Replacing 100w Solar Panel

[BMCM]

Single panel on my camper, hooked to a Solar Boost 2000 controller.
The panel (unk make) died.
Northern Arizona Wind and Sun has a 140w Kyocera that is about the same footprint as the existing panel, at what seems to be a reasonable price. Shipping is $22.
I've heard good things about Kyocera..
Thoughts..?

Robert

[Almot]

Snowman9000 wrote:
I would be surprised if there are not some corners cut in making the cheapest panels.

There are.
#1: labor $2/hr with no benefits.
#2: thinner aluminum and/or simpler frame profile. They copy existing designs but when profile is too complicated=expensive, they cut the corners.

[Snowman9000]

I would be surprised if there are not some corners cut in making the cheapest panels.

I have several cheap ones from ML Solar. Probably equivalent to Renogy. They work. That's the extent of my evaluation so far. 🙂

[CA_Traveler]

Santa Clarita is an easy drive to SolarBlvd.

[scrubjaysnest]

Almot wrote:
It's hard to notice 6-7% without proper logging and software like on high-end controllers.

Projected degradation in manufacturers specs range from 0.3 to 0.9%. Kyocera reports 0.4-0.5% a year, so it could be only 3% in 7 years. You won't notice this. Dust on the panel will affect the output more.

The Kyocera 120 watt I had, a 2001, until it failed, met new specs when I received it last spring. Keeping it clean was the big problem.

[Almot]

It's hard to notice 6-7% without proper logging and software like on high-end controllers.

Projected degradation in manufacturers specs range from 0.3 to 0.9%. Kyocera reports 0.4-0.5% a year, so it could be only 3% in 7 years. You won't notice this. Dust on the panel will affect the output more.

[CJW8]

I had 3 of the panels you are considering. Yes, they were expensive. I had them 6-7 years and they did not lose 6-7% output as was suggested. Excellent panels!

[scrubjaysnest]

A pair of 100 watt panels will run around $225 with free shipping. The poly, China brand we've have used for the last five years no problem. The used 120 watt Kyocera I picked up shorts the first 18 cells above 40 der F. This is a known failure mode for the year 2000 thru 2002 Kyocera panels.

Presently redoing the solar. The two we've currently have will go on the roof and we will purchase two 100 watt from Missouri Wind and Solar because of the foot print.

Stopped by Northern AZ Wind and Sun last summer and picked up several items. Nice folks to deal with.

[Almot]

Poly is more efficient. There "used to be" that mono were much more efficient, but today in specs there may be mere 1-2% difference between the two. In real world poly would fare better as they drop less under cloudy skies.

If you are concerned about efficiency and can't add more panel wattage, you might want to replace the controller with MPPT as well.

[Cdash]

Boon Docker wrote:

Almot wrote:


Stay away from Monocrystalline panels.

What would the reason be to stay away from Mono ?

If be curious to know that took. When I was reading the differences between poly and mono, it seemed like mono was better for RV type use. Don't exactly remember why though....

[Boon_Docker]

Almot wrote:


Stay away from Monocrystalline panels.

What would the reason be to stay away from Mono ?

[Almot]

Post removed - because I called Chinese knock-offs knock-offs? PC cr-ap seems to have gone a bit far, in this instance.

Let's try again:
Kyocera is a good and well known brand. As I wrote in the earlier (removed) post, cheaper Chinese knock-offs are plentiful and it "looks" like they've now learned how to make them acceptable quality. So - doesn't matter much.

Any panel output will deteriorate by ~1% a year, and scratches on the glass will add to this. It will still "crank out the amps" but less and less, as years go by.

Bigger panels - over 150W - are typically cheaper per watt. $2/W is reasonable for small panels, but again, you can find small panels for $1.00-1.50 per Watt if you shop around. Check Solarblvd.com.

Amazon might have some with free S/H, though $22 from Az WindSun is very reasonable.

Stay away from Monocrystalline panels.

[Blackdiamond]

Amazon has some good prices.

[Dirtpig]

The Kyocera panels are excellent. I originally chose them because of reputation and the footprint size for my old truck camper roof. Just purchased another last year and installed 2 of them on my Nash trailer. You can view my install in my signature

[Colo_Native]

Try Renogy.com they have some good prices seem to be a lot cheaper price than a lot of places.