FYI Basic Solar Kit from Costco

That's the thing. By the time you learn enough to know if the kit will be a good fit for you, you will understand that you can build a system more tuned to your needs, possible for less money.

westend wrote:

Horizon170 wrote:
QUESTION--------for home use how big a battery bank should one have?

One would need to know what the total power use is to answer this question.

They furnish a 2K inverter so I was basing my question on running it at near max. I have a backup home generator (6.5KW Onan) that runs on Gasoline or natural gas. If times get really bad and money is short/worthless I was thinking that solar would be needed.
I know the Cosco unit wouldn't keep a fridge going----at least I don't think it would.
I'm really trying to get a PLAN "B" together. :)

Horizon170 wrote:
QUESTION--------for home use how big a battery bank should one have?

One would need to know what the total power use is to answer this question.

Here is a quote from their Specs.
"The Grape Solar 400-Watt Off-Grid Solar Panel Kit is ideal for a variety of applications, including emergency backup systems, RVs, boats, 12 Volt battery charging, small pumps, charging small electronic devices and operating LED lights. Made with high efficiency crystalline solar cells for years of service, this solar kit is easy to install and virtually maintenance free! An anodized aluminum frame and a sealed junction box make the panel weatherproof for outdoor use. A two diode bypass minimizes power drop caused by shade. This system will provide approximately 1,200 Watt Hours or 100 Amp Hours of charge per day. The kit includes: 4pc 100-Watt polycrystalline solar panels, a 35 Amp charge controller, 2,000-watt inverter with two outlets and 1 USB port, cables and manual. "
QUESTION--------for home use how big a battery bank should one have?

PureSin2000 is a good inverter. Costco kit doesn't look particularly good to me, though.

NinerBikes wrote:
I'd be waiting for another Black Friday sale at Solar Blvd come Thanksgiving and piecing the system together myself for the savings. 100 watt panels were $95 each Black Friday 2013 after Thanksgiving.

They have 140W for $154 right now. 3 of these make 420W, Rogue 30 MPPT for controller with all the bells and whistles, total $840 plus shipping. Never liked Costco...

Price is good - assuming that mystery pales are good, anything made in China by fly-by-night shop is good, we all know that...

Seriously though, Don is right, this kit might not be what you need. You can get 4*100W panels and a much better controller for less than $1,000 total. If (IF) you will later decide that need that particular inverter, the total bill will come up to $1,300. Not that C35 is bad, but it's pretty much at the limit of this array, and (probably) without any options like temp sensor and display (can be added to C35, yes) and it is PWM. Who is using PWM with 400W :) ?

I'd be waiting for another Black Friday sale at Solar Blvd come Thanksgiving and piecing the system together myself for the savings. 100 watt panels were $95 each Black Friday 2013 after Thanksgiving.

IMHO Looks like a pretty good deal.

Costco usually vets their products pretty thoroughly before they buy. I've talked to HQ and the staff are not dummies. They impressed the heck out of me.