How much cheaper if you DIY

[Mudsloth]

I built an 80 watt solar panel last week and am currently putting together a 120 watt unit. I worked out by building them myself I can have a 5kva system (panels only) for around $2500. Get the soldering irons out people, that is a saving of around 20 grand!

[clean32]

I built an 80 watt solar panel last week and am currently putting together a 120 watt unit. I worked out by building them myself I can have a 5kva system (panels only) for around $2500. Get the soldering irons out people, that is a saving of around 20 grand!


How ???

[miky]

Details, details...

Photos, photos...

:rulez:

[Mudsloth]

Sorry guys I made a mistake, i can have 2.5kva system for that price. I use factory second cells, they may have small chips, or flux stains on them. The latest lot I used put out 3.5 watts and .6 volts each and look perfect. The total build cost using these including tabing wire, solder, flux and all other materials is around 150 bucks, i've padded that price out a bit to be safe. I'm using brand new cells for the next panel which will be 400 watts with a build cost of around $550.00. It takes around 3 hrs to put a panel together, excluding beers and smokes. All i have to do is work out how to make a charge controller.The included pic is of a panel that puts out 122.5 watts and 18 volts, this was measured on an overcast day. Oh yeah, I bought an 8000w inverter off ebay for $400.00.

[clean32]

where do you get the factory seconds from?

[Mudsloth]

where do you get the factory seconds from?


American Ebay. You can buy enough factory tabbed cells to build a 175 watt panel for around 100 dollars Australian including postage. Brand new ones cost around 300 aus including delivery.