Solar Panels

Solar panels (or also called modules) are installed on your roof and their job is to collect energy from the sun’s rays. They are a super important part of any solar power system!

Choosing a solar panel is usually the first component that people research when considering going solar. But not all solar panels are created equal… With hundreds of different brand solar panels, multiple ranges within each brand and different wattages within each range, there are literally thousands of different options to wade through! Panel selection can be one of the most confusing aspects of having a solar power system installed. There are always new technologies on the horizon and every installer or retailer will tell their customers that their panels are the best – it can get pretty confusing real quick.

Table of contents:

• Types of solar panels (thin film, polycrystalline and monocrystalline)
• Types of solar panel cells (n-type & p-type)
• Important things to consider when choosing solar panels
• Questions to ask your installer before you sign
• Brands that we install

There are 3 major types of panels and all have relevant advantages and disadvantages. There is not a great deal of difference between the size, price and performance between the multi/polycrystalline and monocrystalline, but there is a great deal of difference between the multi/polycrystalline and monocrystalline and the thin-film panels. The choice of the type of panel will be largely dependent upon the amount of available roof space, climate and whether there are any shading issues. While the type of solar panels is important, the type of cell within the panel impacts the efficiency and performance of the panel much more.

Manufacturer

Look for a proven manufacturer. You need to ask yourself whether the manufacturer is likely to still be around in 5, 10, 15 years time when inferior panels may start to fail. Many consumers get peace of mind from manufacturers that produce more than just solar power panels.

Warranty

• Performance warranty. To be eligible to claim the STC ‘rebate’, all panels installed in Australia must have a minimum of 25 years, 80% performance warranty.
• Manufacturers product warranty. In addition to the performance warranty, solar panels must also carry a manufacturers warranty which relates to defects of workmanship. The manufacturer’s warranty can vary from 10 through to 25 years and is considered to be a good indicator of the quality of the panels. It stands to reason that panels that carry a 25 year manufacturer’s warranty are probably going to last longer than ones that carry a 10 year warranty.
• Back up support. Any warranty is only as good as the company that produces the panel or the company that sells the panels.

About the Manufacturer

• How long has the manufacturer been in existence and producing that particular product?
• How financially stable is the manufacturer?
• Do they have an Australian office to handle any potential future warranty issues?
• What is the manufacturer’s product warranty? This is very different to, and much more important than the output performance warranty.
• What is the warranty claim/failure rate?
• Is the factory automated? Panels produced in fully automated factories are typically higher quality and more reliable.

About the Panel Itself

• What is the physical size and wattage of the panel? With roof space becoming a valuable commodity, lower wattage panels are an inefficient use of space and can make upgrading or expanding the system in the future difficult. As a rule of thumb, panels below 310W are outdated now.
• What is the temperature coefficient of the panel? This is an indicator of how it performs in hot weather. The lower the percentage per degree Celsius, the better. Just for reference, the LG NeON H panels have a temperature coefficient of -0.33 percent per degree Celsius.
• What type of cells does it have? Most panels contain either P–Type or N–Type cells. N–Type cells are typically more efficient and are contained in the LG NeON panels.

While the choice of panels is important, we do not recommend making a solar buying decision based on the brand of the solar panel alone. There are many other factors that need to be taken into account – not least of which is the brand and type of inverter as well as the installer and quality of workmanship.