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Borrego
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# Posted: 2 Jan 2011 06:21pm
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Anyone using these? Or are they too cheap to be any good?
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MtnDon
Member
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# Posted: 2 Jan 2011 06:48pm
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I have a couple small 15 watt panels from Northern Tool, more or less the same as most HF panels. After several years of use they no longer are capable of supplying their rated power. I only use them for maintaining a set of batteries over periods of non use so that's not a big deal.
On the other hand my brans name Sharp panels always outperform their rating on a sunny day.
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SEOhio
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# Posted: 2 Jan 2011 09:31pm
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There is a website just for HF panels! http://solarpanelkitatharborfreight.ning.com/
Lots of discussion there.
I have purchased a set of these, with coupon, $145. One might do even better at their February sidewalk sale. I have yet to finish the install at the "shack", but have great hopes for keeping a battery charged. My preliminary testing showed the panels supplied the rated voltage, and the battery didn't discharge when the panel was covered (simulating night), as some have maintained.
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fasenuff
Member
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# Posted: 3 Jan 2011 07:41am
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I have a set and use them constantly. I wish they were a better and larger set. Having said that they are better than nothing. I use mine to charge a single 125ah battery. The only thing use electric for is to recharge my netbook. On a dailly basis they will not keep up. But in two days time they will give me enough to recharge the netbook.
They do save me running my generator as long and as often.I bought mine when money was tight and they have earned back what I have paid for them. I have read several places that if you get a better charge controller they do a lot better and have been considering that but as yet have not sprung for one.
The compact florescents that come in the set are great tho. They use very little juice and are fairly bright. If you were to use the panels just for light they would do fine with those bulbs.
Bottom line, if you can afford better panels get better panels. If these are all you can afford they are better than nothing and will give you what you pay for.
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