Harbor Freight Solar Panels: Why Harbor Freight Brand?

[walkertongdee]

The best price solar panel currently is one dollar per watt, so this $189. 45-watt panel should cost $45…

[brainplay]

@walkertongdee The $1 per watt you are talking about is manufacturing cost for the actual panel. However, that's the exception, not the norm. The norm is $3 per watt and again for just the panel construction. That does not include external items nor profit margin.

[bind1967]

@walkertongdee You can get solar CELLS at $1 per watt, not finished PANELS. You must solder the solar cells together, buy the solar glass, buy a bonding product, bond the cells to the glass, solder in the bus & diodes, buy materials for the panels, build the panels, finish & waterproof the panels, buy wiring, wire the panels, buy connectors, solder the connectors... Thats just for ONE panel. ...Then you have to buy or build the lights, housings, and the regulated charger...

[walkertongdee]

That the controller is reading more than 12 V. this means that one little battery isn’t charging, it is full, too many panels. This is about efficiency, you should plan for the right amount of panels for power you can store anything else is a waste.

[walkertongdee]

fyi folks these panels are nearly twice the cost per watt as other panels. Volts don’t mean much; it is watts or amps that count. Also, the harbor freight website is misleading. It says you can run a computer on one 45-watt panel, no way try 400, 500 watts, not even a laptop that is about 80-100 watts. Don’t be fooled look elsewhere, anywhere and be informed.

[zkyzar]

@walkertongdee True but lsd is right in the fact that they are affordable. You might have to wait longer for these panels to charge a 12v battery but they will charge them. And for the cost, well I havent found a better deal yet. If you have please let us all know who are interested. 1 12v panel with 20 amps might do the same as lsd has but you only got one panel that cost 300+ w/o wiring/controler/etc.... shtf I want more than one panel/controler/etc...

[Technicaltaboo]

Love what your doing , but why do people allow or buy in home owner association properties

they suck

[8digitPDX]

That is the nature of amorphous panels. They only require indirect light to make power. The downside is the high dollar per watt cost and they require more surface area per watt of power production.

[Jpcalifornia1227]

I have 2 sets of harbor freight panels 90 watts total. 3 costco marine battery's and a 2000 watt inverter. During the night for some reason it slowly drains my battery bank. Do you have a tips or suggestion?

[LDSPrepper]

@Jpcalifornia1227 Great question. Please contact HF solar panels and let us know what you find out. There is a diode (or resister) in panels that is suppose to stop that from happening.

[GoatHollow]

@LDSPrepper I've opened up several Harbor Freight panels (was checking for diodes, and couldn't find any!!!) You might check your panels.

[LDSPrepper]

@GoatHollow I checked mine. I do have a diode inside the box on the backside of the panels.

[walkertongdee]

@Jpcalifornia1227 one word diode

[Jpcalifornia1227]

Great setup

[LDSPrepper]

@LDSPrepper MPPT controller

[LDSPrepper]

@LDSPrepper MPPT controller

[docchocobo]

The voltage on these panels is great I own some, but what you will find quickly is that in shade, the current drops quite a lot. As you say though, the advantage is that the voltage IS higher so even in shade the batteries are getting charge, when the old style big blue panels are not able to make enough volts to charge at all.

[TheUnNerved]

I've got a set of HF panels out back hooked up to a deep cycle and an inverter. Made a solar generator out of it. Handles most of my backyard projects, drills, table saws, etc. Had it for almost 2 years and runs like a champ. Only thing I've had to replace was the charge controller.

[LDSPrepper]

@TheUnNerved Awesome. Thanks for sharing. I'd like to see a video of you using it and your setup.

[LDSPrepper]

@TheUnNerved Sweet! Thanks for sharing.

[MrLandphill]

The diodes will not get knocked out by an EMP burst from what I have been told. Also you could try a trick I saw on someone's you tube video (can't remember the uploader). the trick they showed was to use a mirror to reflect more sunlight on the panels and it increased the output. You would not have to use mirrors but a strip of reflective metal against the house above the panels may work. have a nice day and thanks for the great videos

[LDSPrepper]

@MrLandphill You are right the diodes will not be knocked out. Adding sun light by focusing it with mirrors or something could work well in winter when you get very little light. In summer or bright days you could destroy the panels.

[JoeRnCT]

@MrLandphill I think it was Dan Rojas of GreenPowerScience you're thinking of.

[jhs5150]

@ LDSprepper Good work although you sound a little paraniod. Put up the panels and use them. In the event there is an EMP you will be vaporized from the heat so if the diodes blow out it really doesn't matter,does it? LOL. Unless you plan on living in an underground shelter all the time and you get advance warning of a nuclear attack from Civil Defense, all your preparation will be for naught. Enjoy your life, you panels, your food and don't worry about what could never be. Thanks.

[LDSPrepper]

@jhs5150 Thanks for commenting. I prepare with a hopeful attitude that this is all a good exercise.

[latinonyc7]

great job !!! :) i have something similar

Namaste

SAY NO TO THE NEW WORLD ORDER

[hoz49]

You can't knock the chinese, they are currently the leader manufacturing solar panels. And it doesn't look like the US will catchup anytime soon.

[LDSPrepper]

@hoz49 Very true. So let's get working U.S.!

[jcal5150]

@hoz49 lol china yea thats a big fucking problem yeah go on send alll our jobs to china and smile at how cheap somthing is i dont wanna here theas fat lazy americans complaining about not having jobs and not being abel to feed your kids and the country going BROKE OK! ! ! ! so fuck china and fuck you for sending our much needed jobs over ther because somthing can be mad cheaper

[ometec]

@hoz49 Not since our companies keep moving solar production there

[willkaren4ver]

in my HOA no solar anything on the rooves and no turbines either are allowed. And with crime drastically rising in our area, I don't think anything mounted at ground level will survive. We had 5 car break ins in 1 day. I was on of the 5. Things are changing where I live and not for the better.

[LDSPrepper]

@willkaren4ver Wow. That is crazy. I wish you the best.

[ometec]

@willkaren4ver Thats called everywhere these days

[MeEncantaKiley]

I don't think you will have any problems with the HOA for putting up a solar system.

[LDSPrepper]

@MeEncantaKiley I think you are correct. My brother who lives in a nearby development checked and they allow solar panels. I put them low primarily to be out of sight. So I am not a target in a WROL.

[MeEncantaKiley]

@LDSPrepper You know, even if the HOA saw them, I heard form somebody respectable that it's against the law to ban them in the first place. I guess there must be some new federal/ state legislation that completely overpowers the HOA's rules. I'm not sure though.

I have 5 harbor freight 15w panels on my roof.

[LDSPrepper]

@MeEncantaKiley That's good to know. Thanks.

[kalliste23]

Suggestion: try experimenting with reflectors to put more light on the panels. whitewashing the wall above the panels would reflect more light on to them, for instance.

[LDSPrepper]

@kalliste23 Great idea. I have seen videos where reflectors were used and it made an immediate difference in output. Thanks for your comment.

[watcher0777]

how much are the harbor freight panels including the shipping

[LDSPrepper]

@watcher0777 I got mine at my local HF store for $139 one year ago. My brother-in-law told me today he has a coupon for $179.

[watcher0777]

@LDSPrepper thank you, researching this now and it seems that the solar company for rv products is actually cheaper when calculating by the watt. the footprint is less as is the weight too, so as for efficiency and cost the harbor freight seems to be too much. the price your listing is for the 45 watt kit which is 3 panels for 179.00. looking at two panels for a total of 100 +150 = 250 watts. 300+450= 750. mixcatcom channel has make your own panels and this could be a good learning and way 2 go?

[LDSPrepper]

@watcher0777 Great idea. Thanks. I can see why RV PV panels would be a good option to look into.

[ladyboylover]

come on man you are a prepper , you are a fool by using your panels only during emergencies . You would rather pay the evil big corps instead of getting free power WOW , you are a slave 

[LDSPrepper]

@ladyboylover LOL, thanks for the comment. You are right. I am a prepper. I built the system to prepare for a future event when there is no grid electricity. If I use my system now and there is and EMP from the sun or someone then all my electronics are fried. Then I can't use the system for what it was designed for. Then I wouldn't be a prepper. I would then be a salve like everyone who didn't prep.

[LDSPrepper]

@ladyboylover There is no such thing as "Free" power. I have spent a year of my life learning and building this system and a lot of money. No one can produce electricity for $0.10/kwh on a residential level. The only way you can get it that cheap is to buy it from the "evil big corps".

[worldsslowestprepper]

good vid man...just got a set....where do i get battery....?

[LDSPrepper]

@worldsslowestprepper You might check golf courses if you want to get cheap used 6 volt batteries. Otherwise for a good battery source I'd go to batteriespluscom

[MrMarlinB]

@LDSPrepper Thanks. My question was "where do I get affordable batteries". One guy was saying Costco marine batteries were the way to go. They're less expensive than comparable batteries, but to maximize the budget, I was looking for any cheaper source.

Also heard something about telephone substations having to change out their battery banks on a schedule and they have to dispose of their old ones.

[LDSPrepper]

That is great to know. Thank you! 

[econewpower]

You won't have to take the panels down, even in case of EMP they will be fine. The diode in the back is there so at night the panels won't drain the batteries. If they ever go bad, you can bypass the diode and use a single diode the end of the wire by the charge controller. I have some spare diodes I can send you if you want them, just let me know in a PM. I also have a beehive just like yours that I put together last month and will be getting the bees in two weeks - I can't wait! Take care!

[mountainprepper21]

@econewpower I have to agree with econewpower. Do not take your panels down, use them! If your panels have been made since 2008 you will have mc connectors and the diode is actually contained there. Just keep some extra diodes, i would recommend you keep twice as many as you are currently using. Wrapping the panels, or anything else for that matter, in foil will not protect from emp. you need to create a faraday box making sure to properly ground it. Store your extra electronics in there.