Difference between LG300N1C-A3 vs. LG300N1C-B3

[Mike848]

Hi,

I'm getting quotes for a 8.4 kW system using LG 300 watt panels. Several installers propose using the LG300N1C-B3 panels while one installer is proposing the LG300N1C-A3 panels. From what I can find online, the A3 panel is the 2013 version and the B3 panel is the 2014 version of the LG 300 watt panel. In comparing specs, the only notable difference is that the "Efficiency reduction (from 1000 W/m2 to 200 W/m2)" is <2% for the newer B3 panel and <3.5% for the older A3 panel. Does anyone know if this is an important difference? Should I insist only using the newer B3 panel?

Thanks,
Mike

[thejq]

I would use the B3 panels (and I did). There must be a reason LG revised the version number, normally it's for the better. The rule of thumb for most technology products is NOT to use the first year models.

[DanKegel]

Hi,

I'm getting quotes for a 8.4 kW system using LG 300 watt panels. Several installers propose using the LG300N1C-B3 panels while one installer is proposing the LG300N1C-A3 panels. From what I can find online, the A3 panel is the 2013 version and the B3 panel is the 2014 version of the LG 300 watt panel. In comparing specs, the only notable difference is that the "Efficiency reduction (from 1000 W/m2 to 200 W/m2)" is <2% for the newer B3 panel and <3.5% for the older A3 panel. Does anyone know if this is an important difference? Should I insist only using the newer B3 panel?

Thanks,
Mike

The B3 has the new fire rating (type 2), the A3 wasn't rated.

If there's a fire sale on the old panels, I'd seriously consider them.

[ericf1]

I ended up with LG300N1C-B3, though the contract specified LG300N1C-G3. The G3 was discontinued in 2014, so I received the newer B3 panels with slightly better specs. Inventories are moving extremely fast and I doubt your installer has a warehouse full of panels, so you will probably get whatever the distributor has in stock. As long as the panel meets or exceeds the specs of the quoted panel, I don't see a major issue.