Best Solar panels?

[KRenn]

[QUOTE=DrEvil;31309]Thank you Mike, Xavier and Russ for the comments so far. A bit more reading this time I’m afraid. I hope you don’t mind! First of all - I am not too bothered who installs my system at the moment. I more interested in trying to understand the best system out there to maximise my long term return. Then I’ll pick someone to install!

I am under the impression that the Sanyo HIT240w panels are better than many if not all of its competitors? The Suntech panels are 1.65m x 1m and obviously take up more space than the smaller Sanyo panels and I can’t get as big a system on my roof when comparing what I could get through the smaller Sanyo panels. The Suntech Pluto 200w are smaller than the Suntech and more like the Sanyo Hybrid product in size but very different in production. The Sanyo HIT240w can produce 240w per panel obviously but more importantly it is approximately 25% above standard production whereas Suntech is 6% - 7% above standard. So whilst there is a substantial difference in cost, there is a substantial difference in return I am advised.
I am told that I best install on 2 roofs which means I need to install a 2 track inverter to run them separately or even solar Edge which is designed for multi- arrays and shade management but even on a single array it will outperform any inverter as it never takes an "average" performance but always the maximum from every panel. Each panel has a power optimiser (or optimizer for all my American friends).
So these are the some of the system (panel + inverter) combinations I’m currently thinking of installing on my roof.

3.6KW comprising 15 x Sanyo HIT240w panels - Kostal Piko 3.6 Inverter
3.6KW comprising 15 x Sanyo HIT240w panels - Sunny Boy Inverter
3.6KW comprising 15 x Sanyo HIT240w panels – Solar Edge inverter System

The most expensive quote is the final of the three which is about

[KRenn]

Look at power tolerance loss, makes no sense to pay full price for a 5kw system when in reality you're probably getting 5-10% less.


As far as panels go, I'm a big fan of Siliken, Suntech, Mitsubishi, Schuco, Schott and Solon.


Also efficiency means jack crap when it comes to solar other than squeezing more power into a tighter space which is not often a big concern. Efficiency has nothing to do with overall power production either.

[russ]

Whoopee, what a waste of time and money. I can buy a manufactured panel for $100 and they actually work and come with a warranty.

Once I deleted her links Carrie lost interest.

[s.xavier]

Does anybody know QJ brand solar panel??It is popular selling in SA.

QJ looks like a chinese made module. Haven't done any work with the QJ so I'm sure they are in the same class as Trina Solar, SunTech etc.. The only thing when it comes with the Chinese Solar companies is stick with the larger players ... better in the long run

[Ray]

Does anybody know QJ brand solar panel??It is popular selling in SA.

[Sunking]

you can just buy but they work. I can build a 80 watt panel for less than a $120.

Whoopee, what a waste of time and money. I can buy a manufactured panel for $100 and they actually work and come with a warranty.

[CarrieTaylor]

Hello guys I've been making my own panels. Bare in mind they're not the big mega watt panels you can just buy but they work. I can build a 80 watt panel for less than a $120.

[s.xavier]

SMA inverters pretty nice and they had an interested promo running sometime back that if the inverter fails SMA would replace it and give you extra money Thats standing behind your product.... Aurora is a nice inverter as well so I'll leave choosing the system up to you.

The Sanyos are a touch pricey but they are indeed pretty neat. You may want to get a 5kW inverter so you can add on in the future if need be... 4kw or 5kw inverter about the same... beats buying another inverter in the future

[russ]

One feature of the model mentioned according to the (web site)

'Valuable Features HIT Power solar panels operate silently, have no moving parts' How in the world would you get moving parts into a solar panel?

Light from the reverse side will never provide enough energy to pay from itself on a white roof. I don't understand what they are thinking.

Quote, 'So whilst there is a substantial difference in cost, there is a substantial difference in return I am advised.' Most if not all of that is salesman's blather.

[Naptown]

...but Naptown - are you thinking of the Sanyo HIT Double (Bi-facial photovoltaic modules)? I am looking at the HIT Power N series - HIT-N240SE10 to be precise.
see here:http://us.sanyo.com/HIT-Power-Double
The HIT-N240SE10 don't 'require reflected light from the rear' do they - I have a dark roof!

I could not find a data sheet on that module.
however the amorphous film layer and the reduced warranty make me skeptical.

[DrEvil]

...but Naptown - are you thinking of the Sanyo HIT Double (Bi-facial photovoltaic modules)? I am looking at the HIT Power N series - HIT-N240SE10 to be precise.
see here:http://us.sanyo.com/HIT-Power-Double
The HIT-N240SE10 don't 'require reflected light from the rear' do they - I have a dark roof!

[Naptown]

A few things
The enter key is your friend a bit more white space between sentences would be appreciated.

Please go to the string sizing tools of the inverters you are looking at and make sure a string of 7 or 8 will even trigger the inverter.

The Sanyo IMHO is not worth the money. The warranty is shorter and it depends on reflected light from the rear (dark roof no workee) to achieve the rated power.

You will most likely never see the rated power for more than a few minutes a year and with losses from inverters etc never.

[DrEvil]

Thank you Mike, Xavier and Russ for the comments so far. A bit more reading this time I

[russ]

Suntech is well known

The specs are good such as -
- Power Tolerance 0/+5%

The Suntech warranty is good -

• 25-year transferrable power output warranty: 5 years/95%,
12 years/90%, 18 years/85%, 25years/80%
• Based on nominal power
• 5 years material and workmanship warranty

The party that you mentioned are offering the same terms as any other installer are they not? No big deal

How long the super FIT is available is anyone's best guess - the government can stop that tomorrow or next year by decree.

That a 3 kW system supplies 200% of your power requirement is a bit of a stretch most likely - sounds like sales blather. The fact the company offers the testimonials that they do is a bit worrisome - shyster companies always love testimonials!

How much you might generate at your location depends - get several offers with whatever production estimate they might offer.

[DrEvil]

Thanks for the comments. I have had an offer from a local company 'Solarpanelinstallerspv'.
They use Suntech solar panels? I am in the UK but the panels are from a reputable global brand I belive.

The panels are monocrystlline with an apparent efficiency of 14.8% seen here:
http://eu.suntech-power.com/en/products/products.html

They are offering the following for [B]