solar panel longevity

[nordberg]

I know of a few people that have had flexi panels develop faults. Maybe because they are more vulnerable at the point of wiring or some other reason? I have ridged panels and they have been good for 6 months since they have been connected, but I know that's no great claim. I chose this route because i had a mounting solution on the roof for the rigid panel and it will be easier to replace if it develops a fault.

[slowcoach]

I've had a big old 130 watt rigid panel on the roof for 5 years now, with no maintenance or discernable drop in performance. I'd expect it to go on lasting a long while too. It's kept the batteries alive and in service for a long while too, which is a bonus too. Cheapo halfords starter that was in when I got the van 8 years ago still strong. Love solar, of any kind!

[CovKid]

Before this drifts into a "mines better than yours" type thread, your best bet Badgerfax is to do plenty of trawling through you tube and talk to real people using their panels rather than a friend of a friend of a friend who told someone else etc as such feedback is rarely useful. Also look at the differences in types of solar cells rather than just rigid or flexi as that plays an important part too.

The other factor is where you can place one. Sometimes that factor alone will have more relevance when it comes to choice. For instance, I've got a tintop so flexis a sensible route for me, plus they shed water quickly whereas a panel in a frame probably won't unless you get out there and tilt it. I'm not convinced that paying say £250 over one for £99 is necessarily a guarantee of longevity either. It doesn't seem to work out that way anyway. In any event my sub-£100 ones are cheap/easy to replace and had no probs to date - or flat batteries. If one ever packs up, I'll let you know.