Solar Panel advice

[grumpy bum]

Hi every-one,
We are in the market for a solar panel.
In our research we have come across two types; mono crystal and multi crystal..Whats the difference and what does every-one recommend is better?
Also what wattage should we looking at to run 2x fridges and lighting for CT??
Happy adventures
Kirsty and Nick
 

[CRW]

Hi Guys

If you contact Mandrake on the forum I am sure he will help you with your questions and will certainly look after you with a set of panels if you are buying.  A lot of his happy customers are on this forum

Cheers

Carl

[Bird]

http://www.energymatters.com.au/choosing-solar-panels.php
+
http://www.solarsteve1950.com/Solar%20Calc.xls

[Maîneÿ . . .]

We are in the market for a solar panel.
In our research we have come across two types; mono crystal and multi crystal..
Whats the difference and what does every-one recommend is better?

Also what wattage should we looking at to run 2x fridges and lighting for CT??

Definitely MONO is more efficient than Multi, when comparing 2 x panels of same wattage.

The 2 x fridges would draw about 12 Amps average, so you need 100 (PLUS) Watts to maintain them.

[Heiny]

Check out the Horizon Store on ebay, I have a 160 Watt (advertised as a 200 Watt) Poly (multi-crystalline) panel from them and I paid less than $300.

The following is how it was explained to me:

Mono panels have been for a long time a more efficient but also more expensive panel, but these days a Poly panel can be just as good and are less affected by heat and shade and therefore can generate more energy on any given day.

My panel has been connected to the CT with the waeco running for over two weeks, the batteries state of charge has not dropped below 90% (12.5V) conditions have ranged from sunny to overcast during this time.
On a sunny day the the batteries SOC is normally back to 100% (12.7V) by 10 am.

[Maîneÿ . . .]

The following is how it was explained to me:

Mono panels have been for a long time a more efficient but also more expensive panel, but these days a Poly panel can be just as good and are less affected by heat and shade and therefore can generate more energy on any given day.

My panel has been connected to the CT with the waeco running for over two weeks, the batteries state of charge has not dropped below 90% (12.5V) conditions have ranged from sunny to overcast during this time.
On a sunny day the the batteries SOC is normally back to 100% (12.7V) by 10 am.

Polly panels have a dark, almost black surface appearance and it's difficult, if not almost impossible, to see it is a Multy-crystalline panel

[Beachman]

I also run two 40L fridges and so for no problems with the 120W panel keeping the batteries charged.

[Heiny]

Polly panels have a dark, almost black surface appearance and it's difficult, if not almost impossible, to see it is a Multy-crystalline panel

Thanks Mainey I stand corrected but I thought the definition of poly was: more than one or many

Is the explanation "a Multi panel can be just as good and are less affected by heat and shade and therefore can generate more energy on any given day" correct

[Maîneÿ . . .]

Is the explanation "a Multi panel can be just as good and are less affected by heat and shade and therefore can generate more energy on any given day" correct

Utter cowdung

[Mandrake]

Possibly the best testbench in Australia for different types of panels / arrays ---
http://www.dkasolarcentre.com.au/flash/processmap.html

When you look at the historic graph you'll see there is not a huge difference in the output of the main players ...

Cheers

Steve

[Maîneÿ . . .]

Possibly the best testbench in Australia for different types of panels / arrays ---
http://www.dkasolarcentre.com.au/flash/processmap.html

When you look at the historic graph you'll see there is not a huge difference in the output of the main players ...

I think that is a valid statement, no elcrapo panels are tested

Not even the main panels used by the majority of campers are shown with test results  :'(

[toad]

Not even the main panels used by the majority of campers are shown with test results  :'(

So Mainey what are you saying?
How do we categorically know if our camper solar panels are good or not? FYI I have a 120W Sharp panel (original equipment on the AORC Odyssey) with an auxiliary 50W Mandrake panel added on. I would like to get things sorted in my head.

[Bill]

How do we categorically know if our camper solar panels are good or not?

I figure mine does what I want it to do so it must be good.
Thats all I got...
Bill

[earle]

Thanks Mainey I stand corrected but I thought the definition of poly was: more than one or many

Is the explanation "a Multi panel can be just as good and are less affected by heat and shade and therefore can generate more energy on any given day" correct

Utter cowdung

Not sure if you were given this explanation by Horizon but I messaged them through ebay requesting the dimensions of their 200w mono panel as they weren't listed in their ad, they sent them to me and they seemed too small. I then sent a message back to him saying that and asking for the full specs but instead of sending them he offered to have a consultant ring me. My thinking at that point was - why won't you send me the full specs (which in my opinion should be listed on the ad anyway), I don't want some sales guy ringing me just to try and spin some B***sh** to get a sale.

[Maîneÿ . . .]

So Mainey what are you saying? How do we categorically know if our camper solar panels are good or not?
FYI I have a 120W Sharp panel with an auxiliary 50W Mandrake panel added on.
I would like to get things sorted in my head.

some panels, from different MANUFACTURERS, of the exact same Wattage, have higher performance to other panels  

It's all in the quality of the cells used by those manufacturer, they can be all be MONO crystalline cells (or MULTY crystalline) cells, but if the quality of the individual cells is different, it WILL give vary different results in the electrical output of the panel.

It's like comparing different grades of petrol, it looks the same and smells the same and when you stick a match to it you will think it burns the same too, but some petrol is rated as an octane number 95, 98 and 103?
Different motors are made to run on a predetermined octane rated fuel, this specific octane rated fuel (they say) makes the petrol motor run efficiently.

Using a solar panel as an example, two panels from two different manufacturers may each be rated as 80 Watts.

Tested side by side I would NOT expect them to supply the same number of Amps in a given time period such as a week etc.

Sure the may give the same Amp number when tested in the sun at optimum angles and same time of day, eg; 4.7 Amp, but then that is only the rated amperage of a 80 Watt panel in about optimum conditions anyway, what I'm saying some panels will work more efficiently than others in lesser or bad light conditions, as in early morning and late afternoon.
This extra Amperage all adds up over the period of a day or week and you will have a better battery condition during and at the end of your camping holiday.

The maximum Amperage is related to the Wattage and peak conditions, but on many occasions unfortunately you will not be in those peak conditions for more than about 6 hrs per day, then you have about 6 hours of low light conditions and 12 hrs of no light conditions.

( I believe you will find most lesser expensive panels will be using less expensive cells )

[Heiny]

Not sure if you were given this explanation by Horizon but I messaged them through ebay requesting the dimensions of their 200w mono panel as they weren't listed in their ad, they sent them to me and they seemed too small. I then sent a message back to him saying that and asking for the full specs but instead of sending them he offered to have a consultant ring me. My thinking at that point was - why won't you send me the full specs (which in my opinion should be listed on the ad anyway), I don't want some sales guy ringing me just to try and spin some B***sh** to get a sale.

No Earle Horizon did not give me that explanation, a guy that sells panels in Adelaide did

I did get a 200W panel from horizon, Yes it is only about 160W, but it does more than suit my requirements, I have spoken with "some sales guy" (his name is Matt), he is very good to deal with and provides great customer support and the panel cost me less than $300

Bloody fantastic value I say

But you stick with your opinion and get your big name panel because it will make all the difference at the end of the day

[earle]

Hi Bubba, I have obviously made an incorrect assumption about where you were given this explanation. I'm afraid it was prompted by the fact that they wouldn't just send me the specs, but wanted me to talk to a salesperson, which in my opinion was so they could put their spin on things.

Please don't think I'm disrespecting your opinion. You're obviously very happy with the panel you bought and that's important. If others want to buy a panel from Horizon then I'm also more than happy with that. I'm just also conveying my opinion and it is just that, another opinion. My opinion is that regardless of where you buy your panel from you should get whats advertised and not have to test a panel to find thats its undersized and then negotiate a discount. I agree that in the end you got a great deal in terms of $/watt, but you would have to agree that there are a lot of sharks selling solar panels on ebay (some deliberately selling undersize, mislabelled panels such as that other mob who keep changing there name) and I still wonder why they wouldn't send me the full specs.

My panel is by no means a "big name" panel and while not quite as cheap as your's was still a good deal. In my opinion it was important to deal with someone who had a reputation of delivering what they advertised so I was happy to pay a fraction more (if you factor in delivery costs). This could also be important to others reading this thread and considering where to buy panels.

The main thing is that people are happy with the panel they have after making an informed purchase.

[bimborocks]

I would definatly talk to Mandrake (solarsteve).  I bought a Kit (100w pannel and mppt controller) and it has far exceede my expectations.  Over Christmas we camped for a week or so in pouring rain and overacast weather and with the 50L waeco and LED lights running I think that battery still remained fully charged. 
There is also a solar calculator on his site which should be able to give you a good guide of how much power you will use and amount of solar pannel watts to keep it all runnning

Cheers
James

[Heiny]

Over Christmas we camped for a week or so in pouring rain and overacast weather and with the 50L waeco and LED lights running I think that battery still remained fully charged. 

What did the batteries state of charge range between (in volts) over that period