LG LG300A1C-B3 AC module vs Sunpower E20/327 for the price

[AerotusX]

I know this thread is old, but I would like to bump it. To the OP, which panel did you end up choosing and how satisfied are you with your choice? I find myself in the same decision now, I narrowed down to LG NeON 2 Black (300W) vs SunPower X21 Black (345W). The cost delta is similar as your case. I'm leaning a little bit toward LG as this time, but it's a close call.

[SoCalsolar]

My 2 cents

Lg has developed their own first generation micro inverter. Some other first generation micro/ac panels rolled a little early and with more issue than anticipated. SunPower offered AC panels but has since removed them from the market. Not so much for hardware issues (although there were some) but for software issues. The other concern I have is that if an installer puts an optimizer or micro on a panel you often get a 25 year warranty on it along with the normal 10 year product warranty on the panel. When the manufacturer installs the micro you now get a 10 year product warranty on both the panel and the micro. SunPower did the same thing with Solar Bridge in the past. These are two reasons why I favor the Solar Edge optimizers over the new LG Micros. Should have some data in 6 months to year as to how well thought out the LG Micros were.

LG spec page with warranty info

http://www.lg.com/us/commercial/solar-panels/lg-LG300A1C-B3

[J.P.M.]

What were people's thoughts on the cost estimates that I had? $3.61/watt DC for the LG 300 AC, probably less for the seperate inverter setup. $4.38/watt DC for the Sunpower 327 + SMA America:SB6000TL-US (240) inverter. Are these rates average, good deal or what? Both are from reputable decent size contractors that are electricians.

I've already signed off on this thread to LG 300 w/ string inverter and why.

Be prepared for the "most efficient" and "more production over a long time", and "better warranty" pitches from S.P. owners and peddlers.

The first point of which is twisted word and logic play on S.P. part - it's an area efficiency, not a cost efficiency. The second - of more long term production - of questionable worth given the large up front S.P. price premium for, in your case, less annual system output given the smaller size/greater overall price. To the third point on warranty: if the S.P. stuff is so robust/reliable, (and usually part of the justification for the premium price, why is such a great warranty needed in the first place ? Sort of like looking at part of the high price as a built in extended warranty customers get suckered into without the pitch but with the premium. At least with add on warranties, customers get to say no.

Pay your money - take your choice. Just walk in with your eyes and mind open.

[root710]

What were people's thoughts on the cost estimates that I had? $3.61/watt DC for the LG 300 AC, probably less for the seperate inverter setup. $4.38/watt DC for the Sunpower 327 + SMA America:SB6000TL-US (240) inverter. Are these rates average, good deal or what? Both are from reputable decent size contractors that are electricians.

[russ]

Thanks J.P.M., lots of good info. I see your point with the low light production. I never thought of it that way before. So, now I'm thinking the regular LG 300 panels may be a more cost effective route. Their size/production ratio works well with my roof size. As long as people seem to agree they seem to be a quality panel that will hopefully hold up long term.

Think about standing outside in the sun - at 0900 hours and at 1300 hours

[J.P.M.]

Thanks J.P.M., lots of good info. I see your point with the low light production. I never thought of it that way before. So, now I'm thinking the regular LG 300 panels may be a more cost effective route. Their size/production ratio works well with my roof size. As long as people seem to agree they seem to be a quality panel that will hopefully hold up long term.

You're welcome.

[root710]

Thanks J.P.M., lots of good info. I see your point with the low light production. I never thought of it that way before. So, now I'm thinking the regular LG 300 panels may be a more cost effective route. Their size/production ratio works well with my roof size. As long as people seem to agree they seem to be a quality panel that will hopefully hold up long term.

[J.P.M.]

I'm in San Diego coastal area and am looking for a roughly 6.6 kW DC system. The two best bids that I have found are these two options (LG AC modules or Sunpower 327). The LG system consists of 22 AC modules with built in microinverters and runs $3.61 /watt DC. The sunpower is a slightly smaller system at 5,886 watts, 18 of the 327 watt panels and an SMA 6000 inverter. Price is $4.38 /watt DC.

I like the Sunpower panels in terms of quality and warranty. They look like they will last a lifetime with little degradation. Of course it comes at a price which I'm not sure really pays off when you consider the higher initial cost and the lifetime benifit/savings spread out over so long.

The LG panels on the other hand have the latest technology that I believe the industry is moving toward as a whole. (I know this is a very contested topic) Suffice it to say that I believe microinverters are here to stay and will increase market share at a rate to where they will be the predominate inverter in a few years. I like the idea of the safety and ease of repairs or changes to the system with the ACPV panels. Basically they are plug and play. I think this is what we'll all be using in a few years. I don't like the big bulky inverters of the other systems, the decreased longevity and the clunky wiring setup envolved with them also.

The printed circuitboard wiring of the LG cells as with all other panels except the Sunpower look a little sketchy for holding up for 30+ years of sun exposure and temperature changes. I think the LG system uses some kind of microwiring to increase efficiency by not covering up as much of the crystalline cell. Could this decrease longevity?

I can get a larger Sunpower system at similar cost ratio with 21 panels. But the overall total cost of the starts to get astronomical. I don't know that I need to do a 100% zeroing out of my energy usage. I have an EV and the TOU rate plan may be of some benefit.

Lastly I don't know if there is much difference in terms of low light productivity between the modules or the inverters. With the night and morning low clouds and fog at the coast this is a bit of a concern. My roof is 22.5 degree pitch but the Azimuth is around 120 so my roof isn't oriented ideally. Shading is not an issue but as I say low light system performance may be.

So, I'm torn between the two systems and would like recommendations. Thanks!

Chances are good either system will produce about the same initial annual output on a kWh per nameplate Watt basis (real SWAG: something like 1,500 to 1,600 kwh/year per nameplate kW for location/tilt/az.). Your decision sounds like one of figuring out if the perceived (but unproven) S.P. advantages are worth ~ $2,800 up front, after tax credit cost with the probable lower production ding from a smaller system of something like 1,000+ kWh/yr. Pay more - get less. What a deal. I'm not sure the S.P. lower long term degradation is worth that much premium, even if you do stay put for 25 yrs.

I'd not worry about low light production. First off, because it's low light, you won't get much anyway. Second, the added production by any low light production advantage will only be a small increment. So, your worried about a small increase in what is a small amount to begin with. Is it really worth worrying about ?

Micros may be here to stay. I bet string inverters are as well. For my money, no shade - no micros. I'd also avoid micros if ease of repair is a consideration.

Replacing 100 % of your load is usually not the most cost effective size. On the other hand, future needs can make a system temporarily oversized a necessary evil.

Bottom line: LG 300's and a string inverter for most bang for the buck, long term, or as long as you're going to need it.

[J.P.M.]

Yes, it's at the lower left of each page not at the thread end.

Or at the upper left at the beginning.

[root710]

Yes, it's at the lower left of each page not at the thread end.

Ahhhh. Thanks, I told you it was a dumb question. Don't know why I didn't see it before.

[Ian S]

Use the " +Reply To Thread " button at the lower left corner.

Yes, it's at the lower left of each page not at the thread end.

[slopoke]

Use the Reply to Thread button at the end of the thread.

Use the " +Reply To Thread " button at the lower left corner.

[Ian S]

Dumb question here.....How do I reply without a quote? I only see a button for reply with quote.

Use the Reply to Thread button at the end of the thread.

[root710]

Could be. 1.5 years ago, one observer noted the lack of standardization in AC panels, and why that might be a problem. I don't know if the situation has changed.

Dumb question here.....How do I reply without a quote? I only see a button for reply with quote.

Anyway, any comments on the LG 300 mono x neon panels that don't have the built-in inverter? From a panel standpoint I think it's the same as the AC without the microinverter. Any history on these? What are your thoughts on their long term reliability?

Any thoughts on the pricing of the two systems I mentioned? What looks more tempting from a bang for the buck standpoint? Do the quotes look reasonable? Is Sunpower really worth the price differential. I don't care about looks, it's on the back of my house where I'll never see em.

Thanks.

[sensij]

Sensij, I wonder if the new trend toward AC panels will help push microinverters forward. Although SolarEdge is working at getting their optimizers built-in as well, so it might be a wash.

Could be. 1.5 years ago, one observer noted the lack of standardization in AC panels, and why that might be a problem. I don't know if the situation has changed.