best low light performance

smkettner wrote:

harold1946 wrote:
I will have to respectfully disagree. Lower efficiency, cheaper construction, little or no warranty, lack of blocking diods, do not equal best bang per buck in my book.
Quality panels can last 40+ years.

Same dimentions same wattage how do you measure efficiency?

Cheaper contruction? I have never read a post of these things self combusting or any other failure. Anyone have the frame suddenly fall apart or cells shifting around?

Warranties seem all about the same. Never heard a claim for long term performance issues.

You don't need blocking diodes with any decent controller. All 24v panels that I have looked at have bypass diodes as they are expected to be used in series.

I would expect any of these panels to last 40 years. Have not really read about off brands failing early.

I would like to see a link to the FUD.

How efficiency is measured
nmax (maxinum efficiency)= Pmax (maximum power output)/(ES,ysw (incident radiation flux))*Ac (area of collector))

When determining what solar panels are right for you, think about how important the efficiency of panels are in paying a premium price. Maybe you have a roof with a large area for placement of solar panels,and therefore, lower cost and less efficient panels would work.
If the space is limited, efficiency becomes more important to achieve the desired power output over a limited area.
Thats why I say the most bang for the buck is not necessarily the cheapest.

Just because you have not read anything does not mean it doesn't happen.
Some cheap panels are made without tempered glass. I have seen thin film cells destroyed by being scratched. The most reported failure is water intrusion due to seal leakage.

Some manufacturers give a 10 year warranty on materials and workmanship, as well as a gurantee of maintaining 80% of the stated power output after 25 years.

I have personally replaced failed panels made by almost every manufacturer.

What is a FUD?