Three Common Mistakes When Choosing Solar Panels

If you plan to install a solar system, one of the biggest costs are the solar panels, which consist of about 30% of the cost of the whole system. Therefore, it is important to carefully select your solar panels to ensure you get the quality you paid for.

Solar is a long-term investment, and the decision you make today could have an impact on the system up to 20 years from now. You will want to purchase equipment that can last up to 30 years while giving you all the benefits of the system. Here are some of the common mistakes that people make when buying solar panels so that you can avoid making them.

Focusing on Price Instead of Value

A solar system is a huge investment. It is thus understandable that you might want to cut costs by choosing cheap solar panels. While low-cost panels will save you money, they cost less for a good reason. These panels offer low efficiency, the warranty terms are poor, and they are not durable.

Solar panels range in efficiency from 14-22%, with the most expensive panels being the most efficient. This means that while lower efficiency panels are cheaper individually, they cost you money in the long run by wasting potential power and requiring you to buy more panels for the same amount of power.

Another issue is the durability of the panels. Cheap panels will degrade quickly, and you might need to replace them after five years. Expensive, high-efficiency panels can last up to 25 years with little maintenance. Additionally, they will come with great warranty terms, which usually entail having them replaced if they fall below the promised efficiency.

Failing to Read the Warranty Terms

Just as with any appliance in your home, solar panels degrade over time. However, quality panels can last over 20 years. Manufacturers of high-end panels will offer you a full replacement of the panels for up to 30 years.

When choosing your panels, always check that you are getting a comprehensive warranty. It helps to protect your investment from any manufacturing errors that could reduce the amount of power you generate. With poor warranty terms, you might need to pay for the replacement out of pocket.

Choosing Panels That Do Not Integrate with Your System

Solar panels are just one section of your solar system. You need an inverter, a distribution panel, a combiner box, DC/ AC disconnects, and other parts used to mount the panels. If you buy solar system parts from different manufactures to cut costs, you could end up with an inefficient system. Buying all the equipment for your solar system from the same manufacturer can help reduce the risk that you- for example- buy an inverter that isn’t properly sized to handle the panels’ output.

Summary

If you plan to install a solar system, consider contacting a professional to help you design the solar system. The installer will make sure that you get the best parts for your system for optimal efficiency.