Sanyo HIT panels - 240 or 250's - Your thoughts welcomn

[rpwhite]

Could anyone please give me their opinion of the Sanyo HIT panels which I’m considering?

HIT-H250E01
HIT-N240SE10

I’ve had a quote for 14 panels with a Solaredge inverter,
HIT-H250E01 with a Solaredge SE3500 inverter - £13,250
HIT-N240SE10 with a Solaredge SE3000 inverter - £12,750

I know the N series is slightly more efficient, and the expected PV panel output shows a small difference of approximately 130kWhs per year. However, this is for a perfect set-up with no shadows (which I don’t have). The reason why I’m tending to prefer the Solaredge system is that I have a small amount of shading early in the morning. My thoughts are that the 130kWhs per year difference really is an absolute maximum, as in the real world the slightly smaller 240 panels will be subject to a little less shading as when mounted, they will be further away from the shading and into full production sooner.

Perhaps I’m worrying too much about minor details?

Thank you for taking the time to read this, and I welcome any thoughts and suggestions you may have.

Paul

[mojo398]

 I am considering a similar system.

Both type of panels are highly regarded and very efficient. It will be near impossible to assess if the reduction in shading could offset the slight reduction in Kwh produced. I would suggest that any form of shade is undesirable, so reduce it by any means.....which points to the N240s if you will get less shade overall by using them and forego the fairly minimal loss in Kwh from the 2 types of panel.
In my case, I'm going for 12 x N240s, mainly because I am tight for space and they are smaller.

Which type of power optimizer are you fitting ?

Mojo

[rpwhite]

I believe it's the Solaredge OP range of power optimizers.

I've have asked them to confirm this as there are still a few older PM versions kicking around. The newer one's are supposed to be fractionally (1%) more efficient.

I too am swaying towards the 240's for the same reason.... but, I'm know thinking I can squeeze 1 or 2 more panels on the roof, and whilst these 2 won't be the best performers due to some shading, having them there is of no determent to the rest of the system due to the way the Solaredge system works. Maybe I'm just being greedy!!

Please let me know how you get on too?

Paul
 

[Laurence]

We read a lot about shading issues in these forums. My own experience is that a shaded panel in a string brings the whole string down incredibly - far more so that "just" the shaded area alone would suggest. Not 100% accurate simile, but consider the effects of taking one light bulb out of a set of "traditional" (bulb) Christmas tree lights - you loose the lot.  Yes, shade it so be avoided wherever possible, but it may be out of your control. Then, you must factor it into your calculation, look at splitting strings into different inverters, or choose inverters with multiple MPPT circuits.

But one other counterpoint about shading at extreme ends of the day. As the sun gets ever lower in the sky, now, it is starting to dip behind some large trees, a hundred meters from my roof in late afternoon. But do you know what? By the time the sun is only 10 degrees or so above the horizon, the amount of electricity coming out of the system, is pretty-well diddly-squat, compared with the peak sun between say 11 and 4.  So a tree shadow knocking my output at these times by 75% means i am now down to 25% of diddly-squat - still diddly-squat. And over a year, the lost kWhr is simply not worth fretting about. However, overhead shade during peak generating hours is another matter!

240W or 250W Sanyos? Once the system is up, I'd bet you'd be hard pushed to tell them apart. if the 240W ones are available for less than 24/25ths of the 250 W versions, I'd go for those.

And because the amount of light energy available in so-called "low-light" conditions really is much less than you think, I tend to treat claims of panels that have "superior" performance (compared to some unstated reference - what, a potato?) with a pinch of silicon. If a panel really can produce 10% more energy in low light, that might increase your annual yield by under 1%. Or it might not! PEAK performance under full sun conditions is where the bucks (watt-hours) are; it's performance here that counts.

[and]

I must say I enjoyed reading the post above! Thank you!

Am pondering the Sanyo question at the moment - go for 16x Sanyo 250W, cos they are the "best", or as my roof space allows, just go with a cheap and cheerful 250W panel from a big brand name - LG, Samsung, Hyundai, Sharp (though the latter do pop up in posts regarding less than favourable build quality ... I wouldn't know, I've not handled them!).

[stannn]

I agree with Laurence's diddly squat comments for the early and late sun. However, for those with shading from trees nearer to mid day, the leaves will soon be gone. This will improve PV output somewhat. It remains to be seen how bare branches impair performance.
Stan

[SunReader]

 Well said Laurence, shading seems to be a factor that a lot of people don't consider enough,  it pulls the whole system generation down by a disproportionate amount.  That small tree in your neighbour's garden or the extension next door are thinking of building sometime in the future might
ruin the profitability of your 25 year FIT ROI.   

[GavinA]

has your installation company explained the difference between the 2 panels in terms of the orientation of the bypass diodes on the long side vs the short side of the 2 panels?

I'd ask them about this, and if they don't understand the question, then that would be a good indication that they don't know their products very well.

[rpwhite]

No, they haven't really explained about the orientation. I had read somewhere that the panels worked best in portrait, but thought this was true of all panels.

With me selecting the Solaredge set up, won't the orientation and shading issues be negated because each panel is working fully independently of the other? This is why I'm thinking that even if I squeeze another panel or two onto the roof, at £500 per extra panel (inc the optimizer) then even with minor shading issues, it will still more than pay for itself over time whilst not effecting the performance of the other panels? Please do tell me if I'm not thinking along the right lines!!

[mojo398]

£500 per sanyo panel including optimizer.?  You will have to tell me who your installer is.

....I'm still considering the Solaredge option, but I've got a feeling that Solaredge might not be McS accredited. As I understand it, both the equipment and the installer have to be accredited to obtain FITS, but is it just the panels or is it panels and inverters ? Anyone shed any light on this ?

[linesrg]

Gav,

I'm intrigued by your comment about bypass diodes above, do explain please.

Regards

Richard

[Simon]

ref the comments on shading, the following picture shows the effect. I have a tree which causes shading for a couple of hours or less during winter. AS you can see quite a lot is lost though over the course of the year, it is not too bad. In any event the tree in question is far too nice to fell.
Simon

ps if you want to learn about by-pass diodes, do a quick Google and you will find plenty of articles telling you all about them.

[A.L.]

hello linesrg,

I'm intrigued by your comment about bypass diodes above, do explain please.

Since Gavin seems to have missed this I'll have a go - most panels have 3 bypass diodes, with the panel in portrait they protect the left/middle/right 1/3rds respectively. I believe the Sanyos are different in that the diodes protect the bottom/middle/top 1/3rds when the panel is in protrait mode. Thus correct portrait/landscape orientation can minimise the the number of diodes 'activated' depending on wether shading occurs from the bottom or from the side.

[yorkshiremike]

On the Sanyos, the N series (235W/240W) have the bypass diodes wired 'conventionally' ie split into 3 regions parallel to the long edge.  It's the H series (245W/250W) that have the 3 regions parallel to the short edge.

[call241]

I just read your quote  for sanyo PV . dot know what are you live in , but we live in swindon wilts ,

just had a similar system installed  as you are looking at
 
using sanyo hit n 240se10   x16
and sunny boy  4000tl
 
had prices in the same price range , but finally found local company to install at a total cost of £10980 inc. vat etc.
 
he has also fitted 3 others in our street all with no problems
 
if you are interested and have not had yours installed yet  I am willing to give you there details