Harbor Freight Solar on Sale till 4/4

[Roy in TO]

Originally Posted by peterh

Roy: The only two controllers that I both like and have direct experience with are the Morningstar SUnSaver and Sunsei controllers. The specs on the Rasmond unit look a lot like the Sunsei controller, and it looks like it can be mounted in a viewable location a lot more cleanly than the other two. I may buy one and give it a try . . . they're fairly inexpensive.

(I noticed Rasmond isn't currently selling, but he's probably just on vacation or somesuch.)

Thank you Peter.
Is this the seller?
http://stores.ebay.com/Ramsond-e-Commerce-Central

If so, what the 16 or 16.5% efficiency mean that he has posted on some of the panels?

[peterh]

Originally Posted by Roy in TO

Thank you Peter.
Is this the seller?
http://stores.ebay.com/Ramsond-e-Commerce-Central

If so, what the 16 or 16.5% efficiency mean that he has posted on some of the panels?

Yep . . . that's the guy.

Solar cell efficiency refers to the percentage of solar energy a solar panel catches and converts to electrical energy. 16-16.5% efficiency is the norm for most crystalline cells like the ones Ramsond sells; amorphous cells (like Harbor Freight's) start at 9% efficiency but rapidly drop to 7% once they've been out in the sun for a short while. (The drop is due to something called the Staebler-Wronski effect. A new manufacturing technology promises to reduce this effect someday.)

The net effect is a solar panel with 16% efficience only needs to be half as large and half as heavy as a panel with 8% efficiency.

[Roy in TO]

It appears that Ramsond will take $3.00 USD per watt on the solar panels and the controllers can be had for $19.99.
I've put some bids in and made a "best offer" I'll post how it all works out.

[Roy in TO]

Originally Posted by peterh

...The drop is due to something called the Staebler-Wronski effect.
...
The net effect is a solar panel with 16% efficience only needs to be half as large and half as heavy as a panel with 8% efficiency.

So barring the Staebler-Wronski effect, a 50W panel is still a 50W panel using either technology because they are measuring output?

[Davie B]

I wondered why the battery in my Lite*House stopped holding a charge. Up on top of the trailer, I discovered that the OEM 5W solar panel had taken a hit and that the glass was shattered. I was about to buy the HF 45 W panel when I found this thread. I'm shopping on eBay. So how are folks roof mounting the Ramsond panels?

[Roy in TO]

Originally Posted by Roy in TO

It appears that Ramsond will take $3.00 USD per watt on the solar panels and the controllers can be had for $19.99.
I've put some bids in and made a "best offer" I'll post how it all works out.

Following up, the $3.00 USD per watt "best offer" and $19.99 for the controller works. One only has to find the right listings to do it with the ebay seller Padova Imports. Free shipping to the lower 48 went well.

eBay My World - padovaimports

[Perry J]

I just returned from a 2 week trip and my 50W Ramsond panel kept my group 29 battery fully charged. I had 2 days of rain and no sun so I did hook up the charge line on the truck for one day.
I made a maximum bid of $175.00 and the panel ended up costing me $152.00.
I bolted directly through the roof with 1/4 inch bolts and Nylock, self locking nuts.
I cut off the excess bolt length with my dremel tool.
If I were to do it again I would use rivets.
John
John