solar panels

Submitted: Monday, Jul 13, 2009 at 19:48

ThreadID: 70645 Views:5935 Replies:4 FollowUps:6

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Solar Power

This article covers every aspect of solar and its design and installation in RVs (camper trailers, caravans and motor homes). It shows how much power solar panels really produce,

jetcrew

Hi all,

I was wondering if anyone has purchased a panel from Solar steve or mandrake .I notice his prices are very good for the 140w kit incl battery for $800 odd.

Just looking for some feedback either way if you actually have one of these panels....

thanks

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Reply By: Mandrake - Monday, Jul 13, 2009 at 20:09

Monday, Jul 13, 2009 at 20:09

This could cause a ruckus !!

I'll bow out of this one !!

Rgds

Steve

AnswerID: 374387

Reply By: Member - Murray R (VIC) - Monday, Jul 13, 2009 at 20:48

Monday, Jul 13, 2009 at 20:48

Jetcrew
I brought a 80w panel of Steve on the weekend, no real test yet but appears to be good quality and robust unit for his price with good service as well.

Murray

Another Mexican

Lifetime Member
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AnswerID: 374393

Reply By: Maîneÿ . . .- Monday, Jul 13, 2009 at 21:33

Monday, Jul 13, 2009 at 21:33

jetcrew,
Do you have any *specific* questions you want answers to ?

Maîneÿ . . .

AnswerID: 374402

Follow Up By: jetcrew - Tuesday, Jul 14, 2009 at 08:12

Tuesday, Jul 14, 2009 at 08:12

Mainey,

I know in life that you always get what you pay for ( thats why my wife costs so much) she tells me...

I have looked at KYOCERA panels and have read many good reviews about them but they are a bit on the $$$ side. I always belive that if a product is 3/4 as good as another but only half the price its still worth buying.

Thats the question I have in relation to these panels . are they any good for the price?

I know they wont be in the same quality as BP , Kyocera or sharp ect but for the price I would not expect them to be.

thanks for your time..

FollowupID: 641666

Follow Up By: Maîneÿ . . .- Tuesday, Jul 14, 2009 at 10:41

Tuesday, Jul 14, 2009 at 10:41

Jetcrew,
I've looked at theKYOCERA 130 Watt Solar panel Link.

The 130 Watt Kyocera panel's physical size is very small @ less than 1 square Mt, indicating very high performance characteristics.
For comparison my Sharp panel's physical size is 1 sq Mt for only 123 Watts and the BP 125 Watt panel is also 1 sq Mt, indicating the Kyocera panel produces more (peak) power and from a much smaller sized panel.

Mandrakes panel is: 140 Watt, 18 Volts, 7.78 Amps, but no physical size is mentioned, (that I'm aware of) so no direct comparison can be made as to it's efficiencies at peak performance, which is not too important as you will be working in the ½ to ¾ capacity most of the time anyway, hence the "low performance" characteristics are just, if not far more, important anyway.

Note:
I'm not suggesting Mandrakes panel is inferior in any way
as information is not available to make direct comparison.

Maîneÿ . . .

FollowupID: 641681

Follow Up By: jetcrew - Tuesday, Jul 14, 2009 at 17:14

Tuesday, Jul 14, 2009 at 17:14

Mainey,

Thanks heaps for your response it is great to recive some simple yet very sound advice in relation to physical size of panel.

I will e-mail steves solar to obtain panel size or if you are reading could you please post size Steve..

once agian thanks for response..

FollowupID: 641738

Reply By: Member - Ian W (NSW) - Tuesday, Jul 14, 2009 at 16:40

Tuesday, Jul 14, 2009 at 16:40

Jetcrew,

What a coincidence, I posted not long ago and then came upon your post.

Yes! I took delivery of two 140 panels from Steve on Friday. Despatched late Wednesday from Melbourne and delivered to my front door in western Sydney on Friday afternoon. Steve provided a consignment tracking number which allows one to jump on to the Allied Express site and check progress of the consignment.

The packaging was suitable for the product being shipped. Panels were very smick, looking very well finished, panel frames are double skinned on the wall which gives very good rigidity without excess weight. They do of course come with blocking diodes as would any good quality panel. Good length on the leads which are then terminated with waterproof connectors, the other part of which can be purchased from any Jaycar outlet which was what we did.

My son the electrical/data/communications guru grabbed the panels, stuck them out in the sun and after torturing them with his meters pronounced himself to be well pleased.

Between my son and myself we find the following:

Product delivered to us - Top quality

Customer service - Very good

Value for maney - Absolutely first rate.

I have purchased solar panels only but on my buying experience would not hesitae to look at any other products Steve might have to offer.

Ian

AnswerID: 374516

Follow Up By: Member - Ian W (NSW) - Tuesday, Jul 14, 2009 at 16:48

Tuesday, Jul 14, 2009 at 16:48

Sorry!

Forgot to mention that son got stuck into it yesterday and mounted both panels, on the roof of my caravan. The solar regulator was fitted and all connected late last night.

I'm very impressed with the apprent input from the panels, however being a Luddite I'm waiting for the final word from my family electrical techo who knows all the ohmsie/wattsie stuff.

Ian

FollowupID: 641732

Follow Up By: Maîneÿ . . .- Tuesday, Jul 14, 2009 at 17:36

Tuesday, Jul 14, 2009 at 17:36

Ian,
we've all been guilty of being "Luddite's" at some time in our lives

Yes you should be very pleased with the "apparent input from the panels" because with a pleasing "input" you know, as a general rule of thumb it's not raining with overcast weather conditions, but is nice bright sunshine day.

Some even suggest the out-put (Amps) can also be used to charge a 12v battery :-))

Never mind any 'terminology' mistakes, we all know what you've meant and I hope your going to take this just as humorously as it's meant to be

Maîneÿ . . .

FollowupID: 641743