Used Industrial Solar Panels?

[farang]

Ive been offered used panels 240w, the seller says they have a 20 years warranty at £ 40 each & if they pass a visual maybe a good deal? thanks

I should add, he reckons solar farms have the panels replaced every 3 years?

 

[trevskoda]

What voltage are they, most we use are 19v and regulated by a MPPT unit, panels are cheap these days on ebay.

 

[farang]

29.8 volts

 

[trevskoda]

29.8 volts

A votronic mppt regulator will take up to 50v, it also has a 1 amp blead to starter battery, depending on total wattage a 250 will cost about £140, there are also others out there, some a bit cheaper.

 

[farang]

Thats very helpful thank you, can I reliably test the panels by shining a bright light & using a multi meter check the out put?

 

[Thistle]

@farang
An issue with older Domestic panels is efficiency which is basically the rated output proportionate to the panel size.
I bought a 240w panel a few years ago it was nearly 2m long by 1100mm wide it has long since been replaced with higher wattage smaller more efficient panels on my van.

That huge panel worked out at around 12% efficient which is dreadful by modern standards which are now in the very high teens to low 20s
So yes if you have room for them then maybe go for it but to be honest even £40 is probably too much

You can now buy brand new branded 400w far more efficient panels for <£60 from places like CEF.