Customer Reviews:
Showing reviews 6-10 of 27
 Using for backup power in Florida August 31, 2008
J. D. Rosow (South Florida)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
My husband and I don't like the noise of generators....nor do we want to store gasoline....With all of the hurricanes that blow thru here every year....as well as the FPL power outages that occur (even during regular storms)....we decided to put together a simple battery backup system to power a few items....This solar panel setup along with a few batteries does the job well....
The one thing we would like to change is the design of the two legs....We would prefer that they fold under the panels for storage purposes....They do not do that....They are fixed....
 Studies suggest these panels may dissapoint August 27, 2008
M. Anderson (Silverdale, WA United States)
27 out of 38 found this review helpful
Shenzhen Topray Solar Co. Ltd. claims that, "The worldwide retailers, Wal-mart, HomeDepot, K-mart, Sunforce look to Shenzhen Topray Solar Co. Ltd. for Solar Products." It's a pretty fair bet that these Sunforce panels are manufactured by Shenzhen Topray, as are similar amorphous 15W panels marketed by Harbor Freight, Northern Tool, Brunton, and others, though Shenzhen Topray doesn't always label their products so some deduction is necessary.
So what does it matter who manufactures these panels? Because Shenzhen Topray has an almost singular reputation for manufacturing panels that are less than their rated capacity and are prone to failure. In a 2005 study by Arne Jacobson at Humbolt University of amporphous silicon solar panels sold in Kenya, all five brands of panels dropped from their nominal power ratings after a few months of exposure to sun, but the Shenzhen Topray panels lost 57-61% capacity whereas the others lost only about 15% capacity. After six months of study, the only manufacturer who had panels fail entirely (max power below 1 watt) was Shenzhen Topray, at a failure rate of 50%.
This is not the only study indicating Shenzhen Topray panels may not meet consumer expectations. A 2005 certification by Bodycote Materials Testing Lab of a different Shenzhen Topray amorphous solar product (that seems to no longer be in production) showed a Pmax of 10.2 watts rather than the nominal 15 watts. A 2004 Loughborough University study of four brands of panels sold in Kenya resulted in such outrage against the Shenzhen Topray products that a law was passed requiring testing before the importing of panels, and as a result very few Topray Solar products have found their way to Kenya according to Sass Peress in August 2006.
That was then, this is now. I read the more positive reviews here of this Sunforce product and hope things have changed. But the design of the very similar (if not identical) Harbor Freight 15W panels hasn't shown any obvious changes in the three years I've been aware of them, and in the three years following the publication of the first studies very little was done to improve their products to address concerns over capacity and longevity (again according to Sass Peress). I recently found a sale on the Harbor Freight 15W panels and bought a kit containing three of them, but I'll be taking them back even without testing them. I don't want to experiment with these for a year or two when known reliable panels are really not that much more expensive. Polycrystalline and monocrystalline panels by major manufacturers are typically warrantied to 80% of their rated power in 25 years. What do you suppose the chance is that these Sunforce panels will last that long?
I have not purchased this product, but have only read about others who have used similar products. So if you can prove me wrong with your real-world data of Sunforce PV arrays withstanding seasons of rain and sun and still putting out the rated watts, please do!
60W Sunforce Solar System August 26, 2008
Bernard S. Brownson (Denver CO)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
I received the system quickly. It was easy to install with all the cables and necessary hardware. During peak sun days the panels put out 4.5 watts. This is enough for the lights that I am using.
Satisfied August 18, 2008
R. Russell (Auburn Hills, MI USA)
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
My goal with this product was to take as many devices in my home off the grid as possible. I bought an electric mower for my 1/3 of an acre of lawn and an electric weed whacker and leaf blower. All of these items are charged from these panels. I also use it for my rechargeable vacuum, cell phone, bluetooth headset and laptop. I'm amazed how easy it is.
Recharges all our stuff August 13, 2008
C. Bayne (Phoenix, AZ United States)
17 out of 17 found this review helpful
We bought this a few months ago. We live in Phoenix, AZ ("Valley of the Sun"), so this has plenty of opportunity to work. We have it plugged into 2 marine batteries (like car batteries, but bigger), and we have an inverter connected to those. The inverter is in the house, and the batteries are outside. The wire goes through the wall. We plug things into the inverter.
This was easy to put together. You have to buy the batteries, but this came with everything else.
I can run my laptop all day, as well as recharge the cell phones and Wii remotes. My husband can also run his laptop. If we only get on the laptops after work, we can run them well into the night. I've had to switch to grid power a couple of times if I've used my laptop all day, but I've never had to switch over if I've only used it during the evening. (This doesn't count the few rainy days we've had. Yes, once in a while it rains in Phoenix.)
This is not the most efficient solar panel set, but it's very good for starting out and learning about solar power. It's inexpensive enough to set up and charge all your rechargeable stuff whenever you need it, as long as you live in a fairly sunny area.
Oh, as an experiment, I plugged the vacuum cleaner into the inverter, which promptly started screaming for help. (The inverter has an alarm, apparently.) This whole set-up CANNOT handle this kind of power draw. You have to unplug everything and turn the inverter off and let it just sit a while and reset before plugging in your lower power things again.
You're not going off the grid with this set-up, but you'll save yourself a few bucks a month. And you get to be smug whenever anyone talks about going green. "Well of course, our solar array has lowered our carbon footprint considerabley. Shall we go for an organic smoothie now?"
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