Quick look at a PV regarding quality

[ghurd]

I have seen some nice China PVs, and some bad ones.

The first thing I look at is the cell placement.  Sometimes, they are crooked, nearly touching other cells in some places, with large spaces between cells in other places.

The next thing I look at is the solder connections on the cells.

I came accross this photo the other day.
Granted, it is a small PV, but the concept is the same.
The cell to cell spacing looks fine... BUT If they can't get the cells in there remotely straight, how is the rest of the quality?   

Just amazing.
G-

[rossw]

The cell to cell spacing looks fine... BUT If they can't get the cells in there remotely straight, how is the rest of the quality?   

Ahh, but they're very clever. They're mounted like that to correct for the different refraction angles of the curved automotive glass. This way, you can mount the panel square so it "looks right" and the offset of the cells makes it "work right".

(Or I could be having a joke at someone elses expense and it's really just plain sloppy workmanship, topped off with zero QC!)

[tomw]

Maybe they are factory rejects /seconds that someone is selling as the real deal?

Just a thought

Tom

[dang]

Production line output gets bin sorted on many physical standards so whomever the importer/wholesaler chose to distribute that even though it was from the starved & beaten trainee production line..  and laughed all the way to the bank.

[philb]

Solar hot water drainback systems are made to slope 1/4 inch every foot. This panel was purposefully designed to fit into the hot water rack and look in place. 

[ghurd]

Its on feebay, from a top rated seller.

Supposedly a 4600mAh Car Solar Charger Battery Panel for Hiking Travelling Riding CellPhone.
The red circled area is the USB output.
HOWEVER, the 4600mAh "power bank" (battery) is an option.
Meaning $45 gets that 6V 830ma PV.

My 1st guess is it is for use in a car parked on a hill next to a solar drain back system.

My 2nd guess is the tilt helps th electrons move easier by going down hill.

 
G-

[tomw]

My 1st guess is it is for use in a car parked on a hill next to a solar drain back system.

My 2nd guess is the tilt helps th electrons move easier by going down hill.

 
G-

Exactly why my batteries are below all my charging sources.

And, as an aside, "Top Rated Seller" on Feebay doesn't mean a whole lot in the overall scheme of things these days and mostly means they ship on time and deal with customers semi fairly. Big sellers can get feebay to remove negatives, also.

Tom
Tom

[philb]

My 2nd guess is the tilt helps th electrons move easier by going down hill.

 
G-

Yes it does. I think it can be accurately calculated at 3.2 psi per inch/volt. That's how I get higher voltages from my panels. 

The seller might try giving a PV panel away with each package of suckers?

I didn't know that, but since you said it, it makes sense.

[MadScientist267]

Phil -

Most certainly they do. I worked briefly at a small laptop upgrade business that shipped worldwide, right from a fleabay store. Everything this guy did was as shady as they come. That "top seller" and corresponding BS percentage that goes with it is just as shady as he was/is. In fact, those two metrics were his number one concern for the entire time I was there, and I'm sure long before that, and probably will be for some time to come.

There are all kinds of incentives from fleabay for keeping that number as high a humanly possible, outside of the natural "sucker" effect it has on its victim. You want to find out what a seller REALLY has going on? Subtract 99 from the positive feedback rating, and then multiply by 100.

That's your ACTUAL satisfaction rating. Bonus: If you get a negative number after subtracting the 99, stop right there and move on. The remaining math is pointless.

Steve

[ghurd]

In my quest to obtain a solar powered turtle (yup, I said solar powered turtle), fleabay suggested this:
"We are manufacturers and wholesalers of solar panels and renewable energy products. Our solar business has been established since 2002. Our engineers are experienced in solar and related accessories, if you buy from us you deal with not just a seller, the whole technical team is behind you and your business."

"manufacturers, wholesalers, since 2002, engineers are experienced in solar, the whole technical team..." 
That sounds good, right?
Until you see this;

[ghurd]

The quality of this one is a LOT better!
I gotta get one of those.   
G-

[MadScientist267]

Yeah, and I bet it puts out better than the other one too 

Steve

[tomw]

Sick puppies is all I can say. Talking like that about a hard working solar panel.

T

[Norm]

Out in the desert...... probably just a mirage....huh ?
Norm.

[ghurd]

Wonder what the rate of charge is per hour? 
G-