How to deal with defects and scratches on photovoltaic panels

Do solar panels have defects?

Regardless in which country your solar panels are produced, solar panel defects occur on a regular basis. The payback performance of a solar PV systems is based, besides FITs and irradiation, on the initial power output, power degradation and the lifetime of the pv module (s).

What defects are common when testing solar panels?

The following defects are common when testing solar panels: Lower output than stated in data sheet (we require positive tolerance on each solar panel) Other defects that we find are dirt marks on the pv module, gaps on the corner of the pv frame, poor quality labels and solar panels that do not meet the requirement of positive tolerance.

What are the most common solar panel defects?

These common solar panel defects can impact performance, longevity, and safety. The first group of defective solar panels is related to cell issues that are easy to notice even before installation. You could witness cracked cells if your panels faced mishandling, inadequate stress testing, or thermal stresses during production.

Why do solar panels have scratches on the glass cover?

On average, small and large scratches on the glass cover of solar modules are found during more than 70% of independent 3rd party quality inspections, such as those performed by Sinovoltaics Consultancy Services. This is a major and prevalent quality issue.

What if a solar panel is broken?

If you suspect your panels are broken, inspect the system, but don’t touch it. Panels can still have residue voltage. In rare cases, solar panel damage can cause hot spots or arcing, posing a fire risk. Disconnecting the system through the inverter minimizes the possibility of fires originating from the solar panels.

Can solar panel quality defects be detected without testing equipment?

Some solar panel quality defects can not be detected without testing equipment, such as electroluminescence (EL) testers, sun simulators, thermal cameras, or resistance testers. However, there are also several defects that can be identified visually.