Solar Panel Guide Discussion

zeupater

Sirlaughalot wrote: »

Anyone interested in SunPower panels? It just so happens that AUO Optronics (BenQ) are in partnership with SunPower and both use exactly the same solar cells in their modules.

Please see the video below which proves this and also shows their entire production process:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jzq1Exp97Ls (Preview)

Kind regards

SL

Hi

The video says that they have a joint-venture ... this doesn't mean that all cells which are used by the two companies are 'exactly the same' .... however, looking at the two ranges it does seem that the SunForte range of panels from BenQ use the same size cells (5") & have the same panel footprint as the SunPower e20 series, achieving a similar performance ranging from lower, to the same .... so it's likely that these particular ranges share technologies, with the SunForte range possibly using graded product which doesn't meet the full E20-327 cell standards ...

There's probably an article somewhere describing the joint-venture and what it manufactures if anyone has the time ....

HTH
Z

Sirlaughalot

Just found a BenQ 320W panel black on a white backing with black frame so that should keep her indoors happy. From what i`m told it uses the same sun power cell technology which i will confirm once i have the full spec emailed over to me.

The 12 panel 4K system costs £3400 all in +5% vat!

SL

zeupater

Sirlaughalot wrote: »

Just found a BenQ 320W panel black on a white backing with black frame so that should keep her indoors happy. From what i`m told it uses the same sun power cell technology which i will confirm once i have the full spec emailed over to me.

The 12 panel 4K system costs £3400 all in +5% vat!

SL

Hi SirWindupalot ...

... that's a pretty decent price - I quickly looked yesterday and the SunForte panels seemed to be listed at ~90p to £1/W for single units down to ~80p/W for multiple pallet loads .... Taking the 90p figure the price for 12 would be ~£3456 (320*12*0.9) .. pretty close to your '£3400 all in', but excludes delivery, inverter, cables, connectors, rotary switches, labels, rails, roof hooks, brackets, trunking, bolts, TGM, (etc.) .... are you sure that the price quoted isn't for panels only ??

The specs for the BenQ SunForte range are available here ... http://www.benqsolar.com/download.php?file=..%2Fupload%2Fmedia%2Fbenqsolarfile%2Fdatasheet%2FSF-PM318B01_ds_en.pdf

HTH
Z

Sirlaughalot

zeupater wrote: »

Hi SirWindupalot ...

... that's a pretty decent price - I quickly looked yesterday and the SunForte panels seemed to be listed at ~90p to £1/W for single units down to ~80p/W for multiple pallet loads .... Taking the 90p figure the price for 12 would be ~£3456 (320*12*0.9) .. pretty close to your '£3400 all in', but excludes delivery, inverter, cables, connectors, rotary switches, labels, rails, roof hooks, brackets, trunking, bolts, TGM, (etc.) .... are you sure that the price quoted isn't for panels only ??

The specs for the BenQ SunForte range are available here ... http://www.benqsolar.com/download.php?file=..%2Fupload%2Fmedia%2Fbenqsolarfile%2Fdatasheet%2FSF-PM318B01_ds_en.pdf

HTH
Z

Hi Z,

Sorry mate not wanting to mislead that`s the price of just the panels. However i`m getting conflicting reports about BenQ`s warrant a rival supplier and quoter of the SunPower system (£7000) claims the BenQ product warranty is for 5 YEARS ONLY surely that can`t be right?
Also the same Sunpower quoting firm claim BenQ are using Sunpower technology that is 10 years old. Find that to be incredulous for a company/group (BenQ) which is at the front of the queue in terms of pioneering the latest TV designs. Why would a group invest milloins in R&D then decide to use PV technology that is 10 years out of date?

Could this be sour grapes on behalf of the SunPower installer?

Thanks

SL

Sirlaughalot

Thanks Z,

Just read the data sheet and it`s a standard 10 year product warranty and performance guarantee of 90% - 10 year & 80% for 25 years!

The SunPower installer also told me he has concerns that a 3.6 Eltek inerter 600V wont cope with the Max dc voltage being attained during power generation.

Have emailed Eltek UK direct with that issue and are awaiting their response.

Thanks

SL

Sirlaughalot

Here`s the response i have had back from Eltek Uk

This supplier has not done his research properly and in some statements is 100% wrong.
Our 3.8HE-t inverter works perfectly fine with 2 strings of 6 Sunpower 327 W panels.
And the 3.8HE-t has a 16 A limitation specifically designed for the UK regulations.

SL

John_Pierpoint

jeepjunkie wrote: »

Eh! Saturday morning... My install was pretty much two full working days. Four guys the first day [two roofers, sparky, apprentice] and two [roofer and spark] the second. With the time they took the install is text book immaculate. Not something you want rushed onto your roof...

Suggest buying into the top brands for long term support as I needed a replacement panel that was smashed in storm force winds by flying debris. Something to bear in mind...

Panels & inverter delivered 07:30.
Installation team of 3 arrived 11:00 departed 17:30 in February 2012.
Just enough day light to demonstrate PV generation.

Bungalow - so no need for scaffolding - some risks taken with personal safety of installation team.

Error made when new earth rod for PV system strapped to existing copper plumbing system - otherwise no problems (yet?).

[Deleted User]

John_Pierpoint wrote: »

Panels & inverter delivered 07:30.
Installation team of 3 arrived 11:00 departed 17:30 in February 2012.
Just enough day light to demonstrate PV generation.

Bungalow - so no need for scaffolding - some risks taken with personal safety of installation team.

Error made when new earth rod for PV system strapped to existing copper plumbing system - otherwise no problems (yet?).

Ignore me... thinking back the guys were doing roofing work prior to installation.

John_Pierpoint

Amazing what is available to those involved in the PV business



http://www.bluesky-world.com/

Cardew

John_Pierpoint wrote: »

Amazing what is available to those involved in the PV business



http://www.bluesky-world.com/

Interesting.

That link doesn't appear to be using Google Earth but I cannot get it to zoom in as close as your prints above. The smallest box it gives is 250m x 250m

It is a fairly recent photo of my house, as I had a few trees removed about 3/4 years ago and they are not shown.

Google Earth zooms in much closer but must have been taken early morning and there is a lot of shading from trees.

Edit.
Just read a little more and it is aerial photography - but still cannot get it to zoom in more than 250m x 250m

P.S. Not looking with a view to getting PV!!!