WindyNation 100 Watt Solar Panel Off-Grid RV Boat Kit with LCD PWM Charge Controller + Solar Cable + Connectors + Mounting Brackets

I originally purchased a 100 Watt system for my RV from Amazon. Since Hurricane Maria struck Puerto Rico, I purchased a total of 32 more panels and assorted pieces directly from Windy Nation.Pros: all items worked properly right out of the box. My RV batteries are maintained at a steady 12.9 volt. After Maria, I built two 1.6Kw systems in PR that provide enough electricity to run two full-sized refrigerators 24/7 even on 50% cloudy days. Easy installation with the Z brackets and Y connectors. Solar panels built in Indonesia show good quality. Recommend purchasing the adjustable, aluminum mounting racks (@ extra cost).Cons: no fuses come with the kits. You must purchase separately to install at the positive cables of the charge controller, both incoming from the solar panels and outgoing to the batteries. Even with 10 AWG cables, you will see a small voltage drop if running cables longer than 20 feet (recommend going with 8 AWG which is the max diameter the charge controllers can handle). Instructions must be downloaded from WindyNation.Overall impression: these are great off-grid systems to use with your RV, cabin, or home. With proper planning, you can be nearly independent from your local utility (check your local laws), or the incompetent and bankrupt Puerto Rican utility company.[updated 20 December 2018] Since building my systems 1 year ago, I had to make significant changes to the systems and built a total of 5 systems using WN panels & controllers. First I uninstalled 8 panels, since the systems were generating TOO MUCH electricity. Second, In some systems I changed out the controllers to Midnite Solar(s) or Outback controller(s). Third, I've had to rearrange my PV arrays from 4 to 3 panels for the remaining systems since each panel generates MORE power than what the standard test suggests. On a daily basis, my panels perform like they are rated at 106 Watts to 116 Watts per panel. Each panel generates an average of 300 to 400 watts per day and as much as 575 watts per day on the sunniest of days. This means the WN P30L controllers were going over the 400 Watts max they are rated for when paired with a total of 4 panels. Keep in mind this info for is for their location in Puerto Rico, your rated Wattage WILL vary based on your location. Strongly recommend buyers stick with no more than 3 panels for each P30L controller. Overall, I'm very happy with the performance of WN panels.

I didn't have much experience with solar and was unsure of myself when I ordered the kit. It worked but for what I was doing I needed a second panel and larger inverter. The inverter was not part of this kit. I already had an inverter before I went solar. I added another panel and converted to a 24 volt system with a 24v DC to 110 AC 2300 watt inverter. I wired the inverter with 2 gauge cable to two group 31 deep cycle batteries in series. Works good for me. The charge controller with the kit works fine with 12 or 24 volts. It senses the voltage of the system and automatically adjusts to it. That made converting my system to 24 volts a snap. I'm running a small table saw, lighting, drills, skill saw, and battery chargers off the system. I need to budget the power at times but since I went to the larger 24 volt inverter I haven't tripped it yet from an overload. I didn't use the mounting system provided but welded together a "T" pole with braces and mounted the panels to it with stainless U-bolts. I double re-enforced the frame of the solar panels with aluminum angle inside and out where the U-bolts were. I can rotate the pole to face south and adjust the angle at the U-bolts. I didn't want to flat mount the panels on my trailer as in the winter not only would snow be a problem but I thought they would be very inefficient when the sun was low on the horizon. Yes I will have to remove the panels to move the trailer but the trailer is rarely moved. The trailer is 13 feet tall and my pole gives the panel 30 inches of clearance from the bottom of the panels in the event of snow. Overall I am happy with the product. It is a good start for anyone learning about solar which is a system which will needed to be adjusted according to your needs.The fittings that go on the panel end of the cables between the charge controller and the panels confused me. I suggest looking at a few YouTube videos to see the right way to install them. I had reversed the male and female connectors and realized my mistake before I plugged them in. The solution was to reverse the hook-up at the charge controller and relabel them at the panel ends. Once they are crimped on there is no changing them.

I work for a company called GarageSmart.com We sell motorized garage storage lifters that lift and store your expensive outdoor equipment on the ceiling of your garage where it's safe & out of harms way. We have lifters for kayaks, paddle & surf boards, jeep hard tops, truck shells, rooftop tents, bikes, 5th wheel hitch lifters, and universal lifters. The 'smart motors' on our lifters sync with the user's smart phone or tablet and are controlled through a user friendly app that's free from the app store. You needed to know this because all that lifting and lowering and storing takes energy. So here's my point; We actively market our products at outdoor expo's and events where the only source of power available are generators (which are noisy and they run out of gas after a few hours). So we decided to try this solar panel system to install on top of our marketing trailer so we could use solar power to demo our products to customers that stop by. We lifted and lowered and lifted and lowered a Jeep Hard top off the body of a JK Jeep, over and over again all day long for two long days! (easter Jeep safari vendor show in Moab) We even charged our cell phones that were used to control the lifter. We used the solar power to light the interior of the trailer and played some good tunes on our speakers too, and never fell short on power! We are totally impressed with this solar system! We plan to buy more for our sister companies marketing trailers (Vanderhall, Tilt, & Hall guage). Thanks Windy Nation!