are spots normal?

[ksmyles]

Just had these panels installed and noticed nearly all of them have white spots on them. Anyone have any insight of this is normal or what they could be?

[Ampster]

Hard to imagine. Got a picture?

[ksmyles]

THink my pictures were too large at first...here's a sample. If you look at the panels, it almost appears that the white spots are in the same spot on each of the panels affected (though some are upside down). I'm still waiting to hear from the installer but wanted to reach out to the community for additional insight.

[SunEagle]

THink my pictures were too large at first...here's a sample. If you look at the panels, it almost appears that the white spots are in the same spot on each of the panels affected (though some are upside down). I'm still waiting to hear from the installer but wanted to reach out to the community for additional insight.

It may be possible that how they were stacked could have caused a blemish or worse a weak point on those panels.

[Ampster]

Thanks for the picture. No, they are not normal. Have you tried wiping those spots to see if they are just something that comes off easily. They seem to be consistent in location so I would rule out bird poop. As SunEagle , said maybe it is how they were stacked.. If you can't reach from a ladder try a jet of water early in morning or early evening when panels are cool, If you have panel level information can you tell if it is affecting output?

[Mike90250]

something un-good has happened to them, sadly

[J.P.M.]

What did the installer say when you enquired with them ?

[solarix]

I've never seen spots like that. And I've seen many thousands of panels. Its almost as if one of the robotic handlers at the factory had a problem and smeared something on that spot. I can say that the glass used in PV panels has an anti-reflection texture to it. If you drag one panel's aluminum frame on another panel's glass, it leaves a smear of aluminum in that texture that does not easily come off. What brand are these panels?
Another possibility is there are plenty of substandard "B"-grade panels out there that have "cosmetic" flaws and are sold way cheap.

[ksmyles]

They are Hanwah Q Cells....The installer said they would return to see if the spots can be removed.....as far as panel level information goes, I'm also still waiting for the installer to provide the credentials to be able to monitor performance.

TO be continued....