Used solar panels - dispose or use?
Discussion
Got given 12 solar panels for free so I grabbed them. They are only 120w and are about 5 years old so I don't think it's worth putting them on my main roof, but maybe my external garage?
They are old ikea chinese Hanergy panels which as I understand were fairly crap even when new.
Figure I'll use a few of them and sling the rest on ebay or gumtree.
Anyone else used old panels?
Thanks
Mike
They are old ikea chinese Hanergy panels which as I understand were fairly crap even when new.
Figure I'll use a few of them and sling the rest on ebay or gumtree.
Anyone else used old panels?
Thanks
Mike
Well that's easy to calculate. Just look at what you expect them to generate and what it costs for the inverter and installation. Given that the panels are free you should pay for the overheads pretty quickly, and then it's all free energy.
If you don't want them though I'll take them off your hands.
If you don't want them though I'll take them off your hands.
If you have a bit of an electrical engineering 'bent' I would get them fitted and an inverter sourced. Shame not to if the panels are FOC.
We looked into this recently as we have a 60ft barn in a perfect location but the costs of new panels and the minimal feedin rebate makes it non-viable. Free would have changed that!
We looked into this recently as we have a 60ft barn in a perfect location but the costs of new panels and the minimal feedin rebate makes it non-viable. Free would have changed that!
kuro68k said:
Well that's easy to calculate. Just look at what you expect them to generate and what it costs for the inverter and installation. Given that the panels are free you should pay for the overheads pretty quickly, and then it's all free energy.
If you don't want them though I'll take them off your hands.
Have you seen the price of a solar power battery system (as i'm pretty dammed sure OP is not going to fit his freebie panels to the grid) and their lifespan?If you don't want them though I'll take them off your hands.
Yes a nice fun DIY project to run a few lights in your garage but I very much doubt that it will ever pay for itself!
dickymint said:
Have you seen the price of a solar power battery system (as i'm pretty dammed sure OP is not going to fit his freebie panels to the grid) and their lifespan?
Yes a nice fun DIY project to run a few lights in your garage but I very much doubt that it will ever pay for itself!
Why would they need a battery? Connecting an inverter to the grid is no big deal, not terribly expensive.Yes a nice fun DIY project to run a few lights in your garage but I very much doubt that it will ever pay for itself!
A load of junk 120W panels are not worth the cost of sticking them on the roof - they’ll top out at about a kilowatt and the cost of the rails alone (let alone the installation) will take a decade to pay off.
Sticking a 12V regulator on them and using them for charging car batteries for a car you don’t use very often - sure. Or nailing them to the shed roof and running an old lead acid battery for the shed lights. But doing a grid-tie installation, on a roof - utter waste of time.
Sticking a 12V regulator on them and using them for charging car batteries for a car you don’t use very often - sure. Or nailing them to the shed roof and running an old lead acid battery for the shed lights. But doing a grid-tie installation, on a roof - utter waste of time.
Agree. Not worth using.
Gonna keep a couple and bin the rest. If anyone wants any (pickup only!) I'm in Cardiff drop me an email.
120w and 90v. I've tested most of them and they are around 90v. Amps in 1.5 I think, though it's been cloudy since I've had them and they are putting out around 0.8
It's funny though. The current standard is 250w I think. Is it worth getting those or wait until 500w panels are available. Hmm.
Gonna keep a couple and bin the rest. If anyone wants any (pickup only!) I'm in Cardiff drop me an email.
120w and 90v. I've tested most of them and they are around 90v. Amps in 1.5 I think, though it's been cloudy since I've had them and they are putting out around 0.8
It's funny though. The current standard is 250w I think. Is it worth getting those or wait until 500w panels are available. Hmm.
bmwmike said:
Agree. Not worth using.
Gonna keep a couple and bin the rest. If anyone wants any (pickup only!) I'm in Cardiff drop me an email.
120w and 90v. I've tested most of them and they are around 90v. Amps in 1.5 I think, though it's been cloudy since I've had them and they are putting out around 0.8
It's funny though. The current standard is 250w I think. Is it worth getting those or wait until 500w panels are available. Hmm.
It’s only a question of time (very soon is likely) that all this crap comes home to roost and people realise how much money they’ve spunkedGonna keep a couple and bin the rest. If anyone wants any (pickup only!) I'm in Cardiff drop me an email.
120w and 90v. I've tested most of them and they are around 90v. Amps in 1.5 I think, though it's been cloudy since I've had them and they are putting out around 0.8
It's funny though. The current standard is 250w I think. Is it worth getting those or wait until 500w panels are available. Hmm.
bmwmike said:
It's funny though. The current standard is 250w I think. Is it worth getting those or wait until 500w panels are available. Hmm.
Sorry if my undiagnosed autism is preventing me seeing your flippancy, but have you seen anything to suggest 500 W panels are around the corner?I got some quotes a few months ago and for some ridiculous premium over 250 W I could get 280 W panels.
Jambo85 said:
Sorry if my undiagnosed autism is preventing me seeing your flippancy, but have you seen anything to suggest 500 W panels are around the corner?
I got some quotes a few months ago and for some ridiculous premium over 250 W I could get 280 W panels.
Flippancy? I don't think so pal. Just pointing out that if free panels are worth less than a sI got some quotes a few months ago and for some ridiculous premium over 250 W I could get 280 W panels.
t why would panels twice the wattage be worth more than 2 turds? If the panels are free and not worth fitting there is no way the maths stacks up if the panels have to be bought.Unless anyone wants them FoC they are going to the tip.
bmwmike said:
Jambo85 said:
Sorry if my undiagnosed autism is preventing me seeing your flippancy, but have you seen anything to suggest 500 W panels are around the corner?
I got some quotes a few months ago and for some ridiculous premium over 250 W I could get 280 W panels.
Flippancy? I don't think so pal. Just pointing out that if free panels are worth less than a sI got some quotes a few months ago and for some ridiculous premium over 250 W I could get 280 W panels.
t why would panels twice the wattage be worth more than 2 turds? If the panels are free and not worth fitting there is no way the maths stacks up if the panels have to be bought.Unless anyone wants them FoC they are going to the tip.
bmwmike said:
Flippancy? I don't think so pal. Just pointing out that if free panels are worth less than a st why would panels twice the wattage be worth more than 2 turds? If the panels are free and not worth fitting there is no way the maths stacks up if the panels have to be bought.
Unless anyone wants them FoC they are going to the tip.
I get you now - it’s a fair point and I don’t think the maths does stack up tbh! Available suitably oriented roof area is part of the equation too of course. t why would panels twice the wattage be worth more than 2 turds? If the panels are free and not worth fitting there is no way the maths stacks up if the panels have to be bought.Unless anyone wants them FoC they are going to the tip.
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