Large 300W+ Solar Panels for Stationary Use only
These large panels are designed for use with building roofs and ground mount arrays. Not the roof of a van or RV. If you plan to build a large, stationary offgrid system for cheap, you have come to the right place. The panels below are dirt cheap and will work well for decades.
Pro Tip:
If you have a solid roof rack on the roof of a vehicle, you can mount a 200W panel safely. Solar panels larger than 250W need 6+ mounting points per panel. Anything larger than 300W can be very dangerous. It is possible, it just needs a very strong roof rack to accomplish it safely. Also be sure to use a stainless steel safety line for each panel in case one does fly off your roof.
Pro Tip:
If you have a solid roof rack on the roof of a vehicle, you can mount a 200W panel safely. Solar panels larger than 250W need 6+ mounting points per panel. Anything larger than 300W can be very dangerous. It is possible, it just needs a very strong roof rack to accomplish it safely. Also be sure to use a stainless steel safety line for each panel in case one does fly off your roof.
455W Mono Panels
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Rich Solar 335W
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445W Bifacial Solar PanelsBifacial means that it absorbs power on the front and the back of the panel (it has two faces). This means that if you mount these panels on a reflective surface such as a white roof or snow on the ground, your output can go up 25%!
These are not worth the added cost if you live in the desert! These are great for cloudy/cold locations only. And they need to be mounted at least 3-5 feet off the ground to work properly. But when they do, expect 20-30% more output over the course of a day! They are 15 pounds heavier than traditional panels because there are two layers of glass instead of 1. Installing these panels is difficult! Be careful. Click Here to purchase Bifacial Solar Panels |
Used Solar Panels: Dirt Cheap but less output
Santan Solar sells used but inspected solar panels from Arizona. Every panel they sell is a high-quality name brand solar panel, and after selling 1000's of solar panels they have only had a handful of returns.
These are a fraction of the cost of the solar panels I recommend above, and will work for a long time. What people don't realize about solar panels, is that they last for decades, if not centuries. Most panels are rated for 25 years to 80% output, which is an extremely conservative goal. Most panels can produce well over 90% of their rated output after 30 years. They can also handle years of non-stop rain/hail/snow/wind without issue. The big downside with these used solar panels is that you need a larger mounting structure because the output is lower. This can increase costs. Santan also sells higher output panels, but they do cost more. If you have a limited roof space, stick with higher output, brand new panels. If you have a ton of space and can mount them yourself, used panels are a fantastic option. The problem with santan solar is that the shipping cost is pretty steep. So be sure to use this option if you plan to build a large array only. Click Here to purchase panels from Santan Solar! Click Here to buy my favorite panel they make. 250W Panel for $63! |