Old Harbor Freight Solar Panels vs New Thunderbolt Model

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It's no secret that solar panels have been improving over time and have gotten a lot better within the last 10 years. Harbor freight solar panels are no different. This article will outline the improvements harbor freight has made and what has changed.

Original harbor freight kits

The original harbor freight solar panels debuted 2010ish give or take. These panels were sold in the form of kits. These kits included 3 thin film solar panels, a charge controller, and some fluorescent lights.

We purchased the original solar panel kit in 2011, on sale + discounts for $150.00. Although on sale, it was an overall disappointment in that the charge controller failed within the first 3 months. Despite this failure the 3 solar panels themselves still produce electricity - to this day in 2023. Yes we have had 3 panels on the roof producing electricity - for nothing for over 10 years.

Today harbor freight still sells all the same stuff but in separate items and now as a kit as well. Harbor Freight's new kit is 100 watts instead of 45. The new harbor freight solar panel, AKA the thunder bolt is a massive improvement over the panels sold in the original 45 watt kit.

Today, the charge controllers are now sold separately but appear to be the same thing as the charge controllers sold on eBay/Amazon. In addition, extension cables for the solar panel itself are sold separately but are not necessarily needed with a 3rd party SAE cable.

One thunderbolt panel makes more than twice the amount of 3 of the original thin film panels. When the sun is fully out the thunderbolt even makes more electricity than it says on the box! I had readings north of 110 watts!

Thunderbolt Specifications

• Wattage: 100 WATTS
• Voltage: 24 Volts
• Item Number: 57325
• Connector: SAE
• Solar Cell Type: Monocrystalline
• Maximum Voltage I found under full sunlight: 19V

Original Harbor Freight Solar Kit Specs

• Wattage: 45 WATTS. 15 Watts per panel, the kit included 3 solar panels.
• Voltage: 18 Volts
• Solar Cell Type: Thin Film

Improvements of Thunderbolt Solar Panel

In many ways, harbor freights new solar panels are improved. They are more affordable, produce more power, and seem to be built better. The create more power for less money than the thin film solar panels in the original kit.

15 Watt Harbor Freight Solar Panels

Although harbor freight does offer an array of solar items such as a 25 watt solar panel with alligator clips, 18 watt fold-able solar panels, a 7 watt solar panel, and a 1.5 watt solar battery maintainer the 15 watt solar panels are now a thing of the past. Harbor freight seems to be a decent solar supplier offering an array of items.

Because my solar system has two charge controllers, I am able to continue using the antiquated 15 watt solar panels in addition to the 100 watt solar panels without loosing any amperage or voltage capacity.

100 WATT Kit Vs Building Your own System

In my opinion it is more economic to build your own kit as opposed to purchasing harbor freight's new 100 watt kit. I do however believe in the harbor freight thunderbolt as opposed to various eBay vendors however I believe the eBay/Amazon charge controllers are far better for the money over harbor freight's charge controller. My experience with the 100 Watt thunderbolt has been great and I have even seen several reviews sharing similar experiences as mine.

Additionally the light they include in there new kit are the same ones that they used to sell within there 45 watt kit. The lights were junk at the time and likely still are. Motion activated LED lights off eBay are far superior.