Replacing damaged or stolen solar panels

[Jan]

Big solar panel problem — and how South African insurance companies handle it

The rapid advancement of solar panels could cause a significant problem when a replacement is needed, as they must be compatible with the rest of the system, and sourcing the right panels can be challenging.

When a suitable panel can't be sourced, it may mean that the entire system must be replaced.

 

[RonSwanson]

That's why it is better to stick with trusted tier-1 brands and distributors. There is a lot better chance of getting a matching panel from Trina, JA Solar and Canadian Solar than from SunLuv from the china mall.

 

[McGuywer]

That's why it is better to stick with trusted tier-1 brands and distributors. There is a lot better chance of getting a matching panel from Trina, JA Solar and Canadian Solar than from SunLuv from the china mall.

But it has love in its name?

 

[3WA]

Moral of the story: don’t use King Price.

 

[RonSwanson]

But it has love in its name?

 

[B-1]

You gotta shake your head at some of these experts.

 

[DapperDanMan]

There is a lot better chance of getting a matching panel

I heard there's a shortage of panels countrywide at the moment ...

 

[Grubscrew]

I heard there's a shortage of panels countrywide at the moment ...

Corruption

 

[RonSwanson]

I heard there's a shortage of panels countrywide at the moment ...

Yep, which results in this, lekker Ecco panels:

Another Cowboy Bandit Thief installer

Got a request to inspect an installation. The client was concerned about his installation & it's yet to be commissioned. Here is what was found: 8kW Deye with 2.5mm2 AC for Grid & Load. Greendeer 5.1kW X 2 with a cable plugged in & inverter on Voltage settings. Installer stressed Comm...

powerforum.co.za

 

[PsyWulf]

He said it is possible to deviate by five or ten watts if the panels are similar. However, you can’t, for example, replace a 460W with a 550W panel.

*Looks at 2 of my strings with 4x550w and 2x605w*

 

[B-1]

He said it is possible to deviate by five or ten watts if the panels are similar. However, you can’t, for example, replace a 460W with a 550W panel.

*Looks at 2 of my strings with 4x550w and 2x605w*

You can't do that please replace all the panels.

 

[PsyWulf]

You can't do that please replace all the panels.

 

[cda]

“you can’t, for example, replace a 460W with a 550W panel”

Uhm, thats complete baloney. Of course you can

 

[cda]

You can't do that please replace all the panels.

Sounds like something a solar panel salesman would say.

 

[PsyWulf]

Sounds like something a solar panel salesman would say.

 

[Swa]

You gotta shake your head at some of these experts.

Yeah sometimes they don't know more than your average folk. There's a tale of a guy who studied draughting. You're supposed to use a specific pen because it's apparently the only pen made to scan pure black. The pen is of course very expensive in the range of hundreds of Dollars so as a struggling student he used a standard pen.

Now long story short after looking at the drawing the professor asked him if he used the specific pen. Upon saying no he tore it up. Later that night the guy took the pieces and stuck them together and scanned it. Guess what, the most perfect black you can get.

Moral is that experts sometimes get taught to do things a certain way or that certain things are necessarily true so they don't deviate from that even to test. Then you also get those that simply want to sell more.

 

[neoprema]

Moral of the story: don’t use King Price.

You don’t use King Price because they have absolutely 0 regard for POPIA and every other act. Once they’ve given 1 one quote they will relentlessly phone you CONSTANTLY and ignore any request to be taken off. I’ve been tying for 4 years

And they’re scaly they rotate numbers a lot. Even use mobile originating numbers too like 083 072 etc

 

[uchoose]

One of my strings has 3x 540watt and 1x470 watt works great and output is very similar to the 4x 540watt string. Plenty of YouTube videos on mixing panels, not ideal but better than throwing a panel away.

 

[1am7h30n3]

Would have been nice to have detail on how to choose a replacement panel that's compatible with the rest of your string. People who have done this, what did you look for?

 

[DapperDanMan]

People who have done this, what did you look for?

I drove around my neighbourhood looking for houses that had the easiest access to yards and roofs, then scaled them, grabbed the units I needed, piled them onto my Venter.

Smoothest getaway ever.

Back at my house I could enjoy watching all the commotion that followed in the streets with a view from the roof, all while hooking up my newfound solar panel replacements.

This part is important: While loading, do not forget to nod and wave to the neighbourhood watch vehicles that pass you by, otherwise they will think you're an outsider and this could prompt them to investigate, which could slow down your operations.