the water -- low volume purchase of panels?

[grid-just-say-no]

I recently bought 3 x Anker Solix C1000 for our home theater (and other essentials) to thwart the local grid rolling outages.

At that time, I assured myself I would recharge from the grid as a UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) and I would not do the following, but, I just bought a 100W panel.

Currently it's laying flat on the ground and I just plugged it into the C1000, (C1000 mains unplugged last night) at 9:00am, it showed 82% and 52W. Just 2-hours later, 91% and 76w. Dang it well and truly bitten by the "free" recharge bug!!

But, I want to run this as if it was our full house system to see what gray days do. I want to buy a couple more panels but searching for good prices is not so easy when vendors mentioned here seem to want to sell full pallets etc. I got the current panel from A (of course) a little over 50-bucks shipped.

Should I just buy same again from A, or is there somewhere else I can buy a low number of panels at this kind or better of price?
I don't much care about quality/longevity as this is a trial system that I will run for a few months, The "primo-quality" of panels is not so much an issue until I am buying a pallet or 2.

C1000 at almost 3-hours, 93% and 86W -- wooohoo

Thanks

 

[Mike from Houston]

I recently bought 3 x Anker Solix C1000 for our home theater (and other essentials) to thwart the local grid rolling outages.

At that time, I assured myself I would recharge from the grid as a UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) and I would not do the following, but, I just bought a 100W panel.

Currently it's laying flat on the ground and I just plugged it into the C1000, (C1000 mains unplugged last night) at 9:00am, it showed 82% and 52W. Just 2-hours later, 91% and 76w. Dang it well and truly bitten by the "free" recharge bug!!

But, I want to run this as if it was our full house system to see what gray days do. I want to buy a couple more panels but searching for good prices is not so easy when vendors mentioned here seem to want to sell full pallets etc. I got the current panel from A (of course) a little over 50-bucks shipped.

Should I just buy same again from A, or is there somewhere else I can buy a low number of panels at this kind or better of price?
I don't much care about quality/longevity as this is a trial system that I will run for a few months, The "primo-quality" of panels is not so much an issue until I am buying a pallet or 2.

C1000 at almost 3-hours, 93% and 86W -- wooohoo

Thanks

I've got (4) 370 watt panels. Under $100 each. I live in Houston and looked on craiglist. Guy had bought pallets full and would sell individually. 2 hours of driving, I had the panels at my house. 2 in parallel to the ecoflow delta 2. Next system design partially purchased and designed... Best of luck.

 

[teal95]

Add Europe or France to your title and you'll probably get better responses.

In the US I'd be looking at Facebook marketplace or Craigslist. We also have a retail chain in the US called Greentech that's a retail/contractor supplier that most stores will sell to walk in customers.

 

[SplitUniverse]

Shipping is a KILLER for the panels, especially is buying in less than a pallet.

 

[Mike from Houston]

Add Europe or France to your title and you'll probably get better responses.

In the US I'd be looking at Facebook marketplace or Craigslist. We also have a retail chain in the US called Greentech that's a retail/contractor supplier that most stores will sell to walk in customers.

Yeah, didn't notice "Paris" when I gave my response.

Was not aware of Greentech. They have a location west of Houston. Bookmarked them. Website isn't the most friendly, but still a possible resource. Thanks.

 

[Madcodger]

Was not aware of Greentech. They have a location west of Houston. Bookmarked them. Website isn't the most friendly, but still a possible resource. Thanks.

Here in Maine, the local Greentech folks check you out before they agree to sell to a consumer, but once you're "in", they're great to work with. You fill out a form on their site and they call you up to have a short conversation. If you know what you're talking about you get an account. If not, I guess they advise you to find a professional (thankfully, I "passed the test"). Not a bad idea, frankly. I still buy most equipment from Current Connected because of @HighTechLab (active on the forum and good customer support) but panels cost so much to ship I use Greentech for those (free delivery). Makes for a very solid supply chain. If not for Dexter at CC I'd buy even more from Greentech.

 

[grid-just-say-no]

Guy had bought pallets full and would sell individually.

Thanks, had not thought of Craig's. We ARE in the US but this forum always gives me a fake location. Last time I posted it was somewhere in the Caribbean -- I think.

For this test I think I will just order from A again. I'll watch Craig's for a while first though. Thanks for the tip.

As for the rest of the responders, thanks, but I keep getting booted off here if I try to post within 30-minute (might be 15-mins or so) brackets. I don't bother trying for more than one reply-post now.