cheap solar panel supplier?

chrisbitz said:
Can anyone recommend somewhere that can supply a solar panel and regulator - 50w+? for about £150?

the prices seem to vary so much, 150 - £400! I don't need a flexible one, just something rigid that I can hang off the pushpit.
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I was lucky enough to get hold of a 100w panel from Belgium before the present increase in prices £130 even delivered from Belgium very efficient and supplied with blocking diodes and 2 by-pass diodes. However when I was looking for a panel these seem to have good feedback and are still reasonably priced.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/100W-Watt...950620?pt=UK_Gadgets&var=&hash=item58a0167ddc

Hope this of some help.

Phil
 
chrisbitz said:
That is really good, however 1200 is really big to hang off the back of my pushpit! Curiously, the 80w version is the same size!

does anyone know of any good mounting kits that can be used on the pushpit rails?
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I see your Salty Dog is 27 ft, mine is 30Ft so not that much bigger I include a photo for you to see the effect?

Incidently it adjusts flat, to different angles and slides to one side so I can use the boarding ladder. The added output is worth the increase in size IMHO ?

Phil
 
chrisbitz said:
does anyone know of any good mounting kits that can be used on the pushpit rails?
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Had to cobble together my own with bits from Kyrospruce

http://www.kayospruce.com/index.asp...ssories&InBox=Deck Fittings&cct=3&TypeSearch=

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I'm still happy with the pair of 40W panels I bought from eBay in April. Supplied by Solarventa in Germany. I don't know if he's still selling panels but mine only came to around 107 Euro (~£92) for 2x40W including delivery to Spain. He sold regulators and 50W panels as well.

I bought via eBay.es as Spanish prices were a bit lower. He'd have delivered them to UK as he said same del. cost in Europe (but had higher GBP prices on UK site).

UPDATE:
Solarventa still sell 50W panels and regulators. Prices up since April, 50W £57.50 & £18.80 delivery. Mine were cheaper (and Del. half price on second panel).
But you could try buying from him via eBay.es for less. Euro 78.75 (59.95 + 18.80 del.)

That's around £67 (£51 + £16 del.) vs. £76.30 on eBay.co.uk Makes you wonder how many other non-UK based sellers have lower euro prices on eBay.
 
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xeitosaphil said:
I see your Salty Dog is 27 ft, mine is 30Ft so not that much bigger I include a photo for you to see the effect?

Incidently it adjusts flat, to different angles and slides to one side so I can use the boarding ladder. The added output is worth the increase in size IMHO ?

Phil
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That does look good... I think I'll go for the 80w, which is 20cm less... I dunno, maybe I'm being silly, but I just didn't fancy having it dominate the back of the boat. A friend has a small one hanging off the back, and it looks great, but I guess his must be a 20w or something! :-)
 
I also wanted to avoid square panel as a longer and narrower one was a better fit. I bought 2x40W from supplier I mentioned and bolted them together using anodised aluminium plates on the side. This just happened to give the size I needed, price was good and gave better shade tolerance (one panel was often unshaded when other had some shadow). If one panel breaks then you still have the second one. You needn't restrict the search to one 80W panel, 2x40W might be an option.
 
chrisbitz said:
does anyone know of any good mounting kits that can be used on the pushpit rails?
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I should probably start a separate thread but...

What's the max weight anyone would hazzard hanging off their guard rails?

At Southampton boat show I noticed that Barden were selling a thin flexible panel on an aluminium backing for hanging off the guard rail (with a little hanger to pull it up horizontal when in use). Unfortunately it was insanely expensive (can't remember, but I think over 500 quid for something like 50W). I was thinking it shouldn't be too difficult to have a mount made up and stick a cheap Chinese panel to it but Lensun's flexible panels seem a bit heavier than Barden's expensive ones.
 
Paddingtonbear said:
"just hanging off the push pit" is not very efficient. proper mounting at around 15 degrees is.
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This is ok sailing in a southerly direction at mid day, but I find with the sun astern or abeam you little to no output at all at 15 degrees, in this situation it is better to be flat, at at least you get something.
 
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I bought a couple of 30 watt panels on ebay for £100 odd from a Chinese company, Lensun I think. Delivered from UK they are thin and flexible. I have on bonded one deck and one with a plywood back added as a roving panel. they work fine, only criticism is the electrical connection is a bit flimsy and one had to be re-soldered after someone stepped on it and broke the plastic housing. Otherwise they are good for the money.
 
I also had a 30 watt panel from Lensun via eBay and as above the panel is good apart from the connection being a bit flimsy. I've been using mine on the coachroof for a year now with no issues - keeps my single 12v battery topped up nicely. Cost me £125 at the time.
 
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