Used Solar Panel?

I changed out all the lights to the 13-watt energy efficient bulbs, that sure cuts the watts down.

smkettner wrote:
So rent the cabin for the weekend. Price is a 100+ watt solar panel. Next guest can donate a controller. Third and subsequent can bring a new battery. ;)

Good idea, but this little cabin does not belong to me, I am simply doing a friend a favor. Great idea though.

... And panels are mismatched, and some are getting old (= reduced efficiency)

all the panels I bought used are UniSolar,
all have the same output voltage, they are different watts, aka different amps
but are 'electrically' compatible

and close enough to 'one pair' of the original panels to be compatible

the ODD pair of oem panels i rewired to the chassis/engine batteries

So rent the cabin for the weekend. Price is a 100+ watt solar panel. Next guest can donate a controller. Third and subsequent can bring a new battery. ;)

MrWizard wrote:
...but we full time, we cook with electric and we have a residential fridge,
and our lighting is Florescent

... And panels are mismatched, and some are getting old (= reduced efficiency). Whatever works for Mr. Wiz. With all-electrical cooking and fridge, and with 2 people, and with morning "marine layer" of fog in coastal Ca, it would take at least 900W solar to live without a generator. No, wait, they already have 900W... Or getting close? ;) ...

With propane fridge (not that I like it), and cooking on gas mostly, one person can live off 200-300W solar if he chooses to. Back to the OP question - 100W panel is way too little for fulltime living. Barely enough even for a seasonal summer cabin.

its NOT backup, its used power, and usually run a generator every day

started out with 4 6v GC's

addedd 4 12v AGM deep cycle server batteris

replaced the 4 GC's this summer with 3 12v's .. need one more 12v

so i have 7 batteries approx 900ampHrs worth

but we full time, we cook with electric and we have a residential fridge,
and our lighting is Florescent

these conditions, DO NOT APPLY to Gulfcoast the OP

Gotta ask Mr Wizard.....what do you have for battery backup?

What a fine setup on the RV... and I want just one panel. smile

hershey wrote:
I think if you do the math, in the long run, a small generator would end up being cheaper.

I don't think so. Compared to residential power rates, panel and controller pay for itself in about 10-15 years of everyday use. Depends on the size too. Bigger system costs less per watt and pays for itself sooner, but when it's too big, the user may chicken out and call in the contractors, and then labor costs are 2-3 times of the parts cost. So there are many variables.

But a generator is a negative entry in the book, no matter how you look at it. Initial costs of a decent gen set with charger are close to medium size solar parts cost, if not higher. And then there is cost of fuel and maintenance. The only scenario when generator has a chance to end up being cheaper than solar, is when you a) already have a genny, and b) camp offgrid very occasionally.

MEXICOWANDERER wrote:
A used solar panel would be about as hard to dispose of as a used 100 dollar bill. They don't get to see the light of day in a public forum unless a project renewal takes place and a dealer snaps them up in a lot sale.

"Damn, tighten it down wrong just a little and it don't do squat. Better sell this turkey. Standing up or laying flat, loose, it tests fine. Someone will buy it"

You have no guarantee you won't run into the same issue as one of my customers with his used panel. Of course the "sale" was made in a Denny's parking lot "for convenience". Then again you may end up with a good panel with just the slightest of ricochet scratches across it, and pigtail wires ready to solder to.

i got all my panels used over an 18 month period
buying them in separate lots
and testing each panel at time of purchase

click image for full size picture

second set.. being cleaned and prepped for mounting
[IMG]http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm251/Mr__Wizard/IMG_20120410_134355_1024x768.jpg" width=480>[IMG]http://i298.photobucket.com/albums/mm251/Mr__Wizard/IMG_20120410_134138_1024x768.jpg" width=480>