Anyone use the Harbor Freight solar panel kits?

colliehauler wrote:
Was looking on ebay and Light catcher solar offered a 100 watt kit for $111.71. Pulse + controller good for expansion to 800 watts. 25 year warranty on the German made solar panel and 5 years on accesories.

They have the specs on the panels and controller on the site as well but means nothing to me.

If some knowledgeable person looked at the specs is this a good setup?

As long as they have a great return policy, it could be a great deal. Curious to hear what our resident experts think of this "kit". 25 year warranty will outlast me.

Amazon has a $81 panel and a $15 controller on their website.

Was looking on ebay and Light catcher solar offered a 100 watt kit for $111.71. Pulse + controller good for expansion to 800 watts. 25 year warranty on the German made solar panel and 5 years on accesories.

They have the specs on the panels and controller on the site as well but means nothing to me.

If some knowledgeable person looked at the specs is this a good setup?

caver wrote:
100 watt Renogy for about the same price.
....snip...

.

Thanks, That is the kit I purchased a couple of years ago. Now $203 with tax and shipping. Nice kit. Worked well after I replaced a defective controller.

Boon Docker wrote:
Wow, someone has really got their panties in a knot. :B
What an entertaining place this is at times.

You got that right. I say enough goofy stuff without someone inventing things that are completely untrue. Big difference with me is that if I said it, I said it. Quote me. If I am wrong, I admit it. I do not twist or change what someone else said. Harbor Freight are hot button words, guaranteed to get the "Their stuff ain't no good" crowd cheering. If I need a left handed board stretcher for a one time use and theirs is $40 and everyone else wants $90, then I will buy one and throw it away when I am done with it. If I am buying a set of wrenches for high school graduation gift, then I will look elsewhere. That is the way I look at this solar kit. Would an expert buy one to perform critical work in his laboratory? Probably not. At the throwaway price of less than $150, I consider it an option for someone wanting to find out what solar is about. I do NOT own one or say it is the best and only choice out there. I also don't say that anyone who picks one up to give it a shot is stupid. We have some arrogant, know it all, Harbor Freight haters on here that have their little complaints ready at the very mention of the name.

Wow, someone has really got their panties in a knot. :B
What an entertaining place this is at times.

100 watt Renogy for about the same price.

I picked up a 180 watt small folding table type unit with built in controller for about 215 a few years ago but it looks like Solar Blvd has gone out of business. I've gotten burned on most electronic items I've bought from HF. Someof their stuff is decent for the price.

Thanks to the "Experts" on here, I talked a family out of the HF system today. I told them to Google Solar to learn from people like our members. I made sure they understood that 100 watts was just a waste of money anyway. Real solar starts at 300 watts and goes to over 1,000. I told them to order from the Internet and get the good stuff. Be careful of some of the junk on ebay though as it is as bad as HF. And whatever they do, make sure that they are getting the good stuff. Avoid positive ground systems as most automobiles and campers are negative ground. Include shipping in the cost which might make it a few dollars more, but worth it. I warned them about observing continuity, polarity, and connectivity when their stuff arrives. I told them about the risk to their equipment and whatever they connected to it if they did something wrong. I also convinced them that at least four to six golf cart batteries would be required for any "real" system. I did not want to confuse them with all the various chemistry involved with today's batteries. They seemed a little disappointed as they put the panels back on the shelf but I gave them the RVNet web address. They said, "Thanks, but no thanks. This whole solar thing is way beyond us." They really liked the part about how pricey and junky the HF is. Won't be seeing them light up their camper with solar power this year. Good job boys.

pianotuna wrote:
Gdetrailer,

Careful--you are treading on my toes as "favor of the month".

Which is it, "Flavor" or "Favor"?

Gdetrailer,

Careful--you are treading on my toes as "flavor of the month".

I have watched several of the YouTube videos about the HF solar kits. If you boys would quit wetting yourself over the idea of it all, you might learn something. Some of them are funny, some are actually a little dangerous, but they all show an enthusiasm for solar that will carry forward. Only one in a dozen bother to read the instructions. They throw the thing together and marvel that the lights come on. If our members are so cheap that spending $150 to take a primer course in solar is a problem, then I feel sorry for you. Is it fabulous or fantastic? Heck no, but when that light comes on and the battery charges up the first time, they are having fun. Why don't we keep it that way instead of lying about what another member said? Offer up better simpler cheaper kits. The new users will appreciate it. It's all fun when the lights come on.