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Forum Index : Solar : Panel purchase, best brands?

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M Del
Senior Member

Joined: 09/04/2012
Location: Australia
Posts: 155

Posted: 01:34pm 04 Sep 2013

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Hi guys

I am looking to buy 2kw of panels. There are many panels on the market, some new brands, some old brands and some that get relabelled by the importers.

I have had solarE on my roof since 2008, 1050w (6 x 175watt). These are no longer obtainable, the brand or size. They have been a good panel and still pump up to 1150w on a good day.

I have researched via the net and visiting dealers in my local area and have become more confused than informed.

What suggestions can anyone make from their experiences as users or installers?

Mark

Mark

norcold

Guru

Joined: 06/02/2011
Location: Australia
Posts: 670

Posted: 09:31am 05 Sep 2013

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Mark,
I would say near impossible to give a satisfactory answer to your panel brand question. Would recommend Solarex and BP, have their 20 year old plus panels still producing, but they no longer manufacture. Have 2K+ of Sharp panels from 7 years ago, they were replaced at 2 years of age (degraded internally), replacements producing AOK. Have recently purchased $1/watt panels from Ebay (unbranded), from different suppliers they are producing on spec.
To source installers locally, you would need to look at local customer feedback. Taking into account a lot of installers arrived on the scene when the Govt. subsidised purchase, probably would be bugger all installers had these subsidies not existed. I am not knocking installers, they have to make a living.
Good luck with your quest.

We come from the land downunder.
Vic

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