When we make the decision to install a solar panel system in our home or business, it is quite likely that the choice of the same is based on the cost that it will entail and the time necessary to amortize the installation. Looking only at the price of solar panels in search of the cheapest, and not taking into account other aspects, is usually one of the most common mistakes made when deciding which solar panels are the best for our case. concrete. Let’s see whether or not it is worth buying cheap solar panels.
Solar energy is a renewable energy that takes advantage of radiation from the Sun to convert it into electricity. The installation of solar panels helps to achieve self-consumption that generates little impact on the environment, in addition to allowing us to save in the short and long term on the electricity bill . To achieve an efficient system that provides great performance and allows long-term profitability, it is a serious mistake that our purchase decision is based solely on price. Cheap solar panels can be a short-term savings, but they can pose some other problem in the long term by not reaching the necessary levels of performance and thus allowing the long-term profitability of the installation.
How to choose solar panels
The first piece of advice is not to choose based on price . If a solar panel has a reduced price, it may be because it is a model of inferior quality or a plate that has already been used and is second-hand. These types of cheap options in the long run are more likely to cause more problems and that the initial savings become a greater expense in the future by having to repair or replace them sooner than expected.
Cheap solar panels usually have poor quality cells that are not capable of withstanding adverse weather conditions, so their performance will never be good. Price is an important factor that we have to take into account, but it must always be related to quality . In solar panel installations it is important to take into account the system as a whole, since the electrical energy is going to be generated for many years.
Seeking advice from professionals in the sector is one of the best solutions you will get if you want to install solar panels. Some essential decisions when carrying out photovoltaic installations require technical advice to choose the type of panel ( monocrystalline or polycrystalline ), thermal characteristics of the cell, power and efficiency, as well as the number of panels required. Although cheap solar panels are a temptation, in the long term they will mean more expenses, resulting in less electricity generation, higher maintenance costs and an increased possibility of failure or breakdown that requires the replacement of the panel.
Problems of cheap solar panels
Perhaps the only advantage of cheap solar panels is that, their price. However, the problems that they can generate in the short or medium term (3 to 6 years) are quite common. These are the most frequent:
- hot spots . Due to poor quality of the solar cell used, it results in the panel becoming unusable and having to be replaced with a new one. When this happens all panels connected to the same series are affected.
- Burnt Tedlar. The Tedlar is the back of a solar panel and due to the low quality of some manufacturers it can easily deteriorate.
- The EVA turns yellow. This usually happens in cheap solar panels from China. The EVA used is of very low quality and over time it causes a drastic drop in production.
These are just some of the problems that cheap solar panels can cause, so if you are thinking of installing solar panels in your home or business, consult a team of professionals and do not get carried away only by their price.