I bought 7 240w panels from this guy in January. Drove 200 miles to Vegas to get them. He buys surplus panels from large solar panel projects. These panels are $.40 a watt! Cheapest I've seen.
300 watt solar panels for sale new! (http://lasvegas.craigslist.org/for/6046758913.html)
see ya
ken
As always a day late just not a dollar short this time. We were in Vegas for the NASCAR race the weekend of the 13Th. Would have been nice to get them. We were even in the Navigator would have hauled them fine.
Great deal Ken! This is cheaper than ours was. Our controller also dropped $100 since we bought it so the cost of the total system is getting cheaper and cheaper. Craigslist is the place for batteries too. We paid under ten cents on the dollar for our six high end solar AGMs. The total of $1400 I posted several weeks ago for our complete system is even cheaper in 2017 as you have found by doing your Craigslist homework.
I have to laugh at the "generator vs the $8000 solar system" posts. Just have some confidence in yourself, constantly check Craigslist and anyone with a little DIY ability can have 1200 watts, a premium controller and solar AGMs for $1200 or so including batteries. And do a better job than any professional company.
Pierce
I checked with the seller. I asked if he could ship six panels to MInnesota. He said it was too small an order to do that. Even if I bought a pallet (20) he wouldn't ship them. Anyone going to Las Vegas?
We came thru Vegas as well just before Nascar, would have bought a bunch for the roof of house, but ah well it will happen again as usual.
JohnH
I live here.. Let me know if I can help I can pick up if needed.
He does take paypal.. per his email
Roger
I might - but they will end up in Seattle - not Chicago...
Im considering a road trip in my car to go get a pallet. This is among the lowest prices ive seen in awhile. Another good place to look is jaysenergy (http://jaysenergy.wixsite.com/jaysenergy) but his quantites are usually much higher.
I just found a similar price on 280 watt panels in Tulsa. Here is the link. New soar panels (https://tulsa.craigslist.org/for/6052676503.html)
The price is about 42 cents per watt. He will ship single pallets.
If I pick up a pallet in Las Vegas and drive them to Seattle - anyone interested in some panels along that route - I only want 4 - a pallet is 20 pieces, about 1,250 pounds.
- looks to be about $50 a panel for costs of transport - $25 a panel if I buy two pallets (thinking of flying to Vegas from Seattle and renting a one way truck that would hold 1-2 pallets.)
else I could drive each to NAC for some coach buck love and pick up 3-4 panels along the way for my needs
any interest along route LAS Vegas to SEA?
Just have to be persistent like Kent. You saw how many pallets of panels there are available in Las Vegas. It was just like that for me when I kept pouring through Craigslist ads. Only this was for a truckload of two month old AGM batteries. It gave the date and time the truck would arrive in Sacramento and sure enough, it arrived on time with hundreds of batteries. They listed for about $450 each and they were selling them for $35 each. People were crowding around but there were plenty for everyone.
The same for our solar panels. A company had just installed 80,000 of these panels in the Mojave and had some "left over." 285 watt for $160 new. People were stacking them on the top of their trucks and bringing trailers. I put 4 on top of the RAV and headed home. He must have finished another project as I saw another Craigslist ad several months later with the price down to $150. If you live close to a big city, check their CL ads before heading across the country. Solar is BIG business everywhere.
Shipping: Check Craigslist for tiny private companies that have diesel PUs and pull cargo trailers. My son-in-law bought a kayak in San Diego and using one of these services, shipped it to our street for about $60 or half as much as a commercial company. Check ads for deadheading trucks heading home empty. I shipped a big player piano from Pennsylvania to Los Angeles for $100 this way.
Craigslist found our U300 in Love Valley, North Carolina. Fun place to go if in the neighborhood.
So, check your roof to see how many panels will fit and how big they can be and then use Craigslist each day. Unfortunately, Craigslist shut down most all of the site scrapers (e.g. All of Craigslist) so you may have to be more inventive in your searches. Gather all your components and then start researching. Several members here have done a LOT of the homework so ASK.
Naturally, if you're still working and have the budget, you may choose to have a solar company do it for you, but for the retirees on a budget, here's your chance to have a great system for pennies on the dollar.
Tim, start dialing freight forwarders and trucking companies for deadheading trucks and Craigslist for the little guys for sticking them in a cargo trailer. When I had my business in Germany, the freight forwarders charged about $2800 to air freight a car. I didn't take no for an answer and when pressed, they said they pay for X cubic meters for each flight and if not filled, it goes to waste and they lose money. So, they gave me an $800 price but with a three hour notice to get the car to the airport.
Pierce
Pierce.
If I already have a couple of solar panels up top, could more just be added. Or is it like most other things, adding leads to mods of other components. I would like to add 2 to 4 more panels but if I should also upgrade other components, I'll probably wait to do all at once. Prices may just keep dropping anyway ?
We will be going thru Vegas in 2 weeks on the way to PNW.
You will probably need a new controller to handle the increased wattage. Along with that comes the need for larger wire from the controller to the batteries among other things. Yes, prices are continuing to come down. Our controller dropped from $600 several years ago to $500 today. You can see how much the prices have come down on the panels. Checking your roof for adaptability is another factor. While panels used to be 12V, the higher wattage panels available today are 24, 36 or 48 volts. This requires a controller that is able to handle the higher voltages. Ours will handle up to 150 volts input and then output the correct voltage to the batteries. The higher voltage means you may be able to wire in series or a parallel/series configuration so you can minimize the number of wires leading down to the controller and at the same time, reducing the voltage loss through the wires. Lots of considerations here.
Another possibility would be to utilize your existing system while installing a second system. While having certain advantages, it would add complexity to the solar setup.
Please go to my post of a couple months ago giving the source and pricing for all the components we used. Let me know if you can't find the old post. PM with questions.
Pierce
The utility scale panels being sold in this listing will not be compatible with this solar charge controller. You will have to upgrade to use them and you may have problems integrating your existing panels to work with the new ones since they will both be outputting different voltages.
From the ad, these are 36 volt panels (http://www.renesola.com/file/Global/product/pdf/Virtus%20II%20300-310(4035)%20En%201405%20TUV%203BB.pdf) and I'm pretty sure your existing panels are 18 volt based on your solar controller. If they are 18 volt panels, you could wire two of them in series to get them up to the same voltage as one of these new panels though if you currently have an odd number of panels, you won't be able to use one of them.
A member just passed this ad on to me. These are the exact size we used but are quite large so you will have to check your roof layout. Probably 36 volts but don't see a spec sheet. They are commercial panels so will take the tree limb punishment we give ours. We did have to remove the rear radio antenna from our U300 (102" wide) but that was about all. This sized panel should have three panel to roof mounts down each side. You could mix in three smaller 12v panels wired in series to get the matching 36 volts.
As you can see from this ad, good deals are available all over the U.S. and $140 asking for 315 watts is a GOOD deal. 315W Solar Electric Panels (https://sarasota.craigslist.org/mat/6032032737.html)
Pierce
Just a note to any Canadian,s thinking of buying solar panels.
Currently solar panels over 100 watts, made in China and imported into Canada will have anti-dumping duty of 154.4%.
Some brands are exempt and some have lesser anti-dumping duty but the vast majority will be at the above rate.
Even if you have them install on your unit and drive home with them and they find out or you tell them.
Canadian's be careful of what you buy and bring home.
All solar panels 100 watts and lower are duty free into Canada.
Steve
Summit Customs Brokers
In reply #11 Bob asked if he could add the Renesola JC300M panels to the panels he already has.
I agree with rsihnhold's replay in #13 that they would not work with the controller in Bob's picture, however, I believe the panels that Bob has are probably VOC 21v (Volts Open Circuit), not 18 volts. The 18 volt panels were sold as NOT needing a controller because they could be connected directly to the batteries.
Renesola JC300M panels are Volts Maximum Powerpoint (Vmp) 36.6 volts and VOC 44.8 volts while Bob's panels are probably VMP 17.5 volts and VOC 21 volts. So Bob could buy a higher voltage controller and pair his current panels to obtain VOC 42 volts and combine them with the Renesola JC300M panels. This would not be ideal because of the slightly mismatched Vmp and I would not do it.
The other item mentioned here is that there are controllers available which can control up to 150 VOC from panels which allows smaller wiring from the roof. I would caution you about two items: 1. If you ever touch the bare wires carrying 150 volts DC from the roof, you are in for the shock of your life, and 2. A solar contoller operating with supply voltage of 150 volts is much less efficient than that same controller operating at 75 volts (at 150 volts, the controller will get quite hot). My panels are VOC 37.4v and VMP 29.9v. I have them in pairs so controller sees VOC 75volts and VMP 60volts.
Wyatt has an excellent point about the hazards of 150V. I did a parallel/series installation and have about 72 volts coming off the roof into the controller. I did this for a couple of reasons. I brought the P.V. wires down into the small compartment next to the fridge so had to work in a very confined space. I managed to shock myself several times (yes, I could have worked at night) and want to let you know that 72 volts is no fun when you are trying to let go of the wire.
Solar panels rate their output at about 75 degrees F. Any more than that and they start to lose efficiency. On a hot day, they may lose ten percent of their output. On the other hand, on a freezing day, the panels are more efficient and the voltage goes up. With our 36 volt panels, wiring in series would deliver 144 volts to the controller at 75 degrees but in cold weather, the voltage could rise above the controller's 150V rating potentially causing damage. I called the manufacturer and followed their recommendation so the above voltage info is from them.
Raising the panels at least an inch off the roof keeps the panel cooler making it more efficient and also keeps the roof cooler so lower temps in the coach.
Pierce
Hey pierce, couldn't you have covered the panels with a blanket rather than trying to weld yourself to the coach?
I can see that your are NOT an ADHD poster child. I was thinking about a tarp, oh look, there's a chicken across the road.
I'm not kidding.
Pierce
Anyone Need any of these? Tried to order 4 today and again toooo late.. He said if I bought 10 he would order another pallet
Let me know if you are interested and I would pick up and go from there.
Here is a guy in Long Island for folks on the east coast.
315 watt solar panels (https://cnj.craigslist.org/mat/6061706495.html)
Not quite as cheap, but a lot closer.
Another member emailed with $0.29/watt new panels on Craigslist. Will wait until he has his before releasing location. These are large panels and seller will ship.
Check around, the deals are everywhere.
Pierce
No, the member said he would post source when he got his delivery. A very reliable guy so sure he will.
Pierce
OK check this one.
Solar Panels New $ 00.29 (https://minneapolis.craigslist.org/hnp/for/6057399503.html)
He has been very hard to get in touch with. The 290 watt panels are apparently in Pennsylvania. He said he would ship me 4 panels for $0.34 per watt. The deal was supposed to get done today but I never heard back from him. I texted him to get it done and no response.
The Las Vegas deal is not quite dead. He will ship 10 panels to Hastings for $0.51 per watt. Very tempting.
The one here in Las Vegas is suppose to get more panels.. I will email him tomorrow to see when he thinks and update the thread.
I would sure like to get at least a pallet of panels when they come available.
I am going to pick up 4 panels tomorrow from him.. If anyone is interested I can pick some up while I am there.. In Las Vegas. I can hold if needed and if you set up shipping I can help possibly with that also
I am ordering a half pallet (10) shipped to MN from the Las Vegas guy. $0.46 if I pick them up at freight depot, $0.51 delivered to my shop. 60 mile round trip minimum to pick them up and Imhave to borrow a pickup. They are coming to the shop.
If you are near Hastings and want a couple let me know. I am going to use three or four. All that are left are going on the coach house roof.
Hope that deal is around next year when we will be ready. Spent enough doe rae me already this year. Not complaining. :D
Picked mine up today... will open tonight and post some pics. He has a bunch if anyone else is getting them.. He will ship obviously ..
Biggins ... 6' about 40" wide.. will measure later but here are a couple pics
David
Does he still have some? Can you post his phone number, they don't seem to be on Las Vegas CL any longer.
Similar prices are available on Craigslist Houston if anyone in the area wants to avoid transportation $$.
Pm sent
can't find my tape measure.. probably in the motorhome.. I have been working on it non stop lately.. I'll bring one home tomorrow
Ad says 77x39x2
77 1/8" x 39 1/8" MEASURED so close
Here is the data sheet for the panel with the output, voltage, size, etc: Renesola JC300M-24/Ab (300W) Solar Panel (http://www.solardesigntool.com/components/module-panel-solar/Renesola/1886/JC300M-24-Ab/specification-data-sheet.html)
Same size as ours with a few more watts. Four of these would give you 1200 watts on the roof and a series/parallel wiring bringing 72 volts down to the controller. Excellent!!!
Pierce
I would be interested in 4 if someone could get them near NC.
Couple of points here. Make sure these large panels will fit on your roof. Unless you have a 102" coach, life is going to be difficult. Even forty footers may require a lot of roof modification to get four to fit. Go up there and measure! Spend an hour or more checking one Craigslist after another. Craigslist scrapers don't work anymore.
Pierce
Good point I forgot my coach isn't as wide as yours. :o
In the rear, the 39" wide panel just clears the AC and the aluminum rail on the edge. The mount could have been changed to bring it another inch or so closer to the AC and something could be done with the rail. Might have to take off the rail. See my photos below for how close things are up top. I didn't find a forty footer with as much open space as our thirty six but only looked at a couple. Might not be a problem forward with a 96" as we are only talking about 3" on each side and that looks pretty easy.
The panels on Craigslist are almost exactly the same size as ours.
Pierce
I can make 4 fit on my roof... Possibly 5 if I work hard ... we will see tomorrow How good I am with the layout. Pic of the roof
I'm in for at least 4. If any body wants to split a order. I'm in Chicago.
i will have 10 panels in Hastings, MN by the end of the month. $0.29 per watt plus shipping. Total about $155 each. Let me know if you want a few.
The guy in LV will ship half pallets.
Scott Stevens 775.576.4261
David,
The roof looks excellent. Don't worry about five panels as four gives you 1200-1260 watts and 96 amps and is what the MidNite controller is rated for. Naturally, real world won't see 1200 watts but since most of these commercial panels are 36 volts, it's perfect for simple wiring down through the roof to the controller at 72 volts with only 4 small wires. Unless you run a domestic fridge 24/7, you won't need any more watts even with the panels lying flat on the roof assuming you have the battery capacity. And, yes, you could send 144 volts down to the controller, but remember, the panel voltage is rated at about 76 degrees F so freezing mornings will bring the voltage up perhaps even 15% higher so I went on the safe side for the controller and the installer :D .
I'm glad to post closeup photos of exactly how I mounted the panels, with Z brackets, fasteners, etc if anyone is interested. No need to use hardware intended for other applications. If your roof is rounded, the brackets can be neatly bent so they appear OEM quality. I also would not recommend roof electrical plugs to connect to wiring inside the coach. They don't have a good track record.
Advice is to go slow on the installation with lots of planning, checking and marking exactly where the aluminum roof members are, etc. etc.
Here is a PDF comparing all the controllers. With a close examination, you can see the advantages/disadvantages to the different controllers. I liked the firmware update over the internet without having to send the controller in. Displays are removable and can be remote mounted. Some can be monitored remotely. I also checked to see how many refurbished/remanufactured units I could find online with the idea that they only came up if something went wrong with the original. Under $500 should deliver the right controller with built in display. About five minutes with Google should find the sub $500 delivered deals.
http://www.midnitesolar.com/pdfs/comparisonChart.pdf
The two major controllers compared: Midnite Classic 150 vs Outback 80 ??? — northernarizona-windandsun (http://forum.solar-electric.com/discussion/10498/midnite-classic-150-vs-outback-80)
If you do radio work, here is a excellent short article with photos of the RF radiation between the MidNite 150 and the Outback 80: http://www.midnitesolar.com/pdfs/Radio-Frequency-Interference-Charge-Controller-Comparison-Report.pdf
In the fine print, commercial panels may state: "not for RV use." Ours have worked great for years and can only assume this is for liability issues in case one came off into traffic. When you get your panels, you will see exactly how large and how much they weigh. Not too heavy but two people will be needed to get them up on the roof and in position. Ladders and planning are needed so no one gets hurt either before or after installation. I can still walk on our roof but have to watch my step.
Pierce
Let me know when you get yours. I will have to factor in the shipping from you to me. I might be better off buying direct, just have to figure out what to do with extra panels.