2023 Best Solar Panel Comparison. REC vs Panasonic vs QCELLS vs SunPower vs Tesla vs Silfab

In this video I break down the basics for understanding how to rate a solar panel.
-CALL OR TEXT FOR A PROPOSAL [phone]

Efficiency, NMOT vs STC watt ratings, Temperature Coefficient, and Degradation are a few of the most important specs to know and understand so you can make an educated decision when going solar,

Secondly, you must know what size the panel really is because they are all different sizes which makes it difficult to compare head to head.

Would you like to get started with a consultation? If so, then please fill out the form in the link below. Once received, my assistant Cody will call you back afterwards to explain next steps in receiving a thorough consultation and quote from us. Thank you for watching the channel.

[raytanaka]

Sorry for being off topic, but what's crawling up the wall from 0:40 to 0:47 on the left side of the frame? Is that a huge spider??? Thanks for your solar advice. It helped me decide to go with micro inverters for my system.

[haleybocko]

Am I only one who noticed the piece of a broken wine bottle hanging behind him? 😂

[mockingbird]

Officially online with QCELL 480 panels! 6.72 KW system with Enphase iQHs. Seems a good pairing and the larger panels meant fewer connection points on my roof. They have the shorter 12 year warranty, but they threw in a SolarInsure policy for 30 years, so hopefully that company is ALSO around that long. Ha!

[donsalzler]

I highly recommend you give Julian a call. We did and he was very prompt to respond and setup a discussion. Unfortunately we couldn’t go with him for our solar because we are locked into a NEM 2.0 contract with another company but Julian spent over an hour talking with us anyway! He answered all of our questions and gave us great advice on how to move forward and even sent us a recommended layout of panels. Julian is the best, you won’t be disappointed!

[jean-yvesferry]

STC (Standard Test Conditions) panel watt output ratings are based on ideal lab conditions. STC panel rating is calculated at 25°C cell temperature (and not 44°C as you said in your video).
For each additional °C degree above 25°C, the temp coeff will indicate the wattage loss percentage. In real world conditions, here in the Texas, for example, with cell temp easily reaching 50°C in the Summer, a 400W rated panel with .26% temp coeff will lose 6.5% output capacity [ 50°C - 25°C = 25° difference. 25 degree diff x .26% temp coeff = 6.5% wattage output loss ].
To this panel loss percentage, add another 4 to 5% microinverter current conversion loss, 2% cable loss, panel tilt & azimuth loss, etc... In other words, you must figure out a 12-14% generation loss from the panel STC rated output whenever you are designing your system total production. This often translate in the purchase of more panels/microinverters.

[beeb]

Julian, the Power Density calculation for the Panasonic 410 is incorrect because you used an incorrect dimension. According to its spec sheet, the width of the Panasonic 410 panel is 40" and not 38.4". If you re-do your power density calculation with the correct dimensions, then the Panasonic 410 comes out to have a rating of 15.8 W/ft^2. This is a good rating, but less than what you were showing as 16.4W/ft^2. The Panasonic 410 is actually rated lower than the REC Alpha 430 (true champ), so mystery solved there!

[rstiosejo]

Talk w/ Cody today. He was honest and upfront about my inquiry. So, I just Subscribed. Will give you THUMBS UP on all your videos. Definitely will refer you to my friends. Stay Safe Ruben Tiosejo

[JohnDoe-peiu]

Jeez what is up with the gigantic spider crawling up the wall?

[tlteal]

i've been looking for a "SOLAR EXPERT"... glad to know you're out there.

[cheesypoofpoofs]

I just started in Solar and your videos are helpful to understand things. They don’t cover enough in training. I hope you make more videos explaining things!

[acefire]

Ones that are really good are the ones that give you the watch pretty close to what they say the Waters of the solar panel is the ones that are bad it doesn't give you nearly as much power and the only way you'll find out if ya keep I want to find out that not what somebody says. Don't know where you know if there's a bad solar panel if there is a YouTube video that says it's a bad solar panel doesn't work quite right then you know not to buy that solar panel that's about it.

[matttupper]

Julian, your content is awesome, and is leading me into making good decisions with Solar!

Your delivery and style is similar to content on the Engineering Explained channel.

You two should collaborate on a video 👍🏼

[artdog]

I seen that image CRAWLING I WAS LIKE DANG!!!👀😮👀😮 I will watch the video now after reading that it has great information and I’ll be looking for that thing at the end of the video 👀😮😂👀😮😂

[Cordycep]

thank you, very much for taking the time to summarize, I always look for most dense/power

[afoodlover]

Essentially what I got out of all this was yet there are some differences but for the most part they're all pretty damn similar oh, so just pick something

[tippylosojos]

Easy choice, REC. They are the most reliable, we also do service for Sunpower and its a nightmare.

[tomgriffith]

Hey Julian - (The Solar King). Just taking time to personally thank a fellow Independent Powur Energy, Consultant for another awesome presentation. I have your contact info saved. *If you ever sell in Dallas, Texas area, I'm your ODSS. Have a good one. Tom Griffith - The Solar Man

[marcelsgold]

I was told by a local solar contractor that REC's and Panasonic's specs are equal, suggesting that REC manufacturers Panasonic's panels.

[ddyoder]

Great call on Enphase. Anyone I talk to about getting solar setup, I always tell them “no matter what, make sure you get Enphase IQ8+ microinverters” — best tech, most options/versatile for future needs, etc.

[acefire]

I got a 405 watt solar panel that is 44 inches wide and I actually got four of them.