Used Solar Panels – What You Need To Know When Buying Used Solar Panels

Used solar panels is a very economical way of starting you own DIY home solar energy project but it is also a very lucrative source of 2^nd hand panels for businesses in the solar energy industry. This article touches on some aspects to look out for when choosing used solar panels.

Used solar panels may have varying damages or defects depending on the environment they were used in. While obvious damages should be avoided, minor defects like chipped or cracked glass surface or broken electrical connections within the panel can be easily rectified with some minor touch ups. The electrical efficiency of the panels is what matters. Other problems like condensation below glass or plastic surface or browning of panels are common issues that do not affect efficiency. They do however look less impressive.

Having said all that, you do not want to get used solar panels with so many minor defects that it will take you days to fix before you can even start on your project. I would say that for beginners, if you can live with the defects, do so. It is more important to get a working solar power system as soon as possible than to spend days solving problems that do you give you much result.

The best deals come from buying used solar panels that are larger in size. They are bulkier and heavier compared to their smaller counterparts but produce the same amount of electricity and are much cheaper. If you are not constrained by space, I suggest going for these.

Whether you are buying from 2^nd hand hardware dealers or from the source, it pays to do some basic electrical inspection. You should not skip this. Use a multimeter and measure the DC voltage output of the panel. You should get around 21 Volts for a 12-Volt panel in full sunlight. Some panels are designed to be connected in series of 4 so these should give you around 4 to 5 Volts each. Next you need to measure the DC current produced and then multiply it by 17 (for a 12-volt panel) to get the total watts that can be produced.

Now you know how to choose used solar panels. If you are a new to solar power system, find out how you can build your own domestic solar power system with components costing less than $200 even if you are a complete DIY novice.