Implementing solar power has traditionally been an expensive undertaking and though prices have improved substantially in recent years, the tendency from the customer’s perspective is still to think in terms of the cost. That is a justified perspective if money is a significant factor in the decision to go solar. Also, there is a tendency for solar energy hobbyists and do-it-yourselfers to shop for bargains, leading them to purchasing products that look great in the short term, when they are still out-of-the-box new, but for which the luster eventually, sometimes quickly, fades. If form and function and durability and having a product that pays for itself both monetarily and in it’s utility are more important than the intitial outlay of cash, then perhaps you should consider spending a few more dollars to make more sense with our alternative to the Harbor Freight 45 Watt Solar Panel Kit, which I will get to in a moment.
What is it?
Solar panel kits allow you to generate clean, quiet energy using the light from the sun to operate DC appliances or recharge 12 volt DC batteries or, when connected to an DC-to-AC power inverter, to power TVs, lights, computers
There are several issues with Harbor Freight’s solar panel kit that should give anyone who is considering purchasing one pause. The most obvious issue that one should notice about the Harbor Freight (HF) kit is that it is a product of Chinese manufacturer Topray Solar and is made from cheap materials and includes components that often fail quickly. But that is just the beginning of the issues with this kit.
Though we studied comments on several forums where people are talking about problems they’ve had with the Harbor Freight solar kit and applications, for convenience we’ll focus on just three of them: “The panels are… OK,” says Alan Georges, a forum contributor at TheSurvivalPodcast.com, a daily online audio show about self sufficiency and self reliance in the modern world. “They’re cheap amorphous silicon cells mounted in cheap aluminum frames. “The connectors on the back don’t look especially weather tight.”
Topray Solar uses an amorphous thin-cell technology in the manufacture of these panels and while they put out similar output as crystalline panels, it takes a larger area to get the same power. “One thing I did notice is the panels are not very efficient,” said Erigornz, also a contributor at The Survival Podcast Forum. Hence the 9 square feet of panels included in the HF kit.
“…the controller box is pretty rudimentary,” Alan Georges goes on to say, referring to the controller box. “I’m not sure that it would prevent over-charging or over-discharging the battery, and the manual isn’t particularly helpful on that point. It might be worth picking up a $25 controller to keep from over-charging.”
Indeed, it is common to see people who have purchased this kit who immediately want to buy replacement components, like the charge controller. “…the controller is kinda cheesy,” says yipykyah, also a poster at The Survival Podcast Forum. “Would a 20 Amp, 12 Volt charge controller be sufficient?”. Here’s another forum discussion where many posters are suggesting the purchase of a better charge controller. And another, where genebo says “I ditched the controller that came with the Harbor Freight kit and bought a better one that used an improved way to charge the battery that helped the battery last longer.”
So, the question is, why buy this lower quality kit if you immediately want to replace the controller?
“I bought one of these systems almost two years ago and, living within its limitations, it works,” said Alan Georges. “But its limitations are pretty severe.”
If you want a beginner setup and are not worried about exceptional quality, longevity, and performance, and if spending as little money as possible is important, then the ‘harbor freight 45 watt solar panel kit” may suit your purposes just fine. However, you will probably want to purchase a better controller, which will add to the cost of the system. You will need a battery or batteries to store the solar energy collected by this kit if you don’t already have one. You will also need an inverter if you intend to power any AC loads.
The Harbor Freight 45 watt solar kit will leave you wanting more. You’ll want better quality and durability, more power and performance, and you’ll wish you had it. You’ll wish that you hadn’t gone the cheapest route and splurged a little more to have a better system. Why put yourself through that? Read on to see what we can offer as an alternative to the HF solar kit.
Introducing the Mr. Solar 45 Watt Solar Panel Kit
A Quality Alternative to the Harbor Freight 45 Watt Solar Kit!
So, what are we proposing as an alternative to the Harbor Freight 45 Watt solar power kit? We’re offering a couple of steps up in quality, durability, and performance for a price that is competitive with Harbor Freight’s kit and which includes much better replacement warranties that the 90-day money back guarantee on the HF kit. Our kit does not include the type of “cheesy” controller that comes included in the HF kit. Our controller is a professional, industrial quality product and so is our solar panel and wiring kit.
Our kit also does not include the DC and USB power ports or wiring plug ports that the consumer-grade HF controller box has. However, there is a much more fun do-it-yourself project for around $25 that you can do that will replace those features of the HF kit very nicely while providing a convenient place to store your battery as well as your charge meter. I’ve built it and use it to power lights, my laptop, and a radio when we go camping. I’ve also used it to demonstrate how solar power works.
And you can do this project while you’re waiting for your new kit from Mr. Solar. Also, our kit doesn’t include the DC lights that are in the HF kit. But you can buy those separately and have them when our kit arrives – we ship within 24 hours of receiving your order.
Features:
- Solarland 45 Watt Solar Module – This high-efficiency multicrystalline PV module panel gives you a bit of breathing room compared to HF’s 3 15 Watt amorphous thin cell panels and has high-impact durability in a strong aluminum frame. Includes warranties of 5 years materials and workmanship, 12 years of 90% power output, and 25 years of power output. The HF solar kit has a 90-day warranty.
- Morningstar SG-4 Controller – A 4.5-amp controller which replaces the voltage regulator in the Harbor Freight solar kit that almost no one is happy with. Includes a 5-year Warranty. The HF solar kit has an overall warranty of 90-days and if the voltage regulator goes bad, you’re out of luck. Spare youself the trouble and buy our kit instead!
- Complete Wiring Kit including the module to controller and the controller to battery wiring.
We can also offer you a battery and inverter option that are of exceptional quality and both carry a 1-year manufacturer warranty, four times as long a warranty as the HF kit.
- MK Deka U8AU1 AGM (Optional) – $95 – This is a 32Ah battery that is sufficient for a small scale system. Includes a 1-year warranty.
- Zamp Solar 300 Watt Pure Sine-wave Inverter (Optional) – $158.00 – $10 OFF! The Harbor Freight kit page suggests that a 300 watt inverter is required to run AC loads with their kit, which is not included. So, why not invest in a quality pure sine-wave inverter that provides continuous power and 300 watts of surge protection, with a cleaner electrical signal that sensitive electronics use. Supplied with terminal battery clamps and terminal rings. Take our word for it, don’t go cheap at Walmart for your inverter. You’ll just end up wishing you hadn’t gone for the cheapest product. For an explanation of pure sine-wave vs. cheap inverters, go here.
The bottom line is this: it seems that many people, according to our research, pretty quickly become disappointed with some aspects the Harbor Freight kit, especially the “cheesy” voltage regulator. We can offer you a high-quality, durable system that is far better than the HF kit for just a few more dollars. While the lights and DC ports that are included in HF kit are nice features that we don’t include with our industrial-strength alternative, you’re a DIYer and you can build your own do-it-yourself battery box with DC and USB power ports and purchase lights from Walmart or Amazon.com – WHILE YOU WAIT FOR OUR MR SOLAR 45 WATT SOLAR PANEL KIT TO ARRIVE!
Our kit is high-quality and can be used for many applications, from charging cordless power tools to powering a couple of lights and a radio in the lawn mower shed. It’s also a great kit for countless DIY solar projects, school science fair projects, and solar power demonstration models. The features our kit lacks that are included with the HF kit, the lights and the power ports and the PVC mount, should not dissuade you from purchasing our high-quality alternative and building your own battery box with power ports and your own mounting system, if simply setting the panel in the sun is not sufficient.
Remember this: you get what you pay for! If you buy cheap, you get cheap!
DON’T BUY CHEAP!
BUY OUR HIGH-QUALITY 45 WATT SOLAR PANEL KIT INSTEAD!
BUY NOW! JUST $169.00!
Now, get to work building your battery box with DC and USB power ports while you wait for our kit, which ships in less than 2 days.