There are times when it is a good idea to give electronic devices a second life and there are times when it is not. In the field of renewable energy, there are many second-hand solar panels for sale on the Internet, but is it a good idea to buy them?
What is a reality is that the price of second-hand solar panels is attractive enough to attract potential buyers looking to save a little money without drastically reducing their efficiency and quality. There are those who are of the opinion that cheap is expensive in the long run and those who think it’s worth it. That is why we are going to analyze the pros and cons of buying second-hand solar panels.
Origin of used solar panels
This should be one of the questions we have to ask ourselves if we are thinking of buying second-hand solar panels. The answer to this question will give us a clue of the risk that buying these panels can entail.
In most cases they come from photovoltaic installations that have had production problems, that is, they have ceased to be profitable due to their low efficiency and the objective is to recover part of the initial investment to change them for new ones. On the other hand, second-hand solar panels can also come from individuals, but to a lesser extent. Therefore, we are starting from the basis that they are usually of poor quality and/or their performance is not optimal .
In the case of choosing to buy second-hand solar panels, it is important to ensure that they work efficiently and that the installation process is going to be carried out correctly. If you take the risk of buying them and want to install them yourself, you expose yourself to wasting time and money if your knowledge and technical training are not adequate.
damaged solar panels
They have no guarantee and their performance is lower
At first, buying second-hand solar panels may seem like a good idea to save money , but nothing is further from the truth. A series of very important details must be taken into account, such as the fact that they do not have a guarantee or that they are sensitive and fragile products, therefore, they are likely to contain damage that drastically reduces their efficiency.
New solar panels are backed by a manufacturer’s warranty . This means that if you have any problems during the warranty period, the manufacturers will have the obligation to replace them free of charge . It should be noted that repairing a damaged solar panel, in most cases, is not worth it and it is better to replace it with a new one .
On the other hand, it must also be taken into account that photovoltaic cells are very fragile and if they are not handled correctly and are damaged, their performance will not be as expected. These micro breaks are very common in used solar panels and are impossible to see with the naked eye. They are breakages at the microscopic level , being one of the main reasons why a solar panel can stop working. Some of the damage that we can find when buying second-hand solar panels may be obvious, but most of them will not be noticeable until after a while. In addition, then it comes into play that, obviously, its useful life will be shorter.
Conclusions
In short, buying second-hand solar panels can cause more problems than benefits , even if its price is lower than that of a new solar panel. The long-term investment is not going to be profitable for you and, if you are not an expert in the matter, you will need the advice of a professional to analyze the conditions of your home, make a budget and carry out the subsequent installation.
