[Elecraft] Solar Panels on sale !!

[Lyle Johnson]

> FWIW,
> Harbor Freight has a 5W 12V Solar Panel on sale for #39.99 !!

I bought three these a year or so ago.  As long as you don't expect 5W,
they're OK.  The three that I bought (I think they were $29.95 at the time)
have widely varying output under identical conditions.  The best one
provided about 4W, the worst a little over 3W.  This on a clear summer day
with no visible clouds (I know, those days ar ehard to find in the Pacific
Northwest), panel angled for maximum output at an altitude of about 1,000
feet.  I don't know how that compares to "1 sun" illuminaiton.

I measured short circuit current, open circuit voltage, and current into a
load at about 14V.  I didn't have a usitable variable load, so I may have
been able to coax a little more power from them if I had optimized things
better.

YMMV,

Lyle KK7P