Need to power 320 watts for about 10 minutes a day....

[vinniethePVtech]

OK, scored a good deal on Ebay for an SS-10L. It's on it's way now. Trying to decide between 3 different panels.... hoping you guys might have some input.
Looking at a Solar Cynergy 80watt (mono) , CNBM 90watt (mono) and a UL Solar 85watt (poly). All are roughly the same price shipped, the CNBM is the only one UL listed as far as I can see.
Just wondering if one brand seems to be more reliable than another. Can't find much info on the CNBM, the Solar Cynergy got some badmouthing a few years ago but not much recently. The UL Solar..again, not a ton of info but not alot bad that I saw.
Any input appreciated...

Amazon.com has a pretty good deal on a PWM and panel for $309.00. Ships free and I believe no sales tax.

http://www.amazon.com/HQRP-Monocrystalline-Controller-Regulator-Radiation/dp/B002WHQL2U/ref=sr_1_58?ie=UTF8&qid=1318997966&sr=8-58

[motochris]

Amazon.com has a pretty good deal on a PWM and panel for $309.00. Ships free and I believe no sales tax.
http://www.amazon.com/HQRP-Monocryst...997966&sr=8-58

Thanks, but since I've already purchased the Morningstar controller and a digital voltage meter... no sense in starting over.
Regardless of which panel I choose, I'll have that panel, the SS-10L charge controller and voltage monitor for about $225 shipped.

Anybody got anything good/bad to say about the panel brands I mentioned?

[motochris]

Well, here's what I ended up with--

1) 80 watt Solar Cynergy panel-- $169 shipped
1) Morningstar SS-10L charge controller--$47.90 shipped
1) Blue LCD voltage monitor-- $4.69 shipped
1) Xantrex Prowatt SW600 true sinewave invertor-- $155.68 shipped
1) Xantrex remote on/off switch for invertor-- $28.99
total of $406.26

I could have went with a cheaper invertor, but I've had my fill of the cheap ones in my toyhauler. They never seem to last. I also wanted to be sure my power supply was clean so I don't have ballast issues with my T8 lights.
The Solar Cynergy panel seemed to have good reviews on the newest versions and it was also the least expensive, so I went that route. The SS-10L, just because it seemed to do what I needed for a decent price. The LCD monitor is so I can check battery voltage easily anytime I want. I'll be running it off a switch so it will have little effect unless I need it.
I'll be using 2) walmart 12v deep cycle batteries from my toyhauler, so no extra charge for those. I only use the toyhauler maybe twice a year, so it won't be inconvenient to swap the batteries back and forth as needed. I think it'll actually keep the batteries in better shape than now.
I think all in all..... it's some decent equipment for not a ton of $$. Time will tell, but it's a great start to learn with.
Just gotta make the mount for the panel and wire everything up and see how it does!! Thanks for the help!!

[Mike90250]

Great, and you will be switching the dc to the inverter on and off, so the inverter idle raw does not drain the batteries ?

Get a good 12V DC switch, maybe from a good autoparts store, Household AC switches will fail quickly with high amp DC going thru them.

[motochris]

Great, and you will be switching the dc to the inverter on and off, so the inverter idle raw does not drain the batteries ?

Get a good 12V DC switch, maybe from a good autoparts store, Household AC switches will fail quickly with high amp DC going thru them.

Good call...hadn't thought about that. Luckily, this invertor is the SW model and there's a sweet remote switch available for it.

prowatt-sw-remote.jpg

[motochris]

Switch ordered...add another $28.99 to the total. I could get away with something simpler...but this one is nice and all ready to just plug in.

[vinniethePVtech]

Get a good 12V DC switch, maybe from a good autoparts store, Household AC switches will fail quickly with high amp DC going thru them.

I was thinking motion sensor with 10 minute timer. Flawless as far as switching power on and off.

[motochris]

I was thinking motion sensor with 10 minute timer. Flawless as far as switching power on and off.

For MY setup, a regular switch would be best I think. The stuff will be in the horse shelter, so the horses could set off a motion switch. If I aimed it somewhere else....the dogs would do it.
I'm going to mount the switch right next to the light switch so it's simple to use.

[Mike90250]

I was thinking motion sensor with 10 minute timer. Flawless as far as switching power on and off.

Got a source for a 12V motion sensor & timer ?

I'm suggesting for the OP, that he needs a way to shut off the inverter, and it's idle losses the other 23.5 hours of the day, I'll trust him to turn the 120VAC lights off and on.

[vinniethePVtech]

Got a source for a 12V motion sensor & timer ?

I'm suggesting for the OP, that he needs a way to shut off the inverter, and it's idle losses the other 23.5 hours of the day, I'll trust him to turn the 120VAC lights off and on.

Yeah. This one is on the pricey side though.
First one I googled. But I've seen the prices as low as $30.

http://www.thesolarstore.com/electrical-accessories-lighting-controls-motion-sensor-switch-p-539.html