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Most Recent Questions
Recent Question:
Does this solar panel have over charging protection?
Recent Question:
Can this fan run while the solar panel is charging?
Recent Question:
Is the lamp section of the lamp post made of aluminum
Recent Question:
Can this charger be used while the battery is in use?
Questions with Most Recent Answers
Question:
Can this fan run while the solar panel is charging?
Question:
Is the lamp section of the lamp post made of aluminum
Question:
will the 18 watt model# 59080 work in the cold? I would like to put it on a wheeled fishhouse. If not which panel would I need?

Customer Questions & Answers for
NPower 15 Watt Amorphous Solar Panel

Item# 121179
This NPower 15 Watt amorphous solar panel provides excellent performance even in cloudy conditions. It charges 12V car, truck, boat, personal watercraft or RV batteries. Ideal for deep cycle or multiple battery banks. Each panel provides 15 Watts of power; link up to 7 panels to produce additional wattage. Product Style: Battery charger, Watts: 15, Temperature Range ( °F): -40°-176°F, Dimensions L x W x H (in.): 38 1/16 x 13 1/2 x 9/16, Panels (qty.): 1, Material: ABS plastic, amorphous solar cell, Battery Included: No, Battery Type: 12V, LED Light: No, Includes: Wiring Requires charge controller, Item# 121182 (sold separately)
Customer Questions & Answers:
26 Questions
 | 
44 Answers
Overall Rating:
4.8 out of 5
4.8
out of
5
Product Details

Questions & Answers for NPower 15 Watt Amorphous Solar Panel

Question

How do I connect 3 panels together

I am trying to keep 3 deep cycle marine batteries charged on an RV and 1 panel does not seem to do it
 
Products related to my question
 
asked 1 year, 9 months ago
by
Anonymous
 - Aptos ca
on NPower 15 Watt Amorphous Solar Panel
+1point
1out of 1found this question helpful.
4 answers
Answers
answer 1
Easiest solution is to buy the small charge controller #336606 which comes with hook-up directions. This little controller can handle about six of these panels but your choice of three would suffice. Be aware that your batteries will invevitably present a problem as they become older and the plates gradually break down. No charger can account for batteries which no longer accept full charge. Also there are many other factors affecting solar energy such as the angle of panel placement and proper gauge wiring.
answered 1 year, 8 months ago
by
bronc
 - wyoming
+1point
1out of 1found this answer helpful.
answer 2
NPower Expert
Panels can be wired in parallel with the use of a charge controller to ensure that batteries are not over charged. See link below for more details.
 
Products from my answer
 
answered 1 year, 8 months ago
by
NPowerExpert
+1point
1out of 1found this answer helpful.
answer 3
Yes, you can. The unit has a small instruction manual that covers that. But you can buy a 3-panel unit that is 45 watts, and is, I think, cheaper than 3 of these.
answered 1 year, 8 months ago
by
bhannaone
 - North central Texas
+1point
1out of 1found this answer helpful.
answer 4
you must connect the panels in parallel. connect all the red wires together an all the black wires together.
answered 1 year, 6 months ago
by
solarone
 - north babylon new york
+2points
2out of 2found this answer helpful.
Question

Will this product recharge and maintain 2 marine 12 volt trolling batteries at the same time?? If not, then what do I need?

asked 1 year, 10 months ago
by
Anonymous
on NPower 15 Watt Amorphous Solar Panel
+1point
1out of 1found this question helpful.
4 answers
Answers
answer 1
6 of them keep 6 golf cart batteries topped off and recharged after a weekend session of fixing or building. They, with a charge controller, will only charge 12 volts so you will likely need two panels and controllers or have a quick disconnect setup so that you can wire the batteries in parallel instead of the 24 volt series they should be in now.
answered 1 year, 8 months ago
by
BenMc
 - Nashville area TN
+2points
2out of 2found this answer helpful.
answer 2
NPower Expert
Yes, this panel can be used to charge two batteries at a time with the use of a charge controller. See link below for details.
 
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answered 1 year, 8 months ago
by
NPowerExpert
+3points
3out of 3found this answer helpful.
answer 3
I doubt that it would. At most you could expect 150 Watt-hours of charge /day. Each battery, if discharged to 1/2 capacity, would take several days to recharge. 2 in series would take twice as long. It would maintain the batteries as well as a trickle charger (only supplies about 1.5 amps).
answered 1 year, 8 months ago
by
bhannaone
 - North central Texas
0points
1out of 2found this answer helpful.
answer 4
You may have made a decision by now, but to correctly answer your question, you need to provide a little more info. It is important to know what size/type of batteries you plan to charge, as well as what's your intended use for the batteries. If you are simply using the panels to charge the batteries, then disconnect them and use them, say in a boat, then you'll need to consider how many hours of use between charges and the size of the batteries (CCAs). It's easiest to consider power leaving versus power being replaced, so if you're charging batteries that are used daily, your demands will be drastically different than an application that will occur only three hours per week. As answered previously, the direct answer to your question is "yes", these panels will charge two deep cycle batteries connected in parallel. The efficiency of which they will charge-i.e.,the amount of time required to charge them completely after each use-depends on the information mentioned above. Sorry for the non-answer. Calculation is pretty simple. Power used must equal power generated. At 15 watts per panel per hour, with a max of 7 hours charge time per day per panel, it's easy to see that it would take multiple panels to charge the deep cycle batteries in this arrangement. Remember, you must use a charge controller, and the charge controller is limited to 7 amps (7 panels).
answered 1 year, 6 months ago
by
James414
 - VA
+3points
3out of 3found this answer helpful.
Question

charge controler

do i need to purchase a charge controller for this if i use it to maintain my travel trailer battery 12v deep cycle
asked 1 year, 10 months ago
by
mrndmk
 - maine
on NPower 15 Watt Amorphous Solar Panel
+1point
1out of 1found this question helpful.
3 answers
Answers
answer 1
NPower Expert
Yes, you will need the charge controller to ensure that the battery does not overcharge or discharge.
 
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answered 1 year, 8 months ago
by
NPowerExpert
0points
1out of 2found this answer helpful.
answer 2
You don't really have to, but I did for peace of mind, as I wired it directly to the battery. Some people us them as a portable charger, only wire them to the battery as needed and stand the panel in the sunlight, the wire that comes with the unit is fairly long, so it's easy to find a sunny spot.
answered 1 year, 8 months ago
by
bhannaone
 - North central Texas
+1point
1out of 1found this answer helpful.
answer 3
Always use a charge controler. Youre batteries will last MUCH longer. Worth the investment.
 
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answered 1 year ago
by
Stomper4x4
 - Las Vegas Nv.
+1point
1out of 1found this answer helpful.
Question

calculating output

i would like to know if 15 watts will keep my RV battery charged if I use minor electrical items daily. ie 12v lights, and 12v fan motor
asked 1 year, 6 months ago
by
Studduck
 - North Texas
on NPower 15 Watt Amorphous Solar Panel
0points
0out of 0found this question helpful.
2 answers
Answers
answer 1
NPower Expert
The charge rate that is provided by a 15 watt panel is 1.25 Amps in a 12 Volt system. This unit will keep the battery charged while operating the items listed if their total combined draw is less than 1.25 Amps @ 12Volts, or 15 watts. The typical use of a solar panel is to replenish the batteries when there is not a load on them. The time that you will be able to use the items on a single charge and the time that it will take to recharge the batteries will depend on the size of the batteries rated in Amp hours (Ah).
answered 1 year, 6 months ago
by
NPower13
0points
0out of 0found this answer helpful.
answer 2
i belive it will. you are only using 2 small devices that will not drain the battery much.
answered 1 year, 6 months ago
by
solarone
 - north babylon new york
0points
0out of 0found this answer helpful.
Question

WILL THESE WORK FOR A SMALL SHOP

I have been buying some of these as they go on sale and have decided to try and use them. I have 3 so far and want to hook them up in an out building using some deep cycle marine batteries I already have for other uses. I bought one of your 30 amp NPower Digital Charge Controller and have a 3000 watt inverter (that I also use for other things). I don't want to run anything big, just a fan, charge batteries and a couple of lights ( I was thinking about rigging up some 12vdc fog lights). Is this a practical project or do I need to go with bigger panels? And should I be using these or the crystal type? Thanks
asked 1 year, 3 months ago
by
Anonymous
 - south carolina
on NPower 15 Watt Amorphous Solar Panel
+1point
1out of 1found this question helpful.
2 answers
Answers
answer 1
NPower Expert
Whether or not this system will work for your application will depend on a number of variables including: How many hours per day you are drawing power, the time of day you need to use the power, the number of hours that the panels will have direct sunlight per day, and the average Wattage that you are using.
A higher capacity battery bank will provide power for a longer time before it is completely discharged, but it will also take longer to charge. With the 3 panels that you have, you will be able to use approximately 45 watts of power continuously when the panels have direct sunlight. You can determine the wattage of the items that you are running by using this formula: Volts x Amps = Watts.
It doesn't make a difference to the performance of the system if you are using Amorphous panels or Crystalline panels, in this respect a watt is a watt no matter what the material is that provides it. The advantage to using a Crystalline panel is that they are more efficient, so you will be able to get more wattage from a panel of similar size.
answered 1 year, 3 months ago
by
NPower13
+1point
1out of 1found this answer helpful.
answer 2
This system has worked well in keeping our 12 volt battery charged which odes operat our ceptic system. We have found it to be very reliable in keeping batteries charged. This could be hooked up to your lighting system if the battery is capable of providing enough power to operate the system.
answered 1 year, 2 months ago
by
Mimsy1
 - New York,NY
+1point
1out of 1found this answer helpful.
Question

Will the 15 watt solar panel run a small RV type fan? If so what other items will I need to make the hook up?

asked 1 year, 1 month ago
by
sstruck
on NPower 15 Watt Amorphous Solar Panel
+1point
1out of 1found this question helpful.
2 answers
Answers
answer 1
NPower Expert
This solar panel will provide approximately 1amp of power. It would depend on the amp draw of the fan, if this would provide enough power. An inverter would be needed to change the DC current to AC current. The size needed would also depend on the amperage draw.
answered 1 year, 1 month ago
by
NPower12
+1point
1out of 1found this answer helpful.
answer 2
If the fan is 12 watts, draws less than 1 amp and plugs into the cigarette lighter, you won't need anything else to run it during the day.
If running it after the sun goes down, you'll need a battery.
answered 1 year ago
by
Stomper4x4
 - Las Vegas Nv.
+1point
1out of 1found this answer helpful.
Question

Is it waterproof can it be left out in the rain

 
Products related to my question
 
asked 1 year, 10 months ago
by
Anonymous
on NPower 15 Watt Amorphous Solar Panel
+1point
1out of 1found this question helpful.
2 answers
Answers
answer 1
NPower Expert
Yes, this solar panel is weatherproof. The weatherproofing includes UV protection and protects from weather effects
of -35°F-175°F (-37°C - 79°C).
answered 1 year, 8 months ago
by
NPowerExpert
+2points
2out of 2found this answer helpful.
answer 2
It's a sealed unit, and is waterproof.
answered 1 year, 8 months ago
by
bhannaone
 - North central Texas
+2points
2out of 2found this answer helpful.
Question

How about hail? Can these panels take ordinary (small pea) hail? bigger hail stones??

I suppose these amorphous panels will take a lot more than the older glass-like panels, but when do I need to get a ladder and throw a foam pad over this panel on my rv to keep it from hail damage?
asked 1 year, 9 months ago
by
Anonymous
on NPower 15 Watt Amorphous Solar Panel
+1point
1out of 1found this question helpful.
2 answers
Answers
answer 1
NPower Expert
While these panels may withstand some small hail, we do not have a way to quantify what kind of force or size of hail it would take to damage the panel. The manufacturers warranty does not cover hail damage so it would be a good idea to keep them protected from the elements when not in use.
answered 1 year, 8 months ago
by
NPowerExpert
+1point
1out of 1found this answer helpful.
answer 2
I know they will take up to quarter-size hail.
answered 1 year, 8 months ago
by
bhannaone
 - North central Texas
+1point
1out of 1found this answer helpful.
Question

Winter

Can these panels be left out in the winter and cover by snow without damage?
asked 10 months ago
by
Anonymous
on NPower 15 Watt Amorphous Solar Panel
+1point
1out of 1found this question helpful.
2 answers
Answers
answer 1
NPower Expert
Yes, this solar panel is weatherproof. The weatherproofing includes UV protection and protects from weather effects of -35°F to 175°F (-37°C to 79°C).
answered 10 months ago
by
NPower11
+3points
3out of 3found this answer helpful.
answer 2
Yes I have had them mounted on my truck parked outside for years
answered 4 months, 1 week ago
by
UsedOnMyStepvan
 - Near Chicago IL
+2points
2out of 2found this answer helpful.
Question

Cable

what is the cable length and what gauge wire? What is the longest run from panel to battery recommended for this unit? For instance, could it run 30 Ft? Could the wire be added to in order to lengthen it?
asked 9 months ago
by
Clamcove1
 - Boothbay, Maine
on NPower 15 Watt Amorphous Solar Panel
+1point
1out of 1found this question helpful.
2 answers
Answers
answer 1
NPower Expert
The solar panel cable is 11.5' long and is 16 gauge wire. The wire can be extended to a maximum length of 25' with 16 gauge wire.
answered 9 months ago
by
NPower12
+1point
1out of 1found this answer helpful.
answer 2
Top 100 Contributor
Top 100 Contributor
YES, you can run longer lengths but you just need to increase the wire size to reduce the resistance along the run. I have 10 panels connected together and have all of them spliced onto a 12 foot section of 8 guage THHN wire to the controller. It's total overkill but I like to make sure every drop of power makes it! In your situation, if you only have one or a few panels, you can use anywhere from 16 guage to 12 guage wire.
answered 4 months, 1 week ago
by
Subman719
 - New Jersey
+1point
1out of 1found this answer helpful.
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