Electricity prices rose by 14% in 2022 and keep going up. Lots of Americans found a solution: a record 700,000 homeowners installed rooftop solar in 2022. Maybe it’s time for you to start earning money with your own PV system? In this article, we’ll introduce you to the best solar panels for residential use.
What’s the difference between panels for home and PV modules for business and mobile installations? They vary mostly in power output, size, and type.
Panels for RVs and boats have a low output that ranges from a few watts to 200-300 W. Thin-film panels are popular among travelers because of how light they are and how easy it is to install them.
PV modules for commercial and industrial projects are the opposite. Their output ranges from 500 to 700 W and higher. Bifacial panels are popular in these systems. PV modules are large, starting from 72/144 cells and more.
72 × 40 in
average size of residential solar panels
Residential solar panels have a power output from 300 to 500 W. People usually pick models of 400 W or higher. These are monocrystalline rigid PV modules. They often have 60/120 or 66/132 cells. This is the most popular type of panels in solar systems for sale.
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Prices for solar panels vary with manufacturers. Chinese panels are the cheapest while brands with big names, such as LG and Panasonic, offer the most expensive solar panels for sale. North American companies are somewhere in between.
While the upfront costs may be high, a residential PV system pays for itself in 6-10 years. You can also apply for programs and incentives from the government to reduce the cost of your system. Always make use of the Federal Solar Tax Credit — it allows you to deduct 30% of your PV system cost from your taxes.
40 years
the highest product warranty for solar panels on the market
The product warranty for solar panels ranges from 10 to 25 years, with brands like Sunpower extending it to 40 years. A solar panel doesn’t just abruptly stop working when the warranty runs out though. Its power output is going to decrease with years but it will live a long life.
The first year in operation is the roughest: panels can lose 1-3% of their rated output. Subsequent degradation depends on climate. On average PV modules lose around 0.7% of their production per year. The most high-quality panels like those from REC or Panasonic, degrade by 0.25% annually.
If you see that the production levels of the system decreased, it might be a sign that your panels need cleaning. You can call the service or do it yourself.
Approach the task as if you were to clean the windows: use water, a squeegee and a soft brush for difficult stains. Avoid soap: it leaves a residue that makes dirt stick and increases the reflectivity of panels. Using cleaning detergents is fine as long as they don’t contain chemicals that might react with aluminum and glass.
Some say that rain does a fine job of cleaning rooftop panels. While it washes away dust and debris, eventually dirt turns to mud and greatly decreases the output of your system.
How often you should clean your residential solar panel system depends on the place you live in. Ground-mounted installations tend to get dirty faster than rooftop systems. It’s best to clean them at least once a year.
Here are the five best residential solar panels that can be a perfect choice for your home installation. While making the list, we took into account the design, efficiency, cost and warranties.
Even if you go for a small system on your roof, you can expand it later by adding new panels — as long as there is space. Keep in mind though that mixing different panels is not recommended, and in a few years, the panel that you’ve chosen initially might be hard to find again.
Solaria 400W Solar Panel PowerX-400R
Delivery on May 03–08
Solaria puts out possibly the most beautiful solar panels on the market. But they are more than that: unique shingled design makes Solaria panels 40% more resistant to shading than standard panels. PowerXT model features 20.5% efficiency and comes with 25-year warranties for product and performance.
Panasonic 400W Solar Panel 132 cell PNS-400-EVP132GL
Delivery on May 03–08
The Evervolt solar panel from Panasonic is the best choice for hot areas. Heterojunction technology reduces the power losses caused by high temperatures. The efficiency of this panel reaches 21.6% while the average numbers are only at 19-20%. Panasonic provides 25 years of product warranty and guarantees that after 25 years, performance will be at 92% or more.
Q CELLS 400W Solar Panel 132 Cell Q.PEAK DUO BLK ML-G10+ Clearance
Delivery on May 03–08
Q CELLS panels have been the most popular choice among our customers lately. These Korean PV modules combine high specifications, great quality and affordable price. ML-G10+ performs well in all kinds of weather and looks great on any roof. The panel comes with 25-year warranties for product and performance.
REC 405W Solar Panel 132 Cell REC405AA Pure Clearance
Delivery on May 03–08
Alpha Pure Black is one of the most advanced solar panels on the market from the Norwegian brand REC. Its efficiency reaches 21.9%. The great all-black design makes it look great on any roof. It retains 92% of its power output after 25 years in use. The panel comes with triple 25-year warranties for product, performance and labor if the installer is certified by REC.
Canadian Solar 395W Solar Panel 132 Cell CS3N-395MS HiKuBlack
Pickup on Tue, Apr 30 from San Diego, CA
Delivery on May 03–08
Canadian Solar panels have been famous for performing well even when it’s cloudy. Half-cut cell technology increases the shading tolerance of a panel. The cell surface, back sheet and frame are completely black, giving the model unrivaled aesthetics. Canadian Solar provides an industry-leading 25-year performance warranty and a 25-year product warranty. When compared to other panels on the list, Canadian Solar 395W panels are among the more affordable ones.
Andrey had been a news editor and freelance writer for a number of medias before joining A1SolarStore team. Climate change and its impact on people's lives has always been among his interests and it partially explains his degree in Philosophy and Ethics.
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