JA Panels vs Hyundai panels.

[DanielE]

Hi,

I am in the process of buying a solar system. I originally had 13 JA 385 solar panels, for an output of 5kw.

Reading online I am not impressed with some of the reviews.

Therefore, I asked for Hyundai, but unfortunately they can only put 11 on my roof, so it is a 4.5kw system.

I feel I should take the slightly lower output and go for Hyundai over JA, - does anyone else have any thoughts?

Price difference is like £100, except with the hyundai It is a smaller system.

All help is appreciated.

I would have liked LG but understand they pulled out -

The warranty of JA is 12 yrs and Hyundai is 25 years.

The power performance is 92% at 10 years to 85% at 25 years. This is very similar to the Hyundai.

It might all be a marketing ploy but - ‘Hyundai say this’

M6 PERC Shingled Technology provides ultra-high efficiency with better performance in low irradiation.

https://static1.squarespace.com/sta...32887393610/HYUNDAI-M3-SHINGLED-UF-BF-25Y.pdf
This is the data sheet.:

Surely it’s worth it with the warranty. If the ja solar panels start failing at 15 years then surely I’m in a good position with the Hyundai - if it was thousands or hundreds more then the decision should be different but for a 4.5 vs 5kw system surely it is irrelevant ?

Also I’ve got a patio that it south facing, could I add a panel or two, on a frame on the patio ?

This might sound silly, but my neighbour’s kitchen extension is 2m longer than mine, so I could potentially put a panel there. It would be facing east though so less output (but at least some more). Alternatively, I have a wall facing south where the panel can be mounted.

From an output perspective, the frame on patio would be better. Just doesn’t look great.

Thanks.

 

[johnb2713]

I have Hyundai panels, 10 x South facing and 6 x West facing. Theyre very smart, all black (no silver trim), seem to perform really well. No complaints with mine.

 

[bladerunnerpv]

sorry, I can't really comment on your specific case, but I've found these links on solar panel specs to be useful and they might help you choose.

https://blog.spiritenergy.co.uk/contractor/solar-panel-specifications

https://www.deegesolar.co.uk/the_most_efficient_solar_panels/

https://makingcircuits.com/blog/how-actual-mppt-works/

Q cells have been given a thumbs up by others on this forum up due to performance at lower light level (irradiance or insolation), which is more relevant outside the summer.

IIUC those peak power points on the 200W irradiance curve make the difference, will keep working longer at the edges of the season and so save you more money in self consumption. Have also read that more amps at low irradiance is better.

It seems to me that in the summer virtually any panel will do the job (?).

Personally, I'd go for a 25yr product warranty over a 12yr, but hey I'm just researching and don't have my own system running or experience of installing, so it's just my 2d worth.

as to 4.5kWp vs 5kWp I suggest using a solar planning tool to see the difference for your circumstances of roof direction and tilt, specific inverter, battery etc.

 

[DanielE]

Thanks for your reply! You must have a big solar system!

 

[DanielE]

sorry, I can't really comment on your specific case, but I've found these links on solar panel specs to be useful and they might help you choose.

https://blog.spiritenergy.co.uk/contractor/solar-panel-specifications
https://www.deegesolar.co.uk/the_most_efficient_solar_panels/
https://makingcircuits.com/blog/how-actual-mppt-works/
Q cells have been given a thumbs up by others on this forum up due to performance at lower light level (irradiance or insolation), which is more relevant outside the summer.

IIUC those peak power points on the 200W irradiance curve make the difference, will keep working at the edges of the season and so save you more money. It seems to me that in the summer virtually any panel will do the job (?).

Personally, I'd go for a 25yr product warranty over a 12yr, but hey I'm just researching and don't have my own system running or experience of installing, so it's just my 2d worth.

Thanks for all this, I too think the 25 year warranty is better.

Are you saying that in Winter it is likely the Hyndai will generate closer to the spec, due to the Q cells?

Thanks

 

[bladerunnerpv]

Hi Q cells are from a different manufacturer (hanwa IIRC) S.Korean I think.

I can't comment on hyundai vs JA as I don't have the JA spec,

It should generate as per the spec, to a tolerance of course and the curves show what it does.

Just saying that comparing two panels then a panel with more amps at 200W/m2 irradiance should work better in lower light, provided the amps don't collapse at low volts (if I understand correctly). The knee of the I-V curve is the peak power output point. NB I'm no expert, please form your decision from multiple sources of info.

 

[DanielE]

Hi,

Hi Q cells are from a different manufacturer (hanwa IIRC) S.Korean I think.

I can't comment on hyundai vs JA as I don't have the JA spec,

It should generate as per the spec, to a tolerance of course and the curves show what it does.

Just saying that comparing two panels then a panel with more amps at 200W/m2 irradiance should work better in lower light, provided the amps don't collapse at low volts (if I understand correctly). The knee of the I-V curve is the peak power output point. NB I'm no expert, please form your decision from multiple sources of info.

Hi is the specs for Hyundai - they are here:

https://www.deegesolar.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Hyundai_400W_Solar_Panels_DataSheet.pdf
It says this ‘M6 PERC Shingled Technology provides ultra-high efficiency with better performance in low irradiation. Maximizes installation capacity in limited space.’

Whether this statement is true and therefore helpful or just a case of hyping it up.

I like LG and I understand the are stopping production. No one is stocking them because there won’t been many parts in 10 years or they can’t be switched like for like. :

 

[binky]

It says this ‘M6 PERC Shingled Technology provides ultra-high efficiency with better performance in low irradiation. Maximizes installation capacity in limited space.’

Whether this statement is true and therefore helpful or just a case of hyping it up.

They all say that

I like LG and I understand the are stopping production. No one is stocking them because there won’t been many parts in 10 years or they can’t be switched like for like. :

LG are beautifully made but expensive.

I suspect the Hyundai will be better made and ultimately last longer.

 

[binky]

Just saying that comparing two panels then a panel with more amps at 200W/m2 irradiance should work better in lower light.

This is something I've always looked for when selecting panels. In reality the performance difference is pretty minimal, but every penny counts mid winter. On sunny summer days, all panels work well.

 

[DanielE]

The Hyundai spec shows about 2.2 amps and 42v,

It’s page 2 as above.

Hi, one is in amps, the other in watts/ volts.

Both on page 2.

https://www.contact-solar.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/385w-JA-Solar-Data-Sheet.pdf
https://www.deegesolar.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Hyundai_400W_Solar_Panels_DataSheet.pdf
I’m afraid it means little to me - but if you would have 2 secs to have a glance I’d be appreciative. I think even if the JA are a bit more efficient and the array produces 500w more, the guarantee over double the length seals the deal for me.

 

[binky]

The Hyundai spec shows about 2.2 amps and 42v,

It’s page 2 as above.

Hi, one is in amps, the other in watts/ volts.

Both on page 2.

https://www.contact-solar.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/385w-JA-Solar-Data-Sheet.pdf
https://www.deegesolar.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Hyundai_400W_Solar_Panels_DataSheet.pdf
I’m afraid it means little to me - but if you would have 2 secs to have a glance I’d be appreciative. I think even if the JA are a bit more efficient and the array produces 500w more, the guarantee over double the length seals the deal for me.

Go with what you are happy with

 

[bladerunnerpv]

NB I'm a complete amateur on this, on the learning curve so to speak.

Tbh they look pretty similar to my eyes on the 200W/m2 curves, it's the knee of the curve which is the max power point, not where the current drops to zero.
Bit of guesswork, but the JA looks like about 2.2A x 33V about 72.6w, the Hy looks like 2.1A x 36A about 75.6w, so a bit better?
Others on the forum are better qualified to answer than me.

The output degradation over 25yrs looks pretty close too, hyundai is a little better at 84.8%, vs about 84 for JA by eye, but if they're covered in pigeon poo that won't matter!

So it's the product warranty of only 12yrs for the JA but who knows if either Co will be there in 12 or 25yrs time!

Surprised that you say 13 JAs but only 11 Hys as the JA is wider by about 100mm and is the taller panel too, sounds a bit odd to me. This is a bigger factor than the specs.

More panels will prob. cost slightly more to install as need more fitting kit but have more kWp

Do you know your roof dimensions? Does that stack up?

Its generally considered better to put as much kWp on the roof as poss to reduce payback time on your investment by saving more on elec costs

400x11=4400kWp
395x13=5135kWp
you should try to take the insolation into account too
i.e. your location in the country and roof pitch and facing direction etc to see how much difference the JAs extra 700w (16%) makes.

You can do that with an estimating tool like easy-pv or there's also a free European one, sorry can't remember what it's called, and it can also take the inverter and battery limits and efficiency into account

Your installers quote will hopefully cover that. To change the panels and arrangement only takes 10mins to revise the calculations, maybe 20 if need to add a panel spec too. I would hope they could do that for you.

It's depends what you consider more value for your money, the supposedly extra kWh with less certainty over 12yrs, or a bit less kWh and less saving but with more peace of mind.

Hope this helps.