PV Panels

Older versions of PV panels/ were far less durable than current versions and as a result they needed to be replaced sooner.

This was an expensive option since most of the older solar power systems designs were so rigid that the solar panels had to be from the same manufacturer as the original.

This meant you had very little choice in products when it can to upgrades or replacements.

The reason they failed in most cases was that their enclosures were compromised by the elements and allowed the delicate solar cells contained within to be damaged.

Newer versions of these PV panels have much tighter and stronger cases that are better able to resist the elements.

The newer versions of PV panels/ are also much more efficient than older versions and most of them provide a 16% conversion efficiency or better.

This means that the average homeowner will need fewer of these panels to generate all the power their home requires.

Fewer solar panels means less installation work is needed and this translates into a lower overall cost of a solar power system for the homeowner.

These more powerful PV panels also allow smaller homes with limited roof space to now take advantage of a solar power system that may be able to provide all the power they need.

Some models of these newer

PV panels/ have taken the innovation to the next level by including other functions in the panel than simple power conversion.

A few models include small inverter units inside the PV panels that allow the panels themselves to do the power conversion for the home.

Older systems required a large inverter that did this conversion for all the panels in the system and was fairly inefficient.

By doing the DC to AC current conversion right at the solar panel it provides a better efficiency for the conversion and makes expanding the system easier as well.