Costco Solar Panel 100W for $139.99 will it work

• Is this a good panel for the money?

• Is there a benefit to a mppt controller for these panels? Also what size do I need for of these panels?

• I am also going to be adding a 2000w psw inverter...

Grape solar has a reputation for making high quality panels and this is the same brand (albeit not the same model) that is sold by AM Solar. Definitely a "good panel for the money"! Note that because these panels are poly-crystalline they are less efficient than Grape's mono-crystalline panels (16.8 vs. 20% efficient). This translates to a larger surface area per unit of power generated. Have you measured the available space on your roof to confirm that you can fit 4 of these?

FWIW, I have 2 Grape 100W mono-crystalline panels on my TC paired with a MorningStar SunSaver SS-MPPT-15L... they perform exactly as advertised in terms of voltage and power.

In terms of MPPT, it is my opinion that, as long as the solar panel's Vmpp is higher than your absorption charge voltage (>~14.5V), MPPT is always a "benefit". The real question is; Is it worth the significant additional cost to purchase a MPPT controller instead of a PWM one? Only your specific use scenario, preference, and your checkbook can answer that question. In most cases a lower cost, high quality PWM controller will serve your needs just fine. Given your comment about installing 4 of these panels, I suggest that you take a look at the MorningStar ProStar PS-30 and TriStar TS-MPPT-45.

Please do a read through the archives here for ideas on the 2000W inverter selection… If you don't find the answers you're looking there, then I suggest that you start a new thread on that topic.

Cheers
-Mark

Is it just more junk?

Most people shop around based on "price per watt". I don't know what that is at present as I have not shopped for a while. Others can tell you what a good price per watt is currently as prices have been dropping. Therefore, a 200 watt panel might be a better value depending on your power needs.

Panel is ok. Advertisement to be ignored where it says 16% efficiency and then the spec says 13% :)

Four of those in parallel will be 4 x 6.2a = 25a which is quite a lot for solar, but then you need some margin too. The usual is 20% margin needed so that is another 5 amps for the controller (so you need a 30a controller) and the battery fuse on the pos wire from the controller to the battery (30a fuse)

I have a Solar30 controller that would be perfect for that job. There are many others to choose from. I like the adjustable voltage, the amps readout and the AH readout which you just don't get in similar controllers in this price range:

Prices are all over the map. I paid $34 but this guy has one for $24.

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/New-Version-30A-Solar-Charge-Controller-with-LCD-display-12V-24V-light-and-timer-/141218655262?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item20e149ac1e

Do you have any idea how much power you'll need for a day? That is usually the first place to start. Here is a downloadable calculator that will help define what you need.