@DanielBrown89 I can buy solar panels for almost the same cost as it cost me to build these and then I get the 25yr warranty. plus they will put out more watts per panel than these.
Have you tried mirrors on the sides? They reflect more light towards the solar panels. You will get around 30 to 50 percent more power on the cells...., hopes this helps. But make sure that the mirrors are wind resistant and don't get broken off in high winds.
It doesn't have to be perfect buddy it just has to work. Have you seen the Sunelec panels for 75 cents a watt? Next time get those and just install the junction boxes and put a frame on them...probably far cheaper.
@helloman1976 I've been watching those but you have to add in the shipping cost and the frame and junction box cost. These cost me $300. each. Each small cell is supposed to be 3.8 to 4.0 watts , so they should be around 200 to 240 watts per panel. I just put two enphase inverters on and ordered two more. I think I'm not getting good efficiency with the power jack 1200 watt grid tie inverter. I'll have to get an enphase "Envoy" to see what each panel is producing after the Enphase inverters on
@wiboater4 You paid $300 a panel for the ones you made? Ouch! I get my panels for less than that and they are already built with a 25 year warranty. Monitor a website named Solar Blvd dot com and they sometimes have excellent deals. I got my mono 175W panels there for $1.50 a watt completed and I got my 200W poly panels on eBay for $1.40 a watt shipped and completed. I wouldn't put any time into those if you're paying $300 a panel. Also, check out my videos PJ grid ties are about 85% efficient.
@helloman1976 That's what it costs if you do it right and use The EVA, TPE, junction boxes etc. that the commercial panels use. These should be 240 watt panels though. Is the 1.50 per watt on the 175's including shipping. From Sun Electric it would cost me over $200. for shipping to where I live. So the panel I built for $300 would have cost me close to $600. These are Monochrystaline cells 6x6 inch. They are running at 37 volts DC open. I think that's why the power jack didn't work well.
Commercial panels use 10 AWG. At 700w and 30V for your 4 panels this is 25A which requires no thinner than 8 AWG. Very nice work. Perhaps center the panel in the middle of the box (vertically) next time and feed the heat from the bottom. What is the total cost doing it this way if you don't mind me asking? Thanks.
@Fearlessthinker I've got the 10 awg coming from 3 of the panels to the combiner box. Just ordered the MC4 cable for the 4th one today. I am using 12 AWG from the box to the 1200 watt grid tie. I think the grid tie is where the loss is at. The foam board was $30. for two sheets, one roll of masking tape, plastic sheeting . The vacuum pump was $104. at Harbor Freight on sale. 2.5 cfm. You could probably use a good shopvac instead. I had the heat gun , can't remember what it cost.
@wiboater4 Thanks. 12 AWG is only good for 9.3A. My Power Jack GTIs do 86%. My cost question was for the panels. Thanks for the series. It will help many people and I know how much work it can be to do them. Tom.
@Fearlessthinker With the 4th panel now I've only seen around 500 watts total so far but that might improve a little if I ever get the 2 axis tracker from red rock. Also the weather has been hot lately , should get better watts when it cools off. But still way under what I figured I'd get. Each cell was supposed to be 3.8 to 4.0 watts, at 30 cells per panel that should be close to 240 watts per panel. I know I have some loss from iron(green tint) in the glass and wire , inverter etc.
@wiboater4 My commercial panels do 88% of their STC rating when perfectly positioned in the summer (80F). I'm hoping to see the full 100% with cooler temperatures. Just some percentages for you to compare to.
@Fearlessthinker Thanks, for the info. I know mine won't be 100%. I'm using a powerjack inverter. I have some other panels feeding into a battery bank thru a BZ Mppt controller. I think I get better with those but then there has to be some loss thru the batteries after. You also have the cost and maintainance of the battery bank. I probably will go to heavier wire coming from the combiner box to the inverter later on. Have to build a bigger combiner box first.
@Fearlessthinker Just wanted to add something about heating from the bottom. You don't want to concentrate to much heat on the front of the panel in one spot or you'll have it overheat and bubbles will form. So from the ends is better You want uniform heat all around.
@donnieboy007 I don't know the exact thickness I have but I had some smaller left over pieces from the first EVA I ordered and you could definately see a difference in the texture and thickness. Never really payed attention wether they listed the thickness on the ebay listing. I'd prefer thicker, more to melt into any voids.
I enjoyed your attempt to vacuum encapsulate. It looks like you might be able to improve the results later. I'm wondering if your power loss may be the wire size you have. It looks like you have one 16 gauge wire serving the whole array.
@MrHorsetail It's a #12 wire. The first 3 panels were putting out about a120 watts in the lighting that I tested them in but when hooked together in parallel they put out less than 300 watts. I'm running them into a 1200 watt grid tie inverter 28 to 52 volt capacity. I'm getting a 28 volt reading at the terminals of the inverter. I haven't had time yet to test the last panel I made seperatly but voltage on it was around 37 volts before I put it on the roof.
@sjh7132 They are hooked in parallel. The voltage open circuit is 37, 34,34,and 33 from left to right on the panels.At full sun 3 PM in Wisconsin. All four hooked up in parallel right now are only putting out 317 watts according to the Kill a watt meter. alone each put out 127 watts earlier today and around 307 watts together. The #12 stranded wire going to the grid tie inverter isn't warm at all so I don't think that is whats pulling them down. Grid tie is at 28 volts. rated 28 to 52 v.
@wiboater4 I wonder if it has something to do with your peak power voltage (30v) being so close to the lower limit of the GTI (28v). I've found the Powerjacks can only do close to their rated power with higher voltage inputs. Unfortunately two of your panels in series is too much voltage. Maybe you can try using the panel with the wiring mistake to add a little voltage to each ot the other 3 panels.
@sjh7132 The heat during the day seems to be cutting a lot of power. I was just back out there and now with a few clouds going over and temp a little cooler it was up to 398 watts. The othe day I saw almost 500 watts but I think that was due to cloud effect. I'm tempted to try two panels in series once. I also have those other panels on the house that i can run either 12 or 24 volt. Could add one each of those in series with a 30 volt panel. I think the cheap grid tie is the problem.
Good demonstration.......
Commercial Solar panels are too expensive to buy!
It will take approx 15 years to pay you back
You can save your money by building solar panels by your own.
there's an Engineer from Chicago, his name is John Sommer
He has explained it all in his website
Just Go to Google and search for...
"Top DIY Solar Panels John Sommer"
Click the first result (Skip the Advertisement)
DanielBrown89 3 weeks ago
@DanielBrown89 I can buy solar panels for almost the same cost as it cost me to build these and then I get the 25yr warranty. plus they will put out more watts per panel than these.
wiboater4 3 weeks ago
@wiboater4 Where do you get your solar panels? I am interested in getting a good price.
PortlandMusicBox 2 weeks ago in playlist Uploaded videos
Have you tried mirrors on the sides? They reflect more light towards the solar panels. You will get around 30 to 50 percent more power on the cells...., hopes this helps. But make sure that the mirrors are wind resistant and don't get broken off in high winds.
Mrinfoone 1 month ago in playlist Uploaded videos
@Mrinfoone The panels are mounted on a Solar Tracker already.
wiboater4 1 month ago
It doesn't have to be perfect buddy it just has to work. Have you seen the Sunelec panels for 75 cents a watt? Next time get those and just install the junction boxes and put a frame on them...probably far cheaper.
helloman1976 6 months ago
@helloman1976 I've been watching those but you have to add in the shipping cost and the frame and junction box cost. These cost me $300. each. Each small cell is supposed to be 3.8 to 4.0 watts , so they should be around 200 to 240 watts per panel. I just put two enphase inverters on and ordered two more. I think I'm not getting good efficiency with the power jack 1200 watt grid tie inverter. I'll have to get an enphase "Envoy" to see what each panel is producing after the Enphase inverters on
wiboater4 6 months ago
@wiboater4 You paid $300 a panel for the ones you made? Ouch! I get my panels for less than that and they are already built with a 25 year warranty. Monitor a website named Solar Blvd dot com and they sometimes have excellent deals. I got my mono 175W panels there for $1.50 a watt completed and I got my 200W poly panels on eBay for $1.40 a watt shipped and completed. I wouldn't put any time into those if you're paying $300 a panel. Also, check out my videos PJ grid ties are about 85% efficient.
helloman1976 6 months ago
@helloman1976 That's what it costs if you do it right and use The EVA, TPE, junction boxes etc. that the commercial panels use. These should be 240 watt panels though. Is the 1.50 per watt on the 175's including shipping. From Sun Electric it would cost me over $200. for shipping to where I live. So the panel I built for $300 would have cost me close to $600. These are Monochrystaline cells 6x6 inch. They are running at 37 volts DC open. I think that's why the power jack didn't work well.
wiboater4 6 months ago
Thank's
wiboater4 6 months ago
cool channel,, subbed
ROCKNTV1 6 months ago
I wonder if a water misting system might help to keep the panels cooler.
DIYMakerman 6 months ago
Commercial panels use 10 AWG. At 700w and 30V for your 4 panels this is 25A which requires no thinner than 8 AWG. Very nice work. Perhaps center the panel in the middle of the box (vertically) next time and feed the heat from the bottom. What is the total cost doing it this way if you don't mind me asking? Thanks.
Fearlessthinker 6 months ago
@Fearlessthinker I've got the 10 awg coming from 3 of the panels to the combiner box. Just ordered the MC4 cable for the 4th one today. I am using 12 AWG from the box to the 1200 watt grid tie. I think the grid tie is where the loss is at. The foam board was $30. for two sheets, one roll of masking tape, plastic sheeting . The vacuum pump was $104. at Harbor Freight on sale. 2.5 cfm. You could probably use a good shopvac instead. I had the heat gun , can't remember what it cost.
wiboater4 6 months ago
@wiboater4 Thanks. 12 AWG is only good for 9.3A. My Power Jack GTIs do 86%. My cost question was for the panels. Thanks for the series. It will help many people and I know how much work it can be to do them. Tom.
Fearlessthinker 6 months ago
@Fearlessthinker The panels are right around $300.00 each using used glass.
wiboater4 6 months ago
@Fearlessthinker With the 4th panel now I've only seen around 500 watts total so far but that might improve a little if I ever get the 2 axis tracker from red rock. Also the weather has been hot lately , should get better watts when it cools off. But still way under what I figured I'd get. Each cell was supposed to be 3.8 to 4.0 watts, at 30 cells per panel that should be close to 240 watts per panel. I know I have some loss from iron(green tint) in the glass and wire , inverter etc.
wiboater4 6 months ago
@wiboater4 My commercial panels do 88% of their STC rating when perfectly positioned in the summer (80F). I'm hoping to see the full 100% with cooler temperatures. Just some percentages for you to compare to.
Fearlessthinker 6 months ago
@Fearlessthinker Thanks, for the info. I know mine won't be 100%. I'm using a powerjack inverter. I have some other panels feeding into a battery bank thru a BZ Mppt controller. I think I get better with those but then there has to be some loss thru the batteries after. You also have the cost and maintainance of the battery bank. I probably will go to heavier wire coming from the combiner box to the inverter later on. Have to build a bigger combiner box first.
wiboater4 6 months ago
@Fearlessthinker Just wanted to add something about heating from the bottom. You don't want to concentrate to much heat on the front of the panel in one spot or you'll have it overheat and bubbles will form. So from the ends is better You want uniform heat all around.
wiboater4 6 months ago
what type of thickness do you get for your EVA or what would you prefer. You bye far have some of the nicest DIY Panels. Great job.
donnieboy007 6 months ago
@donnieboy007 I don't know the exact thickness I have but I had some smaller left over pieces from the first EVA I ordered and you could definately see a difference in the texture and thickness. Never really payed attention wether they listed the thickness on the ebay listing. I'd prefer thicker, more to melt into any voids.
wiboater4 6 months ago
I enjoyed your attempt to vacuum encapsulate. It looks like you might be able to improve the results later. I'm wondering if your power loss may be the wire size you have. It looks like you have one 16 gauge wire serving the whole array.
MrHorsetail 6 months ago
@MrHorsetail It's a #12 wire. The first 3 panels were putting out about a120 watts in the lighting that I tested them in but when hooked together in parallel they put out less than 300 watts. I'm running them into a 1200 watt grid tie inverter 28 to 52 volt capacity. I'm getting a 28 volt reading at the terminals of the inverter. I haven't had time yet to test the last panel I made seperatly but voltage on it was around 37 volts before I put it on the roof.
wiboater4 6 months ago
@wiboater4 What is the OC voltage of each panel? And do you have them hooked in parallel?
sjh7132 6 months ago
@sjh7132 They are hooked in parallel. The voltage open circuit is 37, 34,34,and 33 from left to right on the panels.At full sun 3 PM in Wisconsin. All four hooked up in parallel right now are only putting out 317 watts according to the Kill a watt meter. alone each put out 127 watts earlier today and around 307 watts together. The #12 stranded wire going to the grid tie inverter isn't warm at all so I don't think that is whats pulling them down. Grid tie is at 28 volts. rated 28 to 52 v.
wiboater4 6 months ago
@wiboater4 I wonder if it has something to do with your peak power voltage (30v) being so close to the lower limit of the GTI (28v). I've found the Powerjacks can only do close to their rated power with higher voltage inputs. Unfortunately two of your panels in series is too much voltage. Maybe you can try using the panel with the wiring mistake to add a little voltage to each ot the other 3 panels.
sjh7132 6 months ago
@sjh7132 The heat during the day seems to be cutting a lot of power. I was just back out there and now with a few clouds going over and temp a little cooler it was up to 398 watts. The othe day I saw almost 500 watts but I think that was due to cloud effect. I'm tempted to try two panels in series once. I also have those other panels on the house that i can run either 12 or 24 volt. Could add one each of those in series with a 30 volt panel. I think the cheap grid tie is the problem.
wiboater4 6 months ago