Sorry for being off topic, but what's crawling up the wall from 0:40 to 0:47 on the left side of the frame? Is that a huge spider??? Thanks for your solar advice. It helped me decide to go with micro inverters for my system.
Julian, we need answers, bro. Ha! I bet he inserts a little mystery Easter egg in edit to get us all commenting. Ha! Kidding, I'm legitimately fascinated with the content and would comment anyway.
I highly recommend you give Julian a call. We did and he was very prompt to respond and setup a discussion. Unfortunately we couldn’t go with him for our solar because we are locked into a NEM 2.0 contract with another company but Julian spent over an hour talking with us anyway! He answered all of our questions and gave us great advice on how to move forward and even sent us a recommended layout of panels. Julian is the best, you won’t be disappointed!
Talk w/ Cody today. He was honest and upfront about my inquiry. So, I just Subscribed. Will give you THUMBS UP on all your videos. Definitely will refer you to my friends. Stay Safe Ruben Tiosejo
I just started in Solar and your videos are helpful to understand things. They don’t cover enough in training. I hope you make more videos explaining things!
Officially online with QCELL 480 panels! 6.72 KW system with Enphase iQHs. Seems a good pairing and the larger panels meant fewer connection points on my roof. They have the shorter 12 year warranty, but they threw in a SolarInsure policy for 30 years, so hopefully that company is ALSO around that long. Ha!
Hey Julian - (The Solar King). Just taking time to personally thank a fellow Independent Powur Energy, Consultant for another awesome presentation. I have your contact info saved. *If you ever sell in Dallas, Texas area, I'm your ODSS. Have a good one. Tom Griffith - The Solar Man
Great call on Enphase. Anyone I talk to about getting solar setup, I always tell them “no matter what, make sure you get Enphase IQ8+ microinverters” - best tech, most options/versatile for future needs, etc.
I've had good luck with the older Enphase microinverters so overall agree with you. Word of caution, there is some chatter on the DIY Solar Forum regarding the IQ8 series NOT staying on in an outage when AC coupled to a 3rd party hybrid/battery inverters. If you are willing to pay the massive premium prices for Enphase batteries then yes they have a solid, proprietary system but the newer microinverters doesn't necessarily mix well with other products that a DIY'er may wish to install.
@@bentleyjarrard885 thanks for the info, I'll definitely look into it-- truly hoping that (even if I have to stay within Enphase's proprietary systems or product line) that I'll be able to take advantage of bi-directional charging from an EV-House/House-EV even in an outage situation
STC (Standard Test Conditions) panel watt output ratings are based on ideal lab conditions. STC panel rating is calculated at 25°C cell temperature (and not 44°C as you said in your video). For each additional °C degree above 25°C, the temp coeff will indicate the wattage loss percentage. In real world conditions, here in the Texas, for example, with cell temp easily reaching 50°C in the Summer, a 400W rated panel with .26% temp coeff will lose 6.5% output capacity [ 50°C - 25°C = 25° difference. 25 degree diff x .26% temp coeff = 6.5% wattage output loss ]. To this panel loss percentage, add another 4 to 5% microinverter current conversion loss, 2% cable loss, panel tilt & azimuth loss, etc... In other words, you must figure out a 12-14% generation loss from the panel STC rated output whenever you are designing your system total production. This often translate in the purchase of more panels/microinverters.
An example solar generator to look at would be the Bluetti AC500. A solar generator is is an “all in one” box that manages all the inputs and out puts: inverter, BMS, batteries, AC, DC, etc. seems to be a big market for them lately.
I seen that image CRAWLING I WAS LIKE DANG!!!👀😮👀😮 I will watch the video now after reading that it has great information and I’ll be looking for that thing at the end of the video 👀😮😂👀😮😂
Julian, your content is awesome, and is leading me into making good decisions with Solar! Your delivery and style is similar to content on the Engineering Explained channel. You two should collaborate on a video 👍🏼
I've got 19 of those Sunpower panels on my roof. The thing that sucks about Sunpower is they give a contractor a monopoly in a metro area so you can't shop around different contractors. An advantage to that is the warranty on labor.
Julian, the Power Density calculation for the Panasonic 410 is incorrect because you used an incorrect dimension. According to its spec sheet, the width of the Panasonic 410 panel is 40" and not 38.4". If you re-do your power density calculation with the correct dimensions, then the Panasonic 410 comes out to have a rating of 15.8 W/ft^2. This is a good rating, but less than what you were showing as 16.4W/ft^2. The Panasonic 410 is actually rated lower than the REC Alpha 430 (true champ), so mystery solved there!
You are awesome actually. I am far from perfect. After looking at the spec sheet I realize I looked at the width excluding the frame so while in a way this figure is even more realistic, I would have to adjust all the other figures to stay consistent
First I want you to know that I liked your explanation of all of the differences between solar panels. Great job. I have a question: I have an infrared temperature sensor. A number of years ago I took measurements of the cement, roof tiles, Solar panels. Here is what I found. The outside temperature was around 100 F (I live in Southern California), the cement was app 130 F, The roof tiles in the sun was app 170 F, the Panels were also app 170 F, the roof tile under the panels were app 112 F. Here is my question, I can't control the Sun/ outside temperature but I might be able to do something about cooling the panels. 1) I can put a water jacket underneath the panels( Kinda of a pain) or 2) I can run active fanswhich would blow are under the panels (Since I'm generating lots of power, don't really care about the energy the fans use). Has anyone done a study of the Temperature effect (Panel efficient) by doing something like I described above?
Essentially what I got out of all this was yet there are some differences but for the most part they're all pretty damn similar oh, so just pick something
Watts per sf might be important if you are space limited, but the spec/calc you are missing is the real world NMOT $/kw. Some of those panels cost 2x per labeled watt, yet the lower efficiency panel would still a lot less for the same total kw array if you have the space for it. A calc like that would need to include the cost of the extra racking materials for the larger area, so it isn't simple. You would need to take an example total kw and work it complete for each panel -- like for 12kw real world NMOT including racking, material would cost x and labor would cost y in the Northeast, and z in the Southwest, etc.
It’s difficult to calculate that because when purchasing a solar project, the cost of the panels is only about 25%-33% of the total cost. There are multiple other factors that will play a much bigger difference on the financials than the difference of 10-40 cents per watt for average vs high end modules. Even between contractors and distributors, each company has a specific deal set up and some companies can acquire materials for less than others. Oftentimes I see more expensive proposals with cheaper panels than what I’m offering.
I have two quotes a rec405AA Pure panels with I8+ quoted by ADT The other is Sunpower SPR-435-H-AC quoted by local installer Local installer has been installing panels here since 1978 and ADT speaks for itself. Sunpower is 1 panel less and has slightly higher yearly output about 200kWh a year more than ADT quoted. Sunpower is 3.15/watt and ADT is 3.22/watt. I live in a climate comparable to northern Texas. What would you go with Sir?
I would not go with ADT considering they decided to jump into Solar last year. Some power has their marketing dialed in, but there are some specifics with the hardware that make it not the best on the market. Mostly in terms of the inverter and battery, and the lack of compatibility with any other products. In my opinion, I have a better option. Feel free to call me at 760-473-5878 and let’s see what Larsen and I can do for you. Thanks so much for the comment.
Hi - this video is great but ca these Solar Panels be used on a solar farm - I live in an area of the US (western MD) that actual gets snow - which panel is the most robust and I do plan on having these panels mounted to a stand that is motorized so that they can rotate
It more has to do with the racking holding the panel. Most panels are similar in build quality. The aptos panel has a super high wind rating if that helps at all
Julian: Is there a solar option that won't require me to have my system "report telemetry" back to the company? I like Tesla but I don't like that you have to have their telemetry enabled for them to work. I don't really feel like I own a system if it only works hooked up to a telemetry monitoring service.
The manufacturer and Installer have access to your monitoring for the reason of being able to run diagnostics and fix an issue virtually without having to actually send somebody to give you quicker warranty service. The monitoring I use mostly uses wifi
Power density is only relevant if you don't have enough square footage of space to layout your desired total wattage of panels. I would buy based on Degradation rate and Temperature Coefficient and then warranty. Don't make this more complicated than it needs to be. I was pleasantly surprised that in a new install of QCells and Longi panels, the Longi's outperformed the QCells in my first two years of use, time will tell on the degradation of each.
Ones that are really good are the ones that give you the watch pretty close to what they say the Waters of the solar panel is the ones that are bad it doesn't give you nearly as much power and the only way you'll find out if ya keep I want to find out that not what somebody says. Don't know where you know if there's a bad solar panel if there is a TH-cam video that says it's a bad solar panel doesn't work quite right then you know not to buy that solar panel that's about it.
I would like to start building (Spring/Summer 23) a rack to hold the panels in my yard. Where do where do I find dimensioning & angle specifications for DIY guys like me?
Absolutely awesome information, thank you👍🏻 we are trying to find a good sewer company. You’re in Florida. I do not want to. I’m going for a standalone some companies don’t want to bother with that. ??
Hi there Julian. I am in the UK nut find your panel review real helpful and your honest approach rather than corporate influence profit. I am considering a solar system but have heard that new type of panels are coming out. Ones that are not silicon based with better efficiency have u heard anything on these and when they may be available ? Thanks
Renogy is conspicuously absent from your list of panels yet they are extremely popular in SoCal for DIY home, boat, RV, camping, ..... So why were they not evaluated?
Hi , very nice video. I cant understand the efficiency and the Power. a 300 panel with 20% efficiency produce less energy than an 20% panel with 22% efficiency? What PV panels you suggest for the maximum energy outpout (no matter the cost).
For non battery systems Enphase is the best. For battery systems, I think micros are still superior except for on cost. The Tesla Powerwall 3 is cheaper enough to where the benefits of micros are diminishing vs before when the difference was only a couple thousand
Seems since Panasonic announced they won’t be manufacturing panels any longer, but will still be on the market. Is REC taking the reins to manufacture them?
Thank you for that great podcast. I have a travel trailer that just is parked. Does it go anywhere and I need the best solar panel to feed my Eco flow, pro solar generator which of these panels would you suggest to give me the most bang for the buck of this list that would be able to handle, the temperatures in the Midwest Missouri gets very cold and gets very hot. Thank you for your time.
Hello Julian I got quote for Panasonic vs Qcells the difference is 2500, is it worth to pay extra for Panasonic 2500 dollars for long run. Please advise
I'm hearing from some installers that the Qcell commercial panel is of a lower quality... does this carry any weight? Because I really don't care what they look like. You can hardly see my roof unless you're on the deck in my back yard... and even then, whatever.
2:01 This is precisely what I wanted to see! I was hearing that the IQ8M tended to be a better pairing for San Diego sun than the IQ8+. If going with the REC Alpha 430w or Qcells 480w, would it be recommended to go with something even a bit higher, like an IQA or H? Or are there any significant price differences or other trade-offs to consider when going with one of these higher power models? This topic may even warrant its own video, as it seems Enphase is the way to go for micros... just a matter of which would make the most sense for someone's location or general setup!
Not sure if you still see the comments but if you do please tell what you know about sharp solar panels. I bought 8 that are 235 watts each. They have some kinda frosted look to the glass that's supposed to be some kinda light diffuser stuff. I'm not sure if they are decent or not but so far they seem to work great. I'm going to buy another 10 or 12 newer panels hopefully atleast 4 or 500 watt panels for my second off grid system I'm building. Yes any information on the sharp 235s would be appreciated
@@Superiorsolarconsulting thanks man. They seem to be ok panels but they have some type of light diffuser coating on the glass and I'm wondering if it is a good thing or not. I'm buying 10 or 12 more panels this week and don't know the brand I'll chose yet but hopefully I can find some that are much larger than the sharp panels. Having a few different strings on different charge controllers seems to be the way to go from what I'm seeing on youtube. Thanks for the info on sharp panels
Thanks for the reviews. I'm inclined toward the Panasonics, but I've got a severe size constraint. I have space for one panel only, on top of my suv, and it can be 58" tops, by maybe 32" (31.5"). Anything like that in the catalog? Eff: 22 or so? Wattage negotiable... Oh yeah: Alaska, Ketchikan, cloudy weather half the year... will have a 100 ah LifePo4...
Hey Julian. Loved the info here. Now .. which panel is the best considering wattage and cost per square foot. I have a hip roof house and so I'm limited on how many I can install. Thanks
SunPower M-series is online, Power data on the spec sheet is 73 inches, not 78'. M-425w is what is mostly available these days. Also, why not provide the details on the Labor arrangement - looks like there's more to it, how long is the coverage.
Hey Julian, enjoying your video;s what your thoughts on half cell panels newbie here and I am planning on building a solar setup here in South Mississippi just in the learning phase now
Thanks Julian for all the info. Very informative. What are your views on the Solaria PowerX/XT panels? Where would you place them in the hierarchy on the whiteboard you have in this video?
So sorry for the super slow response. I hope you have solar already, but if you are still in the market, feel free to reach out. 760-473-5878. I have great representation in New York.
Hey Julian, Im new to solar setups and wanting to DYI an 18k system here in South Mississippi, I'm looking to build an easy no bull system and leaning towards the EG4 18KPV from solarsignature whats your opinion
Honestly I don’t recommend diy unless you’re a contractor and even then you’re in for a frustrating time. Solar is its own unique beast. I don’t mean to sound discouraging
Thank you for this information. We were about to go with a PPA, yikes! Would you possibly know a reliable company in Las Vegas, NV. I appreciate any help you are able to give to help direct me in the right direction. Thank you, Gale
I've heard you say youre pro micro inverters-is this still the case for true off grid systems where battery power/storage would require it to be converted back to DC?
There are some arguments to be made for why a centralized inverting system can potentially work better with a battery but since I haven’t found a super reliable centralized inverting solution, I tend to think it’s the lesser of two evils to have a slightly less efficient AC coupled round trip versus attempting to squeeze a couple more percent out of the system when you’re at much higher risk for the whole system failing due to the central inverter.
Hey Julian ... Great videos ... Qcells look to be what Im after, performance and durability what your thought on the Q.PEAK 485 DUO XL-G10.3/BFG the cost hovers about $480 thru a few venders I new to this and want to set up about 15kv system with the eg4 18 kpv your thoughts ?
I can provide a proposal for you if you’d like. I have those panels available but I recommend Enphase micros. Feel free to call or text for a proposal. 760-473-5878
Hey Julian - do you work for Massachusetts /Boston Area, looking for 17 Panel ~400W Solar system, options available are Sun Power M Series425W or REC AA Black 405W or Panasonic EVPV HK Black 400w. Panasonic would give All Guard Bumper to Bumper Warranty for 25 yrs not sure how reliable they are compared to Sun Power who also give same warranty for full system. REC Warranty only Panel, any recommendations?
I liked this video, great information, but I would ask that you expand this information into a "does it make sense" video. You are in a unique position to determine if the high performance panels are worth the price. The numbers you provide say there is a 2.2 watt difference in output provided you ignore mission and canadian panels. Doing some numbers and you lose a panel for every 10. This implies that panels with a greater than 10% difference in price make the choice for you. -MG
That’s a really good point and I am always doing my best to cut though the noise and make it super simple to understand. I have a video currently in the works that shows the actual kWh productions given multiple factors in the simulation are altered. It should be out by the end of this week and I think you’ll like it. One main spec to keep in mind about the premium options is the lesser degradation. This alone makes it worth it, most of the time, to buy the most premium panel available unless you’re getting a special deal on a still great product and can compensate with an extra panel is something
"Efficiency, efficiency, efficiency..." Efficiency is relative to the Eye of the Beholder. For me, the single biggest factors that I consider "Efficient" are: Cost per Watt, and Lifespan.
@@TimeSurfer206 not exactly because the watt rating does not take the actual specs of the NOMT value into account which is going to be a better power representation for kilowatt hour production. We are trying to say the same thing but ultimately if we were just comparing panels based on their STC watt rating, the only differentiation would be price point given to panels were rated at the same wattage. But obviously not all panels are created equal.
Excellent information and well delivered. You say to call for a proposal...is there a fee for your services? You also mention that you can work in almost every state. Is Colorado one of them? I guess I'm not completely understanding your business plan but I very much appreciate your subject knowledge and apparent expertise in solar panels.
A solar panel that has a thin layer (1 atom) of a negative indexed meta material, Perovskite. Should produce a greater than 100% efficiency. These synthetic meta materials creat a Blue-shift after refracting photons from it.
Pervoskite panels don’t actually exist for the mass market yet. Eventually they may be what we use but the degradation in testing is too high to justify its usage. I would argue energy density isn’t a big deal with how far panels have already come. Most homes done need to cover their whole roof as is currently
@@Superiorsolarconsulting I read Google Scholar periodical papers on the subject. The Perovskite Bismuth Ferrite is the main synthesized negative indexed meta material that can produce an ultraviolet spectrum from a weak infrared photon. The other, especially natural materials, are inefficient and are a waste of time.
@@gene4094that’s interesting. As time goes on, and we will, of course the improvements in the technology. At this point in time, though, I do not believe there is a single panel on the market with really any material other than the silicone that we use now.
Sorry for being off topic, but what's crawling up the wall from 0:40 to 0:47 on the left side of the frame? Is that a huge spider??? Thanks for your solar advice. It helped me decide to go with micro inverters for my system.
Yeah!!! What was that!!??
I was like WTF?!?!?
No answer at all
OMG I saw that too 🤪
Julian, we need answers, bro. Ha!
I bet he inserts a little mystery Easter egg in edit to get us all commenting. Ha!
Kidding, I'm legitimately fascinated with the content and would comment anyway.
i've been looking for a "SOLAR EXPERT"... glad to know you're out there.
Feel free to reach out if you’d like a proposal/consultation. 760-473-5878
I highly recommend you give Julian a call. We did and he was very prompt to respond and setup a discussion. Unfortunately we couldn’t go with him for our solar because we are locked into a NEM 2.0 contract with another company but Julian spent over an hour talking with us anyway! He answered all of our questions and gave us great advice on how to move forward and even sent us a recommended layout of panels. Julian is the best, you won’t be disappointed!
I appreciate your comment!!! Thank you!
EXCELLENT overview! I'm so glad I found this channel.
thank you, very much for taking the time to summarize, I always look for most dense/power
Yes that’s the true way to compare panel performance
Talk w/ Cody today. He was honest and upfront about my inquiry. So, I just Subscribed. Will give you THUMBS UP on all your videos. Definitely will refer you to my friends. Stay Safe Ruben Tiosejo
I just started in Solar and your videos are helpful to understand things. They don’t cover enough in training. I hope you make more videos explaining things!
More are on the way. Thanks!
I love your videos, they've helped me so much to understand the solar industry
Officially online with QCELL 480 panels! 6.72 KW system with Enphase iQHs. Seems a good pairing and the larger panels meant fewer connection points on my roof. They have the shorter 12 year warranty, but they threw in a SolarInsure policy for 30 years, so hopefully that company is ALSO around that long. Ha!
Thanks for all this hard work very helpfull
Kudos, and an appreciative thank you for your good work. I’m in the market for a couple of pallets of panels, and this has helped greatly.
Hey Julian - (The Solar King). Just taking time to personally thank a fellow Independent Powur Energy, Consultant for another awesome presentation. I have your contact info saved. *If you ever sell in Dallas, Texas area, I'm your ODSS. Have a good one. Tom Griffith - The Solar Man
Great call on Enphase. Anyone I talk to about getting solar setup, I always tell them “no matter what, make sure you get Enphase IQ8+ microinverters” - best tech, most options/versatile for future needs, etc.
I've had good luck with the older Enphase microinverters so overall agree with you. Word of caution, there is some chatter on the DIY Solar Forum regarding the IQ8 series NOT staying on in an outage when AC coupled to a 3rd party hybrid/battery inverters. If you are willing to pay the massive premium prices for Enphase batteries then yes they have a solid, proprietary system but the newer microinverters doesn't necessarily mix well with other products that a DIY'er may wish to install.
@@bentleyjarrard885 thanks for the info, I'll definitely look into it-- truly hoping that (even if I have to stay within Enphase's proprietary systems or product line) that I'll be able to take advantage of bi-directional charging from an EV-House/House-EV even in an outage situation
Finally, a Science guy in Solar!
Great info! Im learnin..
STC (Standard Test Conditions) panel watt output ratings are based on ideal lab conditions. STC panel rating is calculated at 25°C cell temperature (and not 44°C as you said in your video).
For each additional °C degree above 25°C, the temp coeff will indicate the wattage loss percentage. In real world conditions, here in the Texas, for example, with cell temp easily reaching 50°C in the Summer, a 400W rated panel with .26% temp coeff will lose 6.5% output capacity [ 50°C - 25°C = 25° difference. 25 degree diff x .26% temp coeff = 6.5% wattage output loss ].
To this panel loss percentage, add another 4 to 5% microinverter current conversion loss, 2% cable loss, panel tilt & azimuth loss, etc... In other words, you must figure out a 12-14% generation loss from the panel STC rated output whenever you are designing your system total production. This often translate in the purchase of more panels/microinverters.
If I said STC is at 44 degrees Celsius, I meant to connect that to NMOT. Yes STC is rated much cooler as you stated.
Thanks! This really helps
Glad it helped!
Am I only one who noticed the piece of a broken wine bottle hanging behind him? 😂
Great video. Thank you
Glad you liked it!
Wished you do a video on Solar power generators
I’ll note it for a future idea. I don’t really work with them often
An example solar generator to look at would be the Bluetti AC500. A solar generator is is an “all in one” box that manages all the inputs and out puts: inverter, BMS, batteries, AC, DC, etc. seems to be a big market for them lately.
I seen that image CRAWLING I WAS LIKE DANG!!!👀😮👀😮 I will watch the video now after reading that it has great information and I’ll be looking for that thing at the end of the video 👀😮😂👀😮😂
I got a 405 watt solar panel that is 44 inches wide and I actually got four of them.
Julian, your content is awesome, and is leading me into making good decisions with Solar!
Your delivery and style is similar to content on the Engineering Explained channel.
You two should collaborate on a video 👍🏼
Thanks so much. Sorry for the slow reply
What do you think of the canadian solar 540w?
It’s huge. I’d have to look at the dimensions to see the power per square foot output
I've got 19 of those Sunpower panels on my roof. The thing that sucks about Sunpower is they give a contractor a monopoly in a metro area so you can't shop around different contractors. An advantage to that is the warranty on labor.
Yeah, but the failure rating really doesn't make the absurd warranty worth it for most.
Julian, the Power Density calculation for the Panasonic 410 is incorrect because you used an incorrect dimension. According to its spec sheet, the width of the Panasonic 410 panel is 40" and not 38.4". If you re-do your power density calculation with the correct dimensions, then the Panasonic 410 comes out to have a rating of 15.8 W/ft^2. This is a good rating, but less than what you were showing as 16.4W/ft^2. The Panasonic 410 is actually rated lower than the REC Alpha 430 (true champ), so mystery solved there!
You are awesome actually. I am far from perfect. After looking at the spec sheet I realize I looked at the width excluding the frame so while in a way this figure is even more realistic, I would have to adjust all the other figures to stay consistent
First I want you to know that I liked your explanation of all of the differences between solar panels. Great job. I have a question: I have an infrared temperature sensor. A number of years ago I took measurements of the cement, roof tiles, Solar panels. Here is what I found. The outside temperature was around 100 F (I live in Southern California), the cement was app 130 F, The roof tiles in the sun was app 170 F, the Panels were also app 170 F, the roof tile under the panels were app 112 F. Here is my question, I can't control the Sun/ outside temperature but I might be able to do something about cooling the panels. 1) I can put a water jacket underneath the panels( Kinda of a pain) or 2) I can run active fanswhich would blow are under the panels (Since I'm generating lots of power, don't really care about the energy the fans use). Has anyone done a study of the Temperature effect (Panel efficient) by doing something like I described above?
To be honest I haven’t ever seen this but it’s a cool idea.
@@Superiorsolarconsulting Ok, When I try this I will let you know. fyi, I live in So Cal...
Jeez what is up with the gigantic spider crawling up the wall?
Holyyyyyyy. I can’t unsee it 😂
I assumed it was a mic lol
The way it walks it resembles a different type of bug on walking on the camera lens.
;)
Essentially what I got out of all this was yet there are some differences but for the most part they're all pretty damn similar oh, so just pick something
All the panels on this list are pretty good at the end of the day
Watts per sf might be important if you are space limited, but the spec/calc you are missing is the real world NMOT $/kw. Some of those panels cost 2x per labeled watt, yet the lower efficiency panel would still a lot less for the same total kw array if you have the space for it. A calc like that would need to include the cost of the extra racking materials for the larger area, so it isn't simple. You would need to take an example total kw and work it complete for each panel -- like for 12kw real world NMOT including racking, material would cost x and labor would cost y in the Northeast, and z in the Southwest, etc.
It’s difficult to calculate that because when purchasing a solar project, the cost of the panels is only about 25%-33% of the total cost. There are multiple other factors that will play a much bigger difference on the financials than the difference of 10-40 cents per watt for average vs high end modules. Even between contractors and distributors, each company has a specific deal set up and some companies can acquire materials for less than others. Oftentimes I see more expensive proposals with cheaper panels than what I’m offering.
Thank you excellent video.
I was told by a local solar contractor that REC's and Panasonic's specs are equal, suggesting that REC manufacturers Panasonic's panels.
correct
Yes
I have two quotes a rec405AA Pure panels with I8+ quoted by ADT
The other is Sunpower SPR-435-H-AC quoted by local installer
Local installer has been installing panels here since 1978 and ADT speaks for itself. Sunpower is 1 panel less and has slightly higher yearly output about 200kWh a year more than ADT quoted. Sunpower is 3.15/watt and ADT is 3.22/watt. I live in a climate comparable to northern Texas. What would you go with Sir?
I would not go with ADT considering they decided to jump into Solar last year. Some power has their marketing dialed in, but there are some specifics with the hardware that make it not the best on the market. Mostly in terms of the inverter and battery, and the lack of compatibility with any other products. In my opinion, I have a better option. Feel free to call me at 760-473-5878 and let’s see what Larsen and I can do for you. Thanks so much for the comment.
Hi - this video is great but ca these Solar Panels be used on a solar farm - I live in an area of the US (western MD) that actual gets snow - which panel is the most robust and I do plan on having these panels mounted to a stand that is motorized so that they can rotate
It more has to do with the racking holding the panel. Most panels are similar in build quality. The aptos panel has a super high wind rating if that helps at all
I’m curious what panel would be best for the Pacific Northwest in winter?
REC
Temp coefficient matters less in colder temps. REC is always a great option if affordable
Julian: Is there a solar option that won't require me to have my system "report telemetry" back to the company? I like Tesla but I don't like that you have to have their telemetry enabled for them to work. I don't really feel like I own a system if it only works hooked up to a telemetry monitoring service.
The manufacturer and Installer have access to your monitoring for the reason of being able to run diagnostics and fix an issue virtually without having to actually send somebody to give you quicker warranty service. The monitoring I use mostly uses wifi
Power density is only relevant if you don't have enough square footage of space to layout your desired total wattage of panels. I would buy based on Degradation rate and Temperature Coefficient and then warranty. Don't make this more complicated than it needs to be. I was pleasantly surprised that in a new install of QCells and Longi panels, the Longi's outperformed the QCells in my first two years of use, time will tell on the degradation of each.
Both of those are top brands. The lower end brands on my board are still great options.
What would be the ideal 16 panel off-grid setup? No grid-tie.
I would need tons of info to give you a real answer honestly
You should add if the panel is polycrystalline or Monocrystalline
They’re all mono by now
Ones that are really good are the ones that give you the watch pretty close to what they say the Waters of the solar panel is the ones that are bad it doesn't give you nearly as much power and the only way you'll find out if ya keep I want to find out that not what somebody says. Don't know where you know if there's a bad solar panel if there is a TH-cam video that says it's a bad solar panel doesn't work quite right then you know not to buy that solar panel that's about it.
The one you can afford and can/are using
Lol yes agreed. There’s just a lot more total cost going into the system than the panels
@@Superiorsolarconsulting
Indeed
But if people are short on funds
Pretty much what they can afford...
1. 100 amp panel is a start...
Does the solar angle of incidence affect panels differently?
The premium panels claim better efficiency during lower or indirect lighting. That’s a good idea for a video…
I would like to start building (Spring/Summer 23) a rack to hold the panels in my yard. Where do where do I find dimensioning & angle specifications for DIY guys like me?
DIY is a nightmare. I don’t mean to sound like I’m persuading you against it but it doesn’t go well for most people. CED is a supplier to check out
Great informative update thank you
You bet
Thank you for your video! Very informative. Where do the Meyer Burger Blacks fit into this mix? Do you still think the Panasonics are better?
I’m sure they will be pretty good. The innovation right now it’s not happening in panel development, but in the battery and managing softwares.
Absolutely awesome information, thank you👍🏻 we are trying to find a good sewer company. You’re in Florida.
I do not want to. I’m going for a standalone some companies don’t want to bother with that. ??
Call or text me if you need help. I service florida. 760-473-5878
Hi there Julian. I am in the UK nut find your panel review real helpful and your honest approach rather than corporate influence profit. I am considering a solar system but have heard that new type of panels are coming out. Ones that are not silicon based with better efficiency have u heard anything on these and when they may be available ? Thanks
Nothing actually in the market yet
Renogy is conspicuously absent from your list of panels yet they are extremely popular in SoCal for DIY home, boat, RV, camping, ..... So why were they not evaluated?
This is mainly for residential solar projects
Hi , very nice video. I cant understand the efficiency and the Power. a 300 panel with 20% efficiency produce less energy than an 20% panel with 22% efficiency? What PV panels you suggest for the maximum energy outpout (no matter the cost).
REC is the best if you have hot summers
Thank you for the reply.
@@Superiorsolarconsulting
Ty
Easy choice, REC. They are the most reliable, we also do service for Sunpower and its a nightmare.
Interesting that you prefer micro inverters I see most experienced guys now recommending string hybrid inverters. Why so fixed on micros?
For non battery systems Enphase is the best. For battery systems, I think micros are still superior except for on cost. The Tesla Powerwall 3 is cheaper enough to where the benefits of micros are diminishing vs before when the difference was only a couple thousand
How much do you know about Jinko Panels in comparison to these? I’m looking at the Jinko Tiger Neo 420w.
Jinko is a high quality Chinese manufacturer. Not the best but a good product
@@Superiorsolarconsulting thank you very much, they’re up on my roof now but need commissioning.
Seems since Panasonic announced they won’t be manufacturing panels any longer, but will still be on the market. Is REC taking the reins to manufacture them?
Yes Panasonic has shifted their efforts to battery r&d
Hi Julian. Great information. I live in Henderson, Nevada. Which panel(s) would you suggest for the extreme heat and dry conditions?
REC most likely. I can provide a proposal for you. Call or text me. 760-473-5878
Thank you for that great podcast. I have a travel trailer that just is parked. Does it go anywhere and I need the best solar panel to feed my Eco flow, pro solar generator which of these panels would you suggest to give me the most bang for the buck of this list that would be able to handle, the temperatures in the Midwest Missouri gets very cold and gets very hot. Thank you for your time.
Check out will prowse’s channel. That’s more geared towards DIY
What about the REC 410??
It’s great. I couldn’t put every version of every panel on the board :)
SunPower uses Type H Inverter (Enphase MNOT ~384
They’ve used their rebranded Enphase iq7a for a long time. Did this just change?
You're funny dude. That spider trick
What is the SunPower U series? Due to supply issues. I can’t get the M series right now.
Why go with SunPower at all? So many sales gimmicks
Hello Julian I got quote for Panasonic vs Qcells the difference is 2500, is it worth to pay extra for Panasonic 2500 dollars for long run. Please advise
It depends on a few factors. Give me a call and I can go over them. 760-473-5878
What about United Renewable Energy Panels?
Who’s the manufacturer?
I'm hearing from some installers that the Qcell commercial panel is of a lower quality... does this carry any weight? Because I really don't care what they look like. You can hardly see my roof unless you're on the deck in my back yard... and even then, whatever.
They are not painted black and come with a 12 year product warranty. They are mostly the same cells though
2:01 This is precisely what I wanted to see! I was hearing that the IQ8M tended to be a better pairing for San Diego sun than the IQ8+. If going with the REC Alpha 430w or Qcells 480w, would it be recommended to go with something even a bit higher, like an IQA or H? Or are there any significant price differences or other trade-offs to consider when going with one of these higher power models? This topic may even warrant its own video, as it seems Enphase is the way to go for micros... just a matter of which would make the most sense for someone's location or general setup!
We install in the Bay Area and always pair the REC NP3 or Alpha with the IQ8A
It depends on the azimuth too
Not sure if you still see the comments but if you do please tell what you know about sharp solar panels. I bought 8 that are 235 watts each. They have some kinda frosted look to the glass that's supposed to be some kinda light diffuser stuff. I'm not sure if they are decent or not but so far they seem to work great. I'm going to buy another 10 or 12 newer panels hopefully atleast 4 or 500 watt panels for my second off grid system I'm building. Yes any information on the sharp 235s would be appreciated
Sharp discounted manufacturing panels years ago. Whatever sharp products you see will be refurbished or have been sitting in the warehouse for years
@@Superiorsolarconsulting thanks man. They seem to be ok panels but they have some type of light diffuser coating on the glass and I'm wondering if it is a good thing or not. I'm buying 10 or 12 more panels this week and don't know the brand I'll chose yet but hopefully I can find some that are much larger than the sharp panels. Having a few different strings on different charge controllers seems to be the way to go from what I'm seeing on youtube. Thanks for the info on sharp panels
Thanks. My solar weir
Thanks for the reviews. I'm inclined toward the Panasonics, but I've got a severe size constraint. I have space for one panel only, on top of my suv, and it can be 58" tops, by maybe 32" (31.5"). Anything like that in the catalog? Eff: 22 or so? Wattage negotiable...
Oh yeah: Alaska, Ketchikan, cloudy weather half the year... will have a 100 ah LifePo4...
To be honest I am not an expert in one panel systems. I would recommend the most energy dense panel you can get for sure.
Thanks for this info I live in Tampa FL. What would you recommend for my climate out of these panels ? I have quotes coming next two weeks
Text me. I work in Florida. 760-473-5878
Hey Julian. Loved the info here. Now .. which panel is the best considering wattage and cost per square foot. I have a hip roof house and so I'm limited on how many I can install.
Thanks
In my opinion the REC/Panasonic. But, everyone is different. I can help you out together a system if you’d like
SunPower M-series is online, Power data on the spec sheet is 73 inches, not 78'. M-425w is what is mostly available these days. Also, why not provide the details on the Labor arrangement - looks like there's more to it, how long is the coverage.
I’ll check it out
Hey Julian, enjoying your video;s what your thoughts on half cell panels newbie here and I am planning on building a solar setup here in South Mississippi just in the learning phase now
Most of the newer panels will use the “half cut cell” technology. I think it’s great.
Anyone use URE panels? I haven’t seen much about them, but they are what one of the largest installers in my area uses.
It’s a relatively cheap/budget product. It’s not the worst and far from the best
The peroskvite / silicone tandem panels are supposedly tested to have 33% efficiency.
Is this true and have you done any research on it ?
I’ve heard they haven’t figured out the fast degradation with perovskite panels yet
Julian, how can I reach out to you? I’ve got a quote from 2 companies, one is Tesla and ADT is coming out.
You can call or text me 760-473-5878
Thanks Julian for all the info. Very informative. What are your views on the Solaria PowerX/XT panels? Where would you place them in the hierarchy on the whiteboard you have in this video?
Best looking panels with good specs and good shade tolerance. It’s a great panel for shady environments
At around 17:50 I think a spider was crawling down this guy’s wall.
Could I use sunrun to purchase or do I gp with another installer?Could you recommend installlers for New York state
So sorry for the super slow response. I hope you have solar already, but if you are still in the market, feel free to reach out. 760-473-5878. I have great representation in New York.
Looking at a proposal with Panasonic evpv370k I'm assuming it's very similar to this videos Panasonic 360?🤔🤷
Yes it’s essentially the same panel. Just a slightly more efficient version
Hey Julian, Im new to solar setups and wanting to DYI an 18k system here in South Mississippi, I'm looking to build an easy no bull system and leaning towards the EG4 18KPV from solarsignature whats your opinion
Honestly I don’t recommend diy unless you’re a contractor and even then you’re in for a frustrating time. Solar is its own unique beast. I don’t mean to sound discouraging
How about znshine? Are their panels good? Looking to do a ground mount system. I don’t seem to find as many reviews online about them
Never heard of them
Thank you for this information. We were about to go with a PPA, yikes! Would you possibly know a reliable company in Las Vegas, NV. I appreciate any help you are able to give to help direct me in the right direction. Thank you, Gale
Call or text me if you haven’t signed yet. 760-473-5878
Hi Julian
I loved your information
And i am learning a lot
I have a question
What do you think about NEM ( NET Energy Metering)?
Any comments?
Check out my recent video on NEM3.0
Hey Julian - can we book on your website or do you prefer to call/ email?
Hey Kyle. The best way to reach me is by calling or texting my cell phone. 760 473 5878
@@Superiorsolarconsulting just curious - do you still do appointments on the website or do you find the conversion rate is better with the cell phone?
I've heard you say youre pro micro inverters-is this still the case for true off grid systems where battery power/storage would require it to be converted back to DC?
There are some arguments to be made for why a centralized inverting system can potentially work better with a battery but since I haven’t found a super reliable centralized inverting solution, I tend to think it’s the lesser of two evils to have a slightly less efficient AC coupled round trip versus attempting to squeeze a couple more percent out of the system when you’re at much higher risk for the whole system failing due to the central inverter.
@@Superiorsolarconsulting how do you get a migro inverter to charge a battery . thaught micros just tied into central a/c panel.
Hey Julian ... Great videos ... Qcells look to be what Im after, performance and durability what your thought on the Q.PEAK 485 DUO XL-G10.3/BFG the cost hovers about $480 thru a few venders
I new to this and want to set up about 15kv system with the eg4 18 kpv your thoughts ?
I can provide a proposal for you if you’d like. I have those panels available but I recommend Enphase micros. Feel free to call or text for a proposal. 760-473-5878
Powerpoint could be a better way to present the data.
Definitely. Am trying to experiment with some new video making techniques coming up
I would think durability would be first, followed by efficiency.
All the main panels use the same glass thickness and have similar wind ratings
@@Superiorsolarconsulting I'm referring to the lifetime functional durability.
spider up the wall - hahahahahahha at 0:35
Confusing, but a good explanation. I have NEM 2.0 what do I do?
Nothing. You’re still going to be in nem2.0
Hey Julian - do you work for Massachusetts /Boston Area, looking for 17 Panel ~400W Solar system, options available are Sun Power M Series425W or REC AA Black 405W or Panasonic EVPV HK Black 400w. Panasonic would give All Guard Bumper to Bumper Warranty for 25 yrs not sure how reliable they are compared to Sun Power who also give same warranty for full system. REC Warranty only Panel, any recommendations?
Yes I do. Call or text me 760-473-5878
I liked this video, great information, but I would ask that you expand this information into a "does it make sense" video. You are in a unique position to determine if the high performance panels are worth the price. The numbers you provide say there is a 2.2 watt difference in output provided you ignore mission and canadian panels. Doing some numbers and you lose a panel for every 10. This implies that panels with a greater than 10% difference in price make the choice for you.
-MG
That’s a really good point and I am always doing my best to cut though the noise and make it super simple to understand. I have a video currently in the works that shows the actual kWh productions given multiple factors in the simulation are altered. It should be out by the end of this week and I think you’ll like it. One main spec to keep in mind about the premium options is the lesser degradation. This alone makes it worth it, most of the time, to buy the most premium panel available unless you’re getting a special deal on a still great product and can compensate with an extra panel is something
"Efficiency, efficiency, efficiency..." Efficiency is relative to the Eye of the Beholder.
For me, the single biggest factors that I consider "Efficient" are:
Cost per Watt, and
Lifespan.
Efficiency equals more or less kWh of production. It’s not really about price per watt or life. It’s about price per kWh over its usable life
@@Superiorsolarconsulting "Cost per Watt, and Lifespan."
"It’s about price per kWh over its usable life"
Aren't we saying the same thing, here?
@@TimeSurfer206 not exactly because the watt rating does not take the actual specs of the NOMT value into account which is going to be a better power representation for kilowatt hour production. We are trying to say the same thing but ultimately if we were just comparing panels based on their STC watt rating, the only differentiation would be price point given to panels were rated at the same wattage. But obviously not all panels are created equal.
Do we know what type of panel Sunrun uses?
A multitude of brands. I see a lot of Longi from SunRun
Juliana run there a huge spider 🕷 on the wall by picture frame. Not by wine rack, the otherside. I have to start video over bcz it took my attention
What about inverter ? Storage& where are items manufactured? China?
Every manufacturer has a different manufacturing and assembly location. It’s worldwide
Excellent information and well delivered. You say to call for a proposal...is there a fee for your services? You also mention that you can work in almost every state. Is Colorado one of them? I guess I'm not completely understanding your business plan but I very much appreciate your subject knowledge and apparent expertise in solar panels.
I have experts I refer to in each state. It has been very difficult to built a network of knowledgable and honest consultants
Do you know much of axitec 400w panels fair to ?
I haven’t seen them in real life so I wouldn’t know
A solar panel that has a thin layer (1 atom) of a negative indexed meta material, Perovskite. Should produce a greater than 100% efficiency. These synthetic meta materials creat a Blue-shift after refracting photons from it.
Pervoskite panels don’t actually exist for the mass market yet. Eventually they may be what we use but the degradation in testing is too high to justify its usage. I would argue energy density isn’t a big deal with how far panels have already come. Most homes done need to cover their whole roof as is currently
@@Superiorsolarconsulting I read Google Scholar periodical papers on the subject. The Perovskite Bismuth Ferrite is the main synthesized negative indexed meta material that can produce an ultraviolet spectrum from a weak infrared photon. The other, especially natural materials, are inefficient and are a waste of time.
@@gene4094that’s interesting. As time goes on, and we will, of course the improvements in the technology. At this point in time, though, I do not believe there is a single panel on the market with really any material other than the silicone that we use now.
Who do you work with in illinois.
Powur currently
How is
REC360TP4 ?
Great! Sorry for such a slow reply