Phono Solar PS240 Watt Poly U Series - Opinion?

[desmo907]

Received another quote for a system using Phono Solar PS 240 Watt Poly U Series panels and Enphase M215 micro-inverters and Enlighten monitoring software.

Just curious as to thought/observations on the Phono Solar products (and other parts).
Seems they are owned by Sumec, a Chinese company.
(My new quote is lower than prior using MMEC panels but I was suspect of that company given recent financial news.)

Actually may go with the 250W U-Series panels (a few less) but I notice they are Monocrystalline.

Thx!

[toecheese]

I've gotten a quote on Phono panels as well and I'm also looking for opinions.

I did find this in a Google search, it has some info on them:

http://www.greenworldinvestor.com/2011/07/15/phono-solar-review-of-panelsgenerators-and-kits-1800-generator-too-expensive/

Most interesting is the part where it says:

Phono Solar Modules Efficiency is in the 14-15.5% range which is on the average to lower side of solar panel efficiency.Note Solar Panels from Sanyo and Sunpower are much higher at 18-20% though they are costlier as well.Phono Solar claims to have high performing ,high efficiency solar panels but from the data sheets it does not seem that Phono Solar Panels are any exception to the industry.Solar Panels from Yingli Energy come with higher efficiency using the same technology as Phono Solar does at roughly the same price point

[russ]

I've gotten a quote on Phono panels as well and I'm also looking for opinions.

I did find this in a Google search, it has some info on them:

http://www.greenworldinvestor.com/2011/07/15/phono-solar-review-of-panelsgenerators-and-kits-1800-generator-too-expensive/

Most interesting is the part where it says:

Phono Solar Modules Efficiency is in the 14-15.5% range which is on the average to lower side of solar panel efficiency.Note Solar Panels from Sanyo and Sunpower are much higher at 18-20% though they are costlier as well.Phono Solar claims to have high performing ,high efficiency solar panels but from the data sheets it does not seem that Phono Solar Panels are any exception to the industry.Solar Panels from Yingli Energy come with higher efficiency using the same technology as Phono Solar does at roughly the same price point

The efficiency is just a matter of how much roof space is required - nothing more or less. If you have the roof space I would not spend extra.

[toecheese]

The efficiency is just a matter of how much roof space is required - nothing more or less. If you have the roof space I would not spend extra.

But doesn't a less efficient panel mean that I need to purchase more panels to generate the same amount of power?

[russ]

But doesn't a less efficient panel mean that I need to purchase more panels to generate the same amount of power?

A 200 watt panel is a 200 watt panel regardless of the efficiency. A more efficient panel of the same watt rating will be physically smaller.

[toecheese]

That's helpful, thanks. Also I see these are poly panels, from what I understand the mono panels are much better (although more expensive).

[inetdog]

That's helpful, thanks. Also I see these are poly panels, from what I understand the mono panels are much better (although more expensive).

Again, unless you are limited in space and so need efficient use of area, the difference between mono and poly is not going to affect you at all. Instead just look at the cost per watt of power delivered.
Amorphous/thin film, on the other hand, have a real issue with rapid deterioration of output, so the initial dollars per watt may be misleading.

[toecheese]

We had one installer tell us that mono panels provide better output than poly if any part of the panel becomes partially obscured by shade. Also we live in Los Angeles, where summer temps can routinely go above 100 degrees, and the mono panels are supposedly better in high temps. True?

[inetdog]

We had one installer tell us that mono panels provide better output than poly if any part of the panel becomes partially obscured by shade.

I would call BS on that claim. That argument has been made for amorphous panels on the other hand. But what they do not tell you is that because of the lower efficiency even in full light you may still end up getting no more power in partial shade than you would with a mono or poly panel.

There may be a very slight advantage to poly in terms of accepting light which is very far off axis (think cloud-diffused light rather than partial shade), but the energy available at that point is too small to worry about.

For any given panel, you can directly compare the listed temperature coefficients of voltage and power with temperature and see just what the real effect is.