Solar panels for Dummies.

[OkieMoe]

So my last uncle passed a year ago and my brother and myself have been cleaning up and out the two houses on 8 total parcels totaling 1256.40 acres. My uncle was a hoarder to say the least. Burt very little was trash. Most is new tools. And parts for new tools. I have 1.5 rooms left to filter tools out of and I expect 3x loads full of a 10 foot trailer.

But the reason for this post. Judging from the location in his house, around 2006-2010 he purchased new solar panels and just stacked them up. Then buried them. I know very little about them so I just leaned them against a wall and continued moving tools I did know. Guessing 50 plus panels. And I will grab one of the staller ones this weekend to just google info. But does anyone know of a solar panels for dummies site? OR can anyone dumb it down into crayon what I need and if they are worth messing with?

 

[golddigger14s]

See if you can find the manufacturer info from a label on the panel and google for more info like the specs and if the manufacturer is still in business. Lots of good vids on YouTube also.

 

[FRISKY]

Lot of solar info here: https://www.youtube.com/user/errolprowse/videos
There is also a link to a solar forum on that site.

 

[swampratt]

I think it may be this simple.

More complicated the more panels you tie in.
https://www.tycorun.com/blogs/news/solar-panel-wiring

That above has more nice pictures

 

[Pennyless]

Youtube is a great resource, solar panel talk forum. I installed several on my shop years ago, not very complicated.

 

[-Pjackso]

Judging from the location in his house, around 2006-2010 he purchased new solar panels and just stacked them up. Guessing 50 plus panels.

Woof.
If the panels are from 2010, then they're mostly obsolete by now. (New or not)
Newer panels (even a few years old) has a significant improvement in wattage output compared to 2010 output.

A significant expense of solar power is the installation (labor). So most people won't invest the "installation cost" for far-inferior output.
The resell value greatly depends on the panel wattage output. (Search FB marketplace for comparison)

With that said, if you find all the parts for the entire system (panels, inverters, wiring, racking, etc)
You might have better luck selling the entire system as a package.

Best of luck!
Post info of what you find!

 

[CHenry]

Woof.
If the panels are from 2010, then they're mostly obsolete by now. (New or not)
Newer panels (even a few years old) has a significant improvement in wattage output compared to 2010 output.

A significant expensive of solar power is the installation (labor). So most people won't invest the "installation cost" for far-inferior output.
The resell value greatly depends on the panel wattage output. (Search FB marketplace for comparison)

With that said, if you find all the parts for the entire system (panels, inverters, wiring, racking, etc)
You might have better luck selling the entire system as a package.

Best of luck!
Post info of what you find!

This^^^

 

[mouthpiece]

If you think they are obsolete but brand new that would be perfect for someone like me that wants them for a barn or cabin. They should still work 100%. So i disagree somewhat.

 

[OkieMoe]

If you think they are obsolete but brand new that would be perfect for someone like me that wants them for a barn or cabin. They should still work 100%. So i disagree somewhat.

They are all in the same place I placed them a month or so ago. Life gets in the way of digging through a hoarders place full of NEW stuff that shouldnt be junked lol. I'll try and bring some out and get pics and specs in the next few weeks. Judging from the location in the house I would say in the 2000's But all new.

 

[CHenry]

If you think they are obsolete but brand new that would be perfect for someone like me that wants them for a barn or cabin. They should still work 100%. So i disagree somewhat.

I dont know the timeline but Solar panels have become WAY more efficient in recent years...over like the last 10 years I think. panels are smaller and generate alot more energy in that smaller package.
But for a barn or cabin, I agree. I would not use a 20 year old panel setup on my house.
But I still wouldnt ever buy them because the price makes the ROI longer than I'll be alive.