REC Solar Panels...reviews please?

[jcl2k6]

Poly or Mono - just look at the efficiency provided by the manufacturer - 16% is 16% regardless.

The temperature coefficient is given in the spec - how much capacity is lost per degree C ambient temperature increase.

Thin film - generally 2nd class and tend to be more problematic with less track record. The roofing style has yet to be anything other than sucker feed.

Many of the generalizations in the link are really meaningless.

thanks russ!

Here is the data sheet. can you tell me if it looks reasonable?

REC Peak energy BLK Series: 15.8% efficiency, 10 year product warranty, and 25 year linear power output warranty

Operational Temperature: -40 ... +80°C
Nominal Operating Cell Temperature (NOCT) 45.7°C (±2°C)
Temperature Coefficient of PMPP -0.40 %/°C
Temperature Coefficient of VOC -0.27 %/°C
Temperature Coefficient of ISC 0.024 %/°C

I've attached the PDF file for your reference. Thanks!

[KRenn]

Watch out for their unique pro rated warranty.

[shortyoh]

REC warranty

Watch out for their unique pro rated warranty.

I know this is late, but as I was shopping for a system myself, the installer recommended REC panels, so I was investigating them, and in doing so, found these concerns about their warranty.

It should be noted that as of January 1, 2014, all REC Peak Energy series panels (ie, the bulk of what is sold in the US) come with a warranty that gives REC the following options if a panel fails to meet its guaranteed performance level:

• Repair the Product; or
• Replace the Product with an equivalent product or to supply additional modules as necessary to achieve the warranted
percentage of specified power output; or
• Refund the current market price of an equivalent product at the time of the claim.

I can't speak for everyone else, but that's a perfectly acceptable warranty to me. They'll either fix it, replace it, or give you enough money to buy an equivalent product. Sure, that equivalent product could be a 20 year old panel to replace a 20 year old panel that failed, but if it produces an amount of energy equal to what had been promised, why worry?