High Wattage Solar Panels

blee0518 · July 2018

I am hoping someone can help me find panels over 400W. any ideas where i can find a supplier?

BB. · July 2018

My first question is "why"?

Are you trying to fit as many watts per sq ft/meter as you can? One single panel vs 2 or more smaller panels?

Mono Crystalline panels are slightly more efficient (more watts per sq meter)...

-Bill

littleharbor2 · July 2018

Sunpower 435 watt panels. Here's the data sheet. Bear in mind you must buy them from an authorized Sunpower dealer. Not so sure it you have to buy an entire installed array but that's the only way I've ever heard of purchasing them

https://us.sunpower.com/sites/sunpower/files/media-library/data-sheets/ds-e20-series-435-solar-panel-datasheet.pdf

jonr · July 2018

LG NeON R modules are basically the same efficiency (watts/sq meter). Caution - sizes vary.

Photowhit · July 2018

blee0518 said:

I am hoping someone can help me find panels over 400W. any ideas where i can find a supplier?

You are new here, I guess we have tiptoed around what your knowledge base is...

Do you understand that solar panels can be added in series up to 600 and some as high as 1000 volts? Very high wattage can be obtained in this manner.

Large/high wattage panels become difficult to handle by one person, I just brought home 6 - 315 watt panels, they are roughly 77 inches by 39 inches. I'm a big guy and it was about all I could do to get them on my roof.

OldMan · November 2018

I've found some high-wattage (270-300w) monocrystalline panels on Alibaba. They are not six feet wide. I have one quote of four 280W panels for $611 including shipping to the port of San Francisco. I think I'm going with that, unless a real bargain comes along on Craigslist. Week or two. If I find nothing I like stateside, I'll order the Bluesuns.

Photowhit · November 2018

OldMan said:

I've found some high-wattage (270-300w) monocrystalline panels on Alibaba. They are not six feet wide. I have one quote of four 280W panels for $611 including shipping to the port of San Francisco. I think I'm going with that, unless a real bargain comes along on Craigslist. Week or two. If I find nothing I like stateside, I'll order the Bluesuns.

Isn't the importer responsible for the tariffs? You will want to be sure who is paying them!

Also if you want to use them in a grid tied system they will want to be certified by UL or to UL standards.

So 4x280= 1120 watts for $611 delivered to San Francisco… do you live in San Francisco? That's 54.5 cents a watt.

Solar Blvd I believe is near San Fran and has some UL cert panels in the same price range;
https://www.solarblvd.com/product-category/solar-panels-systems/24-volt-solar-panels/

littleharbor2 · November 2018

Solar Blvd is in Corona Ca. in So. Cal. Good prices but shipping will get you for 4 panels. very close to a pallet full shipping price.

If you receive your panels in damaged condition, from overseas, things get time consuming and ugly trying to remedy the problem.

Buy local pick up your panels in person, knowing you will receive intact, undamaged panels.

OldMan · November 2018

littleharbor2 said:

Solar Blvd is in Corona Ca. in So. Cal. Good prices but shipping will get you for 4 panels. very close to a pallet full shipping price.

If you receive your panels in damaged condition, from overseas, things get time consuming and ugly trying to remedy the problem.

Buy local pick up your panels in person, knowing you will receive intact, undamaged panels.

I always check Craigslist, first. But I won't buy from a US dealer. Don't like American salespeople. Obnoxious no matter what they're selling. I do my own legwork, my own due diligence and buy accordingly. There are some panels out in Palmdale in what looks like a corp yard (if you see the pix on Craigslist). Might buy from them...long trip, though. Others will have differing methodologies and priorities. I will use mine.

I should add, yes, I am in the San Francisco area, but I am not buying for my home (this IS the RV section) I'm buying for my future home, a 32-36-foot Class A motor home. My 1.xxxxKW of power should run everything but the A/C (parking in the shade has its advantages, as does high-altitude living)

As much as anything, I want to thwart Trump any way I can (not just tariffs), this is one area I can thwart him. Here are my requirements:

280-300w rated. 24-39v is fine, I use MPPT.
MONOCRYSTALLINE only. I have no interest in poly, absolutely none. I'll take perskovite if I can get it.
Five and one half feet long, three feet high.
No flexible panels
No roof mount. I want them on the ground so I can re-align them. Will have legs.

I looked at Solar Blvd, but almost all their panels are polycrystalline (please don't argue with me, I want monocrystalline and any advocacy for poly will fall on blind eyes) and I refuse to use something just because it's cheaper. No poly. 'Nuff said. In addition, 10 percent California sales tax kinda kills the pricing, even if I make the drive to SoCal, which also kills the pricing. The Chinese panels (they calculated the tariff on their end) are $611 for four panels. shipped. Don't get me wrong, I'll keep perusing Craigslist but as long as the tariffs are in place, if the time comes to buy and I can't find what I want on Craigslist, I'll buy Chinese, thank you.

littleharbor2 · November 2018

I pity the poor sales people who get to wait on you.

mike95490 · November 2018

OldMan said:

I'll take perskovite if I can get it.

None in legitimate production yet. All that's known for sure, is the lifetime is low for a small % increase and greatly increased complexity.
http://digital.laserfocusworld.com/laserfocusworld/201811/MobilePagedReplica.action?pm=2&folio=26#pg28

You are setting some pretty high goals, and appearing inflexible, so I hope you do well.

bill von novak · November 2018

OldMan said:

I should add, yes, I am in the San Francisco area, but I am not buying for my home (this IS the RV section) I'm buying for my future home, a 32-36-foot Class A motor home. My 1.xxxxKW of power should run everything but the A/C (parking in the shade has its advantages, as does high-altitude living)

The #1 piece of advice I can give you - WAIT. Panels get more efficient, and cheaper, with time. Only recently have true 20% efficiency panels become available. No reason to buy them until you need them. You'd be way better off investing that money, then later buying even better solar and keeping the rest of the $$ from the interest/appreciation.

Once you are ready to buy, consider bifacial. Ground mount with plenty of room behind the panel is a good use case for bifacial, and can give you a few % increase in efficiency.

bill von novak · November 2018

OldMan said:

MONOCRYSTALLINE only. I have no interest in poly, absolutely none. I'll take perskovite if I can get it.

BTW if you are into efficiency, PERC cells will probably be the next "big thing." So far lab cells are showing 26% and cells manufactured on a line are a bit above 22%.

OldMan · November 2018

littleharbor2 said:

I pity the poor sales people who get to wait on you.

Dear boy, the whole point is to AVOID salespeople. Read for content, my lovely.

OldMan · November 2018

bill von novak said:

OldMan said:

I should add, yes, I am in the San Francisco area, but I am not buying for my home (this IS the RV section) I'm buying for my future home, a 32-36-foot Class A motor home. My 1.xxxxKW of power should run everything but the A/C (parking in the shade has its advantages, as does high-altitude living)

The #1 piece of advice I can give you - WAIT. Panels get more efficient, and cheaper, with time. Only recently have true 20% efficiency panels become available. No reason to buy them until you need them. You'd be way better off investing that money, then later buying even better solar and keeping the rest of the $$ from the interest/appreciation.

Once you are ready to buy, consider bifacial. Ground mount with plenty of room behind the panel is a good use case for bifacial, and can give you a few % increase in efficiency.

Yeah, there are already bifacial panels on Alibaba...I think. I believe PERC is worth the extra $$$.

littleharbor2 · November 2018

OldMan said:

littleharbor2 said:

I pity the poor sales people who get to wait on you.

Dear boy, the whole point is to AVOID salespeople. Read for content, my lovely.

I'm referring to ANY salespeople you encounter, not just solar related. I imagine you're a barrel of laughs in restaurants as well. I've seen your type before.

mike95490 · November 2018

OldMan said
Yeah, there are already bifacial panels on Alibaba...I think. I believe PERC is worth the extra $$$.

PERC is still only a laboratory dream, currently with a short lifetime. I linked to a trade magazine article about this earlier, but it's your money. Also beware of Alibaba, other than $2 flashlights, I've not heard any happy stories about it, large sales to consumers always seem to fail, after they cash the check.

bill von novak · November 2018

OldMan said:

Yeah, there are already bifacial panels on Alibaba...I think. I believe PERC is worth the extra $$$.

Avoid Alibaba at all costs. I have had about a 30% success rate with them. PERC may well be worth the extra $$$ - if you are willing to wait.

mcgivor · November 2018

Having purchased many products through Alibaba without any issues I'm puzzled by the warnings, using Alibaba's Trade Assurance, funds are held until goods arrive, they are released upon confirmation of the consignee that goods are undamaged and as described. There is a 30 day dispute period to resolve any other issues, dealing outside the protection directly with vendors is not advisable. As with any virtual store Amazon, Ebay etcetera, they rely on positive feedback as an advertising tool, so it in their interest to be upstanding, the length of time in business, provided by Alibaba is an indication of general customer satisfaction.

Not to say there have not been cases of dissatisfaction, just not my personal experience.

OldMan · December 2018

littleharbor2 said:

OldMan said:

littleharbor2 said:

I pity the poor sales people who get to wait on you.

Dear boy, the whole point is to AVOID salespeople. Read for content, my lovely.

I'm referring to ANY salespeople you encounter, not just solar related. I imagine you're a barrel of laughs in restaurants as well. I've seen your type before.

While I rarely go to restaurants (I do order some in with Doordash), your ad hominem is way out of line, You do not know me. Typical rich guy. Rich people are a scourge.

littleharbor2 · December 2018

Living on Social Security , last I checked, doesn't qualify as rich. We'll see next month when the cost of living rate increase kicks in. You never know.
I don't fault people for being rich. I do however dislike greedy people.

Iceni John · December 2018

OldMan in San Fran, just one thought: how are you going to stop someone, as in someone else, simply stealing all your hard-earned panels when you're not watching them like a hawk? I know the theoretical virtues of parking in the shade while the panels are in the sunlight, but sometimes theory only goes so far, and hard reality steps in to dictate a less-than-ideal solution as being the best practical way.

OldMan · December 2018

littleharbor2 said:

Living on Social Security , last I checked, doesn't qualify as rich. We'll see next month when the cost of living rate increase kicks in. You never know.
I don't fault people for being rich. I do however dislike greedy people.

I'm on the Peninsula, living on SS. COLA will help the hell out of me.

OldMan · December 2018

Iceni John said:

OldMan in San Fran, just one thought: how are you going to stop someone, as in someone else, simply stealing all your hard-earned panels when you're not watching them like a hawk? I know the theoretical virtues of parking in the shade while the panels are in the sunlight, but sometimes theory only goes so far, and hard reality steps in to dictate a less-than-ideal solution as being the best practical way.

The panels will be padlocked together, and the ground mount panel racks will be chained and locked to the rig. If someone wants to steal them, they're going to have one helluva time trying. Case-hardened locks and chains. We'll be around a LOT, because we're buying a dining tent with a floor in it, as an outdoor play area for the cats. When they're outside, one of us will ALWAYS be nearby.

OldMan · January 2019

OldMan said:

Iceni John said:

OldMan in San Fran, just one thought: how are you going to stop someone, as in someone else, simply stealing all your hard-earned panels when you're not watching them like a hawk? I know the theoretical virtues of parking in the shade while the panels are in the sunlight, but sometimes theory only goes so far, and hard reality steps in to dictate a less-than-ideal solution as being the best practical way.

The panels will be padlocked together, and the ground mount panel racks will be chained and locked to the rig. If someone wants to steal them, they're going to have one helluva time trying. Case-hardened locks and chains. We'll be around a LOT, because we're buying a dining tent with a floor in it, as an outdoor play area for the cats. When they're outside, one of us will ALWAYS be nearby.

It occurs to me I didn't explain myself very well. We're going to be fulltimers. We will be stationary in the winter (Coyote Howls primitive RV park in Why, AZ) and I don't think folks will try to steal the solar panels, like they would in San Francisco. In the spring/summer/early fall we'll be mobile, just wandering and looking for good trout fishing. Any recommendations in the Rockies and west? Only a couple destinations east of the Rockies interest us, so we will be western denizens. I am native SF and that's why. I've lived east of the rockies and the only places I want to see east of the Rockies are the Devil's Tower in MT, and Big Bend boondocking in Texas. Rest of the time, it's west of Denver for us.

OldMan · January 2019

Photowhit said:

blee0518 said:

I am hoping someone can help me find panels over 400W. any ideas where i can find a supplier?

You are new here, I guess we have tiptoed around what your knowledge base is...

Do you understand that solar panels can be added in series up to 600 and some as high as 1000 volts? Very high wattage can be obtained in this manner.

Large/high wattage panels become difficult to handle by one person, I just brought home 6 - 315 watt panels, they are roughly 77 inches by 39 inches. I'm a big guy and it was about all I could do to get them on my roof.

You CAN get high-wattage panels that are a little squared off. Some weigh a bit less, but the more squared off panels are easier for me to handle and I'm 6'3". A taller panel makes it almost impossible for me.

WayneCedarBoats · January 2019

Hi OldMan,

Dear man, Did I hear you say "trout fishing"? You have to spend some time in Southern Oregon. The Rogue river is really great for Steelhead, Salmon, and Trout... as well as many other streams and rivers... not to mention lakes with lake trout 40 lbs plus! I've got a drift boat and I'll take you out on the river if you let me know a month or so before you visit.

We also have a BnB and or lots of room to park your rig on our ranch.

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/8070309?location=Ashland, OR 97520, United States oak haven&adults=4&guests=1&check_in=2017-11-30&check_out=2017-12-02&tier_override=0&s=aV4jQ74T&irgwc=1&irclid=WTY2mR0RNzS03EqUQwTNXyTIUkmWlhSnuSkoUo0&ircid=4560&c=admitadGmbH&sharedid=240682&af=126295512

I'm a retired guy too, but still playing in business cause I can't stop:-) But I can take time off most days if I want to. We also shoot air guns competitively. A game call Field Target.
here is a link to the last Oregon State Field Target Championships we held here on our course in Ashland.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JaC0Khlz8kQ
So come play with me in Southern Oregon... we can be grumpy old men together:-)

Wayne

OldMan · January 2019

WayneCedarBoats said:

Hi OldMan,

Dear man, Did I hear you say "trout fishing"? You have to spend some time in Southern Oregon. The Rogue river is really great for Steelhead, Salmon, and Trout... as well as many other streams and rivers... not to mention lakes with lake trout 40 lbs plus! I've got a drift boat and I'll take you out on the river if you let me know a month or so before you visit.

We also have a BnB and or lots of room to park your rig on our ranch.

https://www.airbnb.com/rooms/8070309?location=Ashland, OR 97520, United States oak haven&adults=4&guests=1&check_in=2017-11-30&check_out=2017-12-02&tier_override=0&s=aV4jQ74T&irgwc=1&irclid=WTY2mR0RNzS03EqUQwTNXyTIUkmWlhSnuSkoUo0&ircid=4560&c=admitadGmbH&sharedid=240682&af=126295512

I'm a retired guy too, but still playing in business cause I can't stop:-) But I can take time off most days if I want to. We also shoot air guns competitively. A game call Field Target.
here is a link to the last Oregon State Field Target Championships we held here on our course in Ashland.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JaC0Khlz8kQ
So come play with me in Southern Oregon... we can be grumpy old men together:-)

Wayne

Wow, thanks, Wayne, I am really moved. Your air gun thing sounds like fun and I have a sneaky feeling a little paintball battle has been thrown in there at some point, just as a change of pace. People really like attacking me on these and other fora because I give my truth, unvarnished, with splinters with a little sandy grit thrown together and they don't like that. <shrug />

Check your PMs.

WayneCedarBoats · January 2019

I'm serious, come play... I like to meet new friends.

My mom "tells it like she sees it" too, so I've learned to love people as they are... and hope I get the same:-)

Folks would be surprised how much Love can be found in so called "grumpy" people. It's usually the truest. I've got a really good friend named Larry, most folks think he is the grumpiest person on the planet. He tells his truth whether or not he thinks you would like hearing it.
He also shares his time and deep knowledge in air guns and engineering freely with those who will listen and not feel insulted with his truth... and we have great fun together.

All you solar boon dockers are welcome to come visit and go fishing or shooting with me...
grumpy or not:-)

Wayne

OldMan · January 2019

blee0518 said:

I am hoping someone can help me find panels over 400W. any ideas where i can find a supplier?

This place has 500W panels

brichards · February 2019

https://forum.solar-electric.com/discussion/comment/387716#Comment_387716

I can get you all of these panels you want for $300 each.

Avg. Panel Efficiency 20.3% ***********

25 year warranty, New, however the sides frames has some scratches on them. Never installed, just sitting here in stack on pallet waiting for install.

https://us.sunpower.com/sites/sunpower/files/media-library/data-sheets/sunpower-e-series-commercial-solar-panels-e20-435-com-datasheet-521912-revb_1.pdf

High Wattage Solar Panels

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