What Panels are you running?

[Crlefley]

Question for you all, What solar panels are you running? Particularly looking for the size (dimensions) and output, (power). Ideally Im looking to get 2-3kw of solar on my roof. But shopping for panels is an interesting game. Pictures/links would help! I will certainly update my build thread when I get what I get.

 

[Bjorkinman]

Q Cells. I have: Q. Peak Duo BLK ML-G10+ 400
I have 7 total but would like to add an 8th. I bought them from a guy on marketplace that had a storage unit full of pallets of panels. I paid around 700-900 for the bunch - cant remember the exact number but i know it was cheap. We tested them each with a meter when I bought them. I have the front 3 wired in parallel to a Victron mppt 100/50 and the rear 4 wired series parallel to a Victron 150/70. Have been working great, and when the sun is just right I've seen 3000+ output. I wanna say they're 84 inches by around 37 inches. I found Unirac solar racking for cheap online and used brackets from a guy named Jonathan (sojourners way on YouTube) 352-537-9220 not sure if he still sells them but they were a good deal and he shipped to me from TN. His video on solar racking shows his method for install. I highly recommend this 3M as a sealant/adhesive to connect ANYTHING to your bus that you need to not leak and stay connected.

 

[Crlefley]

@Bjorkinman Ive seen GREAT stuff about that 5200, and have used some myself. I am going to actually coat all of my rivet seams with "gluvit" which is for hulls of boats. Ive got some problem areas I dont think ill be able to seal without it.
Great info on the panels. Im looking around marketplace right now trying to find some deals, but its few and far between.

 

[Bjorkinman]

@Bjorkinman Ive seen GREAT stuff about that 5200, and have used some myself. I am going to actually coat all of my rivet seams with "gluvit" which is for hulls of boats. Ive got some problem areas I dont think ill be able to seal without it.
Great info on the panels. Im looking around marketplace right now trying to find some deals, but its few and far between.

Not sure about your location but I just made a post for a great deal in atlanta

 

[Crlefley]

Not sure about your location but I just made a post for a great deal in atlanta

Im in Minnesota. Ya know, where the daycare centers are.

 

[nikitis]

I'm using all Chinese no-brand named components. I'm probably the only one here not using any Victron. I find them to be highly marked up, and find that most people buy them for peace of mind and don't fully understand or are afraid of electricity so they pay the premium for the safety factor. Everything was far cheaper this way for me, but I also overspec'ed everything too as often these no brand components don't meet up to their advertised standards. So far in testing it's working out wonderfully for me.

I'm using some older but free 320 Watt Monochrome Renogy panels 6x of them. You wanna have at least 40V's higher on the solar array than your battery setup so it can be powerful enough to charge your batteries. I'm running a 62V solar array with a 24V battery system.

I'll let everyone know if my skoolie investment ends up in flames years from now, but I don't think it will.

 

[Bjorkinman]

I bought Victron because it works and it works well. I understand that electricity can kill you and cause fires, and that you get what you pay for. I didn't buy it for the safety factor, proper fusing and installation techniques are what build a safer electrical system. I've seen plenty of people do a crap install with premium components wonder why their system isn't working and why it arced.

 

[TheHubbardBus]

I'm using all Chinese no-brand named components. I'm probably the only one here not using any Victron. I find them to be highly marked up, and find that most people buy them for peace of mind and don't fully understand or are afraid of electricity so they pay the premium for the safety factor.

I've never known anyone to purchase higher quality / higher cost components based on such reasoning. Like @Bjorkinman said, "you get what you pay for". Not always true, but true more often than not. Doesn't have anything to do with being scared / ignorant of electricity.

Victron's seamless software / app integration alone is well worth the price of admission. I went with Samlex for an inverter charger (another very high quality option - no complaints), but had I known ahead of time just how elegant and useful Victron's all-encompassing software was, I likey would have went 100% Baby Blue.

As for panels, Criefly, I've never used them before, but I know lots of people who rave over the deals they get at San Tan Solar. Most of those reviews came from people who pick up locally, however. So I can't say if their shipping is reasonable or not.

 

[skydawg]

Q Cells. I have: Q. Peak Duo BLK ML-G10+ 400

I am running basically the same thing, data sheet linked below; 4x of the Q.PEAK DUO BLK ML-G10+ SERIES
The main reason being that the dimensions were what I wanted, price was reasonable, and that's what was in stock at my local supplier. Shipping panels can be very expensive so I went with what was in reasonable driving distance.

You got a good deal on yours for sure. I probably paid twice that for half the panels
My problem with used / discount was I could not find either the wattage, dimensions, type (monocrystalline), or number of panels (same stats/manufacturer since it's not ideal to mix) that I wanted. Since I only had room for four I was being very picky.


https://media.qcells.com/v/V3EPlQau/

 

[Crlefley]

My problem with used / discount was I could not find either the wattage, dimensions, type (monocrystalline), or number of panels (same stats/manufacturer since it's not ideal to mix) that I wanted. Since I only had room for four I was being very picky.


https://media.qcells.com/v/V3EPlQau/

This is my problem searching for used panels as well.

 

[Ozbozz57]

I'm one of those people who don't have any Victron stuff. (PWM charge controllers from Bogart Engineering, inexpensive Chinese power supplies from Mean Well)
I don't remember what brand solar panels I bought. I selected them by physical size, cell count (output voltage), and wattage. I agree with Bjorkinman. Safety comes from correct wire size, proper fusing, and good connections. That's why I used Blue Sea Systems fuse blocks, and bus bars, the best high amperage terminals I could get, a hydraulic crimper (chinese, of course), and good quality heat shrink.
I said many times before I retired from the appliance repair business - You don't always get what you pay for, but you DEFINITELY DON'T GET what you DON'T pay for. (Ultra expensive "boutique" appliances are notoriously unreliable)

 

[LargeMarge-TC]

On our ExpeditionVehicle, we have six 305-Watt Sunpower configured in 24v, for a total of 1,830-Watts.
This system is duplicated on the toy-hauler I fabricated on a similar commercial chassis.
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For maximum photovoltaic real-estate, we have nothing else on the roof.
An aside:
* We are founding members of the No! Holes! In! The! Roof! club, so this was an easy decision.
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We acquired everything through...

Mac's Batteries

Mac's Batteries specializes in lead & lithium battery solutions: cars, RV, forklift, and off-grid power solutions. Solar panels and components available.

macsbatteries.com

... in Eugene Oregon.
They usually stock several hundred panels of different sizes (stacked to the warehouse ceiling, plus out in the fenced parking-lot).
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Mac's also built our robust LiFePo4 batteries and their lovely cabinets.