A very common question I get when people ask me about solar power is ‘Can you get German panels?’ Like Rolls Royce, Bang and Olufsen, Gucci and Rolex, some names, brands or in this case countries just seem to shout the words ‘quality, reliable, the best’
For many years people have considered German made solar panels to hold the title, and for a very good reason, their reputation speaks for itself. The factories are some of the best in the world, they are fully automated and controlled by some truly brilliant engineers. To accurately rate a solar panel you need to look at how and what it is made of. It seems obvious but the higher the quality raw material, mixed with professional construction, the better the panel. Simple!
The quality control at the factory is also vital.
Now that the solar industry has been around for a few years (in big numbers anyway) we are starting to see the enormous difference in good verses cheap. Properly maintained and under fairly normal conditions, your panels should operate at an efficient rate for years. If it has only been 4 or 5 years and they need to be replaced already, then shock horror, they are duds! Unfortunately we are starting to see this more and more now.
If I can offer one piece of advice to the person considering going solar, that is do some research. Speak to people who have it already, investigate the company from multiple different websites, and read review after review from independent people.
In what I believe is a very dangerous and immoral practice, under qualified salesmen are spruiking very low quality panels, using terms such as ‘worlds most popular’ or ‘over so many million installed world wide’ which can lead you to believe they are the best. Having the most world wide sales does not necessarily mean they are any good. Ferrari may sell 10 cars a year, and a specific Korean company may sell 10 million, it doesn’t mean they have a better car.
With the boom comes people looking for a quick buck. There are companies who rely on volume, they will promise you the known world, they will tell you that you need 5kw’s when 2.5kw’s would get you a better return, they will spruik their dodgy products and stop at no ends until you sign the paper. Then once the contractors have arrived and informed you of the new fees you will need to pay, for a new metre, double story, split array etc, they will install and leave. Then you’re on your own, good luck getting a warranty call through, they no longer want to know you, or service the el cheapo system they have just installed.
So do your research on the gear, but also on the company tying to sell to you. Don’t fall for terms like ‘tier 1 panels’ and automatically assume they are good. Ask the questions and then do your thorough research.
As with panels, the selection of an inverter is vital. This is the engine room, as long as the sun is shinning and the panels are sending down the voltage, the inverter is working non stop, changing the solar power to workable AC power. A cheap, poorly made inverter is not advisable.
You wouldn’t buy a top of the range sports car with all the options, then find a second hand beat up old engine from the 1970’s in a junk yard and have that put in, so why do the same with your inverter.
The market is changing at the moment, when I first started installing solar arrays in 2010, a lot of the inverters looked like an ordinary box with an on off switch and 4 little lights. If the lights were red it was working, if they were not red, it wasn’t! Sounds comical by today’s standards. Today they are pretty impressive little stations, with the ability to do just about everything but make you a cup of tea. You can be hooked up via wi-fi to see exactly what is working and what isn’t, how much power you are making and a variety of other functions.
The standards have changed considerably in 6 years, all arrays now need to be properly earthed, and able to be isolated. A lot of older inverters out there no longer make the cut, and would not allowed to be installed today.
Coming on to the market now in bigger numbers are hybrid inverters, they are inverters that can work with or without the grid, popular for people who want battery storage, or battery back up.
So do your homework and get as many independent reviews on inverters as you can. It is not worth having solar installed with a cheap one.