Ok, what's the catch ? Solar Panels REALLY cheap

[Ezookiel]

http://www.importersonline.com.au/
These seem to be legit, but the prices seem suspicously low.
120w kits for $499
150w kits for $620
200w kits for $760

Have prices really come down that much in just a matter of months, or am I missing something here? Because I paid more than that just for a 100w kit and thought I'd done well even then.

Their "embroidery designs" page has a picture of a zipper listed as a "puppy dog", and nearly all their other product lines have "no product to display"

LOL.
Not sure I'll be handing over any cash just yet.

[PBBIZ2]

Prices are pretty keen. I paid $600 for 60w Canon Panel a number of years ago. Maybe manufacturing has ramped up. They have a phone number contact listed under 'contact us', so maybe give them a call.
16% effeciency is about right for commercial panels, so think they sound ok.

[DamTriton]

Wait another few weeks. There is such a glut that have been imported for the now defunct solar rebate scheme that there will be some suppliers trying to get id of them at or near cost just to stay afloat. No point in carrying huge amounts of stock with low turnover.

[zagan]

Real cheap because of this, Efficiency 16%

So Chinese cheap arse solar panels.

Some of the top of the line solar panels are around 90% efficiency, the poly ones cost a packet for them, the RRP are more in line with the upper middle range prices.

After all there's a reason why you'll pay $30,000 for a 5000kwatt house solar system.

[PJ.zook]

Are you sure its 90%? Last i heard the good ones are getting around 30%.

[PBBIZ2]

90% is incorrect. The panels on the space station are latest technology and last I heard around 24%.

[tektrek]

Real cheap because of this, Efficiency 16%

So Chinese cheap arse solar panels.

Some of the top of the line solar panels are around 90% efficiency, the poly ones cost a packet for them, the RRP are more in line with the upper middle range prices.

After all there's a reason why you'll pay $30,000 for a 5000kwatt house solar system.

90% efficiency. WHAT??????

Where did you get this from? Obviously you are not in the solar/renewable industry as recent lab tests have only just cracked 25% efficiency with a monocrystalline wafer, slightly less for a polycrystalline.

Farrrrk, get your facts right befoire you go blabbering.

[chimpboy]

If we could score 90% efficiency with solar panels then we would basically have world peace and an end to all the world's ills!

[tektrek]

By the way, there is another type of solar panel called amorphous which is commonly found in calculators etc. This type of material which is made by a screeb printing process rarely exceeds 8% efficiency with most brands barely scraping 6%.

I can only assume that the cheap panels mentioned in the original post are made up slightly chipped wafers or damaged modules. The photos on the website are too vague to really see what wafers are used but I would hazard a guess at them being polycrystalline which is a mere 1% less in efficiency of monocrystalline.

[tektrek]

Well, out of curiosity I rang the contact number - no answer just a message to call their Skype or email them. And no, you can't leave a message on the phone for him to call you back!

[tektrek]

Update -

I finally got hold of the retailer and he is to be OK. The cells are Suntech brand which are better than most.

Makes me wonder now about my suppliers of solar equipment.

[aussiecamping]

http://www.importersonline.com.au/
These seem to be legit, but the prices seem suspicously low.
120w kits for $499
150w kits for $620
200w kits for $760

Have prices really come down that much in just a matter of months, or am I missing something here? Because I paid more than that just for a 100w kit and thought I'd done well even then.

Their "embroidery designs" page has a picture of a zipper listed as a "puppy dog", and nearly all their other product lines have "no product to display"

LOL.
Not sure I'll be handing over any cash just yet.

I bought one of these and there great worth every cent

[Ezookiel]

The phone number appearing under "Contact us" is a good sign.
It wasn't there when I first found the website.
Looks like the may have gone live just a little too soon, but glad to see they are looking more and more genuine, because at 200w's and more, solar starts becoming pretty feasible for running most of the camping that I do, which would be a fridge, a few lights, and maybe an inverter for a laptop occasionally. 200w would manage to keep my battery pretty full provided normal weather conditions, given the fridge is a Bushman and uses very little, and the lights are LED and use even less, and the laptop would run off a small waeco can size inverter once in a blue moon.
Pity it is so soon after having just spent $799 to get a 100w kit.
That might have to become my new sunroof on the 4wd and get myself a 200w for the campsite

[me3@neuralfibre.com]

Efficiency with solar panels only matters if size is a concern.

25% is for stuff they put into space.
Most panels are about 16-19%

All that matters is $ / watt
Efficiency for fixed installations is largely irrelevent - it just means more meters.

Paul

[aussiecamping]

Efficiency with solar panels only matters if size is a concern.

25% is for stuff they put into space.
Most panels are about 16-19%

All that matters is $ / watt
Efficiency for fixed installations is largely irrelevent - it just means more meters.

Paul

yes this is so true

[aussiecamping]

http://www.importersonline.com.au/
These seem to be legit, but the prices seem suspicously low.
120w kits for $499
150w kits for $620
200w kits for $760

Have prices really come down that much in just a matter of months, or am I missing something here? Because I paid more than that just for a 100w kit and thought I'd done well even then.

Their "embroidery designs" page has a picture of a zipper listed as a "puppy dog", and nearly all their other product lines have "no product to display"

LOL.
Not sure I'll be handing over any cash just yet.

i see there working on the site and i ave bought from them

[aussiecamping]

http://www.importersonline.com.au/
These seem to be legit, but the prices seem suspicously low.
120w kits for $499
150w kits for $620
200w kits for $760

Have prices really come down that much in just a matter of months, or am I missing something here? Because I paid more than that just for a 100w kit and thought I'd done well even then.

Their "embroidery designs" page has a picture of a zipper listed as a "puppy dog", and nearly all their other product lines have "no product to display"

LOL.
Not sure I'll be handing over any cash just yet.

they have a phone number n there site now and there paypal is verified

[VooDoo]

Real cheap because of this, Efficiency 16%

So Chinese cheap arse solar panels.

Some of the top of the line solar panels are around 90% efficiency, the poly ones cost a packet for them, the RRP are more in line with the upper middle range prices.

After all there's a reason why you'll pay $30,000 for a 5000kwatt house solar system.

Were do i sign up!! i had a quote of a 10kw system that was more than 30k. For 5000 kw i could sell power back to the grid and make a fortune. Prices ive seen are around 5k per 1kw installed (invertors, seperate meter, panels etc) or 12k for a 5kw invertor and 3kw of panels

[bansheebuzz]

what face that the palel is rated 200w = 16 amps but only comes with a 12amp reg sounds like something is amiss and not to standard

[brissle]

thats what i thought too, the 120w comes with a 10A reg,which is about right and the 150w also comes with a 12A reg 150w's ,12v's =12.5A so this is not really right either, but might do the job. But the 200w panel and 12A reg ? dont know how long this would last?

[Clanky]

It may be ok ( not that I would go that way anyway) to use a slightly smaller reg than the solar panel is rated for as the panels only ever produce maximum output when you have full sun and the panel is at 90deg to the sun, no dust on the panel, etc etc.
Better to get the correct reg though and save any hassles

[RN]

Found this link re the supplier:

Can't vouch for the accuracy.


http://www.notgoodenough.org/viewtopic. ... f264dad33d

[aussiecamping]

Found this link re the supplier:

Can't vouch for the accuracy.


http://www.notgoodenough.org/viewtopic. ... f264dad33d

Looks Like customer has posted again on this website you mentioned and there happy must have been a little misundertanding

[Jeeps]

Anymore feedback on these guys?


cheers

[tektrek]

I am still in doubt as to the quality of the cells as the modules are around 60% below market price which makes me think they are seconds. The retailer is unable to assure me of the quality let alone who the Chinese manufacturer cell manufacturer is and I can't get any info from him about the solar charge regulator. He is far from forthcoming with info of any sort which makes me think something funny is going on. I could be wrong but with over 20+ years experience in the solar industry makes me wary of people coming out with solar gear at less than half the usual market value.

[CRUSHU]

Just a quick question, to those in the know.
I have a 2.5kw unit on my house, does that mean that the most I will get from it is 400w, assuming it is 16% efficient? Each panel is 190w.

[DamTriton]

Just a quick question, to those in the know.
I have a 2.5kw unit on my house, does that mean that the most I will get from it is 400w, assuming it is 16% efficient? Each panel is 190w.

You are confusing yourself.

The 2.5kW refers to the maximum power output capacity of the inverter that feeds back into the power grid. The solar panel array will typically be about 2.2kw max (12 panels at a guess in your case) to power the inverter.

The "efficiency" is realted to sunlight-to-power-output of the panels and nothing to do with the panels connection to the inverter/power grid

[CRUSHU]

I have 13 190w panels, and a 2.5kw invertor.

By my math, 2,470w of panels, of which 16% is 395w.

So, is the maximum my setup able to produce, going to be about 400w?
Or is the 190w actually 16% of a theroetical output of 1190w per panel?

Kind of like engine power output may be 300hp, but when measured, only makes 200hp at the wheels?

[PBBIZ2]

I think you will find the name plate rating is what you get out of the panel, so if its 190 W, that its output. I base this on my experience of 120W of solar panels on the 4wd. I have an in line ammeter and in direct sunlight get around the 9 amps out of them at best. It doesn't last for long though! Most average output is around the 6-7a mark, but this is due to light intensity, angle of sun, shading, temperature etc etc Panels are rated at higher solar radiation levels than we get in Australia as well, so you are unlikly to get the 'full bang' for buck they advertise, but its still a good proposition - weighing up the purchase of a 2.5 kw system right now.

[keencdk]

If the system is a 2.5kW system you should be able to get 2.5kw depending on orientation, time of day, level of sun etc. Some people with say a 1.5kW system with 2kW inverter can get over the 1.5kw though don't bank on it.

Most inverters have some kind of display on them so you can see the peak output for the day, total output for the day and current output.