FAQ - About Solar Panels
Our research and experience consistently shows Jinko solar panels to be the best, most reliable and valuable panels available on the Australian solar market today. Their most popular product is their 370W 66 cell solar panel in their Cheetah series. Another great option is their N-Type 370W solar panel that comes with an impressive 20 year product warranty and 30 year performance warranty.
An excellent alternative to Jinko panels is EGing PV. While EGing doesn’t command the market share that Jinko does, they have been making a splash in the sector with the impressive power of their innovative technology. With great output, competitive prices and 15 year product warranties, EGing solar panels are among the best.
If you’re looking for the best premium solar panel, SolarEdge and Sunpower are two of the best options if affordability is not your first priority. In addition to excellent efficiency and power, SolarEdge premium solar panels also come with a valuable 15 year product warranty to safeguard your investment.
Half-cell solar panel technology has gained immense popularity over the last few years and is expected to eclipse full cell panels in market share in the near future. Traditional full cell solar panels are made with either 60 or 72 cells per panel. Half-cell panels, on the other hand, cut these cells in half and thus double the number to 120 or 144 cells per panel. Smaller cells provide less resistance and less mechanical stress on the panel.
By cutting traditional cells in half, half cell panels are more efficient, produce more power and reduce the chances of the panels cracking or experiencing mechanical issues. Half cell panels are also less susceptible to the effects of shade, making them a highly efficient and resilient solar panel technology.
Solar panels manufacturers are categorised into three tiers based on their reputation, quality and performance. Tier 1 solar panels are those which are produced by a Tier 1 solar panel manufacturer. This includes Jinko, Longi, JA Solar, Risen, Q-Cells, EGing, Seraphim and more.
It is important to research both the quality and the warranty of your solar panels before you make your investment. The best way to do this is to check out their in-depth review on our solar panel product review page. Pay particular attention to the length and type of warranty as well as the efficiency and output of the panels.
The warranty is one of the most important elements of your solar panels, as this is the part that will safeguard your investment in case something goes wrong. A performance warranty is a guarantee that your panels will continue to perform to a certain standard over the lifetime of the warranty. This is expressed in an expected loss of power output capacity (ie: 10-20% over the first 25 years). These warranties aren’t always as straightforward to redeem, but they provide a good indicator of the expected degradation of the panels.
The temperature coefficient measures the amount of power reduction per degree rise of temperature above 25 degrees that your panels experience. As your panels overheat, their efficiency and power output drops. The temp coefficient indicates how the panels will perform in hot conditions.
The current angle of your roof does not qualify or disqualify you of the ability to use solar panels, as they can be changed with tilt frames. If you have a flat roof, a tilt frame is highly recommended to optimise the light for your panels and to help rainwater wash off the modules.
The angle of your panels is important for maximising the amount of light it absorbs and thus the amount of energy it can generate. A good reference point is the latitude of your location. For example: if you lived in Canberra, which has a latitude of 35 degrees, then you would want your panels tilted to 35 degrees.