mkirsch
Rochester, NY
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Joined: 04/09/2004
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Has anyone used one of these Harbor Freight 45W solar setups?
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Crazy Ray
Monroe,La
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Joined: 01/17/2006
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save your MONEY.
RET ARMY  , DW Donna , Summer (Furkid)  . Class A, 2000 Gulf Stream, 4 SAMS 6VOLTS, DIRECTV, YAMAHA 2400 GEN , TOW 97 Wrangler/Honda CR V. Garmin GPS 7200  . "Living Our Dream". NASCAR FAN (14,18,,20,11) Love CO & NM 
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Polishnurse
Schodack, NY
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I used one last winter, outside of Yuma while boon-docking. It works, but I used the generator to cap up the batteries. I gained about 40 amps a day. But I do like my TV. It also depends what you plan on using them for. They are a low grade solar cell, but there cost is well set at $199.00 or so. There regulator is garbage. Had to pick up another at Camping World for under $15.00.
Bill
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2oldman
Indio CA
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Polishnurse wrote:I gained about 40 amps (amp hours) a day. I don't know how you could do that. A 45w panel is about 3 amps at best for maybe 4 hours, then much less than that for the other 5 or so hours. Maybe 20 on a real good day.
Anyway OP, it's a very low wattage system for not much more than battery maintenance.
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dalehelman
Liberty Lake (Spokane) Wa.
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Bought one about a year and a half ago. It has worked fine for what it is 45w. I would buy it again. I did have to build a frame so I could mount it on the roof.
Dale & Sandi
2006 Jeep TJ 4.0 w/33s and 4" lift
Stay In Play Toad braking system
2005 32S Terra Workhorse 8.1
2007 Yamaha powered dune buggy
Liberty Lake (Spokane) WA.
Air levelers(DIY for around $20)
Sewer solutionDIY under $50
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Polishnurse
Schodack, NY
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2oldman wrote:Polishnurse wrote:I gained about 40 amps (amp hours) a day. I don't know how you could do that. A 45w panel is about 3 amps at best for maybe 4 hours, then much less than that for the other 5 or so hours. Maybe 20 on a real good day.
Anyway OP, it's a very low wattage system for not much more than battery maintenance.
You might want to do math again, 4.5 Amps X 8 hours in the desert, Perhaps another 4 hours of reduced sun coming and going. 2 Amp per hour. Good for about 44 amps. if I don't walk in front of them. LOL.. Bill
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travelzoo
NW
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Joined: 11/18/2008
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I understand the 45 watt will be on sale November 27, 28 & 29 at Harbor Freight for $159.99. This link: 45 watt Solar
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2oldman
Indio CA
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Polishnurse wrote:4.5 Amps X 8 hours in the desert That must be some 45w panel. No way it puts out 4.5 amps to your batteries. If that were true, my 360w setup would be pushing 36a, and that's never going to happen. And 8 hours? What do you have, a computer controlled rack mount that tracks the sun?
Believe what you want.. but I think your numbers are stretching the truth just a bit.
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HarryWM
Wherever we are parked this time.
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Joined: 08/23/2004
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My 75 W panels each make around 4 Amps per hour during peak daylight time heading towards the SW. Maybe I bought the wrong size??????
Harry
With wife Carole 11 yrs fulltiming
Retired U.S. Army
2002 Carriage LS 37' 5er; 2006 Lance 1181truck camper
2008 F-450 King Ranch 4x4 fully loaded 5,000 lb air springs
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Golden_HVAC
Fulltime, CA, USA
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Joined: 08/19/2003
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Hi,
I would recommend another brand of solar panel, rated at 100 + watts, I bought my last pair of 120 watt panels from this place, and figure that I saved well over $3,000 in dry camping in a year.
SolarONSale.com
A good pair of solar panels and you can recharge in silence, and then save hours on your generator. I don't like to listen to my generator either.
Good Luck,
Fred.
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