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Topic: More on solar (Read 633 times) previous topic - next topic

Re: More on solar

Reply #1 –
Mike, use the panels you have.  Maybe there are newer and better panels available but you already have these. I like to wire them in parallel for shade tolerance. Wire costs might be more but in the big schem of things not that much.  You can run the wires to a fuse block which acts like a combiner before the controller.  Each panel is fused to protect your system.  This can be on the roof where it is hard to service or in a convenient place in the basement where installation and service is easier.  Get a good charge controller.  Victron makes very good ones with connectivity to your phone or interconnection to all of your Victron equipment.  Morningstar is another respected brand.  And there are others.  Between your charger and the batteries make sure you are using sufficiently sized wire.  An on/off switch before the controller and appropriate fuses on the output side are pretty much required for safety but often overlooked.

Mount the panels flat without tipping adjustments unless you want to get up on the roof to do that.  You can use 3M. HB tape on your panel mounts on the roof.  Some of the commercially available ones are pretty small. I made bigger ones with more tape area for more secirity.  If your panels happen to line up with roof structure you can use screws but the VHB tape is a proven method.

Make cardboard templates the same size as your panels.  Lay them out on the roof to decide on an arrangement that works best for you.  If you can leave access to equipment on the roof that is a good thing.

Have fun, this is a project you can do yourself.

Re: More on solar

Reply #2 –
Thanks for the comments.  Planning on using the 3M tape.  There are a number of videos from that guy that kind of explains a lot in a simplistic sort of way about solar stuff.
Mike

Re: More on solar

Reply #3 –
The prices for excellent quality commercial panels has come way down since his video. Figure less than $0.50/watt now with some as inexpensive as $0.35/watt. See my old post from 10 years ago about sources/costs for every little part. A little less now for most of the stuff with the controllers about the same or slightly more.  Roger's cardboard planning is excellent.

Pierce

Re: More on solar

Reply #4 –
Get Sunpower X22 panels. The X22 has a record-breaking efficiency of up to 22.8 percent, making it the best performing panel on the market. Older panel efficiency typically ranges from 15 to 17 percent.

You want to get as many watts per square foot on that precious roof real estate.
 

Re: More on solar

Reply #5 –
Here is an example of $0.36/watt for commercial panels: NEW! Solar panels 36 cents per watt!! ReneSola 250W - electronics - by owner... .  Yes, you do have to buy a few but pretty easy to sell left over panels. I like the 1 3/4" thick edges as they are super rugged for tree branches, etc.

Plenty of other solar panels on our CL Sacramento site.

Pierce