How To: Cheap or Free Solar Panels

Daox · 02-09-09, 01:05 PM

Saw this today and had to share. Good write up on finding used panels for cheap or even free. Gotta remember this come road construction season in good 'ol Wisconsin.

How To: Cheap or Free Solar Panels : CleanTechnica

groar · 02-10-09, 05:35 PM

I have always my project in mind to have renewable power (solar or wind) to nullify a part of my constant consumption.

As buying new material will never pay back (50+ years is never), I was thinking about looking for 2nd hand material as it looks to work very well for jwxr7 : my diy pv set-up

Denis.

MetroMPG · 02-11-09, 02:46 PM

The article doesn't mention automotive grade panels. I heard a rumour that VW was giving away .33A 12v panels that shipped with its new cars. They put one in each car to keep the fancy electronics from draining the battery while parked for weeks/months in dockyards, dealerships etc.

I visited a dealership, asked if this was true. They said they're supposed to collect and ship them back to the factory, but got the impression they didn't always do this. The parts manager said "hang on a second" and sent a gopher into the back to get one for me.

He gave it to me for nothing. And I gave it to a friend.

Some good ideas in that article though. I know of a place that maintains navigation buoys, the lights of which are all powered by small solar arrays. I'll have to see if I can track down someone who works there...

02-09-09, 01:05 PM	#1 (permalink)
Daox Administrator Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Germantown, WI Posts: 1,127	How To: Cheap or Free Solar Panels Saw this today and had to share. Good write up on finding used panels for cheap or even free. Gotta remember this come road construction season in good 'ol Wisconsin. How To: Cheap or Free Solar Panels : CleanTechnica (Support EcoRenovator.org & get rid of these annoying ads!)

02-10-09, 05:35 PM	#2 (permalink)
groar X-Frenchy: very Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Toulouse, France Posts: 153	I have always my project in mind to have renewable power (solar or wind) to nullify a part of my constant consumption. As buying new material will never pay back (50+ years is never), I was thinking about looking for 2nd hand material as it looks to work very well for jwxr7 : my diy pv set-up Denis. __________________ Earth absorbs 1.8 t CO2/head/yr, while a French generates 6.2 t CO2/yr kg saved 06/08-08/09: 1816.9+382.9 (ecodriving / 1420mi not driven) = 2199.8 (2.66 kg/l diesel) kg saved by 3kWc photo-voltaic solar panels : 187 kg/yr (59.1 g/kWh) Radioactive wastes saved by 3kWc photo-voltaic solar panels : Long life (>100,000 years) : 2.85 g/yr (0.9 mg/kWh) Short life (<300 years) : 31.7 g/yr (10.0 mg/kWh) Based upon "official" French figures...

02-11-09, 02:46 PM	#3 (permalink)
MetroMPG Infrequent noob Join Date: Aug 2008 Posts: 123	The article doesn't mention automotive grade panels. I heard a rumour that VW was giving away .33A 12v panels that shipped with its new cars. They put one in each car to keep the fancy electronics from draining the battery while parked for weeks/months in dockyards, dealerships etc. I visited a dealership, asked if this was true. They said they're supposed to collect and ship them back to the factory, but got the impression they didn't always do this. The parts manager said "hang on a second" and sent a gopher into the back to get one for me. He gave it to me for nothing. And I gave it to a friend. Some good ideas in that article though. I know of a place that maintains navigation buoys, the lights of which are all powered by small solar arrays. I'll have to see if I can track down someone who works there... __________________ . My pedal power 12v generator project My inexpensive electric car conversion

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