Best Solar Panels for Off Grid Systems? 

I've been researching solar panels for several months, and just came across this video. I've never heard such a detailed, yet easy to understand, explanation of how they are made and how they work. You are a good teacher. Thanks so much!

Dude seems to be a “down to earth” type of feller,..thanks for your time,effort,and patience

Your video presentation was the most informative of all other video's out there, especially the difference you explained between Poly & Mono. Thank you very much.

Thank you! Out of all the videos I have watched, this was the most straightforward and informative. Cheers!

Excellent presentation. I was without electricity for a while a few years ago. My small solar power and a lot of help from GOD, really pulled me threw. My system totals no more than 100watts.Using 4 used car batteries that turned up when I needed them and a few small discount jumpstarts made my situation every comfortable. I kept using my stiny solar power system, even when the electricity was restored. It/s nice to know that OUR HEAVENLY FATHER, has my back !! Again, Excellent presentation.

This was like sitting down with your uncle and having him explain the whole deal simply in about a half-hour at the kitchen table. Exactly the kind of information I was looking for! Now I know what areas I want to do some more research on. Thanks!

I watched the whole video and liked. I love that you explained everything possible. Plants use photosynthesis to make energy, the chlorophyll gives things a green color and is used to make sugars.

I bought this mans book and it changed my life. Saved some money by living in my camper for a few years, bought land, went solar and live in nature. It can be done folks, im living proof that someone can do this. I had no great fortune when i started either.

Thank you so very much for untangling some of my confusion. Your break downs, explanations, comparisons and history were appreciated and a definite help to understanding. The nature ending was perfect.

I have a store where you can see the solar equipment I recommend and you can get a package deal on my 355 page full color Ultimate Off Grid ebook and several other off grid homestead projects on my website: www.simplesolarhomesteading.com Please share my vids on your social networks like facebook!

This is by far the best video i have watched on solar panels. Thank you for explaining it in such simple terms. I was looking for your video on batteries but couldn't find it. We are a family of 7 and we are 5 months into our off-grid living adventure. Appreciate the help

I have just watched your video and I feel the need to tell you that not only was I filled with information, but I was very impressed with the presentation of that information. I have subscribed and am looking forward to not only seeing future videos, but looking at all of your past videos also. Thank you and MAN O MAN, great job.

yes! I purchased my HF panels back in 2012. I have never used them. Just wanted to make sure I had them in case I needed them. However, since then I have decided that I may not be able to live normally as I do now. I have installed a wood stove in the basement, canned lots of food, got a BO bag ready, stored water so now I am just "on guard" for what is to come. I am betting on the "blessed hope". LOL...but may need to endure just in case. thank you for your info. You know much more than this lady so I will continue to follow you. God bless you and God bless America. viv

I have a a 12 kw grid tie inverter with 48 300 watt poly cells wired 12 in series and the 4 sets wired paralleled at 550 volts DC @ 20 amps. The extra power , made during the day, goes back into the grid and is used at night from the credit earned during the day ; no batteries involved. NO POWER bill for the last 3 YEARS and the power company OWES almost $500.00. $18,000.00 startup cost and a 30% renewal energy credit of $5,400.00 from the IRS for a total net cost of $12,600.00 . It will have paid its self off in 18 months from now. Free electricity for at least 15 more years. You should encourage more people to go more solar with your U Tube shows . You give great presentations.

amazing video! I want to get into building systems for myself, aquaponics systems and underprivileged towns. Thank you for this lesson and lecture.

This is a straight down to the basics video... this helped me more than another videos I saw. Thank you very much Solarcabin.

I love you I learn so much. Now I see y they want to get rid of seniors they don't want us young ones to get such info. Please take care of yourself.

Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and wisdom regarding solar energy systems. I'm new to the field and really appreciate the information you provided and how you kept it simple for us "laymen" Keep 'em coming! Thanks!

Everyone interested in this should buy Lamars book. Very easy to understand. Basic, but informative, and its written in a way which makes it easy to expand on the plans. Great book, great videos.

I am Dutch , but appreciated much your video explaining , it is simply and easy to understand , nice job , thanks for your video Man :-) Welldone

This was an excellent education on solar panels. I have done a lot of reading on the subject and always seem to come away more confused than when I started. I really appreciate you summing all this up in a way that is thorough and easy to understand. If possible, I would love to see a similar video on the batteries needed. What types, how many, etc. Thank you very much for doing this.

Dude you are so awesome you could be the greatest teacher in the world you have taught me so much I have listened to hundreds of videos trying to figure out solar and you have opened my eyes to exactly what I need and the clarity of your message is so clear you have to be a dummy not to understand it thank you so much look forward to more your videos God bless

Hi you are the first person to explain solar that I have been abke to grasp so thanks

You have presented the information clearly, understandably, and in a way that makes this city dweller want to give solar energy a try. I would like to light up some "out of the way" places in my yard without having to hire an electrician (even though I am fortunate to have a very kind electrician as a friend). It never fails to amaze me how inhibiting ignorance (lack of knowledge) can be. I am a retired sixth grade teacher who still misses her twelve year olds and their willingness to share my imagination. Thank you very much for sharing.

I went with Renogy Solar with a 25 year warranty and 100 watt panels is a little over 100 dollars Harbor freight can't even compare to the package deals Renogy Solar Offers...look them Up on Ebay. Very impressed with their quality. Get double the watts for the buck as compared to Harbor Freight its a no brainer to me.

This video was GREAT!!! I learned so much. I knew absolutely nothing about Solar panels and starting doing some research and came upon your video. You're funny, engaging and very knowledgeable. Thank you and I'll continue to check for your coming videos.

I was wrong and the Renogy are not made in the US as I have now learned but still a very good panel at a good price.

I want to thank you for all the priceless information you have provided to us all. I am very grateful!

A lot of really good information and explained very well. I'm planning on doing a 9K grid tie system with micro-inverters so my system will be quite a bit different from yours but I still learned a lot from your videos so thanks for making them :)

I learned alot from a solar geek. Lol. I found someone who knows their stuff. Thank you. Time to go buy my panels. I live in the shady woods in new smyrna beach Florida. Im a customer for life.

What a great explanation of the variety of solar panels types. I learned a great deal of insight. Awesome!

Most Excellent! Very commonsense based FYI. Here we are in 2018's end & everything's changed. $6,000 will buy you a solar system that will power an RV or cabin that has an everything Fridge, A.C. 65" LED TV, 7.1 surround system, Blu Ray player, P.C. Laptop, etc. Gone are the days of doing with out stuff in the boonies. As long as the big ticket items are used correctly at night then the system will always have a surplus for E.R. power. Example: Don't use A.C. or big pull items after dark. Get all your heavy lifting done during daylight hours so you can enjoy your entertainment at night and never have to exhaust the battery banks. Most people only need to power a Fridge, P.C., TV at night. All lighting can be achieved via solar LED's powered by their own little panels as he showed in this video. Remember, a cabin or RV isn't a 3 bedroom home so powering it is way easier than a home in the city. Itemize & prioritize all your power needs and you'll see that today's solar advances = Batteries, panels, sinewave boxes etc will bring your RV or Cabin into the 21st century with a small investment. Never skimp on batteries, sinewave boxes, cables or panels. Buy em' right the 1st time and you'll be powered up for 25 years (1/4 of a century). Nothing like being way up on the mountain and having more electricity than you know what to do with. Modern tech today is now affordable for the working man. Last note: Buy your appliances with solar and battery based power in mind. Like buying LED TV's that use minimal wattage so you can enjoy TV at night, every night, without breaking the power bank. (pun intended). ~ peace

Sweet! Can't wait for the other videos. Love the no bs approach- super inspiring can do attitude!

Thank you for this VERY interesting and informative video, it has helped me in my knowledge through the maze of stuff out there and making future choices. Much appreciated indeed.

What a great and most informative video...Simple explanations a layman can understand and the vocal is, clear and friendly...I'd like to have a beer with this guy, maybe two or three...lol

Fantastic infos! I m about to move to my land off grid and have absolutely no clue what I m doing... but I feel a little smarter by watching your great videos and learning from your experience! Thank you for the effort you make for all of us!

I don't expect to be off grid but I am starting to plan to be off grid. Be prepared as they say, because you never know. I started with some caned food and some water, I think now ill look into some solar power. Thanks for the videos they are very good.

my local harbor freight sells the 45 watt kit for $127.00 but i personally , bought a 100 watt panel delivered for $100, bought my own chinese charge controller and cable for about $25.00, so i get a lot more power for the money, at least i believe so.

Thanks for doing a good job in providing us some information. Very nice to have someone sincerely trying to help us take the next step in gaining some off grid independence.

a very good explanation, people may not realize but it helps a lot when you explain some of those words sometimes, thanx man.

Thank you. We know so little about this amazing solar energy.

Appreciate your hard work, investigating and experiencing the different solar cells and mechanisms! Really well put together. Rain must mean you're in the NW! Lol. Great info package. Thanks again for sharing! 😳

This is good, but the 10 minute videos are easier to fit in! Thanks for all your information!

I have just watched your video and I am excited to tell you that for me you have done a perfect job. I was not only impressed with the presentation but loved your good old boy approach backed by sound indisputable logic and an amazing ability to teach. I have subscribed and am looking forward to not only seeing future videos but looking at all of your past videos as well. Thanks again....

Yes you are quite right about Australia having a lot of good sunshine. I live in Perth & my grid tied system rated at 2250watts, has been known to produce over 2650watts at certain times of the year. I take my folding 100w panel camping for a week in the bush & kept my power needs going no problem at all.

I watch this just for fun, that's how good this video is. Also, super inspiring for folks starting out.

I would love to know about the controller and see more of how to put everything together and working step by step as a woman. Great information loved all of it

Well that made me smarter . Apparently I bought poly crystalline and not mono . Thanks for the info . :)

Great video! You really know your stuff. I have been researching and using solar on my boat for 5 years. I leaned some new information from your video. Thank You!!!

The best explanation of the difference between 12 vs 24. I now understand why. Thank you so much for the info. I just sub on your channel and share it to my sons in Oklahoma

Man this one of the best video I have seen on solar panel use. Thank you for posting. I live in an apartment in New York and I am retired. I do not want to be on the grid during the day. You have shown me the different types that can be used now I can make up my mind. Thank you very much.

WOW! That was incredibly informative. You obviously have some electrical skill and plenty of experience using solar panels. I just bought an E450 Super duty 25 passenger bus and getting it ready for totally off grid living and the power is the biggest and most important thing (aside from the shower). I new there were several types of panels and series vs parallel had advantages and disadvantages but after your breakdown I'm confident which one is right for me. Thank you for talking about the shade on the panels, I had concerns about that from other videos but you answered them all.

Thank you, you made this simple. you were precise and concise. Appreciated you using layman terms.

thanks to this video, I got now a great idea on what should I pick on choosing solar..

I really enjoyed your presentation, and am keeping the link handy! Went through it twice and took copious notes!! I Thank You for what you have done for us!!! A newbie!!

thanks to your effort and answer to the questions on the comments, my research we cut short and I was able to finish my work.. so glad.. great job..

Really enjoyed this video and it helps as I continue going down the rabbit hole.

One piece of the equipment that's not being discussed (maybe because these newer charge controllers no longer need them [?]) is Blocking Diodes on your panels. Older systems needed them because when the sun went down the panels would then discharge the batteries. Many of the lower priced panels didn't come with the Diodes pre-installed and it was important to investigate whether they had or had not. Diodes can be found on many surplus sites as well as outlets like Amazon. Just match the amp rating of the diode to the output rating of your panel (with the stripe on the diode going away from the panel on the positive lead).

Great analigy with the leaf, God is amazing... Infinite Wisdom

Thank for taking the mystery out of the different types

just ordered a few more 100w i'm hooked on these now lol lol everyone needs these i live in the bush in alaska my own light poles near me 100s of miles away from the city life i love them ...free cable tv ....free lights..... lots of hot coffee.... lol lol .

one of the best solar videos I have seen well done sir

Hey Lamar, good to see you making videos more often! I've watched your videos for years and have learned a lot from them. I bought your homestead book years ago, and I would highly recommend your books to anyone interested in living a more self reliant life to do the same. Kudos to you buddy on all you have done to help people along their journey.

Great breakdown of Pluses and Minuses of the different types of Solar Panels!!!

Thanks for the tips on the different Solar panels

Very informative and you explained the workings in laymen terms. Thank you.

Thank you very much!!! It's the best explanation! I am a wooman, and i am blond, and even i understand everything!!! You are the best!)))))))

Thank you for your excellent video's. I am learning a lot from your instructions and slowly building my system. Thank you again.

WOW! Thank you, simple explanation ...... thank you for not boggling my mind!!!🌈☕️

Very helpful! Thank you for sharing you knowledge. (PS: When you say "Spectrum" you really are referring to "Band". Spectrum means ALL of the wavelengths. UV and IR and the colors are Bands of the whole spectrum)

hey brother keep up the good work! I'm preparing to go off grid for the first time here in North western Michigan. something you may be interested in is called "Outernet and Lantern" it's free unlimited satellite Internet via SDR (software defined radio) even if the grid and regular internet goes down, you'll still be able to access outerweb

dude you are a genius , i wish you would write a book. on step by step, whats what & which is the best to use & how to hook everything up step by step

My offgrid system is : 5, Canadian Solar 285W ea, 3, MPT-7210A programmable controllers, (i use 2) 3, 48v, 20AH LiFePO4 packs i built for my EVs 2kw, Sine Wave inverter backup 1000w UPS inverter that charges 170AH AGMs from main inverter. Total cost, without lithium batteries, as these are for my electric vehicles ~$1600.00 CDN Shunt power, after batteries are charged heats water in a 12 Gallon waterheater through a 200A DC breaker

Wow thank you for this information I never knew this about solar panels I have the 45 watt from Harbor Freights Tools Store I paid $169 for them has the lights controller and the 3 15 watt panels... I also got two other smaller panels from the same place. One that charges different types of batteries even a 9v..also a panel to keep your battery in your car charged..all from Harbor Freights..

OMG! THANK YOU!!!! I was asking those idiots who supposed to be experts, but they couldn't explain what YOU JUST DID with ALL their degrees. its so amazing. They need to hire you. ONCE AGAIN< THANKS a MILLION!!!!!

Great video, thanks for all the info regarding mono and polycrystalline panel. You video gave me tons of information to think about before i buy a couple panels.

you are throwing us pearls!..thank you!

lol my previous post was before I watched this complete Video, guess you figured out Renogy was the best value also. Thumbs up man good video.

I very much enjoyed this video. You answered a lot of questions for me. Good job.

thank you for this video ! this is the BEST vid explaining all this that I have found 😀

"YOUR OWN EXPERIENCE IN SOLAR PANELS INFORMATION IS REALLY VERRY USEFUL TO EVERYBODY TO ME IT'S GREAT..NOW IT'S 3 RD MONTH RUNNING IN 2019..SO TODAY IF YOU ALL-READY HAVE SOME MORE INFORMATION ABOUT LATREST TECHNOLOGY IN SOLAR PANELS TO SHARE WITH US..I WILL SURELY WAIT FOR YOUR INFORMATION..THANK YOU FRIEND"

Excellent teaching video.I have been looking at using solar in a small way to begin with.This helped me understand how it works, and , I will watch this a couple of more times at least.Thanks!

Thanks for thr great info..I am going off grid in about a few months, when I loose y job..but looking forward to it!, thanks agin for solar info

Thank YOU for helping me to understand solar. Now just need to find out controls converters the stuff makes it come together as one harmonious thing. Going off grid at 60 wish me luck. Lol

Sharing this video. Thank you so much for taking the time put this together, and I look forward to learning more from your future vids!

Thank you for the solar education.

I learned so much about solar panels now! Thank you!!

If you wire solar panels in series adding a bypass diode to each panel will allow that panel to be bypassed if that panel should get shaded. Most 100 watt or higher panels include this bypass diode.

Great job we’re all learning together.

Excellent advice and knowledge. I have a Renogy 100 watt system that works well enough in cloudy days even. Their 100 watt suitcase not so much. Haven’t been able to understand that.

Good video , and unbiased in depth information regarding type of panels 12V vs 24V etc. Thank you.

Amazing and succinct briefing of the whole solar power deal!!. Keep it up. Looking forward to the next video.

GREAT VIDEO & You are Also an EXCELLENT TALKER, THANKS!

Hey man that was some fantastic lecture as I'm learning to see which ones I should buy and saving for.

Thank you I really learned a lot. I'm single right now and I want to buy me some land and homestead off grid.

Wow, I really learned something today. You were interesting and talented. Thank you

Thank you for making this Video good Job you answered many of my questions about all the different types of panels the pros and cons comparative education on these systems. Thank you brother.

Very informative and well done video. Great Job!

Thank you very much for your time and knowledge. Much appreciated !

Grape Poly panels made in Oregon,USA ! 100 watt for $100 delivered from Costco or Home Depot. We keep what we make,not sell it for 10 cents and buy it back for 40 cents.