Quick Guide: Identifying Solar Panel Quality in 4 Steps

Why is it important to choose high-quality solar panels?

Solar panels convert sunlight into electricity for homes, businesses, and industries. Selecting a high-quality panel is crucial, impacting efficiency, lifespan, and system safety. With numerous brands and models available at varying prices, choosing the cost effective solar panels can be challenging, especially for new users.

Case:

David, a homeowner aiming to cut electricity costs, faced a market flooded with various solar panel brands, each asserting superiority. To ensure quality, he extensively consulted family, friends, and fellow solar users, delving into articles and forums. His research revealed the pivotal role of selecting a high-quality solar panel in ensuring system efficiency, longevity, and safety.

David's research highlighted key features of high-quality solar panels:

1. High efficiency: Premium panels maximize solar-to-electrical conversion, boosting overall system efficiency and reducing energy waste.
2. Long life: High-quality solar panels use better materials and manufacturing processes, so they can offer stable performance over a long period and extend the service life of the solar system.
3. Enhanced safety: High-quality solar panels use better materials and manufacturing processes, which can ensure the safety of the solar system and avoid problems such as electrical fires.

For new solar panel buyers, selecting a high-quality panel is crucial. In the following sections, we'll guide you on quickly identifying the quality of solar panels to aid in your decision-making.

Appearance

The appearance of solar panels can be an important criterion for judging quality. When observing the appearance of solar panels, you need to pay attention to the following points:

• Appearance of the battery cells

Inspect the solar panel cell surface for completeness, checking for issues like chipping, missing corners, splitting, or oxidation. A flawless cell surface enhances the solar panel's power generation efficiency and reduces energy loss.

Visible edge chipping and pad oxidation suggest potential production issues, which could lead to insufficient power or a shortened lifespan for the solar panel.

• Color

Check the solar panel for uniform color, as it signifies stable production quality. Uneven color may result from varying cell grades or batches and inadequate consistency checks during production. Such panels not only have an poor appearance but may also lead to a reduced lifespan.

By observing the appearance of solar panels, we can initially understand the quality of solar panels. However, surface observation alone doesn't fully represent panel quality. A comprehensive evaluation requires combining other judgment criteria.

Check Mark

Checking solar panel markings is crucial when making a purchase. These markings quickly reveal the brand, model, and certifications, facilitating easy selection and comparison. Panels lacking such markings should be pay attention to its quality and performance.

Practical case:

During a solar panel purchase, a user opted for cheap panels without brand and model identification to save costs. However, they later discovered these panels had low power generation efficiency, some of them even did not work properly, and professionals revealed they were fake. These panels lacked certification, used poor materials and workmanship, leading to low performance and a shortened lifespan.

Measurement Parameters

Evaluate solar panel performance by measuring key electrical parameters like open circuit voltage (Voc), short circuit current (Isc), maximum power point voltage (Vmp), and maximum power point current (Imp). Consistency between measured and manufacturer-provided parameters indicates stable performance and signals a high-quality solar panel.

Learn About Solar Panel Materials

The material of a solar panel has a big impact on its performance and lifespan. When choosing solar panels, it is very important to understand the materials they are made of.

• Silicon typesCurrently, there are three main types of silicon chips on the market: mono silicon, poly silicon and amorphous silicon.

• For example; for home solar system, it is recommended to use solar panels made of mono silicon because of their higher efficiency and longer life.
• Glass typesIt is recommended to choose solar panels made of ultra-white tempered glass to ensure efficient power generation and long life of the solar panels.
• Aluminum frame typesIt is recommended to choose solar panels made of anodized aluminum frames to ensure the stability and long life of the solar panels.

Other Factors

Consider these practical tips for choosing high-quality solar panels:

• Local climate awareness.Understand your local climate to account for environmental factors affecting solar panel lifespan, especially in high-temperature and humid conditions.
• User experiencesSeek reviews and feedback from other solar panel users, exploring experiences on seller platforms, installers, online forums, etc.
• Seek professional adviceConsult with solar system installers, electricians, or professionals for advice on panel performance, suitable size, models, installation locations, and gather insights on various brands and models.

A practical case:

In need of a solar system for her home, a housewife faced a lack of advice from neighbors and friends. Turning to an online solar system supplier, she received professional guidance on suitable panels for her family's needs, along with valuable technical advice. Considering local climate conditions and professional advice on installation and battery capacity, she installed a stable solar system that now reliably powers her home.

Conclusion

When choosing high-quality solar panels, you need to consider many aspects, including the appearance, logo, performance parameters, materials, etc. of the solar panels. It is also very helpful to refer to the experience of other users and consult professionals for their opinions.

Namkoo stands as a professional solar panel manufacturer and solution provider for solar panels and systems. With a commitment to excellence, we offer professional advice and deliver high-quality products to meet the unique needs of our customers. Our expertise in solar technology ensures reliable and efficient solutions, positioning Namkoo as a trusted partner in the journey towards sustainable energy.

Guangdong Namkoo Power Co.,Ltd

WhatsApp: +86 188 2630 9307 Email: [email protected]

Address: No.133 Jingying International Business Center, Foshan,Guangdong, China

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