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M Del Senior Member Joined: 09/04/2012 Location: AustraliaPosts: 155
Posted: 03:50pm 09 Dec 2016
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I have recently heard of a local source of 2nd hand panels from upgraded house systems and decommissioned road traffic signs etc. If I can gain access to it I will purchase some if I can confirm they are still good.
Apart from obvious damage, I know they need to be tested and have the following plan to do so.
1, open circuit voltage and amps using multimeters.
2, testing for hot spots in the panels with a borrowed FLIR
3, visual and resistance test of any cables etc.
Are there any other tests worthwhile that I am missing? Mark
Pete Locke Senior Member Joined: 26/06/2013 Location: New ZealandPosts: 181
Posted: 11:41pm 09 Dec 2016
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If it was me, I would take a light bulb of known wattage and appropriate voltage for a running test as well. Cheers Pete'
Warpspeed Guru Joined: 09/08/2007 Location: AustraliaPosts: 4406
Posted: 02:34pm 10 Dec 2016
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If you are buying only one panel, its a bit more difficult...
But if buying several, they should all have very similar open circuit voltages, and short circuit current "on the particular day".
I recently bought two batches of 250 watt second hand panels from a place in Shepparton called Commadore Australia. They will ship Australia wide, but I preferred to drive up from Melbourne and see exactly what I was getting.
I have no connection to them, apart from being a one time happy customer. Secondhand is definitely the way to go.Cheers, Tony.
brucedownunder2 Guru Joined: 14/09/2005 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1548
Posted: 02:59pm 10 Dec 2016
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Second hand panels are cheap nowdays . I picked up six 175 plus the cables,fittings and fuses for around $400. and the inverter.
anyhow , I found out that it's a good idea to ask for the mounting rails ,if they are available.. My rails are costing me nearly as much as the panels, so keep that in mind . (if anyone has secondhand rails for sale let me know,pls.)
BruceBushboy
Warpspeed Guru Joined: 09/08/2007 Location: AustraliaPosts: 4406
Posted: 03:04pm 10 Dec 2016
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Yes, I built my own bolted steel angle frame, and the steel cost a lot more than I expected, but its still a very low overall cost system.Cheers, Tony.
oztules Guru Joined: 26/07/2007 Location: AustraliaPosts: 1686
Posted: 03:08pm 10 Dec 2016
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There are 5 sets of happy customers on this island from dealings with that company.
The latest batch of 40 panels had two duds amongst them... the owner rang them up, and they reimbursed him for them. I gave him a few to replace them this morning ( I ordered plenty of spare panels for me... can never have too many I say) They did not quibble.
Sadly I cold not drive up from melbourne like you.... and the last lot of batteries and panels cost $4000 to get freighted over here. ( 2 trucks, and 2 ships later ) ( we bought over 100 panels and 50 batteries)... thank goodness the gooddies were so cheap, that the freight did not bother us.
.........oztulesVillage idiot...or... just another hack out of his depth
Warpspeed Guru Joined: 09/08/2007 Location: AustraliaPosts: 4406
Posted: 03:26pm 10 Dec 2016
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For me, dealing with them was a very pleasurable experience, which is why I thought I would recommend them here as a good source of secondhand panels. Cheers, Tony.
M Del Senior Member Joined: 09/04/2012 Location: AustraliaPosts: 155
Posted: 05:04pm 10 Dec 2016
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Tony wrote, "If buying several, they should all have very similar open circuit voltages, and short circuit current "on the particular day". place in Shepparton called Commadore Australia"
Bit far away, but worth a call thanks for the tip, and am looking at 4-5kw of panels
Bruce wrote, "ask for the mounting rails"
good point, all in one purchase
Thanks all
Forgot
Pete wrote "light bulb of known wattage and appropriate voltage for a running test as well"
I have a couple of sets of 12/24v halogen light banks to use for load tests, good reminder, thanksEdited by M Del 2016-12-12 Mark
Warpspeed Guru Joined: 09/08/2007 Location: AustraliaPosts: 4406
Posted: 06:07pm 10 Dec 2016
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Getting them all at the same time can be rather important, because its the only way you can be absolutely sure all the panels in one interconnected group are absolutely identical.
I have been caught in the past buying a few panels, then buying a few more, a few months later, as I could afford them from the same seller. They turned out to be very different panels, even though of the same size and same power rating and looking identical. They had quite different specified voltages and currents and mounting hole locations, as they came from a different Chinese supplier.
Like yourself, I needed 4Kw of panels, but I bought 2Kw of monocrystaline and 2Kw of polycrystaline (each an 8 x 250W array). As they were to be mounted in different directions, and feed separate home made MPPT controllers, that was o/k. But mixing panels within one interconnected group is really bad news and not really possible.Cheers, Tony.
Notice. New forum software under development. It's going to miss a few functions and look a bit ugly for a while, but I'm working on it full time now as the old forum was too unstable. Couple days, all good. If you notice any issues, please contact me.
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