bewildered by panel choices for DIY system

[RShackleford]

355w is still going to take up some real-estate, be heavy and act like a sail.

43 lbs, 68" x 40" , 20.3% eff

Looks pretty comparable to the other panels I'm considering. Look at the snapshot of my spreadsheet I posted above.

Solar Electric Supply
https://www.solarelectricsupply.com/...ce-solar-panel

Places that make me "call for a quote" make me nervous though. Especially when it says stuff about wholesale rates for installers etc. Wonder if I can really see that $266 price on a paltry 15-16 panels to a DIY'er.

[J.P.M.]

If the half cells are twice as efficient, that might be true, but I know of no breakthrough allowing 355w panels to be smaller than 250W panels.

355w is still going to take up some real-estate, be heavy and act like a sail.


43 lbs, 68" x 40" , 20.3% eff

If their spec sheet claims hold up, they might be a reasonable and less expensive (and available for DIY) alternative to Sunpower with respect to an identified need for a high power density for an application.

S.P. still can have a higher power density at their top end panel (221 W/m^2), but for the same STC array size, the older, still avail. and still viable workhorse S.P. 327's at 200.1/m^2 will require more roof real estate than the REC 355's at 204 W/m^2 by just a bit. And they are not avail. for DIY.

The REC is a bit bigger, 1.74 m^2 vs. 1.63 m^2 for the S.P., but a bit lighter, at 19.5 kg, vs, 20.6 kg. for the S.P.

Still, the ~ 7% greater surface area for the REC panel is indeed an assembly consideration, especially on a windy day.

[scrambler]

Places that make me "call for a quote" make me nervous though. Especially when it says stuff about wholesale rates for installers etc. Wonder if I can really see that $266 price on a paltry 15-16 panels to a DIY'er.

I do not know if they sell to DIYer, they may only sell to installers and quote based on quantity, but it does not hurt to ask

[RShackleford]

If their spec sheet claims hold up, they might be a reasonable and less expensive (and available for DIY) alternative to Sunpower with respect to an identified need for a high power density for an application.

Despite the impressive price for the density of the REC panel, I'm not sure it's worth it for me over something like the Talesun 270 watt panel at $0.36/watt. Also wondering if its low price is a reflection of quality, or simply typical for such a low power density.

[nwdiver]

Despite the impressive price for the density of the REC panel, I'm not sure it's worth it for me over something like the Talesun 270 watt panel at $0.36/watt. Also wondering if its low price is a reflection of quality, or simply typical for such a low power density.

Agreed; If you're not space constrained and want the most cost-effective system I certainly would not pay >$0.40/w for panels.

~All panels and cells are manufactured to roughly the same standard. I've never seen a significant difference in quality. I would never hesitate to buy panels from a company with a large scale manufacturing plant.