Harbor Freight Solar Panels
 

Anyone know anything about the quality of these panels at HF (on sale for $180 right now)?

http://www.harborfreightusa.com/usa/...o?itemid=90599

seems like a cheap set to throw in the basement (along with a few batteries) for who knows what...

Re: Harbor Freight Solar Panels
 

Get mono or polycrystalline panels, not amphorus, which is what these look like.

Also, real panels will have a guaranteed wattage (with published tolerances) on their panels, as well as a output guarantee measured in decades, not a few months.

www.partsonsale.com
www.wholesalesolar.com for a quick comparison.

andy has posted a few links as well.

Re: Harbor Freight Solar Panels
 

For $100 more, you can get a good Kyocera 50 Watt panel with an energy tax credit.

http://store.solar-electric.com/kykc50wasopa.html


You can get a Sun 50 watt panel for $169 at www.sunelec.com

Re: Harbor Freight Solar Panels
 

i paid $222 for a 50 watt panel Kyocera 2 foot x 2 foot in 2004.

since it has the extra instruments that seems like a fair deal, the Harbor Freight one.

i'm curious what they actually put out. i hooked a spectrum of load resistors up to the Kyocera and the absolute best it would do in San Diego sun is 35 watts. i had a fixture to point it right at the sun etc.

i notice a lot of stores over-state the specs at the retail level. i guess that's would be an under-statement.

Re: Harbor Freight Solar Panels
 

Known mostly to sailors...

Sun Electronics in Miami has consistently undersold most everyone on solar panels for years.

http://sunelec.com/

Get "2nd"s if you can - only physical blemishes - they'll still test them right in front of you, and you get the same 20 year warranty for way less.

My "2nd" stamps wore off from UV and saltwater within 6 months.

Still working like a champ 4 years later.

FWIW

---

edit -- just saw someone else mentioned them as well. I'll "2nd" that, LOL :)

Re: Harbor Freight Solar Panels
 

2ND'S especially if it is only blemishes!

Re: Harbor Freight Solar Panels
 

i have 10 sets the regulators are crap accept for volt meters and the panels
only put out 1/2 to 2/3 of the rating on the box but i feel they are still a fairly
decent deal if you have plenty of room to set them.those amorphous panels
are not as energy dense as others but are a better watt for dollar deal.

i would say compare them to a 25 watt other panel mono or polychrystaline.

i have some that are about 3 years old and seem to have settled in and are still producine nicely

Re: Harbor Freight Solar Panels
 

thanks for the feedback everyone... I think I'll spring for something better than the HB panels... going to checkout Sun electronics.