Are all panels basically the same now?

[TedM]

I'm looking at two different panels - both 500w and both about £80/panel with free delivery.  Is there likely to me any real difference between them?

(One is the LONGi Hi-MO X6 and isn't in stock, the other is a DMEGC and is in stock)

[Nickfromwales]

20 minutes ago, TedM said:

I'm looking at two different panels - both 500w and both about £80/panel with free delivery.  Is there likely to me any real difference between them?

(One is the LONGi Hi-MO X6 and isn't in stock, the other is a DMEGC and is in stock)

I’d buy glass / glass vs glass / foil, as these have much better longevity. 

[JohnMo]

1 hour ago, TedM said:

DMEGC

 

1 hour ago, Nickfromwales said:

glass / glass

If you are getting the bifocal version they are glass / glass. Also watch as I found the datasheet and actual panel size where different, datasheet saying they were bigger (long side) than actually size.

[Nickfromwales]

17 minutes ago, JohnMo said:

 

If you are getting the bifocal version they are glass / glass. Also watch as I found the datasheet and actual panel size where different, datasheet saying they were bigger (long side) than actually size.

If going in trays this is of vital importance. If on a rail system, not so much, but a very good point!

[SteamyTea]

If the panels are going on a roof, how does the bifacial part work?

[Nickfromwales]

1 hour ago, SteamyTea said:

If the panels are going on a roof, how does the bifacial part work?

It doesn’t. You just discount it. 

[SteamyTea]

30 minutes ago, Nickfromwales said:

It doesn’t. You just discount it. 

Be cheaper to buy non bifocal ones then.

[Nickfromwales]

12 minutes ago, SteamyTea said:

Be cheaper to buy non bifocal ones then.

Maybe cheaper, but not by much, to have a glass / foil panel with far less longevity. 

[Mr Blobby]

4 hours ago, TedM said:

I'm looking at two different panels - both 500w and both about £80/panel with free delivery.  Is there likely to me any real difference between them?

(One is the LONGi Hi-MO X6 and isn't in stock, the other is a DMEGC and is in stock)

 

Not all panels are the same.  Two differences I think, colour and size.

Some are all-black, and some have the wires showing.  The latter are cheaper.  AFAICS the panels you are looking at have the visible wires.  Then, in the all-black category, some, such as JA solar are emarketed as all black but up close you can see the wires.  The other, like the N type, from AIKO are all black with no visible wires.  Which I think look awesome, if that's relevant to you, and also not too expensive.

 

In terms of size, 1750 is traditional size.  500W panels tend to be bigger at 1950, but the power per area is not really any better.

 

39 minutes ago, SteamyTea said:

Be cheaper to buy non bifocal ones then.

 

Yes, I never understood how having cells on the underside of the panels to ostensibly acheive a higher power rating was anything but a scam.  

 

Edited 3 hours ago by Mr Blobby

[Nickfromwales]

35 minutes ago, Mr Blobby said:

Yes, I never understood how having cells on the underside of the panels and giving a higher rating was anything but a scam.  

I think the cells are bi directional, so when you go glass / glass you inherit some degree of uplift if irradiance is bounced off something and hits the back / underside of the panels, and afaik there aren’t any panels / manufacturers where anyone would purposefully place cells on the rear.

 

You still get salespeople telling folk that light reflected by the moon can add to generation…….all of these idiots are dynamite lovers with a 2” fuse lol.

[JohnMo]

26 minutes ago, Nickfromwales said:

You still get salespeople telling folk that light reflected by the moon can add to generation

Maybe not - panel may generate something, but not enough to trigger anything to work like your inverter.