ISOFOTON Solar Panels

[Tom in NH]

I understand this brand is manufactured in Spain. They use single crystal silicon cells. Can anyone comment on the quality of construction? --tom

[ghurd]

It's been a while without any response, so I'll throw a couple ideas out.

Europe is buying up US PVs. Why don't they save shipping costs, and buy all those?

The price wasn't that good.

What I heard, the importer only brought in 'a few', so there is a good chance they are not actually available now. That may have some effect on the warrenty in 5 years?

'Made in Spain' has yet to impress me with other items. Firearms come to mind.

G-

[Tom in NH]

Hey there Ghurd. My understanding is they ARE buying them up, but they want more. Isofoton is supposedly the 8th largest monocrystal manufacturer in the world. I asked around among several panel sellers who say all the brands are the same as far as durability goes. It is odd that one does not see reports by customers.

The reason I'm asking about this is my beautiful solar array got smashed to bits in the wind storm that hit the northeast last weekend. Of the 12 homemade panels I had, one of them still worked. The rest were shaken until the cells shattered. I was devastated. Fortunately my homeowners insurance is being very helpful. It's cheaper to buy factory-made than it is to build them and I'm inclined to go that route. It's a toss-up between Isofoton and Photowatt. Both seem very nice, but something is pulling me towards the monocrystalline silicon cells. Stronger, thicker cells. Slightly higher voltage, I think. --tom

[ghurd]

Photowatts I know about. Very nice. The US made units seem to tighter mech. specs than the French units.  

I never saw one (either version) that did not beat it's rated amps into a battery.

Never saw one go bad (knock on wood).

Watched a guy drop a French 500 series 14(?) feet onto football sized concrete chunks, bounced around a lot because of the rack, dented the frame a bit, still works fine 5~7 years later.

UPS, nor the Teamsters, ever managed to break one of mine in transit.

G-

[Tom in NH]

I think you just talked me into Photowatts. I seem to have this anxiety about panel breakage. I like the idea of being able to drop one 14 feet and have it survive.

Thanks,

Tom

[ghurd]

One for the Amazing Coincidences file.

I have the PV that fell in my possession as of today.  Weird!

The owner re shingled and somehow decided removing the J-Box from the PV was a good idea!  

It is not a good idea.

I'll post a story with a couple photos in a day or 2.

G-

[ghurd]

http://www.fieldlines.com/story/2006/11/20/194452/60

[dooAoopa]

alice have a gooooogle.