What is the best solar panel available, and what company does the best job for a grid tie system.?
Thinking the sharp 235 is near the top.
Hey Hockey, here’s my short answer, there is no "Best." Not trying to let the wind out of your sails, but it’s like asking, "What’s the best car to buy?" If you have kids, the minivan is hard to beat, but it sucks as a 4 wheel drive SUV. Solar panels all use the basic same type technology, but to compare features goes a whole lot deeper into the rabbit hole. If you live in Chicago and have limited roof space, it’s probably worth spending the extra buck and getting Sunpower units, they produce the most per square foot. If you want more hours of energy without tracking, single crystal is the way to go. If space is not an issue and you’re using rolls batteries, and a fixed rack, a multicrystal might be better for you. The point is, first determine what you want to do, then decide what product will fill the perscription the closest.
If you are really in the market for panels, my suggestion is to get a sub to Home Power Magazine. Then use your account info at their website to scour past issues. They had one about a year ago comparing all commercially available solar panels by all manufacturers, about a 9 page spread, with all their specs, including warranty info, power curves, and so on. Then you’d be in a position to make a real decision.
We’ve been powering our home for almost 10 years now with solar and wind. In our case, we selected Kyocera KC-120s, a multicrystal panel, installed on fixed racks. The cost, availability and warranty was the deciding factor. Turns out we had one panel go bad last year, something even my installer never had happen. Kyocera paid round trip shipping and installation cost in addition to sending me a new panel for no charge, they really stood behind their product. In my experience talking to other solar knuckleheads like me, most of the manufacturers are doing the same, because they have very little trouble with their products. Most panels are warrantied for 25 years, and typically they run much longer than that.
The Sharp is a good panel by the way, I know two people that have been using them for a few years, and they love them, mainly because they don’t ever have to look at them to keep them working. It’s been much the same with all our panels too. Check out Home Power, and some of the non profit groups I have listed below. In the end, whatever you decide to do, you will at least be well informed. Take care, Rudydoo
January 31st, 2010 at 11:12 am
Hey Hockey, here’s my short answer, there is no "Best." Not trying to let the wind out of your sails, but it’s like asking, "What’s the best car to buy?" If you have kids, the minivan is hard to beat, but it sucks as a 4 wheel drive SUV. Solar panels all use the basic same type technology, but to compare features goes a whole lot deeper into the rabbit hole. If you live in Chicago and have limited roof space, it’s probably worth spending the extra buck and getting Sunpower units, they produce the most per square foot. If you want more hours of energy without tracking, single crystal is the way to go. If space is not an issue and you’re using rolls batteries, and a fixed rack, a multicrystal might be better for you. The point is, first determine what you want to do, then decide what product will fill the perscription the closest.
If you are really in the market for panels, my suggestion is to get a sub to Home Power Magazine. Then use your account info at their website to scour past issues. They had one about a year ago comparing all commercially available solar panels by all manufacturers, about a 9 page spread, with all their specs, including warranty info, power curves, and so on. Then you’d be in a position to make a real decision.
We’ve been powering our home for almost 10 years now with solar and wind. In our case, we selected Kyocera KC-120s, a multicrystal panel, installed on fixed racks. The cost, availability and warranty was the deciding factor. Turns out we had one panel go bad last year, something even my installer never had happen. Kyocera paid round trip shipping and installation cost in addition to sending me a new panel for no charge, they really stood behind their product. In my experience talking to other solar knuckleheads like me, most of the manufacturers are doing the same, because they have very little trouble with their products. Most panels are warrantied for 25 years, and typically they run much longer than that.
The Sharp is a good panel by the way, I know two people that have been using them for a few years, and they love them, mainly because they don’t ever have to look at them to keep them working. It’s been much the same with all our panels too. Check out Home Power, and some of the non profit groups I have listed below. In the end, whatever you decide to do, you will at least be well informed. Take care, Rudydoo
References :
Hompower.com
Midwest Renewable Energy Association
Great Lakes Renewable Energy Association
Solar Energy International
American Wind Energy Association