Solar panels - quantity discount?

Another kind of opportunism seems to the be putting together of "kits." Take a £150 panel, add a couple of angles, some cable, a cheap regulator, and a tube of mastic and suddenly it becomes a "solar kit" costing £500 or so. I know it's attractive to buy a complete package, but be aware of the mark up some of these people are charging!
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Yes it wasn't too long after I posted a thread on how to make your own brackets that they appeared on ebay including rivets :lol-053:
I buy mine pre cut from forward metals 2.5" X1.5" x1/8" I get 12x165mm cut from 2 1 metre lengths and it works out as £1.92 each delivered.
I get Sikaflex 512 4 at a time and it works out at less than £8 per tube delivered.
 
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I bought my stuff from bricks and mortar retail, but it came to something like;

1m Ali angle 50x25 (Wickes) £7.50, regulator (maplins) £20.50, Sikaflex 512 £9.50 (Wilmond Engineering, Hitchin), 18 No. 6mm Zinc Bolts (Wickes) £3.50. Cable I already had. OK that's not the cheapest way to do it but even allowing £50 for parts it's nothing like the £300 + mark up those boys are charging for the kits.
 
Lord Lucan said:
Hi Phil,

Solar Endurance.

Barry Dean 07 957 948 630

barrydean3@aol.com

He deals in Batteries & solar panels... based in Oldham - said he would give good/price/service for 1 or Bulk.
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I spoke to Barry on the phone today and he is very happy to work with us.

He supplies panels, mounts and regulators and even folding panels. He also said he can arrange installation if required.

He is going to work up some prices and get back to me.

Just one thing that he pointed out; all his panels are grade "A" many panels on ebay are not.
 
Fit?

I supply & fit at £450 for 1 & £700 for 2 with juta LCD regulator.
Leeds and surrounding.

Lensun ebay panels are often imperfect
 
I think it is important here to understand we are not trying to get the cheapest possible price and beat every price on ebay.
We are looking for good quality, reliability and price. You will be able to buy cheap inferior or low grade panels from ebay, but it can be false economy as the panels will not perform as well as better panels under average light conditions. I have limited roof space and will be looking for the most watts per sqm I can.
 
I totally understand that and the German ones are the best I've had (regular size panel and only 80cm of cable) and coincidentally the cheapest too
 
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These are the £148.70 ones (Uk seller) with 5 metres of MC4 and plugs. I can photograph the German sourced ones tomorrow if anyone would like to see ?
That pattern of the cells in these pictured wastes no space and thus are 100mm shorter than most other 80's at 1105mm
80x2-X3.jpg
 
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Solar

Hi Folks, I am interested in two 80 or 90 w panels depending on price.

Thanks
 
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Hi Guys I have had some sample prices from Barry for you to look at, I am still waiting for prices from other suppliers.

100 WATT PANEL---------£237.00 INC.VAT
80 WATT PANEL----------£199.50 INC.VAT

60 WATT PANEL----------£169.50 INC.VAT

50 WATT PANEL----------£149.50 INC.VAT.

OTHER SIZES CAN BE ORDERED ON REQUEST.PRICES TO BE ARRANGED.

WE ALSO HAVE A FITTING SERVICE FROM £85.00 THESE PRICES DO NOT INCLUDE BRACKETS,CABLE,AND CHARGE CONTROLLER.WE CAN SUPPLY THESE ITEMS AT
DISCOUNTED PRICES WHEN A PANEL IS PURCHASED FROM US AND FITTING IS REQUIRED.

FURTHER DICOUNTS ON CONTROLLERS WHEN 2 PANELS ARE PURCHASED.

MORE THAN 2 PANELS CONTROLLER FREE

PHIL IF ANY OF YOUR MEMBERS ARE INTERESTED WE DO FOLDING PANELS.

120 WATT,100 WATT AND 80 WATT.
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Please let me know what you think.

Phil
 
Ooh Panels

The newcastle ebay seller, tjns-products is offering 100w panels for £190 + £8 p&p = £198. Based on techno's advice, i asked them if they would accept £172 + £8 p&p = £180 and they said yes! (Very nice, thank you techno). They look to be reliable as they are an ebay "top rated" seller with 4000+.

I don't know the best way of judging the quality of a panel without actually buying and trying them. Are the tech specs usually accurate on these things?

I asked Barry for some data on his 100w panels, and he gave me a few sheets. They are by Solar Endurance, they are rated at 6.16a short circuit current (isc) & 21.98v open circuit voltage (voc). The ebay ones are rated at 5.9a & 22.73v.
 
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Well done!
It's the VMP IMP figures that matter Voltage & Current at Max power

That price is equal to £145 for an 80 watt delivered.

They give NEXT day delivery which is good :thumbup:
 
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OK:

Barry: Optimum operating voltage(Vmp): 17.5v, "Maximum power current" (Imp is not listed, I'm presuming this is the one): 5.71A

Newcastle: Optimum operating voltage(Vmp): 18.64v Optimum operating current(Imp): 5.36A
 
Without knowing that both panels are tested in the exact same conditions there is no way to compare.
An mppt regulator is worthwhile as it finds the maximum power point of the panel and forces it to work at that voltage.
 
Those prices (from Barry) seem on the high side for a bulk discount, they are more like a good value retail.

I was interested to read about Grade A, B, and C solar panels.

Grade A have no visible defects, Grade B have some visible defects but not so as to affect power output, and grade C have visible defects which do affect power output ( I don't think we are talking a huge amount maybe 90% ?) Since they are on the roof and you can't see them, grade B could be the ones to go for not grade A, as grade B are cheaper.

However, I read in another reference that grade B can deteriorate in output over the years faster than grade A. I guess if you are keeping your van for less than 5 years go for grade B, but if you plan on keeping it long term, go for grade A.
 
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I have asked for a price of £145 delivered for the 80. If accepted I'll buy one immediately for assessment and more if happy.


For Firefox many grade B C panels are sold as perfect. You have to judge for yourself if there are defects not declared. Like I said many of the sellers plying Lensun panels are not the standard I expect.
 
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Products

What about these? Above link. I know nothing much about panals, but the price looked attractive for mono.

Biggles
 
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