eBay 200W solar panel challenge - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: fzabkar
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 23, 2024, 08:04:45 pm
content: I challenge people to find a correctly described solar panel, eg 200W. I have so far been unsuccessful after more than 10 attempts. I ask people to avoid the more expensive panels and limit their choices to something that an average person might buy.https://www.ebay.com.au/sch/i.html?_nkw=200w+solar+panel&_sacat=0&_sop=16&_pgn=9&rt=ncEdit:I'm not looking to buy a panel. The purpose of this challenge is to alert people to the predominance of rubbish in this market.

author: Siwastaja
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 24, 2024, 11:25:05 am
content: You are looking for a single 200W panel?IMHO that's an awkward size to look for. Popular rooftop power ratings were around 270 - 330W already a decade ago, and nowadays well over 400W. (Panels have gotten a tad bigger, too, so it's not only due to efficiency increases).Then again, significantly smaller panels are obviously manufactured for all sorts of purposes, but they would be significantly smaller than the mentioned rooftop standard sizes.So maybe instead of 200W, try to look at the ~300W power range, and you will find new old stock from 5 years ago sold at discount. Example from here:https://www.karkkainen.com/verkkokauppa/brightsolar-mono-315w-aurinkopaneeliThese "real" rooftop sizes are so much cheaper than smaller caravan sizes.Besides, ebay is pretty crappy place to look at. Try Google for a while, and I'm sure you will find stuff like Secondsol, but locally.

author: Someone
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 24, 2024, 11:38:44 am
content: Quote from: Siwastaja on August 24, 2024, 11:25:05 amThe rules in Australia for grid connected are quite (one might suggest overly) specific and restrictive so two things: grid connect "authorised" panels carry a premium over the international market, and older panels no longer permitted are dirt cheap.But the OP hasn't said what they actually want the panel for, so it's all moot.

author: fzabkar
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 26, 2024, 08:52:46 pm
content: I was looking for a panel for RV use, such as a motorhome or caravan. I looked at about 10 listings, at the high and low end of the price range, and found only one that was correctly described. In fact the seller made it a point to differentiate his product from a competitor's "300W" panel, which was really only good for 160W at best. I've been through this same process some years ago, and nothing has changed. EBay is still full of crooks, and nobody is bringing them to account.Now let me rephrase my question. If you want to buy a 200W panel,for whatever purpose, try to find one whose stated specs are correct or even plausible.

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 26, 2024, 10:35:04 pm
content: You'd have to only look at major brands, otherwise you'll just get a bunch of overspecced junk yeah. Or don't use ebay for this kind of purchase.Maybe you can rephrase again and give a dimensional requirement.

author: fzabkar
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 26, 2024, 10:40:54 pm
content: Quote from: thm_w on August 26, 2024, 10:35:04 pmDo I really need to rephrase?Solar panels are rated for the wattage they produce under standard test conditions when they are illuminated by a source producing 1000W per square metre. Today's panels have an efficiency of around 20%, so a 200W panel would need to have an effective collection area of 1 sq. m. Now pick a "200W" panel at random and calculate its area from its advertised dimensions.

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 26, 2024, 10:57:34 pm
content: OK, 11" so 0.08m2, yeah you are right, just some noname junk:https://www.ebay.com/itm/404698326861Same as the 9000mAh 18650's or 10000000 lumen flashlights. Ignore them and find a quality brand.

author: Someone
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 26, 2024, 11:19:43 pm
content: Quote from: fzabkar on August 26, 2024, 08:52:46 pmI buy brand name panels, where the specifications are public and I can verify before installation (or even before paying).Why are you shocked that it is hard to find well supported and documented products at the international flea market ? Go to a supplier that will support you.

author: Geoff-AU
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: August 26, 2024, 11:22:08 pm
content: Quote from: fzabkar on August 23, 2024, 08:04:45 pmI graciously decline your fool's errand. Searching a grey marketplace for a genuine product and excluding all expensive items basically guarantees that anything correctly described was done so by mistake.

author: Someone
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 26, 2024, 11:28:34 pm
content: Quote from: Geoff-AU on August 26, 2024, 11:22:08 pmThere is still some good stuff on eBay, generally used/NOS and poorly described/advertised. Including solar panels. OP can do their own work.

author: fzabkar
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 26, 2024, 11:37:12 pm
content: Quote from: Geoff-AU on August 26, 2024, 11:22:08 pmBy "expensive", I meant systems costing many thousands of $$$.Here is a random yardstick using a reseller recommended by Victron:https://shop.ianddindustries.com.au/product/solar-panels-monocrystalline/A 215W, 1.1 sq. m. panel costs AU$271, and a 185W, 1.0 sq. m. panel costs AU$200. That's an efficiency of 18%. That's what I mean by inexpensive.Edit:I'm not actually looking to purchase a panel. I merely started this thread to illustrate that eBay is a marketplace where crooks come to sell their wares, seemingly with impunity. Everyone knows that there are plenty of unscrupulous vendors selling fake flash drives, but I wondered how many had encountered fake or grossly misrepresented solar panels. We always expect to find one or two crooks, but in this case the genuine suppliers appear to be a tiny minority.BTW, I took a random sample of offerings at Aliexpress and have so far found that all 200W solar panels have at least been consistently described. I might try Amazon next.

author: Siwastaja
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 27, 2024, 05:41:30 am
content: Quote from: fzabkar on August 26, 2024, 11:37:12 pmIt was not obvious at all, but now that you say this I of course agree. 95% of the time Ebay is not the correct place. I use it as a last resort when I can't find something after an hour of googling. The main problem with Ebay crap is that often it isn't even cheap. We have had the same discussion here many times regarding components like MOSFETs, LEDs etc. The cost of counterfeit or completely broken crap on Ebay is roughly the same as Digikey/Mouser if not higher. Of course the shipping cost for DK/Mouser is more if you only want to buy $10 worth of components, so you should try to combine some projects and order more so you hit the free shipping limit. So you spend $60-100 once and get what you need, instead of spending the same $60-100 during 5 ebay transactions and get 90% unusable crap and fail at making the project work.

author: tautech
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 27, 2024, 07:06:04 am
content: The OP is Aussie and with any camping experience is most likely to park his vehicle in shade when available and then position a PV panel to best advantage.Portable lightweight folding panels are the most convenient for Aussie needs.https://www.sunyee.com.au/collections/folding-solar-panels?srsltid=AfmBOoqwQkj9AN-w3oum-AOFVcEY93LmlNbn8fKjNRQgrcf0LeaQHaxa