Give Solar Panels A Second Life

By Author: Mark Sadler.
Total Articles: 1
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Have you considered that using reclaimed or second hand solar panels might be right for you? Well they are most definitely a very cost effective option if you are looking for a solar panel setup but are trying to save on the initial costs. It is possible to save a significant amount of money.

Have you considered that using reclaimed or second hand solar panels might be right for you? Well they are most definitely a very cost effective option if you are looking for a solar panel setup but are trying to save on the initial costs. It is possible to save a significant amount of money. You just need to make sure that the pre used solar panels you are buyng still work correctly and efficiently.

Firstly, give the solar panels a visual inspection. Looking for cracked glass and faulty connections. Next to test a solar panel you might seek the help of an electrician with a multimeter and a bright sunny day, face the solar panel towards the sun, if the sun is low in the sky it may be a good idea to tilt the panel rather than laying it directly onto the floor. With the multimeter measure the open circuit voltage, you should ...
... be aware that a 12 volt panel produces 17 to 19 volts in full direct sunlight so you should be looking for results near to that figure. Please note, when handling older solar panels you should be gentle with them, as they may be slightly weakened by age and by being exposed to the elements for a number of years.

If your solar panel is producing the correct voltage you need to test the short circuit current so you can work out how many watts it's producing. Take a reading of the amps being produced and multiply that by the volts which will give you the amount of watts. If your solar panel is producing a similar amount to it’s rating then it is in fine working order, and there is no reason why it should not give you years of trouble free, free electricity

You can find second hand solar panels online on websites such as ebay or even freecycle, they are not hard to find and the money savings means it's definitely worth it. If the original brackets and fixings do not suit the application you have planned for your solar panels, you should not have any trouble finding mounting kits either for floor mounting or roof mounting, just contact a solar panel wholesaler and they will be able to help.
Resource: http://www.uksolarpanelshop.co.uk