Please help!!

[mmccx]

If you don't mind me going off on a slight tangent, by exactly what measure are Sharp and Romag the best panels? The performance stats on the Romag panels are far from impressive, in my opinion. Sanyo are by far the best panel on the market.

Build quality, the fact that the modules are manufactured in the UK, 25 year performance guarantee offered by Romag as apposed to the 20 year guarantee that sharp offer

 

[Markc]

Hi Steve and All.

From my company position we recommend Sharp, Sanyo, Schuco panels and we try to steer clear of the Chinese imports. But that is just my opinion and anyone who installs the Chinese panels are welcome to do so and I'm not knocking them. I also will not fit Moser Baer anymore as the quality is considerably lower than any other panel we have fitted.

One of the best combination we have achieved for a 4Kw system is 22 x Sharp NU180(E1) panels and Diehl Platinum 3800S inverter. Its maximum output to G83 possible on South facing 30 degree design.

When it comes to inverters we match to design not name or our preference. SMA, Diehl, Fronius, Mastervolt all perform well and as long as they are at the 90% mark efficient thats the more important thing IMO.

As for finding an installer word of mouth is the one advert we can't buy! Recommendation, recommendation, recommendation. Not all the most expensive are the best and not all the cheapest are rubbish. Steer clear of the pushy suite clad salesman in his brand new BMW (sorry to anyone with a brand new BMW!) You're only paying more for a system to fund his car! You will get a better conversation from someone who can install. The guy who will be up on your roof. Ask to speak to existing customers. Go and look at their installations. I personally welcome it. All my customers are more than happy to receive emails asking questions etc. Take advantage of this. Get more than one quote! You will be surprised how many people don't! And most importantly check ALL their accreditations. MCS list, NICEIC, Napit etc etc. Just because they carry the logo is no assurance.

Mark C

 

[SolarCity]

I think everyone is agreed that Sanyo are the best, but can you really justify only 300 or so more kWh per anum extra worth the added cost of the modules?

That could be worth up to £4,000 over 25 years. I'd say it's definitely worth the extra cost over Romag.

 

[SolarCity]

Build quality, the fact that the modules are manufactured in the UK, 25 year performance guarantee offered by Romag as apposed to the 20 year guarantee that sharp offer

Yingli panels also offer a 25 year power guarantee.

I've never actually used Romag nor Yingli so I cannot comment on their build quality. Is the Yingli really that bad?

 

[Markc]

Build quality, the fact that the modules are manufactured in the UK, 25 year performance guarantee offered by Romag as apposed to the 20 year guarantee that sharp offer

Sharp 20 years? Just copied this off their technical sheet:

■ 5 year product guarantee
■ 10 year performance guarantee for a power output of 90 %
■ 25 year performance guarantee for a power output of 80 %

Think its on par with most of that panel cost.

 

[MorganPVI]

Yingli seem to do the job well enough and at the end of the day they give a good output for the money, but I think it boils down to what the customer is happy to have on their roof and of the course budget for the job. I'd always use a Schuco roof mount though. Inverter like Mark says matched to the panels.

 

[Steve_1]

OK Gents all comments so far are very helpfull.

Putting aside the intallation and who does the works and focussing on the panels.

It seems clear from a customer point of view it would be sensible to go with either Sharp, Sanyo or Shuco

From a purchase point of view what would be the approx difference in price to achieve as close to 3.99kw on these three manufacturers.

 

[MorganPVI]

Generally, Sanyo are the most expensive, Schuco are in the middle, Sharp would be the cheaper of the 3. It's diffcult to say exactly which panel would be the best, but I suspect Sharp would be a strong contender.

 

[SolarCity]

Generally, Sanyo are the most expensive, Schuco are in the middle, Sharp would be the cheaper of the 3. It's diffcult to say exactly which panel would be the best, but I suspect Sharp would be a strong contender.

Would you really? Are you talking in terms of value or for performance?

 

[MCS Renewables]

Following independent tests in Germany , Japan and the US the Sanyo won all three.

Here are the results from the US college :-
SANYO :: Solar :: Product Comparison

I do have links to the other tests and will try to find them.

obviously there is more profit in fitting Sharp but less returns for the customers.

my opinion would be:-
Sanyo , expensive but worth the outlay for better returns.
Schuco, High quality German Product ,
Sharp , average priced average product.

 

[Markc]

If looking long term return, Sanyo every time.

If looking lowest supply and fit cost then Sharp.

If looking for an average then Schuco.

You have to decide between capital expenditure or return rates. As for asking for something in £'s I don't think you can get an answer to that with out having a survey. The only real difference is down the the cost of the panel.

 

[MorganPVI]

Would you really? Are you talking in terms of value or for performance?

For me they represent value and performance that is why I currently have them on my roof. I like Sanyo panels and recommend them frequently, but the Sharps were a good buy and thats what the majority of customers seem to want. The Sanyos will add around £2000 to the project cost but over 20 years will they generate £2000 more electric?

 

[MCS Renewables]

I had a Romag system at home when FITS started and installed a Sanyo system for a customer two months later. Very similar orientation and roofs about three miles apart. The Sanyo system had the 4000TL inverter which was a few % better efficient than the Romag System inverter. Sanyo system outperformed the Romag by over 600 units in 6 months.
I now have a Sanyo system at home having sold on the Romag.

If you take the 600 units as a yearly figure thats £ 250 a year for 25 years at £6250
If you calculate 1000 units as a yearly figure, which again is an underestimate thats £413 a year for 25 years at £10,325

Plus those units have a export bonus and more generated units into the property equals less import electricity and bills.

Also less modules = less space so more chance of 4kW on some properties and less modules = less rail, fixings, brackets

There is also this thread :-
http://www.electriciansforums.net/p...rgy-forum/25526-counterfeit-sharp-panels.html
which also puts me off Sharp although I appreciate its not Sharp the companies fault. But some customers somewhere have not got what they think they have.

 

[SolarCity]

For me they represent value and performance that is why I currently have them on my roof. I like Sanyo panels and recommend them frequently, but the Sharps were a good buy and thats what the majority of customers seem to want. The Sanyos will add around £2000 to the project cost but over 20 years will they generate £2000 more electric?

When we put a quote together, depending on the size, the payback period seems to be around about the same. Of course, after this point, the Sanyo produces more profit. Couple this with the fact that on a lot of roofs, by using Sanyo, a bigger system can be installed. I can't praise Sanyo enough.

 

[dr.dmac]

Steve,

I too hv been through all of this in lots of detail and hv just made my decision last week.

Sanyo HITs are considered to be one of the best and they have just announced their "N" series which is considered to be the most efficient panel in the UK.

Panel efficiency is only half the story. The cables and inverters are also key. I've gone with Solar Edge because they also do an individual power pack for every panel so each panel is monitored separately for productivity unlike a standard install.

I went with engensa (NW London) but I cannot say if it's all the bees knees because it won't be installed for a month. I got all on this within your budget.

Happy to talk thru what I have done. Send me private msg and I will give you my mobile number.

I promise I'm a real buyer, not a hidden seller.

DMac