Harbor freight.
- Thread starter dkeny55
- Start date
Rider
Solar Addict
Your money would be better invested elsewhere. They don't produce the advertised ratings, the charger has a high rate of failure, ...
Unless you just want a cheap expendable system to play and don't care if you burn it up.
Unless you just want a cheap expendable system to play and don't care if you burn it up.
What he said ^^^^^
Tom
Food truck w solar
I’ve bought two sets and have used them for a few years with good luck. I run a small fountain w one panel and use the others in my gun club camper. Work good and I will buy again when doing a small solar project.
MrNatural22
?SW sunshine =⚡️⚡️lit up thru the darkness✌️
For the same expense you could build a much better 100w 1 panel system. Panel, Charge controller, wiring etc.
efficientPV
Solar Addict
- Joined
- Sep 24, 2019
- Messages
- 1,376
For $130 you can get a grid tie panel over 250W. Everyone starting out in solar makes the same mistakes. Education costs. You never find out what you really want til after you have spent money. That type of panel traditionally does not have a good lifetime. It is a package anyone can put together. It just won't be very useful.
Rider
Solar Addict
I wouldn't say it's not useful. If someone wants to learn, overstress, take apart.... the HF package is good for that because it's so cheap. If someone wants to build a real working system, then it's not the best value.
eddie1261
Solar Enthusiast
Harbor Freight has their place. For someone like me, who does something once and then is done with it (whatever "it" might have been) Harbor Freight tools are fine. I built a roof structure on top of an existing deck in 2006. I bought an air driven palm nailer from Harbor Freight. It worked well enough to drive those hundreds of nails. When I was done with that job, I was done with that tool and have not used it again since, and in fact recently gave it away. I never was in the "convert deck to roofed, screened patio" business. So the difference between one from Harbor Freight for 49 bucks vs a great one for 200 bucks was the reason I went to Harbor Freight. For a professional who relies on is tools to make a living, it's a different set of circumstances. Things like a tool box to bolt to the front rack of my trailer.... what's the difference? I will bolt it there once and it will be there forever. I mainly like the free flashlights. LOL!
MrNatural22
?SW sunshine =⚡️⚡️lit up thru the darkness✌️
HF does have some things that are a good buy, and some that are......just plain junk. ie: I bought a $9 drill master 4” grinder I use for minor welding work 2 years ago, it outlasted my makita ?
I also have the original 45 watt solar kit I bought years ago to learn. Was weak at best but introduced me into this addicting solar adventure. The 3 15 watt panels now sit in the corner gathering dust ( ok I use 1 on the roof of a toy hauler to power two computer fans inside the outer fridge compartment for extra air circulation no cc needed, during the day at night its off) and the basic CC I use for an extra power connection for 12v accessories. The cheap 12v bulbs went south in the first month.
Back then the kit sold for $149 and it was a lesson in solar power.
I also have the original 45 watt solar kit I bought years ago to learn. Was weak at best but introduced me into this addicting solar adventure. The 3 15 watt panels now sit in the corner gathering dust ( ok I use 1 on the roof of a toy hauler to power two computer fans inside the outer fridge compartment for extra air circulation no cc needed, during the day at night its off) and the basic CC I use for an extra power connection for 12v accessories. The cheap 12v bulbs went south in the first month.
Back then the kit sold for $149 and it was a lesson in solar power.
Rider
Solar Addict
Yup!! I put in fresh cheapo batteries from HF and give one to everyone when camping.
MrNatural22
?SW sunshine =⚡️⚡️lit up thru the darkness✌️
LOL yep I’ve got a drawer full of those freebie led lights. For free they work well. Always keep them in my work truck and when the sticky handed poltergeists make off with them I just grab another from my stash.
It might be worth getting just for that capability! Mount one on a south facing wall to extend its life and stash the rest just in case of a emp or theft or other problems...
Somehow convert it directly to 5v usb and use that for battery banks, led lights during the day, and phone & aa battery charging.
azdave85650
Livin Large in solar land
They used to give away tarps and microfiber towels I would stock up on... I havent seen them as freebies for a while. I would skip the solar isle tho.
Yes, the panels can function. Heck there are guys that have piled them together in droves, and use them to power dozens of batteries, and are happy with them... are they in ANY way a good buy? HECK NO. They are available all over the states, you can get them in a day, and don’t have to wait for them to be shipped.
For a true 200 watt system, get a pair of 100 watt panels and a decent pwm controller.
If you want more watts, 46v panels in the 300 or more watt range can be had in the 100.00 range... put in a good mppt controller, and get REAL 300 plus watts.
No way I’d waste money any more on HF kits.
It’s akin to lead acid batteries. They are available, and they work short term... add up the money, and the output, and it is a silly purchase.
For a true 200 watt system, get a pair of 100 watt panels and a decent pwm controller.
If you want more watts, 46v panels in the 300 or more watt range can be had in the 100.00 range... put in a good mppt controller, and get REAL 300 plus watts.
No way I’d waste money any more on HF kits.
It’s akin to lead acid batteries. They are available, and they work short term... add up the money, and the output, and it is a silly purchase.
MrNatural22
?SW sunshine =⚡️⚡️lit up thru the darkness✌️
Probably enough to charge a phone.....Maybe?
Hedges
I See Electromagnetic Fields!
- Joined
- Mar 28, 2020
- Messages
- 21,044
Hey! I resemble that remark!
