Harbor Freight getting into the solar business?
- Thread starter Ted_Z
- Start date
762X39
Explorer
Wow that is just great. Now we can buy really cheap junk to power our electrics from the sun. Luckily, it will come with a satisfaction guarantee that will take care of you when you are in the middle of nowhere and your batteries are dead. None for me thanks.
Yeah, I guess I am being pretty harsh but at some point maybe getting it cheaper isn't a good deal.
Yeah, I guess I am being pretty harsh but at some point maybe getting it cheaper isn't a good deal.
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4x4junkie
Explorer
What's funny, they are not even cheap at all when it comes to solar. The same $$$ spent elsewhere can actually get you something quite decent.
HF's panels use old-tech amorphous (?) silicon cells. They are something like 30% as efficient as more common mono or poly crystalline cells used in modern panels (they also degrade rather quickly too, further reducing efficiency). Their 15 watt panels are roughly the same size as a modern 50-60 or so watt panel because of this.
I bought a pair of UL Solar 85W polycrystalline panels a few months back for just a hair over $2 a watt. Just one 85W panel cost less than what HF wants for their 45W kit even with it "on sale", and it's a much smaller panel too. Agreed, no thanks.
Edit:
I'm looking on their website and it looks like you also get some cheap (and bulky) charge regulator and a couple 12V CFL (I guess) bulbs with it. Looking through the .pdf manual it appears the charge regulator works by simply cutting off the panels when the voltage gets to a certain point (no absorb stage or anything).
HF's panels use old-tech amorphous (?) silicon cells. They are something like 30% as efficient as more common mono or poly crystalline cells used in modern panels (they also degrade rather quickly too, further reducing efficiency). Their 15 watt panels are roughly the same size as a modern 50-60 or so watt panel because of this.
I bought a pair of UL Solar 85W polycrystalline panels a few months back for just a hair over $2 a watt. Just one 85W panel cost less than what HF wants for their 45W kit even with it "on sale", and it's a much smaller panel too. Agreed, no thanks.
Edit:
I'm looking on their website and it looks like you also get some cheap (and bulky) charge regulator and a couple 12V CFL (I guess) bulbs with it. Looking through the .pdf manual it appears the charge regulator works by simply cutting off the panels when the voltage gets to a certain point (no absorb stage or anything).
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Hill Bill E.
Oath Keeper
I almost bought one of the HF 45W kits for my cabin a couple years ago.
We have 2 batteries, and use 12V lights at night (also have LP gas lights, and a generator)
I was leary, not knowing much about solar at all, and it seems to improve and get less expensive all the time.
After reading a lot of info here on the Portal, I decided to wait, and get a decent charging set up. One I know will work, even in the low light short winter days we get here.
HF is OK for somethings, but I prefer to spend my money once, and have a product that will last me a long time.
I do buy tarps and moving blankets there, and it's a great source for a spare set of trail tools in the back of the truck or Jeep. Not such a loss if they get stolen.
:coffeedrink:
We have 2 batteries, and use 12V lights at night (also have LP gas lights, and a generator)
I was leary, not knowing much about solar at all, and it seems to improve and get less expensive all the time.
After reading a lot of info here on the Portal, I decided to wait, and get a decent charging set up. One I know will work, even in the low light short winter days we get here.
HF is OK for somethings, but I prefer to spend my money once, and have a product that will last me a long time.
I do buy tarps and moving blankets there, and it's a great source for a spare set of trail tools in the back of the truck or Jeep. Not such a loss if they get stolen.
:coffeedrink:
I agree that most of the stuff IS junk, but I thought I'd share. Since their stores are in many parts of the US and the stuff IS cheap you can have some fun playing with solar without sinking too much into it.
It looks like the 35ah battery is just a re-badged Universal Battery UB12350. They are about 65-70 bucks online.
I can't find any addition information online for the foldable 5W panel since it hasn't made it onto the webiste yet. I guess I'll have to find an excuse to go to the store to check it out.
It looks like the 35ah battery is just a re-badged Universal Battery UB12350. They are about 65-70 bucks online.
I can't find any addition information online for the foldable 5W panel since it hasn't made it onto the webiste yet. I guess I'll have to find an excuse to go to the store to check it out.
Hill Bill E.
Oath Keeper
If they have it in store yet.
Since my garage burned early last month, I've been buying tarps to cover what stuff i have left, and some moving blankets. Was at HF today, and they didn't have any of the new stuff from the ad in store here yet.
Dirtytires
Explorer
Bill, Sorry to hear about the garage loss. Fires always are hard to deal with.