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Old Harbor Freight Solar Panels vs New Thunderbolt Model
Published: Wednesday, September 6th 2023 12:00:50 AM - EDT
Updated: Sunday, March 3rd 2024 09:48:18 PM - EST
Written by jbick
Comparing original harbor freight solar panels over the new thunderbolt models. A comparison between thin film solar panels and monocrystalline.
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, not as a kit. The new harbor freight solar panel, AKA the thunder bolt is a massive improvement over the panels sold in the original 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: 18 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.
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