I am indecisive

I am trying to make my mind up. A family member is buying up my old array. he has the exact same model and panels as I do and they where bought at the same time. They no longer sell or make them. I looked around the internet. I found some good deals on Sun electronics, a bulk dealer in florida but between the awful customer service (I've called 4 times this year and have yet to get a quote or specs on the panels), the web site being out of date and possibly compromised (got a cross scripted pop up that said i had the zeus virus, made it through my pop up blocker as well), I decided, NAWS it is, I bought my first array off them anyways. I see two options I consider a good deal. I have a two midnite classics on a 12 volt system. I want to max out both controllers and current limit them for two over sized arrays. Midnite said this was fine.
Current looking at a Kyocera KU340-8BCA panel. Likely the largest 24 volt panel I have ever seen. I like Kyocera its a good quality company and the price is nice at 63 cents a watt. However I also see rec290tp2 panels. I have never hear dof this company and don't know where they are made. Anyone have knowledge of the second and has an opinion on these panels? Not concerned about having the best, just want as much watts as possible but a solid panel that wont fall apart in 20 years. Thank you.
Current looking at a Kyocera KU340-8BCA panel. Likely the largest 24 volt panel I have ever seen. I like Kyocera its a good quality company and the price is nice at 63 cents a watt. However I also see rec290tp2 panels. I have never hear dof this company and don't know where they are made. Anyone have knowledge of the second and has an opinion on these panels? Not concerned about having the best, just want as much watts as possible but a solid panel that wont fall apart in 20 years. Thank you.
Comments
I suggest that if your battery bank is >~800 AH, you should go up to the next voltage. For example, if you go to 24 volts, you would only need one charge controller. Go to 48 volts, only 1/2 of charge controller's Ampere capacity.
If you are looking at a 1,600 AH @ 12 volt battery bank, you are looking at some very heavy cabling to manage the charging and load currents.
-Bill
I have two charge controllers which are more than enough to do the job. I want to max out both of them and current limit them to about 55 amps. I already have the cables set up. My inverter has 4/0 cable. The charge controllers have a short run of #4.
Main daytime system ~4kw panels into 2xMNClassic150 370ah 48v bank 2xOutback 3548 inverter 120v + 240v autotransformer
Night system ~1kw panels into 1xMNClassic150 700ah 12v bank morningstar 300w inverter
KID #51B 4s 140W to 24V 900Ah C&D AGM
CL#29032 FW 2126/ 2073/ 2133 175A E-Panel WBjr, 3 x 4s 140W to 24V 900Ah C&D AGM
Cotek ST1500W 24V Inverter,OmniCharge 3024,
2 x Cisco WRT54GL i/c DD-WRT Rtr & Bridge,
Eu3/2/1000i Gens, 1680W & E-Panel/WBjr to come, CL #647 asleep
West Chilcotin, BC, Canada
> Canadian solar are assembled in Canada, cells from ???
AFAIK, China. Not even sure about Canadian assembly, as I think that was tied to the Ontario FIT program.
Main daytime system ~4kw panels into 2xMNClassic150 370ah 48v bank 2xOutback 3548 inverter 120v + 240v autotransformer
Night system ~1kw panels into 1xMNClassic150 700ah 12v bank morningstar 300w inverter
KID #51B 4s 140W to 24V 900Ah C&D AGM
CL#29032 FW 2126/ 2073/ 2133 175A E-Panel WBjr, 3 x 4s 140W to 24V 900Ah C&D AGM
Cotek ST1500W 24V Inverter,OmniCharge 3024,
2 x Cisco WRT54GL i/c DD-WRT Rtr & Bridge,
Eu3/2/1000i Gens, 1680W & E-Panel/WBjr to come, CL #647 asleep
West Chilcotin, BC, Canada
Main daytime system ~4kw panels into 2xMNClassic150 370ah 48v bank 2xOutback 3548 inverter 120v + 240v autotransformer
Night system ~1kw panels into 1xMNClassic150 700ah 12v bank morningstar 300w inverter
Then there is the question if HST in Ontario and the 4 Atlantic provences, would mean they would pay the PST anyway.
Second system 1890W 3 × 300W No name brand poly, 3×330 Sunsolar Poly panels, Morningstar TS 60 PWM controller, no name 2000W inverter 400Ah LFP 24V nominal battery with Daly BMS, used for water pumping and day time air conditioning.
5Kw Yanmar clone single cylinder air cooled diesel generator for rare emergency charging and welding.
http://members.sti.net/offgridsolar/
E-mail [email protected]