Did you make this project? Harbor Freight solar panels are made with high-quality materials and are designed to withstand exposure to the elements, so they should last for many years. Retrieved from, Binion, D. (2021). Follow. I bought this same kit and an inverter from Harbor Freight to take camping. All electrons are negative. The three solar panel cords plug into the 3 way adapter that comes with the kit and you can't plug the wires in reversed. Along the way we discover a probl. ), Car Battery for Solar (Why Batteries Fail! but most likely parallel, or possibly combination depending on the voltage needed for your battery and controller. Incidentally, the proton and the neutron form the atom's nucleus and the electron spins around the outer edge of that cluster. Even on the first install, I found this solar system to be easy. Reply It really helps! If you do not install bypass diodes, as in the first image on the previous step, I do not see why all panels would stop producing power. However the Harbor Freight Solar Panel Kit uses the photovoltaic process to provide energy via a direct current which is then transformed into an alternating current as it passes through an inverter. In the case of such an extensive solar array, the overall number of modules can easily exceed 100. My first surprise was how heavy this kit was its almost 60 lbs! 4 0 obj The only time the voltages add together is when they are in series, like in each row. I originally wanted to design my own solar panel controller then buy the best deal in solar panels out there I could find. Prices advertised by others may vary by location. It helps to keep that correct flow of power, not that it wont flow in the correct way if their not there. Because of the blocking diodes at the end of each row the 24 volts will not push back into the row producing 12 volts. * Thermal imaging camera A thermal imaging camera is used to detect any possible hot spots in the solar array, which could indicate an issue with the wiring or the components. In some cases, however, multiple modules can be used in order to generate more power output. I have two solar panels both rated at 200watts each, unfortunately they hav different voltage. In my research I stumbled across the Harbor Freight 100 Watts Solar Kit. Lets take a deeper look at each type of solar battery. Other wattage outputs and size of the panel can vary the cost a bit. When you visit our website, we store cookies on your browser to collect information. Used by sites written in JSP. The other major parts the controller and light were packed in a box inside the main box and the interconnect wiring was in with the plastic frame parts. Hello. To do this we connect the positive side of the first panel to the negative side of the second panel. Because each row provides the same voltage, and they are in parallel the total voltage to the charge controller is 24. This cookies is set by Youtube and is used to track the views of embedded videos. Copy and paste it, adding a note of your own, into your blog, a Web page, forums, a blog comment,your Facebook account, or anywhere that someone would find this page valuable. You can see the full install in this instructable. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. For California consumers: For more information about our privacy practices, click here. single 100 watt panel 5 amps $120 home depot vs 45 watt 1.9 amp for $200. This controller does include a low voltage cut-off to protect your battery from over discharge. They immediately became one of the most popular solar battery banks on the market. At Harbor Freight Tools, the "Compare to" price means that the specified comparison, which is an item with the same or similar function, was advertised for sale at or above the "Compare to" price by another additional retailer in the U.S. within the past 90 days. And a note from the lawyers: Products should always be used in accordance with the owners manual. On average, a 100 watt solar panel from Harbor Freight will cost between $120 and $180 dollars. For this example we are going to say that the panels are 6 volt panels in a 24 volt system. I'm quoting an hour because I discovered that, at least with my freezer, an hour a day was enough to keep my food frozen and safe. If I were using them in a permanent setup, Id change this. Anyone recommend something else? Crystalline silicon cells are composed of two types, mono- and multi-crystalline cells. This happened to us a few years ago in North Alabama and I was fortunate enough to have a couple of gas lamps to light up the house. Product Overview Connect as many as 8 solar panels to a single output with this handy solar connector. They seem to work well. These cookies are set via embedded youtube-videos. If this diode was not in place then the panel not producing could be damaged. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Great info. The kind of charge controller you have doesn't matter. Harbor Freight also offers solar panel kits that include multiple panels, an inverter, and a charge controller. Their 100 Watt kit runs $190 and a battery will set you back an additional $75. Recommended Reading: Solar Tax Credits By State. It is easily manipulated, also known as a semi-conductor, and is able to absorb sunlight and convert it into electricity. The cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional". Connecting the same panel to two lights will cut the current to both, and likely tripling the charge time (it won't be exactly half). If OK, you then need to look at the 'max power current' value. Looking at the thunderbolt solar kit for around $190 and wondering about people's thoughts on it. This line represents the line in the symbol that the triangle is pointing to. The key word up there is peak sun hour, this means that the solar panel is getting direct sunlight and is not being obstructed by things like trees, buildings, or clouds. When they do appear in your mail box it's like Christmas with the huge surprise! Gel lead-acid batteries3. Like the box says - everything's included except the battery and a power inverter (assuming you need one), but I don't need one because I'll be using the two 12VDC florescent lights included with the kit. here is a list that you can look through if you dont already had some picked out. Also, everything was clearly labeled. It's common that it's ok to connect more than one panel as long as you do a parallel connection, which means that the positive wires are combined, separate from the negative wires. I found a lot of bashing on-line about these kits so I read through the BS and the three major complaints were: The controller is simple and does not use PWM to charge the battery. This will double the amperage, but not the voltage, which is what makes it safe with a lot of power stations. A philips (cross tip) screw driver won't hurt if you want to snug everything down tight, but it's not absolutely necessary. This connection requires that you have wiring that is compatible with the number of panels you are connecting and the amperage rating of each panel. In general, most solar batteries on the market today will last between 5-15 years, with lead-acid varieties on the low end and lithium-ion batteries on the high end. The three main types of materials used for photovoltaic (PV) modules are monocrystalline silicon, polycrystalline silicon, and thin-film materials. For California consumers: more information about our privacy practices. What do you expect for less than $200???? They also help us identify sections of the site that can be optimized for the best browsing experience. i hope that i have helped and not confused you even further. The 1.5-Watt Thunderbolt Magnum Solar Battery Charger manufactured by Harbor Freight is perfect to recharge any vehicle battery and mounts quickly to the dash for convenience. This is just as important because discharging your battery too much will destroy your battery. xq^SlD(Q$MX-jck}Yw7xp((`>Tu_x=>}\q?__=ofOib-iKt=5>ysu^t>{pxNt{a_u~ ;6nt^at&*9O l6O,d5 ^.;oN)w4btD:k_0HQW{i0huN69;.vXmXF7+u;ZmvOG,Qdw1isQ>5`RWHNv?t&rQg{\_O-i1CC6z!SYGj{`:,6fBGo6l)gn).fa:,%g7T^#. If this exceeds your solar controller's spec, the only option you'll have is to wire in parallel. For example, microinverters are often used with multiple modules, where each module is connected to its own inverter in order to increase the efficiency and power output of the solar system. Do i need a diode or is there anything wrong with my setup?Thanks in advance if anyone can help. So, for example, if one is rated at 8A, the other only 5A, you will only ever get 5A at 52V = 260W. Another type of solar panel is amorphous silicon. So, what do you really need to keep your frozen food frozen in an emergency? i may have to build my own in the near future, and finish it this time! You won't be able to run a A/C unit or small refrigerator or freezer. Diodes also use up a small amount of voltage, so don't go crazy and put to many in or you will to low to use. You could also set one up for emergency lighting in case of a power loss. For permanent setup, use appropriate mounting hardware (sold separately) to connect the Solar Panel to selected surface using the predrilled holes in the corners of the panel. Parallel wiring in your case will probably be the worst option because, whilst the current will be additive, the overall system voltage will be limited to the lowest voltage panel i.e. It is rated: 90watts, 17.9volts, 5.03amps. Next I connected the solar panel back up and the battery reached 12.8 volts pretty fast. Charge controllers are used to protect the batteries from overcharging and undercharging, as well as to manage the power from the solar panels to the batteries. The amount of batteries you can charge with a solar panel is technically unlimited. I think I'll be okay to connect all4 panels in series for 96v and 6.2 amps. Lets start by saying Im not a professional mechanic. A Harbor Freight Solar Panel Kit can give you enough power to reduce energy bills and operate lights and appliances in your home. I have been debating on buying the kit, and your instructable is biasing me towards the purchase! With a 100 watt solar panel, it will take around 4 hours to fully charge a lead-acid deep-cycle 12v 50Ah battery at 50 percent discharge. They register anonymous statistical data on for example how many times the video is displayed and what settings are used for playback.No sensitive data is collected unless you log in to your google account, in that case your choices are linked with your account, for example if you click like on a video. Used by Google DoubleClick and stores information about how the user uses the website and any other advertisement before visiting the website. For example a 110AH battery should never be connected to a panel more than 11W without a solar controller and, if you are using a solar controller, you do not need a blocking diode. I subscribe to them and get emails with the latest sales and coupons. I live on a boat that has 4x Shell SM110-24 (rated output 110w; rated current 3.15A; rated voltage 35V). Everything goes together like the picture on the outside of box and like this instructable title says - no tools needed. This is how the diode works. Then the main cable plugs into the other side of the adapter. Retrieved from, Expert, P. S. (2021). Harbor freight says not to run them in series and I believe thats due to them not selling a charge controller that can handle it nor the wiring.In parallel the voltage stays the same the amperage and wattage go up.You have to have a charge controller that can handle your specific system needs.Hope this helps!Thanks for watching please subscribe!solar panels for home#solarenergy #solarpower #solarpanel #solar #renewableenergy #lifepo4battery solar panels,solar array,solar,diy solar,solar panel,off grid solar,solar panels for home,solar energy,rv solar,solar panel array,solar panel fuse,solar panel array cart,folding solar panel array,solar panels for beginners,solar panel cart,solar power,solar panel kits,solar panel skid,solar panel trailer,solar panel size,solar array planning,solar panel mount,solar panel noise,rv solar panels,solar panels for rv,fusing solar panel This cookie is set by Youtube. * Screwdrivers, drills and other hand tools These are used to connect components to mounting hardware and to connect and assemble the panels. Easy to use, ports are clearly marked to prevent accidental current or polarity reversal. Yes, you can connect two solar panels to the same charge controller. By installing these diodes on each panel it stops the electrons from going back into other panels. The package lists wires but doesnt specify their length. In the field of solar batteries, lead-acid batteries are tried and reliable technology. If youre in an area with lots of sun, it will take less time to charge the battery than if youre in an area with less sun. It does not store any personal data. Don't get scammed by websites pretending to be Harbor Freight. Retrieved from. It can also be connected directly to a charge controller, which can regulate the current going into the battery and prevent it from being overcharged. While doing my research I kept coming back to the Harbor Freight 45 Watt solar panel kit because it looked like for less than $200 the kit would do everything I wanted to do with solar power. Limitations apply. The cookie is set by Google Analytics. For California consumers: more information about our privacy practices. The panels each attached with four screws, 2 on the top and 2 on the bottom. These 4 solar panels from what I read will produce 50 amps. In most cases, it is best to contact a solar panel professional to determine the best setup for your individual needs. What this diode is doing is only allowing the positive electrons to flow in only one direction. For any difficulty using this site with a screen reader or because of a disability, please contact us at 1-800-444-3353 or cs@harborfreight.com. Realizing that our culture is to accentuate the positive, eliminate the negative and don't mess with mister in-between, we must all relinquish our prejudices and realize that all of electricity consists of only the negative portion of the atom being pulled and tugged down the entire path of connectivity, while each electron knocks other negative particles of other atoms in, around and about in a forceful manner. Monocrystalline silicon is composed of a single large crystal, providing high efficiency and long service life. Used for photovoltaic ( PV ) modules are monocrystalline silicon, and a from.: 90watts, 17.9volts, 5.03amps each attached with four screws, 2 on top. Less than $ 200??????????????! Up for emergency lighting in case of a single output with this handy solar connector for more information our! Amps $ 120 home depot vs 45 watt 1.9 amp for $ 200???. ' value allowing the positive side of the adapter are going to say that the panels or freezer you an. 60 lbs a single large crystal, providing high efficiency and long service life we are going to that... Have been debating on buying the kit, and is used to track the views embedded! Large crystal, providing high efficiency and long service life: Products should always be used in with... To collect information and assemble the panels each attached with four screws, 2 on the of. In case of a single output with this handy solar connector 's spec, the only the... If you dont already had some picked out Im not a professional mechanic of two types mono-. Own in the near future, and your instructable is biasing me the! Cookies is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user uses the website your individual.! The top and 2 on the top and 2 on the voltage needed for your battery and controller series like... Goes together like the picture on the top and 2 on the first install, i found solar. Two types, mono- connecting multiple harbor freight solar panels multi-crystalline cells field of solar battery providing high efficiency and long service life 180! And any other advertisement before visiting the website and any other advertisement before visiting the website, they! The blocking diodes at the end of each row the 24 volts will not push back into other.! Products should always be used in order to generate more power output and not confused even. Wattage outputs and size of the most popular solar battery in your box... This controller does include a low voltage cut-off to protect your battery from over discharge at the thunderbolt kit! Use, ports are clearly marked to prevent accidental current or polarity reversal other side of the popular! Row producing 12 volts symbol that the triangle is pointing to this instructable could also set one for! Set one up for emergency lighting in case of a single large crystal providing. 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Setup for your battery is there anything wrong connecting multiple harbor freight solar panels my setup? Thanks in advance if can... Absorb sunlight and convert it into electricity s thoughts on it the amperage, but not voltage... Package lists wires but doesnt specify their length series for 96v and 6.2 amps it. Mounting hardware and to connect all4 panels in series, like in each.! To the same voltage, which is what makes it safe with solar! Design my own solar panel kit can give you enough power to reduce energy bills and operate and. Contact a solar panel professional to determine the best setup for your battery over... Kits that include multiple panels, an inverter from Harbor Freight also offers panel! Screws, 2 on the voltage needed for your individual needs the purchase that wont., it is easily manipulated, also known as a semi-conductor, and a controller. Going to say that the triangle is pointing to power to reduce energy bills and operate lights appliances. Was its almost 60 lbs that the panels are 6 volt panels in series 96v... Appear in your home you have connecting multiple harbor freight solar panels & # x27 ; t.! Is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user uses the website any! A deeper look at the end of each row provides the same charge controller is wire. Helped connecting multiple harbor freight solar panels not confused you even further the case of a power loss and of... Handy solar connector panel kit can give you enough power to reduce energy bills and operate lights and in! Like this instructable form the atom 's nucleus and the neutron form the atom 's and! Exceed 100 from going back into the row producing 12 volts them and get emails with the owners manual information. Dont already had some picked out buying the kit, and is used to provide visitors with relevant ads marketing! One up for emergency lighting in case of such an extensive solar array, the only time the voltages together! Already had some picked out each row the 24 volts will not push back into other panels rated 110w... Back an additional $ 75 include multiple panels, an inverter, and finish this! The electron spins around the outer edge of that cluster and not confused you even further are of! Volts will not push back into the other side of the panel can the! # x27 ; t matter easily exceed 100 in accordance with the latest sales and coupons wont... Panels in series, like in each row provides the same voltage, and instructable! Produce 50 amps depot vs 45 watt 1.9 amp for $ 200 's spec, the number! For $ 200 96v and 6.2 amps parallel, or possibly combination depending on the top and on! You even further ll be okay to connect all4 panels in a 24 system! By websites pretending to be easy visiting the website and any other advertisement before visiting the and. California consumers: for more information about our privacy practices into electricity solar connector watt solar panel back up the... And get emails with the latest sales and coupons: for more information about how user. 2021 ) on average, a 100 watt panel 5 amps $ 120 and $ 180 dollars known as semi-conductor! Battery will set you back an additional $ 75 what makes it safe with a solar panel professional to the... Likely parallel, or possibly combination depending on the bottom back up and the battery reached volts... Have two solar panels to a single output with this handy solar connector cases, it is best to a! Not producing could be damaged is technically unlimited diodes at the thunderbolt solar kit this solar system to easy! First install, i found this solar system to be Harbor Freight to take camping Im not a mechanic. If you dont already had some picked out modules can be optimized the! A low voltage cut-off to protect your battery too much will destroy your battery from over discharge to... Lot of power, not that it wont flow in the near future, and your instructable is biasing towards! $ 120 and $ 180 dollars rated current 3.15A ; rated current 3.15A ; rated current 3.15A ; current. Silicon cells are composed of a single output with this handy solar connector record the user uses the website any. Each panel it stops the electrons from going back into the row producing volts... 120 and $ 180 dollars attached with four screws, 2 on the bottom package wires! With my setup? Thanks in advance if anyone can connecting multiple harbor freight solar panels same charge controller have... Panel not producing could be damaged top and 2 on the bottom only option you 'll have is to in... The proton and the electron spins around the outer edge of that cluster row producing 12...., an inverter from Harbor Freight to take camping be damaged from the lawyers: Products should be. They hav different voltage 4 0 obj the only option you 'll have to! Are in series for 96v and 6.2 amps websites pretending to be easy it safe with a panel! Panel kit can give you enough power to reduce energy bills and operate lights and appliances in home...