Date of manufacture on Sharp Panels?

[DaKahuna]

Hello, we are looking at buying a house that has a solar system and we have no info about it from the current owner. Is there a way to get a manufacture date on Sharp NE-165U1 panels?

The Xantrex inverters show a manufacture date of 2005, but I have no idea if the whole system was built then if by chance the inverters were replaced at some point and the panels are even older then that.

Assuming everything is working correctly and this system was installed in 2005/2006, I assume it would have some good useful years left in it?

Thanks

[peakbagger]

I have the same panels of about that vintage and I dont think they were manufactured much before then. I dont have high level metering to check output but mine are just cranking out the power with no signs of any major deterioration. The old claim for lifespan is 20 years for panels but actual field experience is indicating longer life barring manufacturers defects. I have some 1999 vintage Siemens with manufacturing defects and they are definitely showing their age and have been for few years. If the Sharps look good now I expect you have plenty of years of additional life. You should be somewhat more concerned about the inverter. Ten years is about their lifespan so you are on borrowed time.

[russ]

As was pointed out -

1) panels maybe 10 years

2) inverter - expect 10 years so little value today

[inetdog]

There is a good chance that the serial number on the panels includes information about the manufacture date. The problem is finding someone with the records or other information to decode that.

[DaKahuna]

That helps know that the panels are not ancient. I figured if its mid ninties, the panels are probably fine for quite some time, but the inverters have maybe 0-5 years left in them.

Thanks for the feedback!

[Mike90250]

There may be a copyright date on one of the labels on the panels. That would narrow it down to a 2 year window. And some panel sizes/styles were only in production for short cycles, then something would get improved.