Sharp NU R250

[MorganPVI]

We installed 16 of these today. I had high hopes the new frames would be an improvement, I was wrong.

I stopped quoting on Sharp months ago due to quality concerns, but these 250w panels were made on a Friday afternoon, no stability in the frames, the self tappers and the cross brace = useless. even tightening the clips causes the frames bend and distort.

Have we had a bad batch or is this "quality" usual?

 

[beefheart]

no youre right , you clamp down, the frame distorts and your array looks tosh even when you ve done the usual string line procedures etc,, never again if i can help it,,,,the glass even moves inside the frame

 

[MorganPVI]

Glad it's not just us then. Had to strip both 8 panel arrays, one twice, even then it was difficult to align. roof wasn't great but shocking frames.

 

[RJ01]

Just wondering what you mainly quote on instead ?

Thanks

 

[MorganPVI]

Mainly Sanyo,

 

[beefheart]

mainly kyocera and sanyo

 

[SolarCity]

Sanyo, Suntech, REC mainly.

Sanyo as premier option, Suntech as most economic option, REC as best European option

 

[MorganPVI]

What are the Suntechs like Biggs? Lost an REC quote to them - too expensive!!

 

[SolarCity]

Suntechs are excellent. Some customers are put off by the fact that they are Chinese made but if I had the choice of panels on MY roof, I'd go for them. Based on performance for expenditure, of course. Unfortunately, I have Sharp 185s on my roof and as others have mentioned, they're poor to say the least.

 

[Highlander]

Am thinking of fitting Solar Panels. Have done some research on Sharp NU-R250(J5) 4KWP Systems - Spoke to 5 Customers of the company I am thinking of using who have had 4KW Systems installed or slightly less. None of them reported the problems you have highlighted in terms of alignment etc. or any difficulties their installation teams appeared to have - and they were asked this question as I am also doing a review on the process for the Solar Energy Trust for Scotland.
System Installations have ranged from 6 months to over a year - all said no problems and with surprisingly good rates of return.
I am slightly worried now having read your experience - could it be something to do with the roof fixing system being used??
Could it be the fixing system being used? This company uses Schuco MSystem - would be grateful if you could advise

 

[MorganPVI]

We use Schuco mounting because it is the best.

I would not recommend Sharp panels because the frames are not rigid enough, once they are clipped in place you can move the glass away from the frame sometimes just clipping them in place deforms the panel. There is brace/strut in the middle to hold the sides in these are usually loose and secured with self tapping screws.

My advice is to ask your installer if you can view a sharp panel and an alternative. I would bet good money once you had seen and inspected the Sharp panels you would choose the alternative.