Different Colour Solar Panels

[PNjunction]

Other than a mechanical defect, slight variations can be expected due to the thickness of the "arc" coating:

http://www.pveducation.org/pvcdrom/design/arc-color

I wouldn't worry about it unless you see water intrusion, rust or corrosion.

[steevieboy4u]

Managed to get the ladders out today and have a closer look at the panel(s). I couldn't see any writing, never-mind any serial numbers etc on any of the panels. I couldn't see any obvious defects or damage to the suspect panel either. So good news in a way its not damaged but I'm still unsure if its got a problem or not........ Will have to get my hands on a DC ammeter next.

[steevieboy4u]

I suspect that the performance characteristics are just fine, just guessing without seeing or testing the panel. The serial number comparison should be your first test.

SN's are usually stamped in a conspicuous place on the panel frame. If you have a ladder you could make the comparison fairly quickly since the subject panel is on the bottom row.

OK sounds like a good idea, if it ever stops raining I'll get the ladders out and see if I can see anything. Thanks

[DanS26]

So other than it being a different colour do you think that it's faulty or OK? The condensation / water that appears to be constantly on it concerns me as well though.

I suspect that the performance characteristics are just fine, just guessing without seeing or testing the panel. The serial number comparison should be your first test.

SN's are usually stamped in a conspicuous place on the panel frame. If you have a ladder you could make the comparison fairly quickly since the subject panel is on the bottom row.

[steevieboy4u]

I suspect that your installer knows EXACTLY what the problem is......had a panel left over from a previous job and just slipped it in.

So other than it being a different colour do you think that it's faulty or OK? The condensation / water that appears to be constantly on it concerns me as well though.

[DanS26]

I suspect that your installer knows EXACTLY what the problem is......had a panel left over from a previous job and just slipped it in.

[steevieboy4u]

Check the serial number of the panel. Most likely it came from a different batch from manufacturer.

Compare to SN on rest of panels. Manufacturer could have changed ingredients between batches.

Good luck getting that fixed. Maybe moving the offending panel to the corner would make it less offensive.

Good suggestion but easier said than done. To do this would me erecting scaffolding etc which ultimately I shouldn't have to do seeing how they've only been installed a few months. Just hoping the installers are going to do something about it but after contacting them 11 times over the last 5 weeks I'm not holding out much hope

[DanS26]

Check the serial number of the panel. Most likely it came from a different batch from manufacturer.

Compare to SN on rest of panels. Manufacturer could have changed ingredients between batches.

Good luck getting that fixed. Maybe moving the offending panel to the corner would make it less offensive.

[steevieboy4u]

If you do not want to interfere with the string wiring, get a clamp-on DC ammeter (~$50 from Sears) and compare the current in the two strings.
A string with a seriously impaired panel will show lower current if both strings are connected to the same MPPT input of the inverter.
If you have two strings connected to electrically independent inverter inputs then you would be able to see a voltage difference as well as a current difference.

Thanks for the advice, I'll see if I can borrow one as I don't really want to be buying a DC ammeter just to use once.
As soon as I prove either way or find out the reason for this colour difference (or the installers do as they should)
I'll update you all

[inetdog]

If you do not want to interfere with the string wiring, get a clamp-on DC ammeter (~$50 from Sears) and compare the current in the two strings.
A string with a seriously impaired panel will show lower current if both strings are connected to the same MPPT input of the inverter.
If you have two strings connected to electrically independent inverter inputs then you would be able to see a voltage difference as well as a current difference.

[SunEagle]

The first opportunity the weather isnt too bad I'll use the individual isolators and just get the voltage reading from the inverter, don't want to start playing with the wiring as it'll give the installers an excuse not to fix it, if they ever do! The conmen!
Did the OP ever come back and state if he had or found a fault with his panels as from what he said and what they look like I've got the exact same issue? I'm really hoping it's just some kind of coating on the panel that's different but I really don't think that's the reason :-/

The OP hasn't posted since sometime in 2014 so I do not know what was found.

[steevieboy4u]

It will be hard to test if you have poor sun light.

To be safe do not disconnect any wires during the daytime or you could get shocked. Use a meter to measure for voltage on the wires before you touch them. Also wearing protective electrical insulated gloves would be my suggested practice.

Any voltage above 50v can hurt you.

The first opportunity the weather isnt too bad I'll use the individual isolators and just get the voltage reading from the inverter, don't want to start playing with the wiring as it'll give the installers an excuse not to fix it, if they ever do! The conmen!
Did the OP ever come back and state if he had or found a fault with his panels as from what he said and what they look like I've got the exact same issue? I'm really hoping it's just some kind of coating on the panel that's different but I really don't think that's the reason :-/

[SunEagle]

The installers Gr33n Group in Doncaster (UK) are just constantly fobbing me off I've contacted them 11 times now and they just keep giving me false promises saying they are looking into it, this has been going on for over a month now, the last telephone call I had with the director of Gr33n he said the company had gone bust and the receivers were in (again I reckon that's another lie!)
This is why I'm trying to do some research. There are isolators on each string so what you suggested is a good idea, isolating each string individually, trouble is the weather is grim here so they are hardly producing anything anyway

It will be hard to test if you have poor sun light.

To be safe do not disconnect any wires during the daytime or you could get shocked. Use a meter to measure for voltage on the wires before you touch them. Also wearing protective electrical insulated gloves would be my suggested practice.

Any voltage above 50v can hurt you.

[steevieboy4u]

I agree that if there was a single faulty panel in one string that one would always be lower unless there was shading or cloud cover.

Maybe you can contact the installer to troubleshoot and determine if that off colored panel is faulty or maybe you can shut off one string of 8 at a time and see if the output is lower on the suspected string.

The installers Gr33n Group in Doncaster (UK) are just constantly fobbing me off I've contacted them 11 times now and they just keep giving me false promises saying they are looking into it, this has been going on for over a month now, the last telephone call I had with the director of Gr33n he said the company had gone bust and the receivers were in (again I reckon that's another lie!)
This is why I'm trying to do some research. There are isolators on each string so what you suggested is a good idea, isolating each string individually, trouble is the weather is grim here so they are hardly producing anything anyway

[SunEagle]

Hi, it's wired 2 strings of 8 panels. The inverter is a SOFSR 3680TLM Wi-Fi version. This doesn't show any faults and has the normal green LED when it on. The voltages in each string can vary up to and over 30v but I'm not sure how accurate these are and how fast it updates as sometimes it's string one that's low other times it's string 2 and I would have thought if the one panel was faulty it would always be the same string that was low?

Cheers for the reply

I agree that if there was a single faulty panel in one string that one would always be lower unless there was shading or cloud cover.

Maybe you can contact the installer to troubleshoot and determine if that off colored panel is faulty or maybe you can shut off one string of 8 at a time and see if the output is lower on the suspected string.