Despite their durability, solar panels may arrive damaged because of careless delivery.
A visual inspection of your solar panels can reveal obvious defects.
Remember that the risk of damage increases when panels have to travel a long way, so choose options which are not farther than 1,000 miles from you. Small quantities are also more subject to damage. If you want to get less than 10 panels, consider picking them up from the nearest fulfillment center.
Some defects can’t be detected with the naked eye, but they can cause quite a few problems throughout the lifespan of a module.
Microcracks can occur during the manufacturing process or because of careless shipping or installation. The effect of microcracks on a panel can vary. Sometimes they barely affect production. Sometimes they cause electrical separation inside a panel and bring the output down by a third.
Delamination — separation of the layers of a solar panel — starts at one side of the panel and then spreads across the whole thing. Most often It happens in tropical climates and leads to corrosion and eventually to the failure of a PV module. Delamination can be caused by poor workmanship, manufacturing negligence or high temperatures. Some try to patch the panel with sealant and duct tape but it only delays the inevitable.