Hello, I see Harbor Freight has this kit on sale for $140. Yes, I know it's probably the cheapest cheesiest thing I could probably buy because it's from HF, but it's my first endeavor into solar charging, and of course money is tight, as it is for many of us. It seemed to be a decent wattage for the price but I want to bounce it off you folks.The "voltage regulator" it comes with doesn't look like it's a "charge controller" or is it? I may have to pick up a better solar charge controller so I guess that would be added to the price too if necessary.I have 375 AH of battery on board, but am only looking for supplemental charging.Here's the kit: http://www.harborfreight.com/solar-panel-kit-45-watt-68751.html?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=3413b&utm_source=1020Thanks!

As long as you don't expect much out of it, it is a good entry level product. Think of it as an educational tool. It will help you understand how solar chargers work under different conditions plus it will help you confirm the saying "You get what you pay for".

You can get 100w panel for $125 and a $20 controller.That kit has a lot of do-dads that you do not need or want.100w $125

I agree, I don't think it has a charge controller. I don't think you need one in this case. The general rule of thumb is that if your charger's max output is less than 1% of your battery capacity you can get buy without. These 3 panels should put out less than 1 amp each, 3 amps total. That's less than 1% of your 375 AH battery bank.What do I think of it? It's cheap stuff. I wouldn't want to deal with 3 little 15 watt panels. I would want just one 50 watt or larger panel. Amorphous panels are more tolerant of shading than crystalline panels but also less efficient. If space is a concern I bet you could find a 75 or even 90 watt panel that was physically the same size as the 3 15's put together. A quick internet search for a 90 watt panel shows you can get one for between $145 and $195 from various companies. I would think that would be a much better deal.

Very good info so far, thank you.I am already leaning towards not buying it now that I see I can get even more wattage in a single panel for about the same money instead of dealing with 3 smaller ones.

Feedback on this solar kit? | Good Sam Community

68 Replies

time2roll
Nomad
Aug 29, 2013
If it makes DH happy that is all she needs to know.
RV is mostly just a toy. You are free to go play.
BFL13
Explorer II
Aug 29, 2013
"I just think she doesn't understand what it will do for us when camping."

Baffle her with BS. Tell her it runs the TV.

Tell her she is the one that has to go out and turn the portable panel more towards the sun during commercials, while you get more refreshments from the fridge.
mena661
Explorer
Aug 29, 2013
BFL13 wrote:
Getting some solar anyway despite the above excellent reasoning, is just for your amusement and for bragging rights that you have some solar. (Which is allowed as a guy thing) :)
Mostly amusement and bragging rights. Ok, ALL amusement and bragging rights. :) I think the DW wants to do some off grid winter camping and I still want to be able to run the convection oven on an inverter. I finally have the DW "sold" on some solar. I just think she doesn't understand what it will do for us when camping.
Almot
Explorer III
Aug 28, 2013
BFL13 wrote:
You do need one 100% recharge every month even if your solar appears to get you to "full" most days.

Recharging batteries to 100% once a month on solar by splitting the bank shouldn't be a problem. This in itself doesn't necessitate a generator. Though, splitting for the whole day or two would be hard on a user when his batts are living hand to mouth, in terms of charging/discharging.
Old___Slow
Explorer
Aug 28, 2013
JiminDenver wrote:
Gr8life wrote:

Now we are getting somewhere. Any particular panel, or are they all the same? Any particular controller, or are they all the same? What makes them "solar" cables?

Sounds like you got a good deal.

Thank you, It wasn't as easy as picking brand name stuff and clicking buy but I learned a lot about solar while putting it together.

Given time I could do better as even ebay is not Target and I'm working on a quick search with what's listed now.

I started at SolarBlvd.com since they have a good rep here. They have a 100w panel for $125 plus $20 shipping to me. 100w panel

Add to that a Landstar 10a controller which has been used successfully here for $22.90 (free shipping)
10a controller

here is a 40 ft solar cable for $18.99 plus $6 shipping. (will make a pair of 20ft with connectors on panel ends.)

Cable

That's $192.89 and you still need the short run to the battery with a fuse. I can't find it because I don't know how long you will need it. Preferably as short as possible.

There is also this Eco-worthy 100w kit for $209 shipped. 100 kit

I have used a Eco-worthy MPPT controller but have no experience with their PWM models.

Here is another 100w kit for $202 shipped 100w kit

Again I know nothing of the controller

Others may suggest other options and I only spent a hour looking so I may be able to find less expensive or suggest better quality. I just wanted to show that there are better options than a HF kit.

The last one on the list seems like a good go. For me, I bought like a kid in the candy store. Someone else might say 'bought pigs in a poke. Anyway, the 'big brown' brought his surprise FEDEX their part of three panels. Then there was a really nice Mppt that came from Amazon $ $49.99 plus shipping (now priced at $69.99) Then on to EBay sometimes EBad. China direct. They ship quick but out of the three controllers I bought from them, only one possibly two looked QUALITY. I opened all to take a look see inside. All the meters from EBay seem good buys. Oh well, that was half the fun. It's been said, you never learn a darn thing from OTHERS mistakes.
Have fun, look up to the SUN, and maybe even buy the HF Kit. At $129.00 the other day with the 20% off.
pianotuna
Nomad III
Aug 28, 2013
Hi BFL13,

Here is the "other side of the fence" view.

I managed to go from Feb 14, 2009 until July 7, 2013 with almost no generator use (other than the disaster with the Boily, which was less than 5 hours of run time)--relying instead nearly 100% on solar charging--with occasional 15 amp-shore power connections.

smkettern, since he went solar, no longer takes a generator with him.

For me, the only reason to have a generator is for "convenience" running of the air conditioner. Running the generator 24/7 would be far more expensive than going to a powered campground.

I'd still love to redo my solar with a massive upgrade so I could directly run the air conditioner. I could add fold down panels on the drivers side. I'm already 100 inches wide so I have 8 inches to "play with". (I'd prefer to keep it to 2 inches).
BFL13
Explorer II
Aug 28, 2013
I doubt you need any solar at all if you have a 740AH battery bank and are gone for two weeks or fewer days. You will get home in time to do a 100% there. If you run a bit low for comfort, you still have your gen /charger while camping to put a few AH back in to get back to comfort level. You don't need to keep the SOC very high for that time period, as the batts will recover to full SG back home.

IAW, IMO (subject to Mex saying otherwise), two weeks at below full will not create permanent sulfation.

When camping off grid for longer periods than two weeks, you cross the line somewhere in time that you go too long without a full recharge. I don't know how long that is. I do know that with "some solar" you can postpone that time by keeping the batts at a higher SOC most days. You do need one 100% recharge every month even if your solar appears to get you to "full" most days. Just ask my batteries about that!

Getting some solar anyway despite the above excellent reasoning, is just for your amusement and for bragging rights that you have some solar. (Which is allowed as a guy thing) :)
mena661
Explorer
Aug 28, 2013
You're really good at finding those deals Jim!
JiminDenver
Explorer II
Aug 28, 2013
2oldman wrote:
JiminDenver wrote:
...e I found my panels on craigslist. They were brand new left overs from installs and the guy dumped them for $50 each.
Glad that's working out for you. I remember your OP on this where we (I) were pretty skeptical. Good job.

Yeah I remember that. I was sure glad when I did the first SOC test and they worked. lol The ear to ear grin left as soon as I found out what a MPPT controller cost to run them. They may still be in the garage had I not found the Eco-worthy.
JiminDenver
Explorer II
Aug 28, 2013
Gr8life wrote:

Now we are getting somewhere. Any particular panel, or are they all the same? Any particular controller, or are they all the same? What makes them "solar" cables?

Sounds like you got a good deal.

Thank you, It wasn't as easy as picking brand name stuff and clicking buy but I learned a lot about solar while putting it together.

Given time I could do better as even ebay is not Target and I'm working on a quick search with what's listed now.

I started at SolarBlvd.com since they have a good rep here. They have a 100w panel for $125 plus $20 shipping to me. 100w panel

Add to that a Landstar 10a controller which has been used successfully here for $22.90 (free shipping)
10a controller

here is a 40 ft solar cable for $18.99 plus $6 shipping. (will make a pair of 20ft with connectors on panel ends.)

Cable

That's $192.89 and you still need the short run to the battery with a fuse. I can't find it because I don't know how long you will need it. Preferably as short as possible.

There is also this Eco-worthy 100w kit for $209 shipped. 100 kit

I have used a Eco-worthy MPPT controller but have no experience with their PWM models.

Here is another 100w kit for $202 shipped 100w kit

Again I know nothing of the controller

Others may suggest other options and I only spent a hour looking so I may be able to find less expensive or suggest better quality. I just wanted to show that there are better options than a HF kit.