Has anyone purchased from these guys please. They are offering a 130watt panel for a really good price. Claims to be " German Certified" and fits my available space on roof rack, plus I get extra 30 watts on next best deal. They say " no middleman". cheers and thanks Craig
That certified is only a stamp they put on label. One was "tested" decades ago.
NOT the one you buying. Normally.
I bought a 200w panel last yr. had goodA grade LG cells for $245. Del.
Am looking at some 1 x 100w. 1 x 130w. for $85 and $120 del. Euro cells in Chinese frame.
200 was too big for job. and son dropped his end when taking off roof.
Whoops.
Anybody want a one end shattered glass, Table top??. Chuckle.
I just read a page on German solar panels . There designed in Germany and made in china . Like the sola we had on our house claimed to be made in Australia but designed in australia made in china
I and a lot of know who use solar buy our panels from lowerenergydevelopment on eBay . Me I've bought 9 panels all work well and stand up to there name
Portable panels are only Fixed units, NOT bolted down
with (I did)
Used Stainless "Piano Hinging " by the mtr.
Riveted along one side of each. Holding them together.
STD Stainless hinges will do.
The regulator "shouldn't be mounted on panels anyway.
Heat problem possibilities.
PLUS. They charge more for them than the cost of parts.
You normally better with fixed though.
A lot have tried portable.
The bulk of us went from them to fixed
and just added another one to compensate.
Getting enough panel power to do anything real.
Makes for one or two. BULKY units.
They not small. NOR light.
Get hold of a 80\100\120w individual one first and try carrying it around.
Then double it.
Then figure WHERE you going to put it Comfortably. easily. EVERY time you move.
Macka I don't want to be mucking around building panels when I can buy a160 Watt panel already set up with a factory made frame that I can move around chasing the sun. that will simply plug into my Anderson plug on the side of the van I hope you can understand this...
I tried moving panels around and eventually became tired of that. I made up an extension to my roof rack across to the bull bar. This is fixed in position with eight bolts and can easily be removed if I want. I have three panels on top, one across front of rack and two on the rack extension all locked in place with window keyed security locks. Panels can all be removed if required, bonnet can still be lifted although not quite as high as before and the panels make a fantastic sun visor. I have had them in place now for about eight years.
I recently bought a foldable solar panel from VicOffRoad at my auto electrician's recommendation. Good service, prompt free delivery and it works out of the box. Price less than $1 a watt. No complaints so far.
Yes mate. the bulk of us have tried it at some time.
Me included.
Wait till you dragged a "small" Ha Ha 160w panel round. fold unfold. then store in van somewhere. (I used 2 x 40. 20 yrs or so ago.)
Then lift out and do all over again. EVERY time you move. Best of luck.
Nowadays. Lots of utes. Some (Me again) tend to have a 1 x80\2 x 80-100w panels set up on racks. Movable on ally rails. No weight to carry.
Keeps heat off roof. As said. Sun shade. Much betterer system. Just add ext cable to end of to link into van for top up to there too.
Look at BOTH systems before you commit. Please.
A lot more than both you and I. Over the yrs. Have tried and committed to both ways. with differing results.
Have fun.. we ALL do. with differing results.
Macka I don't find moveing the panel a big deal,especially if the van is in the shade .yes should have ordered roof panels fitted when we bought the new van but it's not worth the hassle now...
-- Edited by Ron-D on Monday 2nd of October 2017 09:56:50 AM
Finally tested today,130watt panel, 23.8volts to 1st Anderson plug, ie about 600mm from panel with original wiring, best estimate 2.5mm squared.Then tested with extension lead of 3 metres and got 23.2 volts. this was at 4.30pm in Albury around 25 degrees,full sun and 25-27 degree panel angle facing true West. So seems to be ok at this stage. cheers Craig
Finally tested today,130watt panel, 23.8volts to 1st Anderson plug, ie about 600mm from panel with original wiring, best estimate 2.5mm squared.Then tested with extension lead of 3 metres and got 23.2 volts. this was at 4.30pm in Albury around 25 degrees,full sun and 25-27 degree panel angle facing true West. So seems to be ok at this stage. cheers Craig
Hi Craig
I do not wish to be a "wet blanket" or knocker, but what you measured is a bit meaningless if you do not have a measure of the current flowing. It appears at that voltage the battery is fully charged and the regulator is virtually switched off, so the voltage drop should be nil.
Measure it in the morning in full sun and see what the battery voltage is too. Does your regulator show the current going in.
G'day Jaahn,
just testing my wiring connections in the Anderson plugs with Multimeter, not yet mounted to underbonnet controller. Didnt want to bolt to roof rack prior to some sort of test. Just noticed this evening that the panel label says 17.5 volts, so hope its not supercharged. Thanks for input. The under bonnet and a small dash mount "gauge"have some scroll functions for most things i think.
