solar

[jwhite]

Thanks for the help I also searched for the batteries and didn't see the batteries like was on the simplesolar site, I thought I read he has these batteries made for them"?

I think I may still go and look at what he has, I also plan to go to simplersolar,so I may come back with some photos and more info.
again thanks

[OverTheTopCargoTrailer]

Hi jwhite

I would say his system is close to $1,000 ...
I would guess his 3 panels are 4-500 watts combined tops based on their size.
My batteries are 260 lbs and are 400 amp hours...
If his batteries read 1.290 they are in pretty good shape - especially if the reading between the cells is the same.
Check the voltage 12.85 or more is good
If the reading between cells is off, it's like an engine low compression on 1 cylinder - junk !!
Big batteries like that can last 10-15 years , depending how many cycles he used.

After 1 year I still have not equalized my Surrette yet

I would say offer him $500 bucks & then you got something to play around with &
Get your feet wet ,

Would not think to many people would offer more
If they know what they are buying.

Jerry

[bdosborn]

Unless it is thin film. Check the panels....
Bruce

[jwhite]

I went today to the solar comapny and the sales person said it was best to talk to the owner so he's going to call me,
a few things I found out were the panels are no longer being made and are 125.watt they are really 10 years old so is the refrigerator 7.1 cubic foot 12/24 VDC
They only install systems and I did not see indiviual componets forsale although they may ? I didn't see any on display one thing they did have was a 175 watt panel with a built in inverter behind the panel they were 1000.00.
I guess I will wait and see what the owner of the company has to say, but I think I will wait on the solar untill I know more.
anyone have a link to a 175 watt panel with a built in inverter to compare the price ? or are these the way to go ?

[bdosborn]

The 175 watt panel with an inverter is a grid interactive type and will only function when connected to utility power. You don't want to go that way. Its probably an Enphase Microinverter:

Enphase

Three used 125 watt panels with a controller and a battery at $1000 isn't too bad. You can get a new 125 watt panel delivered to your door from eBay for $230. So figure $690 for three 125 watt panels and $165 for the controller and you're at $855 new. That means you're paying $145 for a used battery. Not a bad deal if everything is working but not the best over new either. Offer him $500 like Jerry said and you would have a great deal.

The trouble with used PV panels is the prices have come down so much. Ten years ago PV was at $7-8 watt. Now its easy to find PV at $1.35/watt. Its hard for people to sell used equipment for 1/7 what they paid for it, even if it has been 10 years....

Is the freezer a SunDanzer? Those are pretty efficient and high dollar.

http://www.sundanzer.com/


Bruce

[jwhite]

I actually talked the person into printing me the invoice on what he paid that's why I know it's was 2003 and the refrigerator was 1,100.00 new he wants 500 for the fridge.
she also said the battery was 1,100.00 new and now sells for 2,200.00 (747ah@ 100hr.)
she said if it was holding a charge it's probably good?
she also said I could bring it in and they would test it but they weigh 450.lbs

[OverTheTopCargoTrailer]

Somehow these people are blowing lots of solar your way.
I would not go a dime over $500 for his old outaded solar system.
I would bet you only get 75% on a perfect cold day in Colorado.
Having a 400 watt system on 750 amp hour battery is a joke .....
That charge controller - never comes off FLOAT !!
To give the battery a good charge you need 150 amps - close to 1800
Watts of solar :-))

Like having a 2 gallon gas tank on a 5.7 Tundra.

I just got 6 LG 255 watt panels $1.10 per watt, weight 40 lbs.

His freezer is too old, it could die tomorrow and you got nothing, for 1,000
You can get a nice ARB 63 quart , with 3 year warranty - will last for
20 years has German drifus compressor.

Jerry

[bdosborn]

she said if it was holding a charge it's probably good?

Wow. That's so wrong.

Its sounds like a forklift battery, which is great battery since they are designed to go down to a 20% depth of discharge. However, leaving a battery sitting around off a charger means its ruined in as little as 3 months through self discharge. Have they got it on a charger now? Also, Jerry's right, there isn't enough solar to charge the battery at the recommended rate. Battery manufacturers usually recommend a C/8 rate (capacity/8). That would be around 93 amps for that battery and there's only around 22 amps of PV capacity. I wonder what 10 years of too low a charge rate does to the battery? The only way to really test it is to do a load test and remember that a dead battery isn't worth anything, even if it weighs 450# costs $2,200 new.

Is sounds like you like this deal because you don't have to design anything. Just keep in mind we can help you select and source new components. FWIW, you can get 420 amp-hrs of new golf cart batteries from Sams Club for $325. That's what most of the small, DIY PV systems use. They only weigh 60# apiece so at least you can get them home without rupturing yourself.

Bruce

[jwhite]

Thanks for all the input I think I am going to pass on this,because it's a old system and probably only worth a few hundred dollars like jerry said and for my trailer it's not enough to do what I want.
I think with all the good advice you will help me get what I need,I don't mind spending more and getting what I need but I don't know enough about this ?
I like the idea of the golf cart batteries I have 2 golf carts and a good local company that specializes in golf cart batteries.
Thanks again

[bdosborn]

Yeah, you probably want to do some reading on solar before you spend a bunch of money. I would start looking around here:

NAWS FAQ

Also, you could use the golf cart as your battery instead of buying a dedicated pile....

Bruce

[jwhite]

Jerry and bruce thanks for all your help I have found this thread
http://www.wind-sun.com/ForumVB/showthread.php?5373-Window-A-C-run-on-Solar
and it explains in detail why it's to expensive to try and power a AC with solar and the only way to run a AC is with a generator which I have.
I have decided that all I need is a solar panel to charge the 2 golf cart batteries I have so I can run my refrigerator and tv when I am camping.
Can you point me in the right direction on what to buy ? I may not even install the panel just take it with me in the trailer and place it in the best spot for sun incase I can park the trailer in the shade.
I am sure starting this way I will learn and can grow from there.
Thanks again for your help.

[OverTheTopCargoTrailer]

Jwhit

I told you many times already
I can run my AC on 840 watts .... It produces 670 laying flat at 4 pm , AC pulls 550 watts on MSI
Works good up to 95 deg full sun

Jerry

[bdosborn]

I have decided that all I need is a solar panel to charge the 2 golf cart batteries I have so I can run my refrigerator and tv when I am camping.

What refrigerator and TV do you have?

Bruce

[jwhite]

Bruce it's a Black & Decker 4.5-cu ft ENERGY STAR Refrigerator,that has the freezer and I have a phillips flat screen 19inch.
I also have a 1100 watt inverter.
My thinking was after my ice was gone I would switch over to the refrigerator,I think the last time it lasted about 3 days before the inverter started to alarm the batteries were low.

[bdosborn]

Details are sketchy on the fridge but here's what I think the energy use is. The yearly kw-hrs for the fridge is 274 kw-hrs so the daily usage is 750 watt-hrs. Throw in a tv at 30 watts or so for 2 hours and you're at 810 watt-hrs a day. Since you're down south, figure 6 hours a day in the summer of full sun. 810watt-hrs/6 hrs=135 watts.

Here's a 125 watt from eBay :
eBay 125 watt panel

Here's a 130 watt from NAWS.
NAWS 130 watt

Here's a very nice 140 watt from NAWS
NAWS 140 watt

Anything bigger than a 140 watt or so usually needs to be sent by truck so the shipping gets pretty expensive.

You need a 10 amp controller for a panel this size:
Sunsaver 10 amp Controller

Get a 20 amp if you think you might want to add another panel in the future.

Bruce