When looking at different solar panels, it can feel like you're drowning in technical jargon and terms. Understanding these terms will help you make an informed decision for your home or business. While solar panels are important, they alone don't determine the success of your solar project. But it’s always good to understand what will be installed on your roof. This guide will walk you through some of the solar panel specifications to consider when comparing options.
The product specifications of a solar panel denote the panel’s durability, reliability, and ability to produce power, helping installers and consumers choose the right panel for a project. Let’s break them down.
The manufacturing brand of a solar panel signifies its quality. Established brands like QCELLS and Silfab have a proven track record of delivering high-efficiency, durable panels. Also, sourcing panels from well-known manufacturers offers stability against market and regulatory changes, making sure the supply and pricing of the panels stay consistent.
The power rating of a solar panel represents the maximum amount of power it can produce (or output) under ideal conditions at a given moment in time, measured in Watts (W). When we say ideal conditions, we mean bright, direct sunlight with no shade, cool temperatures, and correctly angled panels facing the right direction to maximize sunlight exposure.
Watts measure instantaneous power production (or consumption), while kWh (kilowatt-hour) measure power production over time. You’ve likely seen the kWh unit on your electric bill, an appliance label, or perhaps even a quote for a solar installation. One kWh means 1,000 Watts of power sustained over one hour. Understanding the connection between a panel’s Wattage and kWh helps you see how much energy you use daily and plan for your solar installation needs.
Panels with a higher power rating may seem like the best choice, but they’re not always the most efficient option for your home. Power density (the amount of electricity generated per unit of space) often matters more, especially in a home setting where roof space is limited. Standard residential panels usually provide a higher power density, generating more power per square foot than larger commercial panels. This increased power density allows you to maximize your rooftop space and produce more power overall.
You want your home to look the best! Our all-black panels make for a sleek look on your roof and blend nicely with modern and traditional architecture.
Solar panel efficiency is the percentage of sunlight that gets converted into electricity. Higher efficiency panels generate more power from the same amount of sunlight, lowering energy bills and leading to quicker savings. Efficient panels need less space to produce energy.
The location matters because manufacturing standards vary by country. Getting panels from American manufacturers benefits everyone. For our company, it reduces the risk of supply disruptions because of tariff changes and provides more consistent product availability and pricing. For the U.S., it supports local jobs and the manufacturing industry, helping boost our economy. Also, sourcing locally manufactured panels reduces the shipping distance, lowering the overall carbon footprint.
The tier refers to the manufacturer instead of the panel itself. The solar tier system was created by Bloomberg in the mid-2000s to identify which panel manufacturing brands were considered reliable enough to receive financing from banks. In simpler terms, Tier 1 solar panels are produced by leading, reliable manufacturers that banks trust enough to lend funds to without the manufacturer needing to offer up extra assets or property as security for the loan.
Using Tier 1 solar panels means you’re getting panels from a top manufacturer in the industry, making sure your installation performs as best it can, providing you with the highest return on your investment.
Manufacturer warranties cover equipment failures due to manufacturing defects or material flaws. Many manufacturers also offer performance warranties, which guarantee that the panels will produce a certain percentage of their power rating for a set number of years. In our case, our rooftop QCELLS and Silfab panels feature a 25-year manufacturer warranty and performance guarantee, while our inverters have a 12-year manufacturer warranty, which is extendable to 25 years at a low cost.
A manufacturer warranty is important because it protects your investment, making sure any defects or performance issues are fixed at no extra cost. A more extended warranty reflects the manufacturer's confidence in their product's durability, meaning more years of reliable performance, fewer concerns about repair costs, and greater overall value and security for your investment.
A solar panel’s weather rating indicates the panel's ability to withstand environmental conditions like high winds and heavy snow loads. These ratings use Pascal units (Pa) to measure the pressure the panel can handle from wind or snow (note that pressure is the force of weight spread over a surface area). For example, a panel rated for 8000Pa of snow can handle the weight of an adult elephant spread evenly over each square meter of the panel without getting damaged. Panels undergo many tests of extreme wind and snow loads to determine their final weather rating (rest assured they don’t use elephants in these tests).
Weather ratings matter because they show the resilience of your solar panels against harsh weather conditions, which is particularly important in New England, where we can experience some severe weather patterns.
Selecting the right solar panels is an essential part of your solar installation journey, but it’s just one piece of the puzzle. The quality of the installation, the efficiency of the entire system, and the aftercare service all play huge roles in the long-term success of your solar investment.
If you’re interested in learning which solar panel will be right for your project, schedule a site visit and a team member will help you find the right panel.
One of the most common (and most challenging) questions we get is — what do solar panels cost? To answer this, it’s important not to look at the cost of a solar installation solely at the cost of the solar panels themselves.
So much more goes into it – design and engineering on the front-end, permitting/rebates and interconnection paperwork, and a team that is able to efficiently and safely install the solar panels on your roof (or yard) and connect it with a solar inverter which may be in your basement, garage, or even mounted outside. Pricing is affected by the site-specific details of your home, such as number of stories, how complex the electrical work will be, and other site specifics.
ReVision offers the most competitive pricing we can possibly offer, while also running a company of the highest caliber. Some things that differentiate us from the competition:
If you'd like to learn more about solar panels for your home, hit the get started button below to get in touch with our team of Solar Advisors. We'd love to help you learn more.
