Harbor Freight 45w Solar for $139

paddywanpeep wrote:
You don't need to 'get your feet wet' with solar. Its not rocket science here, panel to controller to battery.

Ain't that the truth. If you can hook up a battery charger, you can hook up solar. Getting all technical w/ wiring, connections, tricked out controllers etc etc, can come later if you so desire. Keeping it simple, it can work just as good as making a lot of technical....complicated work out of it. And you will get the "hands on" learning that is most times needed.

Tip I've learned, but my opinion only......
I get rid of the mc-4 right away, use butt connectors, and fill'em w/ liquid tape,....there is no easier better connection. And it doesn't void warranty
If God wanted us to use mc-4s, he would have built the female mc-4 into the controllers for all plug and play :)

You don't need to 'get your feet wet' with solar. Its not rocket science here, panel to controller to battery.

I would not recommend getting this system from harbor freight.
You can buy a single panel (The kit is three of these panels)
It lasted about two years. You could get a 100 watt poly panel
and controller for about the same price on EBay. And likely longer
Life. I'm sure there are plenty here that would gladly help you
with any issues you would need help with.

I wouldn't bother with anything under 100W.

1-2 ah a day in ideal weather, 10/day in chilly weather, 20 in miserable cold!

60 watts is plenty, not all fridges have a 12v draw.

I'm not alone but I'm not typical.

Friends with genne means mr coffee, solo is stove top.

pianotuna wrote:
Generally I believe a "get your feet wet" approach to solar is pretty much a waste of money. Do the research to get it right the first time.

If you boondock without an inverter 300 watts of solar may pretty much keep the power going forever. Do upgrade to led lighting.

PT, you keep ignoring us regular folks who are not "solar all the way, no matter what" folks like you. We mere mortals don't need that much solar to get by.

Plus we can learn "on the job" with a smaller set-up and then expand if needed. You can read till your eyes fall out, but you don't really "get solar" till you do some in my experience. YMMV.

I have settled after a few years now of experimenting, with 230w of solar, and we have a 2000w inverter and use the microwave, toaster, and kettle on that as desired. Hardly ever have to use the generator and charger either, but don't count that as a "failure" if needed.

Everybody does not have to try to get by in Saskabush in January on solar with no generator!

Plus LED lights only save you power if the lights are going to be on. In summer here, you don't need lights to read by from 6am -9pm, so you can't save squat by getting LEDs instead, if summer here is when you camp.

People have to be very specific about the camping scenario before saying you must have this or that, which is going to cost money, and may be of no value in somebody else's own scenario.

How do you waste money getting feet wet ?
Buying too small a controller ?
It don't matter if its a $12 controller.
Too small a panels ? Won't happen if you start w/ 100 watters.
I started w/ 1 panel and a 10 amp $8 controller, worked great, cept 5 amps dint cut it.
Then I got another panel, and a 15 amp $8 controller worked great, till I got tired of manhandling the portable setup. So mounted them on the roof, and added 1 more panel, and a 20 amp $8 controller.(actually bought 2, 1 for spare)
I have yet to really try it out down south soon.
I had fun doing it all, and din't waste any money. Sold 1 controller for 20 bucks, and using the other on a 50 watt portable batt charger.
But of course there are those that laugh at my 300 watt 15 amp $400 system, because they always claim get more watts out of their system than anyone else !! But that only because theirs cost thrice what mine did. They have to justify the cost somehow.

pianotuna wrote:
Generally I believe a "get your feet wet" approach to solar is pretty much a waste of money. Do the research to get it right the first time.

If you boondock without an inverter 300 watts of solar may pretty much keep the power going forever. Do upgrade to led lighting.

Some can afford it, others can't. Gotta pay if you wanna play. Really depends what your time is worth, digging on the internet, versus working and playing.

Generally I believe a "get your feet wet" approach to solar is pretty much a waste of money. Do the research to get it right the first time.

If you boondock without an inverter 300 watts of solar may pretty much keep the power going forever. Do upgrade to led lighting.

The little portables from SolarBlvd, Eco-worthy or Windynation are great for getting your feet wet in solar. Taking the time to understand enough to build a simple portable may mean a better match for your needs as well as better components where they would benefit you the most.