Desperate help needed - Suntech panel

keefy · Nov 3, 2011

Would you believe it! Just fitting a job booked in well before the chaos, 1 Panel smashed!

I am in desperate need of a 250watt Suntech STP panel to complete it.

The system is a 4kWp and I am not sure whether I can fit a lower wattage panel just to 'get it going' as the usual suppliers have got no chance.

Any advice will be greatly appreciated.

PS - FOR SALE:

1 Suntech STP 250, slight damage, 1 careless owner!

Fman · Nov 3, 2011

Are you limited to suntech? I can get you 250Wp Tenesol panels European manufactured efficiency of 15,2%. Let me know if this could interest you [email protected]

jupestar · Nov 3, 2011

Keefy - i would think you can commission the system and sign it off to be honest. As long as you add the other panel as soon you can. Imagine there was a damaged panel in Jan - customer fit not going to drop just cause it needed to be changed. Same with the inverter.

It might be bending the ruls i don't know, but as long as you are doing everything safely and honestly you can be responsible for accidents. We've had panels broken before and we have commisioned systems and gone back as soon as replacements were available and added them to the frame. No big deal just going to underperform while you source the panel.

Don't mix panels that would be highly risky.

BruceB · Nov 3, 2011

Surely the panel broke after you commissioned the system and supplied the paperwork...........

JulianC · Nov 3, 2011

Try Alternergy. Got their latest price list through yesterday and they are listing Suntech 250W without the usual "limited availability" clause - perhaps they've managed to get hold of some at last?

SolarCity · Nov 4, 2011

I've been told Alternergy will be getting the TOWARDS the end of the month and that they're not sure how much of it is already allocated.

keefy · Nov 4, 2011

I tried Alternergy but no go! I have tried everywhere but the panels I had were the last in the country!

I have managed to get a Suntech 245 (Ihave been told this will be OK by supplier) which will pretend it is a 250 over the next few weeks until I get chance to get a replacement.

And of course it broke just after commissioning.

SolarCity · Nov 4, 2011

When you say "OK", it won't harm the system but surely this will bring down the whole system? The 245w panel will effectively limit the current of all the panels and the MPP tracker will focus on this.

keefy · Nov 4, 2011

BiggsSolar said:
When you say "OK", it won't harm the system but surely this will bring down the whole system? The 245w panel will effectively limit the current of all the panels and the MPP tracker will focus on this.

All completed today, tested and no difference in the performance between the 2 strings. If it did loose anything on power I could not find it.

One for experience I think.