REASONS WHY YOUR SOLAR PANELS MIGHT BE UNDERPERFORMING!

REASONS WHY YOUR SOLAR PANELS MIGHT BE UNDERPERFORMING!

8th Sep 2022

Solar Panels have come a long way in terms of output and efficiency. Despite this, however, there might be times when your panels may be underperforming for seemingly no reason at first. In this article, we will go over possible reasons as to why your panels may not be performing at their most optimal level. A lot of the time, these issues are ones that can be easily fixed, however, there are still some instances where a more in depth and serious troubleshooting may be required.

Solar Panels are usually left out in the elements all day - 24/7, 365 days a year - and as a result, they tend to get covered in dirt and debris overtime, causing slight drops in its performance, which results in lesser efficiency than what you are used to seeing. Various elements such as dust, dirt, and pollen can partially block the sunlight from hitting your panel, resulting in power output drops. Another potential issue revolves around seasonal changes, especially during summer when solar panels will produce a higher output due to the increased amount of sunlight. On the other hand, cloudy weather and overshading from trees will cause your panel to put out a lower amount of power than without such elemental changes. Although these could be potential issues, it’s important to note that today’s solar panels are manufactured to a higher standard where they will still produce significant power despite being affected by elemental changes.

Now that we’ve covered the elemental issues that may affect the performance of solar panels, let’s now discuss the possible electrical issues such as accidental disconnection, malfunctioning components, and long-term efficiency losses. A solar panel needs to be wired to other components for it to function as intended, and with that comes the possibility of loose or faulty wiring. It’s important to always double check all the connection points to verify a secure and proper connection. Next, it comes down to potential mechanical failures which are to be expected no matter what type of product you buy. Another issue to be aware of is the fact that over the lifespan of solar panel, it will gradually lose its efficiency. Although this is to be expected, it should always be monitored.

Overall, solar panels make for a great investment, both short-term and long-term. You can expect your solar panels to last 20+ years on average with proper care. As with everything, it’s crucial to always clean and maintain the surface of your solar panel(s) to allow the solar cells to absorb direct sunlight. Another important thing to be aware of is that no matter where you purchase your solar panels, the given output won’t always be what it will produce, and this is due to some of the factors covered in this blog, most of which are out of your control. The best way to get the most optimized and efficient solar output is to keep your panels clean and maintained consistently.

For more tips and helpful information on maintaining your solar panels, please visit https://www.newpowa.com/a/blog/