Solar panels

[diyfrank]

IS $175. a panel a fair or good price for 4 NIB 80 watt sharp panels. a search on the model # shows them as discontinued.

I'm thinking If I want them or not.

[Windpower]

That is about $2.18 per watt

a good price but Sunelec has better deals

http://www.sunelec.com/

Is there a reason you want to 80 Watts ?

[diyfrank]

The reason I want 80 watt is it's local (no shipping) and they are for a 12 volt system.

That link had some good pricing but with a quick look I didn't see much of the 12 volt panels.

I could get by with a fairly small system, I just like paying as little as I can get away with.

[Windpower]

Virtually any panel can charge 12 volt batteries with a charge controller (which should be used anyway to save your batteries smaller charge controllers are aabout $100)

So if the nominal voltage of hte panel is 18 VDC the charge vcontrollere will regulate that down to a safe and efficient voltage for your batteries

shipping depends .... might be worth a call

for my orders it wasn't a factor

[diyfrank]

Ok, I didn't think about a charge controller working to adjust the voltage. 

[Native_NM]

Just to clarify, you need an MPPT controller to take full advantage of high-voltage panels on a12v system.  A PWM charger will work, but you lose lots of efficiency.