Hey Guys.. please help this "Newbie Girl" make the right choice!

[KRenn]

Thanks Russ. I do have some minor shading issues, so I think the Enphase is my best bet. The Suntech data does look a liitle bit better.

This might sound silly, but one reason I was leaning toward the black Solarworld panels is that it seems the trend in residential solar is toward black panels. Do you think we will ever get to the day when all solar panels are black? 10 years from now would I have a hard time finding a blue panel if I needed to replace one of the Suntec Pluto panels?

Actually the market is moving more towards poly panels Sara. There's a lot of crappy mono cells on the market right now and
low-grade mono will always be beaten out by top-of-the-line poly panels. So no, in 10 years you wouldn't have a hard time finding a
replacement panel, plus the Suntech modules come with black frames and are designed to be somewhat aesthetically appealing.

[KRenn]

For the system I described (see 1st post in this thread) I'm paying $4.55 a watt with the Suntech Pluto panels and Enphase. Seems like a good installed price.

That is a very fair price for quality components indeed. Remember, ask the installer what mounting methods they undertake and
how they will protect your long-term roof viability. If you have a shingle or tile roof and they are not double-flashing, you can
kiss any existing roof warranty bye-bye. It makes no sense to get solar, save on electricity and then dump all your savings
into repairing the leaks left behind from shoddy install work. Most companies nowadays are still sealing with caulking or
silicon, not code-approved and definitely putting you at a big risk down the road.

[meridiansolar]

Who makes crap?

who exactly makes shoddy panels and inverters?
That's not a rhetorical question either.

People bash these nameless companies as if they were all around, yet I never ever hear a specific company named.

What are you folks talking about? What companies have a track record of making crap and can survive in this competitive market place? I dont' think it's possible in this economy.

[KRenn]

who exactly makes shoddy panels and inverters?
That's not a rhetorical question either.

People bash these nameless companies as if they were all around, yet I never ever hear a specific company named.

What are you folks talking about? What companies have a track record of making crap and can survive in this competitive market place? I dont' think it's possible in this economy.

LOL, there's plenty of low-grade modules out there, panels with ridiculous power tolerance variations..etc.....

In any industry you have high-quality products and bottom-of-the-barrel products, with your average solar customer having
little actual knowledge of the industry and the vague and varying terms companies use to sell this stuff, its easy to pass off low-rent solar as something special.


How will your average solar customer know if they get a crappy system, generally they won't know if they are
underproducing or what they could be producing, this industry is mostly being driven by marketing and not so much
the actual technical aspects.

[meridiansolar]

I asked for names.

if there are plenty of junk panels please name one I'd also like to know what you consider low-grade inverters.

LOL I asked for people to name these nameless companies and you just did was I was complaining about. Bad mouthing products that don't seem to exist. If you are going to poison the well at least let us know what poison you are using.

[sara]

That is a very fair price for quality components indeed. Remember, ask the installer what mounting methods they undertake and
how they will protect your long-term roof viability. If you have a shingle or tile roof and they are not double-flashing, you can
kiss any existing roof warranty bye-bye. It makes no sense to get solar, save on electricity and then dump all your savings
into repairing the leaks left behind from shoddy install work. Most companies nowadays are still sealing with caulking or
silicon, not code-approved and definitely putting you at a big risk down the road.

Thanks. They say they will be "double-flashing" but I'm not sure about their method of sealing. I shall ask.

Curious.. if they should not use caulking or silicon, what is the recommended sealant for the drill holes?

[Nadja]

if there are plenty of junk panels please name one I'd also like to know what you consider low-grade inverters.

LOL I asked for people to name these nameless companies and you just did was I was complaining about. Bad mouthing products that don't seem to exist. If you are going to poison the well at least let us know what poison you are using.

There are a couple of problems with naming certain companies. First of all they can sue you, not good. Second of all a lot of the chinese co.'s as soon as they start getting a bad rep. they simply change names. Have seen this a couple of times. Basicly, if you stay away from all things chinese when it comes to solar, you will be miles ahead of the game. Chinese electronics as a general rule suck

[russ]

There are a couple of problems with naming certain companies. First of all they can sue you, not good. Second of all a lot of the chinese co.'s as soon as they start getting a bad rep. they simply change names. Have seen this a couple of times. Basicly, if you stay away from all things chinese when it comes to solar, you will be miles ahead of the game. Chinese electronics as a general rule suck

The expert blowing smoke?

Come on! What percentage of the world's electronics are now manufactured in China? A lot!

It comes down to company size more than anything. A large Chinese company is not changing it's name after a bad production lot is sold - they can't afford that. There can be a real problem with small companies that have little to lose. The guy that sells musical toothbrushes, solar panels and conveyor belts is probably not a good person to do business with.

This is much the type of bashing that Meridian was bitching about.

One can say they have heard of or know about problems they or others have had. If someone starts bashing a company soundly they better have proof and better do it else where.

Russ

[meridiansolar]

"First of all they can sue you, not good. "

Baloney, you are using a fake name on a forum. Do you really think a foreign company has the leverage to investigate and sue you internationally?


"Second of all a lot of the chinese co.'s as soon as they start getting a bad rep. they simply change names."

Again name one that has done this. If you fear getting sued PM me the name so I can verify you are not just blowing hot air.

I bet every single piece of electronics you own is made in China, Japan or Tiawan, with most of it from China. So what kind of hypocrite buys chinese stuff and then says it is junk with out the guts to say what is junk?

That is like saying all american made cars are bad. some of them are, some aren't.

Unless you haters name a company I'll just assume you dont' know what you are talking about.

[russ]

Actually the name change game is real for small companies - throughout much of Asia. As I said in my previous post - big companies can't play that game for obvious reasons.

Lived and worked in several countries in the region and have seen it.

[meridiansolar]

ok what solar pv panel makers have changed their name?

[russ]

Can you get unstuck from your one track?

I said the practice is common in parts of Asia. I did not say any solar companies have done it though I would be surprised if some have not.

There are second quality materials/equipment produced in every country of the world. Solar should be different.

You think they can not sue someone you say? The little guy can't most likely but big companies certainly have the means to do so.

Pointing out problem experiences and companies you have had problems with is generally helpful. Going on a rant is not helpful and not allowed.

In a similar line - trying to say there are no companies with lousy goods is foolish.

[meridiansolar]

russ gotta agree with your last post, it is so vague and amorphous, there is nothing that can be debated.
to sum it up

some bad companies change their name
there are bad solar companies out there, but this board can't name them.

with these kind of educational come backs I'm sure new members will be lining up to register.

ok, that's all of my "bitching"

[russ]

russ gotta agree with your last post, it is so vague and amorphous, there is nothing that can be debated.
to sum it up

some bad companies change their name
there are bad solar companies out there, but this board can't name them.

with these kind of educational come backs I'm sure new members will be lining up to register.

ok, that's all of my "bitching"

Fine Meridian - You do the naming - you are making a lot of noise while treading water.

Or is your assertion that all solar companies are 100% fine?

I didn't say problem companies can't be named - I said rants are not accepted.