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  • Cheap solar panels

    Where is the best place to find and buy solar panels?

  • #2
    Depends on your location.
    [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

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    • #3
      http://store.solar-electric.com/ is likely pretty close , and having ordered from them several times in the past, I trust them, they even have a brick & mortar store you can walk into.
      Powerfab top of pole PV mount (2) | Listeroid 6/1 w/st5 gen head | XW6048 inverter/chgr | Iota 48V/15A charger | Morningstar 60A MPPT | 48V, 800A NiFe Battery (in series)| 15, Evergreen 205w "12V" PV array on pole | Midnight ePanel | Grundfos 10 SO5-9 with 3 wire Franklin Electric motor (1/2hp 240V 1ph ) on a timer for 3 hr noontime run - Runs off PV ||
      || Midnight Classic 200 | 10, Evergreen 200w in a 160VOC array ||
      || VEC1093 12V Charger | Maha C401 aa/aaa Charger | SureSine | Sunsaver MPPT 15A

      solar: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Solar
      gen: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Lister

      Comment


      • #4
        I have looked at this price comparison site from time to time.

        http://www.ecobusinesslinks.com/solar_panels.htm
        --Ray
        8xSV-X-195-LV - 22.80 Voc - 18.30 Vmp - 10.66 Imp - 11.55 Isc
        2xUL Solar 85w - 21.9 Voc - 17.9 Vmp - 4.84 Imp - 5.17 Isc
        1xUL Solar 120w - 21.9 Voc - 18.1 Vmp - 6.6 Imp - 6.8 Isc
        7xHF 15w - 23.57 Voc - 17.5 Vmp - 0.86 Imp - 1.15 Isc
        MorningStar MPPT 60 Charge Controller
        Midnite Classic 150 Charge Controller
        700ah used Gel batteries
        Xantrex PROWatts 600 PSW Inverter
        HF 1000/2000 MSW Watt Inverter

        Comment


        • #5
          Originally posted by raydias View Post
          I have looked at this price comparison site from time to time.

          http://www.ecobusinesslinks.com/solar_panels.htm

          DMSolar pricing seems pretty incredible: $1.80 - $1.85/watt for Canadian Solar or DMSolar's brand (which is basically built to their spec by the major Chinese producers, one of which is the builder of Canadian Solar panels) in 230w, 280w, and 295w panel sizing.

          The 280w+ offerings are really enticing to me since I have limited roof space (based on panel width, not necessarily length) and a lot of energy needs .

          Does anyone have any experience or educated thoughts regarding DMSolar and/or Canadian Solar with regards to if purchasing these panels through DMSolar is a reasonable choice or if it is likely to be a mistake?

          Thanks!

          Comment


          • #6
            I found no negative comments on a quick net search.

            I have asked the same question on the forum before but no replies so apparently no one here has tried DMSolar.

            Russ
            [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

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            • #7
              Originally posted by russ View Post
              I found no negative comments on a quick net search.

              I have asked the same question on the forum before but no replies so apparently no one here has tried DMSolar.

              Russ

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              • #8
                [QUOTE=MarineLiner;22012]

                Comment


                • #9
                  Originally posted by solarsocal View Post
                  DMSolar pricing seems pretty incredible: $1.80 - $1.85/watt for Canadian Solar or DMSolar's brand (which is basically built to their spec by the major Chinese producers, one of which is the builder of Canadian Solar panels) in 230w, 280w, and 295w panel sizing.

                  The 280w+ offerings are really enticing to me since I have limited roof space (based on panel width, not necessarily length) and a lot of energy needs .

                  Does anyone have any experience or educated thoughts regarding DMSolar and/or Canadian Solar with regards to if purchasing these panels through DMSolar is a reasonable choice or if it is likely to be a mistake?

                  Thanks!
                  If you are buying Canadian Solar at 1.80 a watt that is a very good price for a good panel. We have installed about 60KW of them and haven't had a single problem.
                  NABCEP certified Technical Sales Professional

                  [URL="http://www.solarpaneltalk.com/showthread.php?5334-Solar-Off-Grid-Battery-Design"]http://www.solarpaneltalk.com/showth...Battery-Design[/URL]

                  [URL]http://www.calculator.net/voltage-drop-calculator.html[/URL] (Voltage drop Calculator among others)

                  [URL="http://www.gaisma.com"]www.gaisma.com[/URL]

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    Originally posted by solarsocal View Post
                    Thanks Russ & MarineLiner.

                    Yeah, it's frustrating when you see a great price but can't get enough info either way to have some confidence in a decision. Especially given the magnitude of the purchase.

                    My thoughts at this point based on the limited info available is that since DMSolar is now selling the Canadian Solar panels for nearly the same $$, why risk taking a chance on the newer, DMSolar brand panel? Even if the panels are made by the same manufacturer as Canadian Solar (or IS Canadian Solar), even if it was to better specs, these long term warranties are based on whoever's name is on the panel and DMSolar doesn't have much track record.

                    I think I'll start a new message thread soon asking for people's experience with Canadian Solar's reliability, if warranty is honored in a reasonable manner, and in general (non-brand-specific) what are the chances that any given solar panel that's working fine in the first couple years is likely to have issues long term.

                    The price saved up front by paying $1.85/watt would already start me off ahead by 5 panels. Ie, if 5 panels failed in the future AND I couldn't get warranty coverage, I wouldn't be any worse off than if I had bought the next best deal.

                    But what would make it more enticing is the (yet-to-be-verified) hope that my previously-fast-jack'ed roof setup can support the longer 280+ watt panels without shading/overlap issues. If so, the added savings per year by being able to use CSI 295 Watt panels would mean every two years I'd have saved myself enough $$ to cover an additional panel. Ie, six years from now, if *8* (25%+) of my total panels failed AND weren't covered by warranty, it still wouldn't have cost me more than going with the next best deal I've found (with more reputable Schott 230's). Seems like a good amount of buffer?
                    If you are concerned about warranty issues then look at Astronergy Modules.
                    These have the unique warranty in that it is insured by Deutsche RE a German insurance company.
                    The warranty on The Canadian Solar says to return them to China freight prepaid. I haven't had to do this. I have requested that they open a North American service center for warranty claims but nothing so far.
                    Most of the CS panels now are the new edge designed for the Zep mounting system.
                    Although they are back compatable to many mounting systems it would seem a waste of money to pay the additional for the new edge and then have to purchase another racking system. BTW the new edge modules are optimally mounted in a landscape orientation with the Zep mounting. Microinverters are a PITA with that system.
                    At that price it appears you are getting a close out on some older modules.
                    NABCEP certified Technical Sales Professional

                    [URL="http://www.solarpaneltalk.com/showthread.php?5334-Solar-Off-Grid-Battery-Design"]http://www.solarpaneltalk.com/showth...Battery-Design[/URL]

                    [URL]http://www.calculator.net/voltage-drop-calculator.html[/URL] (Voltage drop Calculator among others)

                    [URL="http://www.gaisma.com"]www.gaisma.com[/URL]

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Thanks for the info Naptown! Good to know you've had positive experiences with Canadian Solar. The panels in question are CS6X 295's. Do the specs seem good to you? Should I have any concerns about buying older modules?

                      Looks like they are mono-crystalline, I wonder if they are phasing them out to go with a less expensive process (?).

                      I'm not too worried about warranty unless folks tell me I'm wrong in my assumption that solar panels are generally very reliable regardless of make. With the amount of $$ I'd save with these panels and the extra power savings I'd generate (assuming my setup supports the 77" long 295w panel), honestly if I lost a small # of panels along the way, I'd still be ahead even if there was no warranty whatsoever. But what wouldn't be smart is a warranty gamble if it could turn out that a lot (over 25%) of these panels would be going bad in the next 10 years to come.

                      Originally posted by Naptown View Post
                      If you are concerned about warranty issues then look at Astronergy Modules.
                      These have the unique warranty in that it is insured by Deutsche RE a German insurance company.
                      The warranty on The Canadian Solar says to return them to China freight prepaid. I haven't had to do this. I have requested that they open a North American service center for warranty claims but nothing so far.
                      Most of the CS panels now are the new edge designed for the Zep mounting system.
                      Although they are back compatable to many mounting systems it would seem a waste of money to pay the additional for the new edge and then have to purchase another racking system. BTW the new edge modules are optimally mounted in a landscape orientation with the Zep mounting. Microinverters are a PITA with that system.
                      At that price it appears you are getting a close out on some older modules.

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Never use them that big so I can't tell you.
                        Will be beyond a micro inverter at least enphase as far as wattage goes.
                        NABCEP certified Technical Sales Professional

                        [URL="http://www.solarpaneltalk.com/showthread.php?5334-Solar-Off-Grid-Battery-Design"]http://www.solarpaneltalk.com/showth...Battery-Design[/URL]

                        [URL]http://www.calculator.net/voltage-drop-calculator.html[/URL] (Voltage drop Calculator among others)

                        [URL="http://www.gaisma.com"]www.gaisma.com[/URL]

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          Originally posted by Naptown View Post
                          Never use them that big so I can't tell you.
                          Will be beyond a micro inverter at least enphase as far as wattage goes.
                          Yup, the plan at this point is to safely max out a large central inverter (SMA-8000US) which seems to point to 30 panels @ 295w/panel, and then for all remaining panel space (guessing 6-8 panels), utilize 230 watt non-Zep CSI panels with microinverters.

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            I'm picking up this older "cheap solar panel" thread.

                            Recently I've seen Canadian Solar panels for around 1.10 to 1.15 $/Watt. Is this too good to be true comparing it to much higher prices panels of well known, established quality products on the market these days?

                            Thanks

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              What kind of warranty is Canadian Solar offering with them ?

                              AFIK, they buy cells from various vendors, and just do assy in Canada.
                              Powerfab top of pole PV mount (2) | Listeroid 6/1 w/st5 gen head | XW6048 inverter/chgr | Iota 48V/15A charger | Morningstar 60A MPPT | 48V, 800A NiFe Battery (in series)| 15, Evergreen 205w "12V" PV array on pole | Midnight ePanel | Grundfos 10 SO5-9 with 3 wire Franklin Electric motor (1/2hp 240V 1ph ) on a timer for 3 hr noontime run - Runs off PV ||
                              || Midnight Classic 200 | 10, Evergreen 200w in a 160VOC array ||
                              || VEC1093 12V Charger | Maha C401 aa/aaa Charger | SureSine | Sunsaver MPPT 15A

                              solar: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Solar
                              gen: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Lister

                              Comment

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