Cheapo solar panels - experience?

We have a couple of rigid panels like these -
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Biard-100...51092179024?pt=UK_Gadgets&hash=item232dcbb050
We paid £90 each, they then went down to £80 each, but seem to be a bit dearer now.
We also have a semi-flexible panel like this one -
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-100W-...51334074677?pt=UK_Gadgets&hash=item3a84ada135
Same price as we paid.

We find in full sunlight here in the Med through an MPPT controller we get up to 5A from each panel. However, being cheapo panels, as soon as around 5% of the panel becomes shaded, the output drops to 1A or less, even if the rest of the panel is in blistering sunlight.

Yous gets what you pays for, I guess!
 
How many seasons use have you had from the semiflexible as I was considering one of those?

Cardo said:
We have a couple of rigid panels like these -
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Biard-100...51092179024?pt=UK_Gadgets&hash=item232dcbb050
We paid £90 each, they then went down to £80 each, but seem to be a bit dearer now.
We also have a semi-flexible panel like this one -
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-100W-...51334074677?pt=UK_Gadgets&hash=item3a84ada135
Same price as we paid.

We find in full sunlight here in the Med through an MPPT controller we get up to 5A from each panel. However, being cheapo panels, as soon as around 5% of the panel becomes shaded, the output drops to 1A or less, even if the rest of the panel is in blistering sunlight.

Yous gets what you pays for, I guess!
Click to expand...
 
BruceDanforth said:
How many seasons use have you had from the semiflexible as I was considering one of those?
Click to expand...

Just this one so far! Compared to the price of equivalent "marine" panels, I figured I could afford 3 or 4 of these for the price. Friend with "marine" panels on his deck (which don't really get stepped on) are looking awful after 3 seasons and I doubt he gets much out of them.
 
Cardo said:
We have a couple of rigid panels like these -
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Biard-100...51092179024?pt=UK_Gadgets&hash=item232dcbb050
We paid £90 each, they then went down to £80 each, but seem to be a bit dearer now.
We also have a semi-flexible panel like this one -
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/NEW-100W-...51334074677?pt=UK_Gadgets&hash=item3a84ada135
Same price as we paid.

We find in full sunlight here in the Med through an MPPT controller we get up to 5A from each panel. However, being cheapo panels, as soon as around 5% of the panel becomes shaded, the output drops to 1A or less, even if the rest of the panel is in blistering sunlight.

Yous gets what you pays for, I guess!
Click to expand...

good price

i paid £144 for a 50w panel... :s=

http://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B008BUKRJ0/ref=oh_details_o05_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
 
Graham_Wright said:
I have to face up to providing some solar power on L'autre Femme.
Prices seems to range from cor blimey to COR BLIMEY!

What do others think of these;-

www.ebay.co.uk/itm/40-5-solar-cells...60732098780?pt=UK_Gadgets&hash=item53fd4f00dc.
Click to expand...

I bought some panels at a very good price from Turbotricity in Ireland. If you contact Eugene I am sure that he will sort you something out. When I bought the last pair he did tell me that prices would rise because the EU have decided the Chinese panels are too cheap so they have increased the taxes!!! In the recent good weather they have been putting out 8 amps each from 150w panels so I am happy.

http://turbotricity.com/product/solar-photovoltaic-pv-panels/

No connection etc etc
 
Last edited:
I got a Victron Blue solar 80 watt rigid panel and a Victron MPPT 70/15 controller for £258 from Barden Batteries it was a lot cheaper than the prices on their web site from memory. I am very pleased with it. Recently kept the batteries full on a cross channel with the fridge and auto pilot running the Batteries were fully charged and at 100% when we left and still 100% when we got to Cherbourg.

J
 
my intro 22 has 2 leisure batteries each goes to a battery selector. my panel is connected to a deck plug socket. it seems that for some reason this is only charging one of the batteries. whats the best way of charging both batteries with one panel? thx
 
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