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stephanie
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# Posted: 1 Jan 2013 11:12am
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Does anyone have any experience with this system?? http://www.wholesalesolar.com/solarpowersystems/small-dc-off-grid-solar-power-system. html
Thanks
Stephnaie
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TomChum
Member
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# Posted: 1 Jan 2013 11:51am
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I would buy that kit, if I had no way to get the batteries locally. Each battery is about 70 lbs. I didn't see how many batteries, but multiply by 70. I advise to ask them how they could sell you that kit "without batteries", and help you to locate the batteries closer to where you live. If they ship the kit to you, batteries included, UPS will make more money than they do from your system.
I have bought from Wholesale Solar since 2009. They have never tried to sell me anything I didn't need, my experience with them is that they want you to be satisfied, whether you buy their batteries or not.
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Rossman
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# Posted: 1 Jan 2013 12:27pm
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I would not buy a kit that doesn't have an MPPT type charge controller. That one appears to be PWM type.
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TomChum
Member
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# Posted: 1 Jan 2013 01:02pm
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MPPT was more important when the cost of solar panels was such that getting that last few percent was significant.
IIRC, MPPT gets you about 16% more (??) and cost at least a couple hundred more $$ ? Now that panels cost a lot less, is it more economical to spend that $$ on more panels ? If you have the space to mount another panel.
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Dillio187
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# Posted: 1 Jan 2013 01:42pm
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it really depends on what you buy for panels. If you buy panels that match your batteries (~17V for 12 banks, 34V for 24V banks etc) then what you're saying is true, but if you find a steal on some 30V grid tie panels, you absolutely need a MPPT controller to properly charge your bank.
My 2 cents, the above 'kit' looks OK, but I would source a couple golf cart batteries local for about $160 US and save the money for something else. Most solar rookies cook a set of batteries or two learning how to care for their batteries, and cooking a cheap set of golf cart batteries is much cheaper than the Surrettes they are trying to sell.
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stephanie
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# Posted: 1 Jan 2013 04:39pm
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I was definately thinking of getting the batteries locally, it sounds like people think it is a good kit, I still have a lot to learn.
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Moving Pictures
Member
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# Posted: 1 Jan 2013 07:29pm
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MPPT conttQuoting: TomChum IRC, MPPT gets you about 16% more (??) and cost at least a couple hundred more $$ ?
Try again: you're looking at at least a 30 per cent efficiency increase. A PWM controller will only slash the voltage: you're stuck with the current a module produces.
If you look at the cost per watt of the quoted panels, they're in the two-dollar per watt range: Double what is considered acceptable.
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Rossman
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# Posted: 1 Jan 2013 08:04pm
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I would check out the small kits on northern arizona wind & sun, they also have really helpful forums!
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