Are DIY Solar Panels Worth it?

[Naptown]

These guys are in san antonio so shipping should be not too bad
180W Mage module for $.74 a watt.
Maybe you could even pick them up and save the shipping.

[green]

I've searched for this ellusive magical panel as well. I have found many. The problem is shipping. Most suppliers charge the same amount to ship one panel as they do 20 panels. Many don't give you the best price on the panel unless you buy a whole pallet of them also. You just need to shop around. I'll be buying my grid tied sytem next year, this year we had more important things to do. My DIY stuff will always play a role in my life, but sometimes it's time to use the pros.

[SunEagle]

[QUOTE=tsupyo;68665]Soooo...have you actually called any of those places to make a purchase? I have, quite a few times. Here's what I've found, Civicsolar - seemingly cheaply priced...until you get to shipping at which point tack on about 30-50% of what the panels cost, blowing the $0.82/W price quoted on their site, next is Sonali...same story there...I'm awaiting two official quotes but they guesstimated the quotes to be similarly priced with shipping as civicsolar. I am researching, by way of actually calling and finding out what the prices are...and I'm still waiting to find these magical $1/W solar panels...


You just found the panels for $1/w or less. That is what you will pay to buy them. Shipping and installation along with inverters, cabling, racks, chargers, etc will increase your material costs. You can add your own DIY labor for free.

No one that I know here on this site ever said the Installed Cost was $1/w. Even you won't be able to get the job done for that low price unless someone gives it to you.

I think I have used up enough of my time trying to help you find the holy grail. Go enjoy your DIY project and don't get burned by the soldering iron.

[inetdog]

I knew some engineers in high school like Mary. She pulled trains in the back seat of a Chevy and laid a lot of pipe line.

Ah yes, "making Mary" and "laying Cable" (whoever she was.)

[tsupyo]

For peat sakes tsupyo. I don't believe you know how to search for things using goggle. I just found over a dozen different size solar panels from 235 to 285 watts made by Sonali, Suntech & Jetion that are all less than $1 per watt.

If you want to purchase a ready made panel for low cost then get off your high horse and do so. If you want to build your own then go do it. If you found "metal" solar panels then please provide the specifications of what type of metal it is. If you can't provide that information then maybe it doesn't exist.

Soooo...have you actually called any of those places to make a purchase? I have, quite a few times. Here's what I've found, Civicsolar - seemingly cheaply priced...until you get to shipping at which point tack on about 30-50% of what the panels cost, blowing the $0.82/W price quoted on their site, next is Sonali...same story there...I'm awaiting two official quotes but they guesstimated the quotes to be similarly priced with shipping as civicsolar. I am researching, by way of actually calling and finding out what the prices are...and I'm still waiting to find these magical $1/W solar panels...

how about good bye?

Responses such as that will get you banned.
The thing I find both annoying and at the same time amusing is the fact that you are willing to spend hundred of hours and perhaps thousands of dollars on a DIY project, yet don't seem to be willing to spend the time to do your own research such as finding panels which are widely available for less than $1.00 per watt. Asking others to do your work for you is not in the spirit or realm of DIY.

Hmmm...I am doing the research and now I'm following the circus show you and a couple others are putting on...and low and behold...I have yet to see any magical $1/W solar panels... I'm still waiting on seeing one...

I'm not even going to try quoting the other blather...I'm glad I'm amusing you...becasue so far...what you all are saying is whats laughable. Please...where am I wrong and where am I not continuing to prove my point?

[Sunking]

He never did say what kind of engineer he was. I'm thinking he is engineer on the lil train at a zoo.

I knew some engineers in high school like Mary. She pulled trains in the back seat of a Chevy and laid a lot of pipe line.

[FloridaSun]

Yeah I know. Problem is he does not even know how foolish he is and we are laughing at him. Engineer my butt.

He never did say what kind of engineer he was. I'm thinking he is engineer on the lil train at a zoo.

[Sunking]

He is providing entertainment value.

Yeah I know. Problem is he does not even know how foolish he is and we are laughing at him. Engineer my butt.

[FloridaSun]

Here is a hint
Go the the home page of this forum
on the right side there is a tab that says Promotions and under it is another tab that says discount solar panels
click on that.

I tried telling him to go there with no luck. I give up on him. IF ever he did find a panel I expect next he would want us to buy them for him.

[Naptown]

Yep and do not let the door hit you in the butt leaving.

He is providing entertainment value.

[Naptown]

Here is a hint
Go the the home page of this forum
on the right side there is a tab that says Promotions and under it is another tab that says discount solar panels
click on that.

[Sunking]

how about good bye?

Yep and do not let the door hit you in the butt leaving.

[Naptown]

actually whats more interesting is that from what i wrote you got out of that i equate solar systems to changing oil and building a shed, which is not what i said...nor what i was even remotely implying... Further, if you missed my meaning then thats on you to figure out. To continue, you are assuming i didnt go and research from this forum site as well as many others to find this magical solar panel...which i did...and gee...possibly may have been why i said i'm tired of contending with this mythical contraption everyone is so bent on saying exists...which does not...not for that price at any rate. You site common sense? Really? I would ask you to use more of it before replying... My questions are intelligent, but seeing as how i'm receiving some pretty stupid responses, my patience is beginning to grow sparser by the word... I have given facts and so far i have yet to see any facts substantiated on the side of commercially built solar panels. To address what i am doing, i have already stated that a few times now...my goal? Well gee maybe its so my oil gets changed quicker or my shed is made sturdier? Or perhaps its so i can realize free power in a cost effective manner? I'm not sure why i have to state this, when its fairly obvious...



Hmmm...first few hits are advertisements of which do not lead me anywhere close to a magical ~$1/w solar panel, however a few links down the page does net some valid resellers of solar panels, none of which comes close to $1/w. They were closer to double that... So, any other sarcastic crap you feel the need to publish on this thread or can we get to the brass tacks of yet another point i'm proving...where's your facts on where this solar panel is at because so far...i'm not seeing it...



Please help me out then russ...because apparently you not only have a magical $1/w commercially made solar panel, but your computer magically nets results mine does not when doing the same exact thing.

how about good bye?

Responses such as that will get you banned.
The thing I find both annoying and at the same time amusing is the fact that you are willing to spend hundred of hours and perhaps thousands of dollars on a DIY project, yet don't seem to be willing to spend the time to do your own research such as finding panels which are widely available for less than $1.00 per watt. Asking others to do your work for you is not in the spirit or realm of DIY.

[SunEagle]

Actually whats more interesting is that from what I wrote you got out of that I equate solar systems to changing oil and building a shed, which is not what I said...nor what I was even remotely implying... Further, if you missed my meaning then thats on you to figure out. To continue, you are assuming I didnt go and research from this forum site as well as many others to find this magical solar panel...which I did...and gee...possibly may have been why I said I'm tired of contending with this mythical contraption everyone is so bent on saying exists...which does not...not for that price at any rate. You site common sense? Really? I would ask you to use more of it before replying... My questions are intelligent, but seeing as how I'm receiving some pretty stupid responses, my patience is beginning to grow sparser by the word... I have given facts and so far I have yet to see any facts substantiated on the side of commercially built solar panels. To address what I am doing, I have already stated that a few times now...my goal? Well gee maybe its so my oil gets changed quicker or my shed is made sturdier? Or perhaps its so I can realize free power in a cost effective manner? I'm not sure why I have to state this, when its fairly obvious...



Hmmm...first few hits are advertisements of which do not lead me anywhere close to a magical ~$1/W solar panel, however a few links down the page does net some valid resellers of solar panels, none of which comes close to $1/W. They were closer to double that... So, any other sarcastic crap you feel the need to publish on this thread or can we get to the brass tacks of yet another point I'm proving...where's your facts on where this solar panel is at because so far...I'm not seeing it...



Please help me out then russ...because apparently you not only have a magical $1/W commercially made solar panel, but your computer magically nets results mine does not when doing the same exact thing.

For peat sakes tsupyo. I don't believe you know how to search for things using goggle. I just found over a dozen different size solar panels from 235 to 285 watts made by Sonali, Suntech & Jetion that are all less than $1 per watt.

If you want to purchase a ready made panel for low cost then get off your high horse and do so. If you want to build your own then go do it. If you found "metal" solar panels then please provide the specifications of what type of metal it is. If you can't provide that information then maybe it doesn't exist.

[inetdog]

Please help me out then russ...because apparently you not only have a magical $1/W commercially made solar panel, but your computer magically nets results mine does not when doing the same exact thing.

It happens!

It is an acknowledged and not yet well enough appreciated fact that Google search at least will try to tailor the search results to your individual interests, based on what links you have actually clicked from other searches, what sites you have visited that link their clicks to Google AdWords, etc.
This affects not only which paid ads you see but which unpaid search results are at the top. Google "search filter bubbles" for (hopefully) some more on the subject. Or you can go straight to this link in case it does not appear in your search.

If you want comparable results, both you and russ will have to open a new search window in private browsing mode, and even then searching from a different IP, and therefore geographic location, will still skew the results.