Which is the better deal? Solar Panel

Update time. I placed my order with Home Depot yesterday the 23rd about 10:00 am. I decided to pay $20 for express shipping that shows I would receive it September 1st vs September 6th for the free shipping. I get an email this morning at 12:30 am and read that when I got up this morning. It said that my order was shipped and delivery was expected the 24th. ??? That is today!



I got two 23 lb boxes shipped Next Day Air for $20. I think someone in the shipping department must have screwed up. Oh well, good for me! :B

There is nothing wrong with Solar Blvd. Good prices on panels. Some other items can be found cheaper in other places. Some items are discounted more than others in the same store for all kinds of reasons. Parallel connectors cost from $10 to $25 each depending where you buy.

Shipping can be clarified over the phone before placing the order. Shipping weight can be quoted higher because automatic UPS estimator added a surcharge for bulkiness called "volume weight".

Home Depot is normally selling 100w Poly for $130, though I see this discount for the 2nd time this year. As noted, no shipping cost.

trailrider wrote:

Too many things wrong with that site, no thanks.

like 'deals', my 60 watt is now priced 60% of what I paid a year or so ago and the 100 seems to dropped from 120 to 80, thanks.

sure like their low Vmp yielding a higher I (PWM).

trailrider wrote:
Another thing I noticed on the Solar Blvd site was this:

100 watt panel $80

2-100 watt panels with y connectors $240

So that's $60 for two y connectors? :h

Too many things wrong with that site, no thanks.

Thanks for all the help people!

Just a misprint I am sure. Call and ask. They were always helpful when I talked to them. Not a huge operation like HD. Although the real advantage with any solar is to pick up local and avoid shipping.

Curious why a few posters seem to prefer poly panels. Mono panels run at least 2% more efficient.

Another thing I noticed on the Solar Blvd site was this:

100 watt panel $80

2-100 watt panels with y connectors $240

So that's $60 for two y connectors? :h

Too many things wrong with that site, no thanks.

Thanks for all the help people!

trailrider wrote:
Okay, next problem. I was going to order 2 100 watt panels from Solar Blvd after clicking the link above by smkettner. I get to the shipping and it says 2 x 42 lbs. The specs say one panel is 25 lbs. Should be 2 x 25 lbs. I don't think there is 17 lbs of packing for each panel. Ripoff?

AND I looked at the address bar in my browser and it has a red x on the padlock and a slash through the https. I click that and it says: This site uses a weak security configuration, so your connection may not be private. :R Son of a , I may just go with the Home Depot site.

For the shipping, I'm guessing that it costs more due to the size and shape of the panels. Carriers charge extra for unusually large parcels.

If you're worried about the internet security (and whether or not you should be is hard for me to say without spending a good bit of time seeing what exactly is deemed less secure), you could always place a phone order. My browser isn't complaining about the site, and the certificate and encryption cypher suites appear to me to be reasonable; however, I'm not a security expert, just more of a dabbler (as needed, sometimes against my wishes, for my job).

Without specified needs, the only suggestion would be cheaper price per watt.

the best deal is when you get what you need :). This (normally) means - getting panels wattage and panels type that you need, and a suitable controller, everything up front. Rather than getting something for starters and then upgrading. It's cheaper and easier this way.

Almot wrote:
The question was 160W vs 100W. Like it's been said - sort your needs out.

160W will harvest more than 100W, no matter what efficiency or mono vs poly.
If the goal is more energy, then buy more watts.
Out of two panels of the same wattage poly is better than mono.
If both are poly and if you use PWM, the one with higher Isc is better.

100W panel is pretty much auxiliary power, bordering trickle charger. 160W is only slightly more. To live reliably off solar for several days, you need at least 200-250W, even with .modest energy needs.

No the question was which is the better deal. My needs are sorted. I am going with 2 100 watt poly panels for starters.

The question was 160W vs 100W. Like it's been said - sort your needs out.

To summarize -
160W will harvest more than 100W, no matter what efficiency. If the goal is more energy, then buy more watts. Out of two panels of the same wattage poly is better than mono. If both are same wattage and both are poly and if you use PWM, the one with higher Isc is better.

100W panel is pretty much auxiliary power, bordering trickle charger. 160W is only slightly more. To live reliably off solar, even with minimal energy needs, you want at least 200-250W.