Nice 80 watt Solar Package

[bdosborn]

Here's a nice solar package for a tear. Everything you need but the wire.



80 watt Solar Package

I don't typically like kit prices as you can usually get a better deal by picking separate components but this one is hard to beat and it has a good controller. The mounts are non-tilting but I usually didn't tilt the panel in the tear as I was charged by noon with a flat panel in good sun.

Bruce

[48Rob]

Bruce,

Thanks for posting this, looks pretty interesting!

I realize you aren't the seller, but wonder if you'd try to answer a couple questions?

Do you have a guess as to the rough physical size of the panel, and could another panel be added in the future without buying a different controller/charger?

Rob

[bdosborn]

Rob,

From a 80 watt panel at the UL solar store I found these specs:

Dimension of the module: 34.4 x 26.3 x 1.38 ( in )

Maximum power current ( Ipm ): 4.7 Amp

The Sunsaver 6 is rated for 6.5 amps of PV input. You could add another 30 watts of a similar type panel without much worry. The Sunsaver is only rated for 25V at the input so you'd have to run the panels in parallel. Solar panels *rarely* put out full nameplate rating (especially when laying flat) but it would really be pushing it to try and run two 80 watt panels on the Sunsaver 6. I would step up to a Sunsaver 10 or 20 if you want capacity for more panels. I think the NEC requires the controller to be sized at maximum PV amperage (Ipm) plus 25%, which would be 11.75 amps for two of these 80 watt panels.

UL solar used to have an 85 watt panel that was only 20" wide but I haven't seen any of those lately. That was a pretty handy size for my roof.

Bruce

[48Rob]

Bruce,

Thank you for taking the time to explain all that!

Rob