&!@&#$ Solar Panels!

Mike Finley

Trying to put together a solar charger for the trailer, and having a hell of a time. Going on line to find the panel and when I call them for information it's like I'm talking to a 4th grader! Why the hell would you be selling a rather scientific and complex technology like solar panels and have $3.00 an hour house wives answering customer service? When I explain what I want to do I can hear them... "ummm let's see (typing) we have, no that's not it, hmmmm maybe this would work..." No, that has blah, blah blah, it won't do what I want... "okay, hmmmm (typing) maybe..."

WTF!!! THey don't even know the product, they are searching the site like I am before I call them!

Sparky Joe

Have you tried an RV dealership?
They could probably be more helpful.

dougchips

Check West Marine, they have smart people at the 800 number, the stores are a gamble.

mdshunk

These people are just a bit south of me. They are true experts:

http://www.mrsolar.com/contact.php

They have lots of sizing information on their site. The whole site is great, as a matter of fact. Look at the RV solar stuff. They even have sizing worksheets.

dougchips

Edit on my post, West Marine is good for info but expensive.

Mike Finley

I will call them and see what they can do. I'm just not in the mood to figure this out for myself. Is it too much to ask for somebody selling this sh*t to be able to tell you what you need? I know it's possible, I did it about 5 years ago for my sail boat, bought a flexible solar panel that trickle charges my batteries, works like a charm, no timers, no little black boxes, just the panel and a wire hooked up to the batteries so I know it is possible. Unfortunately boat is 4 hours away or I would just look at the panel and get the manufacturer's name off of it. About all I remember about it was it had to be under a certain size so the juice coming out of it wouldn't over charge the batteries and acted like a permanent trickle charger that just keeps the topped off.

All I want to do is tell them what I want to do and have them tell me to buy product XYZ and give them my credit card number.

mickeyco

Here are some links, all you need is a solar panel, charger/regulator, overcharge protection/discharge (optional but good idea) and low voltage disconnect (optional but good idea) for the battery, sized to the solar panel output and possibly an inverter depending on what your running off the batteries. Hook up is just a few wires. You can buy complete kits or each piece individually, I found the panels at a surplus store real cheap. You can probably find a unit on eBay a little cheaper but probably no warranty.

http://www.firemountainsolar.com/inv...rningstar.html

http://www.morningstarcorp.com/produ..._DataSheet.pdf

http://www.morningstarcorp.com/produ...rd/index.shtml

http://store.sundancesolar.com/64warvbocaso.html

http://www.sciplus.com/category.cfm?...3&category=136

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=90599

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=41144

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=94048

Mike Finley

Mrsolar was very helpful, unfortunately they don't sell any flexible panels. They did direct me to somebody who did and it turns out to be the same place I have ordered from a long time ago. $135.00 later, panel is on the way.

mickeyco

Where at I'm intersted in one, if they don't have a webpage do you know the specs; output and voltage.

Mike Finley

http://shop.solardirect.com/