You must be planning a big project if you are actually visiting the factory.
Either that, or you are going into selling them.
I wonder if you could get a better estimate of power by pushing into 4 rechargeable NICADS??? You could probably even get some kind of a reading using AA batts... although, of course, you don't want them to be fully charged.
Here are some random ideas that have popped into my head.
- Screening Process.
- Bonding of metal to the cells
- Tempered Glass
- Plastic Covering rather than Glass
- Bonding method between cells and bonding to the wiring.
- Anti reflective coatings / surface
- Weather proofing.
- Warranty
- How they anticipate servicing the warranty
- What does the warranty cover? Failure? Low Volts? Low Amps? Breakage?
- I wonder if there is a rating of voltage / power drop over time.
- I would certainly ask to see the oldest panels they have and try to get an idea of what has changed with the panels over time (power loss) as well as what is different with "today's" panels.
- This is China... might as well ask about QA/QC... Do they match cells for color? Do they match cells for power? Reliability? Failure Rate? Durrability?
- Is there a UL Listing for Solar Panels?
- Frames and mounts? Will competitor's frames and mounts work?
- What environmental conditions are important based on the ultimate destination of the panels? Hurricanes? Tornados? Hail? Here in the Midwest... I'm terrified of the idea that my panels will be pelted by golf-ball or tennis ball sized hail.
- Are you comfortable with the power junction boxes?
- HEAT dissipation / performance / resistance.
- Solar Tracking
- Do they have their own Research and Development Department?
Oh.... another thing that you might look at.
There was one company that was putting holes in their solar cells to allow light through. For example, you could use them over skylights to allow in some ambient light. I think there were other companies working on more transparent/translucent technology.
In this case, you might also ask about build-to-suit panels.
Thinking of my Siemens panels... I just never seem to get as much juice pushed into the cells as I think I should. I'm going to have to do a little more testing... but I've wondered if the epoxy that Siemens used wasn't as stable as it should have been... and I've lost some of the electrical connection.
I'm working on building my own panel now... and then I'll at least have something to compare them with.
Most of all... have fun, and a wonderful trip.