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100w solar panel from Costco
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targis58
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PostPosted: Fri Dec 16, 2011 12:39 pm    Post subject: 100w solar panel from Costco Reply with quote

What do u think?

http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=1...v=&s=1
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gl98115
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PostPosted: Fri Dec 16, 2011 2:01 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Try this url instead:

http://www.costco.com/Browse/Product.aspx?Prodid=11662384
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PostPosted: Fri Dec 16, 2011 2:07 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

That's a killer deal and the panel is smaller than I've seen for 100 watts. I wouldn't hesitate to buy it.
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PostPosted: Fri Dec 16, 2011 5:34 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Grape PV panels are low-end generic Chinese panels that are distributed from Eugene Oregon.

Where as that is a killer deal for 100W, you should buy with caution!
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PostPosted: Wed Dec 21, 2011 10:40 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

What is the most common size and wattage everyone seems to use? I think i have heard the name kyocera a few times. I wonder if it would ever be worth for me as i carry a roof top box on one side and surfboards on the other. No real place to put it unless i make some slide out tracks going perpendicular to the van on the roof.
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PostPosted: Wed Dec 21, 2011 1:00 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

What is the voltage?? You'll probably also need converter to step it down to 12 volts.

It's easy to say 100 watts, but at what voltage?

... just a heads up.
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PostPosted: Wed Dec 21, 2011 11:39 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Wattages depend on what your looking for the panel to do; most people tend to go with at least 150w to be effective.
As for the voltage; most any panel you get will be 12v. Other voltages are available but 12 is by far the most common for a cell.

Most people also find they prefer to have the panel on a portable rack so they don't have to park the van in the sun and allows for some solar tracking. Also deters theft.
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PostPosted: Thu Dec 22, 2011 9:58 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

windnsea wrote:
What is the voltage?? You'll probably also need converter to step it down to 12 volts.

It's easy to say 100 watts, but at what voltage?

... just a heads up.


Watts don't vary based on voltage, amperes do. 100 watts is 100 watts regardless of the voltage.

Watts is power calculated by the formula: Watts = volts * amps
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PostPosted: Thu Dec 22, 2011 10:13 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

windnsea wrote:
What is the voltage?? You'll probably also need converter to step it down to 12 volts.

It's easy to say 100 watts, but at what voltage?

... just a heads up.


That's what a charge controller does, which isn't included with the Costco panel. A charge controller will be needed no matter what, but can come from quite a few other sources.

For the curious, here's the spec sheet:

http://www.costco.com/images/content/misc/pdf/589846.pdf

The panel is rated at 18Vmpp.

Robyn
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PostPosted: Thu Dec 22, 2011 3:51 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Look at Voc - 21VDC. Not much headroom for an MPPT controller to work with (basically a DC-DC converter that "fools" the panel into working at maximum output possible for the illumination and temperature conditions). The specs fail to mention the cell crystal type (probably not monocrystaline, probably polycrystaline, hopefully not amorphous - goes to potential efficiency) and how many diodes are used, to say nothing about how the cells are wired, to keep shadows from shutting the panel down. Frankly, a 100 watt panel isn't going to do a lot for you unless it's facing the sun squarely all day long. And even then, an MPPT controller is a must to get the most out of the panel.

IMHO, save your money for a real panel. And still be prepared for poor output unless you, literally, stay out of the shadows.
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PostPosted: Thu Dec 22, 2011 5:32 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

From the product description, in large type on the first link:

$249.99 after $30 OFF
Grape Solar High-Efficiency
100 Watt Off-Grid Monocrystalline PV Solar Panel

And it's on the upper right of the spec sheet, also in large type.

Wink

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PostPosted: Thu Dec 22, 2011 8:37 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Maybe a 100w panel is small for me...

If I get a fixed solar panel setup on my roof, I would like to be able to

1. use a 700w electric pot to boil water AND keep the water hot

2. use a laptop and a fold down dvd palyer at the same time

3. but still not under DIRECT sunlight Laughing

4. EDiT: hehe. Forgot about edge star 43qt freezer

Am I asking for too much?

P.S. I would prefer NOT to use the detachable kind panel...too lazy... Laughing
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PostPosted: Thu Dec 22, 2011 9:14 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

A lot of folks here poo-poo anything that doesn't run everything always, my intent is to have a compressor fridge and start with the batteries, I've a pair of surplus telco batteries I got off craigslist that should be good for 120ah, we'll see how that works. We don't tend to stay in one place more than 3-4 days without driving, usually less. If I get a panel that only supplies half my need it doubles my time, no? A smaller panel is more convenient and if I've run out of power for the fridge after 4-5 days I'm probably out of food too and am going to have to drive to the store to fill the fridge, maybe I'll do some battery charging while I'm at it! If the store is within walking distance I'm probably plugged into 110 anyway.
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PostPosted: Fri Dec 23, 2011 8:32 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

squeegee_boy wrote:
From the product description, in large type on the first link:

$249.99 after $30 OFF
Grape Solar High-Efficiency
100 Watt Off-Grid Monocrystalline PV Solar Panel

And it's on the upper right of the spec sheet, also in large type.

Wink

Robyn


Sigh... I jumped right for the spec sheet stuff as most headlines are just that. Thanks for catching that point. Embarassed

FWIW, monocrystaline cells are more efficient electrically, but are more expensive (each cell is made from a single silicon crystal - getting a good crystal out of a production batch has inherent costs from waste and rejections) per watt. Ya pays yer money, ya takes yer choice.

On the matter of a 700w load from a 100w panel... not quite. And the laptop and DVD at the same time? Maybe, maybe not (large screen backlighting and DVD drive motors eat power as do hard drives - think about an SSD to avoid that issue). At best, your panel is likely to only slow down the rate at which the house battery loses its charge.

Understand that 100w rating assumes the sun is directly over the panel (i.e., sun's rays are perpendicular to the panel). And that only on a cloudless day. Anything less than that, and the panel hasn't a hope of developing its full rated output.
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PostPosted: Fri Dec 23, 2011 9:16 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Can you say "doublespeak"?

From Grape Solar's website:

Quote:
WARRANTY

Because Grape Solar products are manufactured by over thirty different factories around the world we have established a blanket warranty that is backed by the original equipment manufacturer’s warrantees. If Grape Solar disappeared tomorrow, your panels would still be covered by a warranty.


Translation.. GrapeSolar is a reseller. We do not manufacture anything and we will push anything we can get our hands on as long as WE can turn a profit.

"30 different factories"?
Translation..
We have no QA/QC beyond a spec sheet and balance sheet.

Buyer Beware.
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PostPosted: Fri Dec 23, 2011 2:12 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I suspect that's closer to "any of thirty different sources had their hand in the panels we supply - some come from supplier #1, some from #2, ... some from #nn". NTL, that's a strong reason to walk away from this panel. If the supplier said "Kyocera", or "Sanyo", or "Siemens", or... that's one thing. But "pick the source from thirty possible names?" Pass.

Unfortunately, the solar world is full of these sorts of "deals". Some come from sharks, some from the clueless; either way, the consumer gets to pay the freight. Sad
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PostPosted: Sat Dec 24, 2011 4:20 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

RBE you're way off base here. 100 watts is plenty to keep an aux battery system charged in a van. Solar panels aren't meant to power anything directly. You can run a 700 watt kettle and anything else you want. Also I don't think you can put down the quality of this product without seeing it. You definitely would want to use a higher voltage panel in a large array for a commercial installation to keep voltage loss down, but when engineering a small 12 volt system without inverters, this is an excellent choice for both quality, size, and power. You don't need anything more for the amount it will be used or for what it is powering. Don't be such a snob. The days of the $1200 solar panel are gone now that mass production has increased all over the world. Get started with something like this and you'll be a very happy camper.
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PostPosted: Sat Dec 24, 2011 6:57 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

PDXWesty wrote:
RBE you're way off base here. 100 watts is plenty to keep an aux battery system charged in a van. Solar panels aren't meant to power anything directly. You can run a 700 watt kettle and anything else you want. Also I don't think you can put down the quality of this product without seeing it. .



also think about our alternator, what's that 90 amp if you are lucky
i relies that the amps from the alternator will be more than from the solar cell
shame we can't afford one Sad, our aux battery goes flat daily
from just the cooler box
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PostPosted: Sun Dec 25, 2011 9:56 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Where do you find proper brackets to mount this on Thule bar?
I am thinking of mounting a panel under the bars, but not on the roof, so I still have room to carry something if need to... Bad idea?
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PostPosted: Sun Dec 25, 2011 10:20 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

PDXWesty wrote:
RBE you're way off base here. 100 watts is plenty to keep an aux battery system charged in a van. Solar panels aren't meant to power anything directly. You can run a 700 watt kettle and anything else you want. Also I don't think you can put down the quality of this product without seeing it. You definitely would want to use a higher voltage panel in a large array for a commercial installation to keep voltage loss down, but when engineering a small 12 volt system without inverters, this is an excellent choice for both quality, size, and power. You don't need anything more for the amount it will be used or for what it is powering. Don't be such a snob. The days of the $1200 solar panel are gone now that mass production has increased all over the world. Get started with something like this and you'll be a very happy camper.


I stand by my comments. I get that uses in a land vehicle are different than land "off the grid" uses or marine uses. NTL, the basics still obtain. A 100w panel sitting on top of a Westy simply cannot do much more than slow down the discharge rate for a battery that fits under the driver's seat in a Westy. This has nothing to do with the panel in question being Costco special (my personal opinion is there are far more cost effective sources). It goes back to the rules of electricity and the physics of photocells. Argue with them if you must (don't hold your breath waiting for a change, though).
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