8/4/2021 Solar Panel Comparison | Independent Solar Power Advice

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SOLAR PANEL COMPARISON

How do you compare solar panels? I’m glad you asked! A couple of very useful comparison tools available here on SolarQuotes are:

NEW! Compare solar panels side-by-side – pricing, technical specifications and more of products currently available in Australia
(updated regularly)
Solar panel comparison chart (performance information on older models)

If you want a higher level view on the differences between brands, then in the video below  I go through 3 simple things you can look out for
when comparing products.

If you’re in a hurry, just watch this and you’ll massively reduce your risk of buying a crappy product that won’t last. After the video I go into
even more detail if you are feeling like getting knee deep in solar panel comparisons!

How To Choose A Solar Panel

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There is a bewildering array of solar panels on the Australian market. At the last count there were over 4,600 models approved for use in
Australia!

If you look at a solar panel specification sheet (aka data sheet) it can often look like a physics textbook, full of numbers and strange
symbols. For those of us without a degree in rocket-science, how do we make an informed solar panel comparison?

Well, I reckon there are 5 things you need to look at when choosing solar panels for your home to maximise the chances you are getting
good quality products.

But first, let’s get one thing out of the way that doesn’t matter: whether the module is monocrystalline or polycrystalline. Despite what a lot
of salespeople will tell you, these days there is very little difference between mono and poly panels.

Right! Onto the things that actually matter when comparing:

1) ‘Tier 1’ solar panels – does it really matter?

Solar panel manufacturers are ranked into 3 tiers. Tier 1 are the big brands with a good reputation for quality and performance. If you are
building a large-scale solar power station, your investors won’t go near you unless you use solar panels from a Tier 1 company. Getting a
panel from a Tier 1 manufacturer is pretty low risk. Just be aware of less-than-honest sales people who will insist their panels from
WaWaSuperHappySolar are definitely Tier 1!
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Tier 1 manufacturers
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SERVICE Trina, Canadian Solar, SunPower, JA Solar, Hanwha QCells and REC to name a few.
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Tier 2 and 3 manufacturers are the smaller players that produce panels. You can get some good panels from the Tier 2 & 3 players, but
unless you really know the solar manufacturing landscape, it is a lot riskier – because 80% of the lower tier panels are junk. Also, the
smaller companies are less likely to be around in the future. For those reasons, I always recommend the non-solar expert to stick to Tier 1
panels. You can read more about the tier ranking system for solar panels here.

2) Comparing Warranty
Be aware that all solar panels come with 2 warranties – a performance warranty and the manufacturer’s warranty (also known as the
product warranty). 

Generally the performance warranty is 25 years – I’ve never seen a solar panel that hasn’t got a 25 year performance warranty!

Ignore this warranty. It is so easy for the manufacturer to get out of that it is worthless; although Australian Consumer Law may come into
play.

The warranty that really matters is the manufacturer’s warranty – so this is what you should compare on. Don’t buy a panel that has a
manufacturer’s warranty of less than 10 years. Some solar panel manufacturers are now offering up to 30 years product warranty.

3) Power Tolerance
Power tolerance refers to how close to the specified wattage the module will be in real-world conditions. For example, if it is a 300-watt
panel and the power tolerance is +/-5%, your actual wattage could be from 285W up to 315W.

These days quality panels have a “positive only” power tolerance. That means a 300W module will never be less than 300W. That’s a good
thing.

My advice is: only buy a solar panel that has a “+ve only” power tolerance. And ask for a ‘flash test certificate’, which proves the power
tolerance is real and wasn’t just slapped on there by the marketing department.

4) Efficiency Comparison
When comparing
READY TOpanels, efficiency
GET QUOTES is not as important as most people think. As long as the module efficiency is over 16% it should be fine.
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More efficient panels
THROUGH OUR don’t produce more electricity, they are just a little bit smaller on your roof. Unless roof space is critical, don’t stress
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about efficiency.

5) Compare Temperature Coefficient

Solar panels love sunlight, but they hate heat. Their power drops as they get hotter. The temperature coefficient measures how much the
power reduces for every degree rise in temperature above 25°C – and that’s panel temperature, not ambient temperature. The temperature
coefficient generally ranges from -0.4% per °C (good) to -0.5% per °C (not as good). In the latter case if the panel temperature goes up
20°C, the power will drop 0.5 x 20° = 10%.

However, the problem with comparing temperature coefficients is manufacturers tend to be very optimistic when they take this
measurement on their own panels!

By keeping the above 5 points in mind, you’ll be able to compare solar panels with a good degree of confidence and sift out the spin.

>> Next: Is Your Roof Angle Suitable For Solar Panels? >>

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