100 watts of solar for $99, shipped and with controller

OldSmokey wrote:
RUN Forrest, RUN !

for a value panel, These work very well..

Thanks Smokey--------That looks good.

Yes, plastic cover. Didn't want to comment on this too, - given the preconceived idea that negative comments are coming from people who paid too much for their panels :)

Excellent Correction To My Remark
--Gordon Tree

I am leery of any panel that is not rigid. I know of NO type of transparent plastic than can resist ultraviolet rays for long. It does not take much to snap a circuit trace power lead. Then it's Game Over.

Real - yes. Good - not really, it depends. Flexible have pros and cons, more cons for most people. You need one if your specific install demands one, otherwise - go for rigid polycrystalline.

Doesn't say what type - could be amorphous and then it's not good, in my books.

Controller is not included, as people noted. Controller is almost always has to be purchased separately, occasional bundles/kits with "everything included" rarely have quality controllers, you'll need to upgrade it later.

$1 per watt for 12V rigid panels comes up on sales once in a while, but if you only need one or two, $120 per 100W rigid is pretty common.

Big 24V panels are the cheapest per watt.

RUN Forrest, RUN !

for a value panel, These work very well..

Panels are just a commodity. If the mounting, size, watts and price work for you, go for it.

Joe417 wrote:
I have limited knowledge on solar panels but I noticed that it is a 4x8 panel. Wouldn't that be 18V if every cell were perfect and a lot better than 25 percent efficient?? I read something about 0.5V per cell.

most '12v' panels are 36 cell this one happens to be 32 cell.
12v panels can operate over a wide range, from zero volts to ~22v depending on the load, sun light, panel temp, ....

good primer
https://www.victronenergy.com/upload/documents/White-paper-Which-solar-charge-controller-PWM-or-MPPT.pdf

standard test conditions include one sun of 1000w/meterxmeter, @25% eff, a square meter panel would test @ 250w.

These panels claim a 30 deg bend, maybe not true roll up?

Despite claims to the contrary

ROLL UP PANELS ARE FRAGILE. If I owned another I would carry a one foot diameter cardboard tube to carefully wrap the panel around. Then slip a rubber mat around the panel then rubber band or tie.

I have limited knowledge on solar panels but I noticed that it is a 4x8 panel. Wouldn't that be 18V if every cell were perfect and a lot better than 25 percent efficient?? I read something about 0.5V per cell.