360w chipped b grade sun power solar panels vs 340w A grade ones. Price is same

rollandelliott
rollandelliott Solar Expert Posts: 834 ✭✭
suntan solar, reputable company, is offering 340w a grade OR 360W b grade solar panels for same price of $110 no warranty made by sunpower. These are commercial solar panels with 6 rows of cells wired so each row is separate. So a chipped cell would only lower output in that specific row I think. company sent me sample photo of what a chipped cell might look like (just example, not actual panel)
 I am leaning toward the B grade 360w cells unless someone suggests otherwise. San Tan claims no drop in power output, but they really dont' back up the panels with a warranty either. 



Comments

  • mike95490
    mike95490 Solar Expert Posts: 9,583 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Chipped cells as you show, develop micro cracks along the edge and those invisibly spread into the body of the cell over time, causing degradation.  Think of it as a 5 year panel.

    Powerfab top of pole PV mount | Listeroid 6/1 w/st5 gen head | XW6048 inverter/chgr | Iota 48V/15A charger | Morningstar 60A MPPT | 48V, 800A NiFe Battery (in series)| 15, Evergreen 205w "12V" PV array on pole | Midnight ePanel | Grundfos 10 SO5-9 with 3 wire Franklin Electric motor (1/2hp 240V 1ph ) on a timer for 3 hr noontime run - Runs off PV ||
    || Midnight Classic 200 | 10, Evergreen 200w in a 160VOC array ||
    || VEC1093 12V Charger | Maha C401 aa/aaa Charger | SureSine | Sunsaver MPPT 15A

    solar: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Solar
    gen: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Lister ,

  • rollandelliott
    rollandelliott Solar Expert Posts: 834 ✭✭
    well it would only save $220 going with the B grade panels, so I'm getting the A grade, thanks. 
  • mcgivor
    mcgivor Solar Expert Posts: 3,854 ✭✭✭✭✭✭
    well it would only save $220 going with the B grade panels, so I'm getting the A grade, thanks. 
    Probably a wise decision, the margin simply isn't there, 30-50% would be worth thinking about,
    1500W, 6× Schutten 250W Poly panels , Schneider MPPT 60 150 CC, Schneider SW 2524 inverter, 400Ah LFP 24V nominal battery with Battery Bodyguard BMS 
    Second system 1890W  3 × 300W No name brand poly, 3×330 Sunsolar Poly panels, Morningstar TS 60 PWM controller, no name 2000W inverter 400Ah LFP 24V nominal battery with Daly BMS, used for water pumping and day time air conditioning.  
    5Kw Yanmar clone single cylinder air cooled diesel generator for rare emergency charging and welding.