Cheap solar panels

Cheap solar panels

A home solar system is a great long-term investment but its upfront cost can be high. Still, enough brands on the market offer budget-friendly solar panels. In this article, we’ll talk about how to pick the right brand and type of panels to enjoy cheap solar energy at home.

What types of solar panels are cheap

There are three prominent types of solar panels: monocrystalline, polycrystalline and thin-film panels. Monocrystalline panels are the most popular — you may recognize them by the black color of their cells. Polycrystalline panels whose cells have a bluish hue are cheaper but they are less efficient and a powerful system out of polypanels is going to take more space. Thin-film panels have small power output and therefore are cheaper but their cost per watt is similar to monopanels or higher.

Among monocrystalline panels, the cheapest solar panels come from China. American-made PV modules are slightly more expensive. The most expensive panels come from big-name brands like Panasonic, LG and Sunpower. 

Factors to consider when buying cheap solar panels

Of course, there are differences between a low cost solar panel and an expensive one. Here are the things that you should look out for. 

• Inexpensive solar panels have shorter product warranties — usually, 10-15 years with 12 being the most standard. On the other hand, with costly products from brands like Panasonic or LG you can expect a 25-year warranty. Sunpower offers 40 years of coverage for some models. It is expected that an expensive panel has a higher quality than a cheap one.
• The most expensive panels tend to have higher conversion efficiency. When two panels have the same power output, the one with higher efficiency is going to be smaller. Efficiency is not the most important metric but it does come into play when you have high energy needs and limited space.
• Expensive panels tend to have sophisticated designs. For example, Solaria and Sunpower have the most expensive panels because of shingled solar panel construction. It lowers the losses caused by shading and improves the looks of a panel but drives up manufacturing costs at the same time. 

As with most things, you risk overpaying just for a brand name. While LG or Panasonic panels are amazing, they probably wouldn’t be so expensive if not for the corporations standing behind them. There are enough manufacturers that make affordable solar panels but whose names you’ve probably never heard before unless you were interested in the solar market.  

What are the best brands of cheap solar panels?

If you are looking for the best price solar panels, you should check out the most popular Chinese manufacturers. Look for Jinko Solar, Trina Solar, JA Solar, LONGi Solar and Yingli Solar. Unfortunately, because of tense relationships between the US and China, these brands can be hard to find in America. 

A good alternative would be a solar panel from Canadian Solar, Hanwha Q CELLS or Silfab. These panels are more expensive but still affordable. Canadian Solar and Q CELLS in particular maintain a great reputation among consumers and high quality makes their products possibly the best value solar panels on the market.

Best price solar panels

Let’s look at a few best priced solar panels that our store offers. They come from brands with solid reputations and are perfect for budget-friendly solar installation.

JA Solar 395 W JA-JAM54-S31-395MR

Here is a PV module from Chinese brand JA Solar that is designed both for residential and small commercial installations. It’s an affordable solar panel that provides 395 W output with 20% efficiency. A mere 1.18" thick, this model is completely black with a smooth surface. JA Solar provides a 12-year product warranty and a 25-year performance warranty. 

VSUN 370 W VSUN370-120BMH

VSUN VSUN is a bifacial panel for both home and business applications. It reaches an efficiency of 19.79%. Half-cut cells improve the shading tolerance of a panel. With an active rear side, the VSUN panel can reach the output of 461 W. VSUN provides an industry-leading 30-year performance warranty and a 12-year product warranty. It’s one of the lowest price solar panels among products from high-tier manufacturers.

Trina 360 W TRI-TSM-360-DE06X

TSM-DE06X.05(II) is a cheap solar panel from the Chinese brand Trina Solar. Designed with aesthetics in mind, it is a good module for residential installations. The panel provides 360 W power with 19.5% efficiency. Half-cut cell design and Multi Busbar technology improve the power output and raise shading tolerance. The panel features an all-black design which looks great on any roof. Trina Solar offers a 25-year warranty for both product and performance.

Is it ever worth getting second-hand panels?

When you plan a big purchase, sometimes it makes sense to take a look at second-hand options. While discount solar panels can be really cheap, there is often something wrong with them. For example, microcracks which are the most frequent defect of a solar panel are invisible to the naked eye and you might not be able to spot them without special equipment.

Besides, panels become cheaper and more efficient with every year. For example, solar panels have become 80% cheaper over the last decade and their conversion rate also rose. While the used solar panels discount can be huge — the module can be 2-4 times cheaper than it used to be — it’s usually more reasonable to get a new modern panel.

That being said, second-hand solar panels can be good for a small DIY small project in your garage. One or two low-cost solar panels won’t hurt your budget too much but it wouldn’t be unreasonable to commit to a full-scale solar system made out of used panels..

Why choose A1SolarStore

If you are looking for the best solar panels deals, A1SolarStore is the place you need. Here are the advantages of buying from us:

• Our fulfillment centers are located on East and West coast of United States
• We process all orders in 24 hours and ship them in 48 hours
• Freight transport delivers the order in 4-7 business days
• We sell A-grade equipment only from verified manufacturers — no counterfeit products
• We offer best prices on solar panels and solar energy equipment