Buying Solar Panels: What You Need to Know!
Solar panels, inverters, and mounting frames come in various shapes and sizes. It’s essential to determine if your roof is suitable for solar installation. Some roofs may be less favorable or receive too much shade, which can affect the efficiency and increase the payback period. In this guide, we outline all the key factors to consider when buying solar panels.
Free Solar Panel Quote
OptimaSolar stands for personality, honesty, expertise, and professionalism. As solar panels are a significant investment, we believe it’s important to provide an on-site, non-binding quote tailored to your needs.
Types of Solar Panels from OptimaSolar
At OptimaSolar, we only use Tier 1 listed manufacturers. Our trusted brands include Longi Solar, Jinko Solar, DAS Solar, DMEGC Solar, JA Solar, and Luxor Solar. We offer a variety of panel types, including full black, black-and-white, glass-glass, and bifacial panels. The most common panel power we provide ranges from 410 Wp to 445 Wp. These panels typically measure 1722 mm in length, 1134 mm in width, and 30 mm in thickness.
Recent completed projects
Solar Panel Series or Parallel on My Roof
There are three main ways to connect solar panels:
-
Series Connection (String System): In this configuration, solar panels are connected in series, meaning each panel is linked together to form a string. The energy generated flows through the string to a single inverter, such as the Solis brand used by OptimaSolar.
-
Parallel Connection: In this setup, each solar panel is equipped with an optimizer, ensuring that the panels work independently. This prevents issues with shadow, dirt, or defects on one panel from affecting the rest of the system. For parallel systems, OptimaSolar uses SolarEdge inverters and optimizers.
-
Micro-Inverters: Instead of a central inverter, each panel can be equipped with its own micro-inverter. If a micro-inverter or a solar panel fails, the rest of the system will continue to operate efficiently. With an IQ Gateway Metered or ECU-C, the system can be monitored via a small box installed in the meter box.
Payback Period vs. Lifetime of Solar Panels
The average lifespan of solar panels is around 25 years, even for systems installed five years ago. While the efficiency and watt peak output of newer solar panels may be slightly higher, and inverters are continually optimized, the overall lifespan of the panels remains unchanged. This means that while newer systems might yield more power, the longevity of the panels stays the same.
Degradation of Yield Over the Years
How long do solar panels last? At OptimaSolar, we use only high-quality solar panels. However, it’s important to note that the yield of solar panels does decrease slightly over time. Manufacturers typically provide a yield guarantee, ensuring that after 25 years, the panels will still produce at least 84% of their original output. Proper installation is crucial to maintaining performance, which is why we recommend monitoring the yield using the provided app for any discrepancies. After installation, the OptimaSolar team will also monitor your system for two weeks to ensure everything is functioning optimally.
Buy Beautiful Black Solar Panels for Your Roof
Not everyone is fond of the look of solar panels on their roof, and that’s understandable. They are large objects, and traditional panels often have visible white stripes. However, the development of sleek black solar panels has made great strides in recent years. Manufacturers have also adapted the mounting frames to complement these elegant designs, making it possible to install solar energy systems that blend beautifully with the aesthetics of your home.
Solar panel installation and safety
Installing solar panels is often done at significant heights, making the safety of the installers extremely important. Our technicians use various safety measures such as RSS fall protection, scaffolding, and harnesses. RSS fall protection is a type of cage that hangs under the gutter and is fully supported by the wall. At OptimaSolar, we prioritize safety first during the installation of solar panels, because we know that it’s essential to never take risks!
Buy Solar Panel Set or Individual Panels
At OptimaSolar, we do not sell individual solar panels or standalone solar panel sets. Instead, we offer a complete solar installation package, which includes everything from the materials to the installation and after-sales support. If you would like to expand an existing solar energy system, it is possible to add more panels. However, if your current system was not installed by OptimaSolar, we recommend installing a new, separate system to ensure the integrity of your warranty.
Would you like a quote for solar panels on your roof? Fill in your details, and we will get in touch with you soon!
No-obligation consultation
Customer reviews
We are very happy with our solar installation from OptimaSolar. Wim took the time to meet us at our house to give us advice and estimations. The work was carried out very neat and tidy and Wim himself... [ lees meer ]
- Slabbert Family
Great job! Thank you!
- Daniel Stanciu
Got quotes from 3 other solar panel vendors, found optima solar the best for the price i paid. Panels were installed ontime with the perfection.... After sales support is also excellet. Thankyou.
- S B
Are you curious about our recent cases?
Schedule a free consultation
