DC-Solar trailer: ponzi scheme. The backgound story
- Thread starter fromport
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I didn't read the article, but I've seen these at local auctions. Agree the trailer is the valuable part. I've had people ask me about them - I indicate to assume the batteries are dead, it's worth the value of "used panels" and the trailer.
It's just a hell of a lot cheaper to throw a 20KW generator and 100 gallons of diesel on a trailer.
It's just a hell of a lot cheaper to throw a 20KW generator and 100 gallons of diesel on a trailer.
Was discussed in post #51 here a couple years ago :
100+ MOBILE SOLAR GENERATORS AUCTION
Ouch! Who forgot to lower the light tower before going under an overpass on that one unit?
diysolarforum.com
Hedges
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And 2x SI 6048US, Retail value had been around $10k for two. Also a reduced feature set Midnight Classic 250.
The Sunny Islands flooded the market, and those of us who were quick got them for a song. More recently $2500 to $3000 apiece.
The brackets are designed for these exact widths & heights. Additionally, you would go from 4 panels per side to 2... it's target take my chances the other 10-11 months a year. ?
Hedges
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No way to accommodate 2x2 array?
Presently, 6" of shade on bottom probably shuts off 100% of the 4x1 portrait array.
2x2 landscape array, I expect only 16% loss until shadow gets past first 1/3 of bottom panels (diode bypassed section), then 33% loss, etc.
My racks are bolt-together and use bottom mounting holes so I can rearrange rails. A top-clamp would allow some changes just moving clamps.
Apparently the developer was an auto mechanic who's business failed. Some shortcomings in their trailers (I observed cooling of inverters didn't follow manual.) And of course we know they didn't mount enough panels to be really useful. Just enough for show, and they got some sales.
Presently, 6" of shade on bottom probably shuts off 100% of the 4x1 portrait array.
2x2 landscape array, I expect only 16% loss until shadow gets past first 1/3 of bottom panels (diode bypassed section), then 33% loss, etc.
My racks are bolt-together and use bottom mounting holes so I can rearrange rails. A top-clamp would allow some changes just moving clamps.
Apparently the developer was an auto mechanic who's business failed. Some shortcomings in their trailers (I observed cooling of inverters didn't follow manual.) And of course we know they didn't mount enough panels to be really useful. Just enough for show, and they got some sales.
fromport
Solar Addict
Good luck with those lead acid batteries on it and the acid running out.
Awh, put them in cradles on bearings that self level..
fromport
Solar Addict
Indeed, that is an altered DC-Solar setup.What happens when an off-road vehicle drives on a slope?
Anyway, no batteries on his trailer:
(Note he had said 4 panels, which doesn't match DC Solar's configuration.)
Hedges
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Awh, put them in cradles on bearings that self level..
An extension tube could prevent spillage. Needs to have enough volume to deal with gas buildup trapped in high corner of cell.
I thought about similar issue for hydraulic reservoir on my old tractor. In that case, I was going to put vent at other side of rectangular tank and merge the two tubes high in the middle.
Correct...all points They orginally had 5 per side but they were smaller, less watts per panel & monos orginally. Mine are 3.5'x7' 390w bifacials... the height is just about perfect. And NO batteries. This was just meant to be a portable, adjustable & high powered array.What happens when an off-road vehicle drives on a slope?
Anyway, no batteries on his trailer:
(Note he had said 4 panels, which doesn't match DC Solar's configuration.)
? %... just the array framework, nothing else. The trailer is an used altered boat trailer.
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True. I've also been experimenting with one facing south & one north which is more effective than I'd thought overall. It's also helpful for heavy reversing wind & decreasing lift.
Surferdudemi
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If you look at sold auctions on eBay, the SIs are going for $1500 - $2000. I managed to snag one of these from the Wednesday auction after trying in the two previous. Many of the trailers had batteries that had frozen at some point (including the one I bought), so I zeroed out the value of the batteries when I estimated the values. A friend told me that the trailers go for upwards of $5K around here, which is about $1000 more than I estimated. So for around $7K the only thing that is dead for sure is the batteries. I figured the value at about $7300, using 50% of the depreciated value of the components as a bogie. Plus, the fact that it's all wired up adds some value. I may just pop in some LiFePO4 batteries and adjust the charging parameters. In the mean time, I can connect to the Skybox I got last year. Lots of possibilities for these things.
Surferdudemi
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I don't understand the comment about "reduced feature set Midnight Classic 250". Could you elaborate? These aren't the "Light" version AFAIK.
Surferdudemi
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You can't value them that way. Well, you can, but you would be wayyyyy overbidding. The newest ones are 2018, so the batteries are at least 5 years old at this point. Although the Midnight Classic maintains them automatically when powered by the panels, they still age, and not sure anyone has been filling with distilled water. The Sunny Islands are going for around $2K on ebay, plus shipping. Not sure the warranties are going to be honored on the component parts.
Surferdudemi
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The prices escalate rapidly in the last 10 mins of these auctions - at least in the three in MI. The way the bidding works at close is that if anyone makes a new bid within the last minute(?), an additional minute is added to ALL of the lots. That limits the ability to snipe. IIRC each one went for close to an hour before finally closing. I managed to snag one in the last couple of minutes before it finally closed Wednesday.
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