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Thread: What's the latest (newer, but inexpensive) in photovoltaic cells/panels?

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    Avalon Member 13th Warrior's Avatar
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    Default Re: What's the latest (newer, but inexpensive) in photovoltaic cells/panels?

    Compare to...

    http://www.northerntool.com/shop/too...2420_200512420

    Cheaper and a little less portable.
    “Bundinn er bátlaus maður”

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    Default Re: What's the latest (newer, but inexpensive) in photovoltaic cells/panels?

    Quote Compare to... http://www.northerntool.com/shop/too...2420_200512420 Cheaper and a little less portable.
    The polycrystalline panels are great... but in this case they take up more space than the ones we use and are more expensive. For example ours are $124 each and produce 100 watts in 2/3 of the space the ones you are mentioning do

    The best way to judge solar panels is by cost/watt.

    Here's the link to better, faster, stronger, smaller and cheaper:



    http://www.ebay.com/itm/100W-Watts-1...ht_1673wt_1128

    And their schematic for building a system


    If you are budget conscious then the items shown above make a great system. The charge controller in this schematic is very affordable.

    I posted a link to a better charge controller a couple of posts back, however it is also a bit more expensive.
    Last edited by Dawn; 27th April 2014 at 21:17.

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    Default Re: What's the latest (newer, but inexpensive) in photovoltaic cells/panels?

    Dennis, today there are 12 electric scooters, bicycles, and tricycles in our local Craigslist. Are you saying there are no such in your area? Perhaps people in Minnesota do not enjoy electric cycling as much as those on the California coast do.

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    United States Avalon Member Dennis Leahy's Avatar
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    Default Re: What's the latest (newer, but inexpensive) in photovoltaic cells/panels?

    There are numerous electric bikes and scooters in the "semi-local" Craigslist (Minneapolis) - several of them are over $1000, a few around $500. Locally, there was a home-made electric bike that looked like a "chopper" for $300. I have to admit too, that the notion of an electric bike is actually something I only recently thought about, and I had no idea there were bikes (not scooters or electric motorcycles, but bicycles) that cost between $1000 and $10,000 - there's even one for $50,000.) So, when you posted that you got bikes for around $300, I did a real quick check and saw that those are indeed steals (if they have good batteries and range.) I'm not sure I'd pounce on an electric bike deal right this minute, or not. Money is a consideration, but there are other, unresolved, extenuating circumstances right now that leaves me a bit more indecisive than my usual nature.

    Dennis


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    Default Re: What's the latest (newer, but inexpensive) in photovoltaic cells/panels?

    I understand about extenuating circumstanced Dennis.

    I'd just like to put a word in about electric bikes in general. The best ones have hub motors. We don't have that kind, however. The range of our bikes is 12 miles, but that is without using the pedals. We never go anywhere without pedaling much of the way, so our range is a lot larger... perhaps 15-20 miles. There are little light weight trailers you can get with these bikes... the most common ones have a light aluminum frame and a fabric payload cage. The trailers are common because many young people like to put their tiny tots in them when going on an outing. The biggest advantage of the electric motors in our area is that hill and mountain climbing is possible for a person in reasonable physical shape, unlike trying to climb a steep grade with a normal bike.

    12-20 miles would get most urban residents wherever they need to go daily. These are really easy to charge with a solar system too. As far as a disaster preparation they are a good option.

    However, for an older person, or for carrying packages I think tricycles are better because they are more stable. Unlike bicycles that need trailers to carry large items, tricycles usually have a large payload basket between the back wheels. These are usually more expensive and I haven't found a used one I like yet.

    Gawd I hope our basic services do not fall apart in this country! In my 20s-50s I would have been much more confident of handling such an event.
    Last edited by Dawn; 29th April 2014 at 02:06.

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    Default Re: What's the latest (newer, but inexpensive) in photovoltaic cells/panels?

    Quote Posted by Dennis Leahy (here)
    There are numerous electric bikes and scooters in the "semi-local" Craigslist (Minneapolis) - several of them are over $1000, a few around $500. Locally, there was a home-made electric bike that looked like a "chopper" for $300. I have to admit too, that the notion of an electric bike is actually something I only recently thought about, and I had no idea there were bikes (not scooters or electric motorcycles, but bicycles) that cost between $1000 and $10,000 - there's even one for $50,000.) So, when you posted that you got bikes for around $300, I did a real quick check and saw that those are indeed steals (if they have good batteries and range.) I'm not sure I'd pounce on an electric bike deal right this minute, or not. Money is a consideration, but there are other, unresolved, extenuating circumstances right now that leaves me a bit more indecisive than my usual nature.

    Dennis
    Dennis,

    Here is a link to some cool stuff going on in the electric kit market. This bike has the BaFang mid drive motor on the bicycle.

    Mid drive meaning that the motor powers the bicycle drive train from the bottom bracket along with your human power. The advantage of this system is the weight of the motor is under the rider as opposed to the hub motor and there is a weight advantage to these "mid drive" systems....

    https://youtube.com/watch?v=jqsMRjOev3k

    Check out the fat tire mountain bike going 30 plus....

    On another note, don't rule out the ole humble internal combustion motor on to the bicycle.

    I own a bike with a kit on it since 2010 and have almost 18000 miles upon it from a company called Golden Eagle Bike Engines out of Lansing MI....

    https://youtube.com/watch?v=pxjFCS1Kptw

    My next power assist bicycle will be an electric with a mid drive motor however, that GEBE kit gets well over 200 miles per galleon and since the Robin/Subaru motor is a four stroke it can be filled up with regular gas....always a hoot when a tank full of gas is like sixty cents...he...he...

    Anyway Dennis a power assist bike which ever way you go can save you a lot of money ...

    Nine
    Last edited by Nine; 16th May 2014 at 02:54.

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    Default Re: What's the latest (newer, but inexpensive) in photovoltaic cells/panels?

    Here is a link to what one of my pals is up to with his solar system that he refers to as ghetto....

    He rides around to work and back on his MaB's(motor assisted bicycle) and tries his best to limit his energy usage to save money...

    It is an interesting discussion for sure for folks like me that know nothing about solar power...

    http://motor-assisted-bicycling.1062...td5708151.html


    Nine

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    Default Re: What's the latest (newer, but inexpensive) in photovoltaic cells/panels?

    The BaFang mid drive electric bicycle motor....

    http://www.electricbike.com/bafang-b...50w-mid-drive/

    This is the future of E-bike drive trains....

    Nine

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    Default Re: What's the latest (newer, but inexpensive) in photovoltaic cells/panels?

    Quote Posted by Dennis Leahy (here)
    I have heard that there are now much more efficient panels on the market. Maybe they are not yet in production? Maybe they are ridiculously expensive? I can't afford the really expensive ones.
    My opinion on solar power specifically is that it will never be economically advantageous (math don't lie). If you can afford to buy a new (average) car then you can afford SP. I'm not suggesting avoiding SP (I'm actively building my system up), just understand that if you want to get serious about it then this will turn into a life thing to deal with. Not like buying a new computer.

    Even like 10 yrs down the line, I don't imagine you'll save money (due to battery replacement) but to be honest that's just my guess.

    Quote Posted by Dennis Leahy (here)
    I'm starting to investigate a very small system that could be used to (at least) charge batteries, maybe charge a car battery, maybe provide enough power to save and use for a few lights and/or fan.

    So, is there anything really noteworthy to report, or to recommend...or should I just gloogle "solar panel"?
    As suggested before a marine battery is an ideal choice. However most marine batteries sold in stores (around here) are not true deep cycle marine batteries (despite saying 'marine' on it). You can tell by looking at how they're rated. You want to find a battery rated in amp hours (Ah), most batteries sold in stores will have CCA and or RC (and or CA).

    However this is where people sometimes screw up and buy a battery which is too large. Stratification and Peukert's law are the bane of batteries.

    Choosing proper batteries is more important than which solar panels to use. 6 months down the line the panels will perform the same but the batteries could be on their last leg.
    Last edited by Strat; 18th June 2014 at 14:58.
    Today is victory over yourself of yesterday. Tomorrow is your victory over lesser men.

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    Default Re: What's the latest (newer, but inexpensive) in photovoltaic cells/panels?

    i live in a 36ft bus that ive fitted out with 8x 200w pannels 1700$ momocryistal , 6 ,2volt 600amh batterys makes 12v got for 2000$ through a mate that works at a battery shop probably worth 3000$ , with 2 inverters one small 1500watt high frequency, and one big 6000watt transformer type low frequency for heavy duty stuff , the transformer one takes 11 amps just on idle , small one 1-2 amps, but i can plug a generator into it and it works in reverse to charge batterys ,
    i run a split system 2.5 kw aircon takes around 800wats to run, witch when the suns out it runs just by the pannels , can run it for a few hours after the sun goes down , dont like to run it to long on batteries , 12volt 220lt fridge 70watts , led tv 35 watts , led light stripes x2 5m long 2amps each i think , change colors too :-) ill post some pics soon when i work that out .

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    Default Re: What's the latest (newer, but inexpensive) in photovoltaic cells/panels?

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    plus 1000$ charge controler , midnite classic, and still trying to upload pics of my batteries
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    12v is good up to 100 amps draw from the batterys , the aircon takes around 60amps dc on high, 800w a/c i have heard if u want to go above 100amps then u need 24v to half the amps/ current , sorry if thats confusing its late and a bit rushed have to go to bed soon or ill wake up tired again :-/

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    just a pic of the outside , still have to put brackets on alot of things before its drivable, and get a truck licence, one day soon!

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    Default Re: What's the latest (newer, but inexpensive) in photovoltaic cells/panels?

    plus , im still going lol, the pannels and on hinges so i can angle them up for winter witch i need! sorry about the spelling... i will learn how to spell that other witch one day :-) good night

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    Default Re: What's the latest (newer, but inexpensive) in photovoltaic cells/panels?

    Quote Posted by grant (here)
    i live in a 36ft bus that ive fitted out with 8x 200w pannels 1700$ momocryistal , 6 ,2volt 600amh batterys makes 12v got for 2000$ through a mate that works at a battery shop probably worth 3000$ , with 2 inverters one small 1500watt high frequency, and one big 6000watt transformer type low frequency for heavy duty stuff , the transformer one takes 11 amps just on idle , small one 1-2 amps, but i can plug a generator into it and it works in reverse to charge batterys ,
    i run a split system 2.5 kw aircon takes around 800wats to run, witch when the suns out it runs just by the pannels , can run it for a few hours after the sun goes down , dont like to run it to long on batteries , 12volt 220lt fridge 70watts , led tv 35 watts , led light stripes x2 5m long 2amps each i think , change colors too :-) ill post some pics soon when i work that out .
    Nice lookin' setup there Grant me ol' salt.

    So peak amps coming in from the panels would be what, somewhere near 100 amps an hour?

    What's your standby power use from those inverters (or is that what you mean by "on idle" cause south of 1 Amp sounds about right but 2 amps seems a lot for a 1500Watt inverter)?

    That split system really only uses 800 Watts?

    Do the batteries also charge off the buses diesel engine or do you need an external gen set? What about trying the diesel on old fish & chip shop oil? Smell nice where ever you go

    Are the panels permanently attached if so how do they go driving around?

    Love the 70's porn feel of the light strips, just need some wha-wha guitar over some funk to make it complete

    Something a little like this...


    Anyway, nice setup there Grant and lovin' the paint job.

    Only trouble is it's a bloody Volvo!!!

    How does the power steering on the ol' girl compare to the Merc's from the same period?

    The Renault's were always pigs.

    -- Pan
    "What we think, or what we know, or what we believe is, in the end, of little consequence.
    The only consequence is what we do."

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    Default Re: What's the latest (newer, but inexpensive) in photovoltaic cells/panels?

    Quote Posted by panopticon (here)
    Quote Posted by grant (here)
    i live in a 36ft bus that ive fitted out with 8x 200w pannels 1700$ momocryistal , 6 ,2volt 600amh batterys makes 12v got for 2000$ through a mate that works at a battery shop probably worth 3000$ , with 2 inverters one small 1500watt high frequency, and one big 6000watt transformer type low frequency for heavy duty stuff , the transformer one takes 11 amps just on idle , small one 1-2 amps, but i can plug a generator into it and it works in reverse to charge batterys ,
    i run a split system 2.5 kw aircon takes around 800wats to run, witch when the suns out it runs just by the pannels , can run it for a few hours after the sun goes down , dont like to run it to long on batteries , 12volt 220lt fridge 70watts , led tv 35 watts , led light stripes x2 5m long 2amps each i think , change colors too :-) ill post some pics soon when i work that out .
    Nice lookin' setup there Grant me ol' salt.

    So peak amps coming in from the panels would be what, somewhere near 100 amps an hour?

    What's your standby power use from those inverters (or is that what you mean by "on idle" cause south of 1 Amp sounds about right but 2 amps seems a lot for a 1500Watt inverter)?

    That split system really only uses 800 Watts?

    Do the batteries also charge off the buses diesel engine or do you need an external gen set? What about trying the diesel on old fish & chip shop oil? Smell nice where ever you go

    Are the panels permanently attached if so how do they go driving around?

    Love the 70's porn feel of the light strips, just need some wha-wha guitar over some funk to make it complete

    Something a little like this...


    Anyway, nice setup there Grant and lovin' the paint job.

    Only trouble is it's a bloody Volvo!!!

    How does the power steering on the ol' girl compare to the Merc's from the same period?

    The Renault's were always pigs.

    -- Pan
    i run 2 strings of panels 4 panels in seires each then link the 2 strings in parallel = 22 amps @ 88 volts open circuit witch peaks around 90 amps at 14 volts i think ..well ive seen 90amps on the display on the charge controller , ..mite be more efficient if i go 24 volts so the controler doesnt have to reduce the voltage comeing in at 88 volts down to 14.4 and then picks the amps up .. that charge controller is a mppt , max power point tracking witch is more efficient ,
    the small inverter takes 1.65 amps to run ,

    yeah the new inverter split systems are pretty energy efficient @ 800 watts 60 amps 12.9 volts , but i would want a bigger one in the future like 3.5 kw , the 2.5 works good if u sit infront of it , but the bus can get pretty hot in summer for the 2.5
    batteries are septerate from the bus circuit witch is 24 volt , i have a generator 3000 watt small inverter one witch i plan to run streight into my large inverter and it will charge batteries and run the aircon at night if it a hot one , ive tryed it one works good , the little gen reves a bit tho,
    as for the veg oil tryed that on my old 86 land cruiser worked pretty good but just got sick of dealing with fatty oil and the rubber oil hose started to crack and perish , it was proper oil hose too ,
    ive only driven the bus 3 hours when i picked it up , went good tho 110 easy , turbo diesel :-)

    solar pannels a fixed 3 at the back i used the proper solar panel racking and put it on hinges , the others i used aliminuam angel with a hinge set up, its strong enough to drive with ,

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