Chicago Electric Power Systems 45 Watt Solar Panel Kit

Easy to put together. For those of us that don't really know about solar power, it would've been nice to know I needed a battery and an inverter. But, I can get those!!

For many years, I'd been wanting to dip a toe into the fun world of solar power, but my interest ramped up when I became a licensed "Ham" (Extra Ticket). Access to emergency power is a big deal when you're involved in Amateur Radio. A good friend (and long-time ham radio fellow) highly recommended this particular model, and was so pleased with the first system that he'd bought that he went back and bought a second set. He was most impressed with the "solar controller" which is discussed more below. All in all, the installation and set-up took about 10 to 12 hours and I went slowly because there is a learning curve. (Later, I bought a second unit and had it 100% hooked up in less than two hours.) The controller that came with the solar panels is a winner. It has a digital display that's large and easy to read, and shows the remaining voltage in the battery power. The unit is made of aluminum and the knobs are solid and sure. Another nice bonus that came with this set are two of these 12-volt LED lights. They do a good job of illuminating the dark corners of our little shed, where this unit is now installed. We did spend some time trying to ascertain the best angle for the panels, and that will vary depending on the seasons. After the "Solar System" was all set up, it started charging right away, even though it was an overcast day. (The amorphous thin-filmed solar panels do better than the crystalline panels on cloudy days.) I highly recommend this unit. The PVC frame is well-made and *fairly* sturdy and it's easy to assemble. Best of all, this system really works. One caveat, you'll need to buy a deep cycle marine battery (about $140) and a good quality inverter (I recommend at least 750 watts). Expect to spend another $60+ for the inverter. UPDATE: Last Spring, I had my roof redone and took the six solar panels down and went with the 100-watt monocrystalline panel and upgraded to a $130 MPPT solar controller. I gave my two "Thunderbolt" set-ups to a neighbor, who has them set up in his back yard. Several months later, my fancy $130 controller has failed and I had to buy a replacement (and this time, I went with PWM instead of MPPT). Meanwhile, my old Thunderbolt system is still chugging along and consistently performs better than my new (and more expensive) system. The PVC framework (for the solar panels) is in great shape, and the LED display on the solar controllers is bright and easy to read. Yeah, I can't say enough good about this system. Conversely, I'm pretty disappointed in my "upgrade."