subject: How To Buy Used Solar Panel [print this page] Have you ever wondered why homeowners want to buy a used solar panel? The answer is obvious, actually. Consumers want to use solar energy for 2 main reasons - to cut down on electricity bills and to protect the environment. Hence they want to spend the minimum amount of money on panels that gives them the best power output. Pre-owned photovoltaic panels are the best candidates for their criteria. Reusing (or recycling) photovoltaic panels is also a very environmentally thing to do.
Pre-owned solar power generators maintain up to 90% of their efficiency as when they were new. This is true even though the panels may be more than 10 years old. You'll almost certainly get more wattage for a lower price.
The only disadvantage is new panels have better aesthetics, are lighter and take up less space. This is due to improved product design and better materials used. Also, the lifespan of used solar panels will obviously not be as long as brand new ones.
Pre-owned panels can be bought on eBay or from an agent. The source of these panels comes mainly from corporations that want to replace their assets with newer, more efficient ones. Others come from residential buildings. Whatever the source is, you'll have to perform simple checks to make sure you're not buying a lemon.
Most importantly, you need to be convinced that the used panel you buy is worth the price you pay for. Having this in mind, the cost per watt (for a used panel) has to be at least 20 to 30 per cent cheaper than brand new panels. Otherwise you've paid too much. This is a useful rule of thumb that can help you sieve out the bad buys.
You'll also need to visually inspect used panels to see if there are any loose connections or rusted parts that need to be replaced. Remember to check the bypass diode as they are frequently burnt. This is often the reason photovoltaic panels are discarded. Simple faults like this can be immediately rectified with new components and a simple soldering iron.
While shopping, you may also have observed that some used solar cells have turned brown. This is because a plastic substrate in older solar cells tend to become tinted after exposure to many years of solar radiation. But power output is not compromised due to this.
If you want to buy used solar panels, the tips above can help you save a lot of money by buying the right panel that can serve you for years.
