1/ Making use of 70% of wavelengths doesn't mean 70% efficient! 2/ From the details you provide it seems that the panel has an embarked battery, which is fed by the ~200 W solar cells, and which is feeding a 3kW inverter. This allows them to claim 3kW for the panel, which indeed it can provide, but of course not more than 200/3000 = 7% of the full insolation time as they conveniently forget to specify.
They probably hope some people will be gullible enough to believe it can provide 3kW full time, while receiving only 1.3kW solar irradiation! I see no reason why the product can't be a good one BTW, apart from the misleading way in which they present it. Michel ----- Original Message ----- From: "Brian Prothro" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, July 16, 2008 12:07 AM Subject: [Vo]:70% solar panels Regarding the incredible sounding 70% efficient solar panels mentioned on this board last week. A powerpoint brochure was released by Nelson Mensch of FreEnergy Environmental Solutions, LLC. However, he is actually only a "Dealer" for the company DBK Corporation at www.dbksolar.com FreEnergy's brochure hints at secret technology, probably to prolong their edge in penetrating their market as a dealer. A press release at the end of 2007 somewhat implies FreEnergy are uniquely associated with the inventor, and makes it sound solely between Andre Woods and Nelson Mensch. Now to the good technical stuff at DBK's website. The specification includes the embedded or attached "dc-dc inverter which is physically part of the panel". JIL-3000 Rated Power (Watts) 3000 Series Fusing (Amps) 15 Current at Max Power (Amps) 14 Voltage at Max. Power (DC Volts) 220 Short Circuit Current (Amps) 14.8 Length (Inches) 62.5 Width 32.5 Depth of Frame (inches) 3.5 Shipping Weight (lbs) 70 It seems they are about to produce a smaller 1500 watt panel as well. An enlarged picture from the website shows a meter reading the 62.5" x 32.5" panel in full sunlight showing 2.8 KW on the meter. http://www.dbksolar.com/JIL-3000.htm Note that normal panels this size produce about 200 watts - impressive. The only technical details from their website: "We have overcome three major obstacles of typical solar panel on the market: 1) photons which have too short a wavelength bounce off and are not absorbed; 2) those with too long a wavelength go thru the panel and end up as heat; 3) and lastly electrons that sit on the skin and fail to go thru the junction." "A typical solar cell acts more like a diode having one PN junction. DBK technologically advanced solar panel performs more like an integrated circuit (IC). " "Most multi-junction cells use two or three junctions. DBK's panels use a minimum of five junctions each designed to serve different functions. Actually our panels are configured from cells that have a band gap that is considered unacceptable by other manufactures (including embedded chips as shown on the prototype). This is multiple energy layer technology (MEL)." DBK complies with the 2002 National Electrical Code (NEC-2002), IEEE STD 929-2000-Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers Recommended Practices for Utility Interface of Photovoltaic (PV) Systems, UL 1741-Underwriters Laboratories Standard for Safety-Static Inverters and Charge Controllers for Use in Photovoltaic Power Systems and the ICBO 2000-International Building Code. (1) Standard Test Conditions (STC) of 1000 Watts per square meter irradiance, air mass of 1.5, 25oC cell temperature used in lab testing and rating of photovoltaic modules. These conditions are only experienced in a laboratory setting. It is interesting to note that DBK Corporation has had practically no press for what seems to be leading edge performance. San Diego, CA and Palm Beach Gardens, FL Mailing Address: Suite 108A #327 300 Carlsbad Village Dr. Carlsbad, CA 92008 Phone: (877) DBK-POWER (877.325.7693) Fax Number: (760) 918-6643 Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] As of Tuesday afternoon I am still waiting for answers to a few questions. I will post them as I find them available. Brian Prothro
