Common Pitfalls and advice on buying a Solar Photovoltaic system

[babba]

Tbh the panels are the least important part, there are no moving parts, and due to the nature of how they are made there is nothing to really go wrong with them, of course some may fail, but very unlikely.

They are likely to fail if they have been fitted badly and end up smashed on the drive, which IMO is far more probable.

Time will tell but if I was spending 10k I would not buy chinese

 

[Gary K]

Do not take any notice of the person in nice shiny suit if he states that youy 3.5kw install will produce 5000+KWh. (in this country).

Likewise if he says it will save you 70% of your electricity costs.

Ask same salesperson nicely(or not) to leave if they mention the words special /one off /managers / quick sign discount.

 

[alarm man]

thats quite a boast from the manufacturers,i can see alot of new/very similar names springing up in panel manufacturers in 10/20 yrs time

 

[loskie]

A farmer I worked for in the 80's in Bedfordshire (old skool but a damned good bloke) told me never trust a man with slip on shoes. He even went as far as to tell me that if a sales rep came up the drive and asked for him I was to look at his shoes and tell him to **** aaf if they had no laces.
Funny how bits of irrelevant stuff stick in your mind.

 

[moggy1968]

If a company shows you figures that are significantly better than another company's for the same size system, ignore it. SAP calculations make no allowance for a company selling 'the best panels on the market'(and lots will tell you theirs are!). It's all down to the way they massage things like fuel costs and inflation.

Use the guy who sounds honest, is going to install the system himself (because then he can truly monitor it is installed correctly) and who you feel best about. Not necessarilly the cheapest.

This is one of the biggest investments you might make along with your house and your car. You don't buy the cheapest house or the cheapest car on the market. Buy the one that feels right.

 

[SolarCity]

Could not agree more how many chinese panels have proved their worth..none

Suntech, Linuo, UpSolar, Yingli? Are there many panels that are actually better than these? Personally I don't think so.

Have any actually failed to deliver?

 

[SolarCity]

Good thread. If you want to keep updating your original post with the suggestions then I think it may be an idea to sticky this thread, especially considering how many members of the public visit this forum looking for advice.

 

[babba]

Suntech, Linuo, UpSolar, Yingli? Are there many panels that are actually better than these? Personally I don't think so.

Have any actually failed to deliver?

How long have they been about was my point and I do realise on paper they may be quite effecient but for how long....Nobody
can answer that..

 

[SolarCity]

Fair enough. But then who has proved it?

 

[babba]

There are a couple of them out there not a lot...I will admit Im not the biggest fan of china and quality if the chinese goverment were not proping these companys with money the panels would not be so appealing, all good things come to an end.
what would the guarantee on the panels be worth then. I know we can not answer these questions its just food for thought.

 

[SRE]

Isn't Upsolar covered by an insurance backed warranty? I suspect beggars can't be choosers in the future price will dictate. I've happily used Suntech, Upsolar and have Yingli installed on my rental property. I'm looking at another house we have and tbh I'll probably go down the cheap as chips route. I don't benefit from the free electric so it's all about the cheap investment potential for me.

I sometimes think there's a bit of snobbery about panels which was ok last year when the margins were there but I suspect it'll change quite very quickly if we want to stay in business and compete against the big guys.

 

[JD6400]

I am afraid this will ruffle some feathers but in my opinion it is only too true , and has won us most of our work on the solar side !

Only buy from established electrical contractors as they maybe , will be the only ones that are able to whether the storms ahead , and make sure it is not just a of shoot of the mother company that can be shut down with little effect on the parent company when it goes ---- up and kit starts failing left , right and centre !

I am not looking for a argument on this it is just the way i see it , there is no way the market can sustain all of the new company's that have sprung up in the last few years and we are already seeing a culling of some larger players let alone the one man bands .

If the company you choose is as i have said then it will be just water of a ducks back if the solar side happens to just up and shut down for how ever long it could be through bad policy making or what ever it maybe ?

There will obviously be the exception to the rule , and i sincerely hope the constraints of business do not effect any on this forum , but in general a lot will fall and who will honour the guarantees and warranties then ?
We have already started to do just this !!!

 

[moggy1968]

How long have they been about was my point and I do realise on paper they may be quite effecient but for how long....Nobody
can answer that..

In the case of Yingli, in excess of 20years.

 

[Earthstore]

Sharp have been around for many years, however they suffered with quality problems last year, and there are some companies on here that have sharp panels fitted on their own homes and wish they had not.
I always ask my customers if they have a problem with Chinese panels, if they do it rules them out as an option.
The fact is, they produce well and are value for money.

 

[The Solar King]

Do not go for a company that quotes over the phone or from a website without visiting your property.
Ensure the make and specification of everything that will be fitted is given in the quotation.
Ask for a copy of the wind load calcs.(Easy to provide with DTI 3 and good mounting frame provider)
Ask for details of how mounting frame will be attached to roof, especially in a modern house with engineered trusses.
Ask for details of liability insurance.
Ask for details of all warranties and how they are backed.

Go for someone who will answer all your questions, even the ones you don't want to hear the answer to.

Moggy is entirely correct in his earlier post about ensuring you are comfortable with the company and it is they who are fitting the system.

Price is important. In a very competitive market, you will get what you pay for. If it is too good to be true, then it is.

Always remember: It is not what it costs, it is what it is worth.