Bit_deals OR ozplaza solar panels

Submitted: Friday, Apr 27, 2012 at 21:41

ThreadID: 95211 Views:10052 Replies:8 FollowUps:11

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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,

Simon H1

Hey everyone,

Both of these eBay sellers seem to have good reviews and can be trusted, only thing I haven't been able to get a definite answer on is the quality of construction of the kit and how sturdy they are. I am tempted to get the bit_deals kit as this seller has very good feedback, however the frame on the ozplaza kit looks much sturdier and the hinges appear to be much stronger. Has anyone found the bit_deals kit to be flimsy?

Thanks

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Reply By: Member - Redbakk (WA) - Friday, Apr 27, 2012 at 22:38

Friday, Apr 27, 2012 at 22:38

3 of my fishing mates have bought one each...........one of them had a regulator failure which was replaced no questions asked.............so we have found them good value.

I'm going to purchase mine once I get back from holidays.

AnswerID: 484409

Follow Up By: Member - Redbakk (WA) - Friday, Apr 27, 2012 at 22:39

Friday, Apr 27, 2012 at 22:39

Mean't to say they were the 120 watt folding kit.

FollowupID: 759681

Follow Up By: Simon H1 - Friday, Apr 27, 2012 at 22:39

Friday, Apr 27, 2012 at 22:39

Redbakk which company did they buy from?

FollowupID: 759682

Follow Up By: Member - Redbakk (WA) - Friday, Apr 27, 2012 at 23:08

Friday, Apr 27, 2012 at 23:08

Straight off ebay.......ozplaza.living...check through as the price varies a bit.

FollowupID: 759686

Follow Up By: Phil 23 - Saturday, Apr 28, 2012 at 08:08

Saturday, Apr 28, 2012 at 08:08

Bit deals one here.

Both a friend & I also had a failed regulator that was replaced without issue.
I believe the regs may fail due to the clips being shorted in that packaging, and if the thing is unpacked in the open sunlight, like I did, It's immediately pumping current into a short circuit.

Planned on ditching the supplied reg anyway, & as it was DOA grabbed a reg from JayCar for the Easter Holidays. (MP-3129).

Pretty impressed. Have seen up to 7 amps coming out of it on occasions &
according to the logging meters I used up around 30ah was easily produced during a day & that was probably limited by our usage.

Seemed to get up around 85 watts out of it, which I think is pretty good for a PWM regulator.

FollowupID: 759692

Follow Up By: gqturbo - Saturday, Apr 28, 2012 at 08:46

Saturday, Apr 28, 2012 at 08:46

i too had a regulator blow up on a bit deals 120w kit (replaced free) the instructions with the replacement said to connect battery to reg. before connecting solar panel ( impossible when hard wired) i fitted a couple of anderson plugs and had no further problems
Brian

FollowupID: 759695

Follow Up By: Simon H1 - Sunday, Apr 29, 2012 at 17:16

Sunday, Apr 29, 2012 at 17:16

Thanks Phil and Brian,

Not too concerned with the reg as I will be ditching this strait away anyway, but how do you guys find the quality of the frame itself? Particularly the legs (they look quite weak and flimsy in the pictures)?

FollowupID: 759838

Reply By: skulldug - Saturday, Apr 28, 2012 at 02:42

Saturday, Apr 28, 2012 at 02:42

Hi Simon,

I bought a 120 folding kit from bit deals. The frame is sturdy enough and I don't think the hinges will be a problem. The legs are a little flimsy but at less than $300 delivered, I'll happily fix them if they ever broke.

I'm afraid I can't compare them with any other brands.

Skull

AnswerID: 484418

Follow Up By: Phil 23 - Saturday, Apr 28, 2012 at 08:15

Saturday, Apr 28, 2012 at 08:15

Agree Skull,

The mounts for the legs are flimsey & one of ours cracked. Made replacement mounts from a bit of 10mm nylon cutting board.

It was a matter of cutting 2 "U" shaped pieces about 35mm x 25mm & drilling a couple of holes in them & screwing it all back together.

Took about 20 minutes with a cordless drill & jigsaw.

FollowupID: 759693

Reply By: Member - Old Girl - Saturday, Apr 28, 2012 at 06:13

Saturday, Apr 28, 2012 at 06:13

Bit deals for us. Took less than a week to arrive via Aust post (country delivery too) Sir Kev put me onto it. He tried his with sucess. If reg fails ill give mandrake a call.
Im still waiting 9 days so far for leds from o/s dealer.
Cheers

AnswerID: 484420

Follow Up By: Sir Kev & Darkie - Saturday, Apr 28, 2012 at 09:19

Saturday, Apr 28, 2012 at 09:19

Got mine from Bit Deals, 120w Folding Solar Panel for $265 delivered in 7 days via Aust Post. Well packed.

I did a test with the panel and the panels via the reg were putting out 15.84v and just under 8 amps. Very happy with them, just need to get rid of the clips and get Anderson plugs installed on a longer feed wire (supplied about a 2.0m lead).

Cheers Kev

Russell Coight:
He was presented with a difficult decision: push on into the stretching deserts, or return home to his wife.

Lifetime Member
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FollowupID: 759699

Follow Up By: Simon H1 - Sunday, Apr 29, 2012 at 17:13

Sunday, Apr 29, 2012 at 17:13

Thanks Kev and Old Girl,

How do you guys find the quality of the frame itself? In particular the legs, they look a little flimsy to me and from what others have posted this might be the case?

FollowupID: 759837

Follow Up By: Sir Kev & Darkie - Sunday, Apr 29, 2012 at 17:26

Sunday, Apr 29, 2012 at 17:26

Simon,

I think if the wind picks up the legs may suffer some damage if the panel blows over, but depending on where you set them up I think they will last quite awhile before needing to be replaced.

Cheers Kev

Russell Coight:
He was presented with a difficult decision: push on into the stretching deserts, or return home to his wife.

Lifetime Member
My Profile My Blog Send Message

FollowupID: 759839

Reply By: Member - Boobook - Saturday, Apr 28, 2012 at 07:25

Saturday, Apr 28, 2012 at 07:25

Don't rule out Solar Steve ( mandrake) who lurks on these forums and has great support. He is competitive and I have personally had excellent support from him.

Solar Steve

AnswerID: 484423

Follow Up By: Member - Old Girl - Saturday, Apr 28, 2012 at 08:57

Saturday, Apr 28, 2012 at 08:57

From what I have looked at his regulators are the most value for money around.

FollowupID: 759696

Reply By: Ozhumvee - Saturday, Apr 28, 2012 at 07:50

Saturday, Apr 28, 2012 at 07:50

I've bought three 160w folding sets from Bit deals for friends and all have worked ok, one reg went phut after 12 months so we just replaced it with a locally sourced one.
I've also bought about half a dozen standalone panels in the 125w size and all arrived promptly and work well.
A friends had a panel where the glass got smashed in transit and it was replaced without any hassle.
I've also purchased other stuff from both Bit Deals and Ozplaza with zero problems.

AnswerID: 484425

Reply By: Simon H1 - Saturday, Apr 28, 2012 at 08:21

Saturday, Apr 28, 2012 at 08:21

Thanks everyone for your replies. Seems like bit_deals is by far the favourite. The frame/legs does look a lot sturdier on the ozplaza kits but I guess I can always upgrade the frame myself quite cheaply if need be.

Boobook I did consider solar steve and I'm sure he is or will check out this thread soon. But bit deals and ozplaza have lowered their prices AGAIN and a 120w kit is now only $241 which is just too cheap to pass up. I plan on replacing the crappy reg with an MPPT anyway and will upgrade the cables and fit some Andersons and all up it shouldn't cost anymore then $450. Sadly I don't think solar Steve (mandrake) could match that otherwise I would have definitely given him my business.

Ps Peter very cool Humvee youve got there! Can't imagine how difficult it must be to drive on some of Sydney's narrow roads but they certainly look impressive.

AnswerID: 484426

Reply By: Member - poppasmurf - Saturday, Apr 28, 2012 at 15:20

Saturday, Apr 28, 2012 at 15:20

You can get 120 watt kits at the moment at the moment on ebay for 244.00 ozplaza.
Great value.

David

AnswerID: 484453

Reply By: Steve M1 (NSW) - Saturday, Apr 28, 2012 at 18:39

Saturday, Apr 28, 2012 at 18:39

had a folding 240w from ozplaza for 18 months? now and doing the job just fine. $499 delivered.

Previously had 2 x 85w panels with a PL20 controller/regulator which went when I sold my old rig. Getting better voltage with the new one and will replace the reg myself with a "proper one" if I have to. So far so good though.

AnswerID: 484465