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As we all know, solar panels have become more famous, cheap, and efficient over the years. They are enabling more and more people to shift to new technology. The issue of climate change is also becoming more widely understood, with many people seeking alternatives to fossil fuels. It is true, however, that buying solar panels comes with its likely problems. This blog will highlight the most common solar panel problems you must know. Let’s dive in!
Common Problems Of Solar Panels
1. Damage by Severe Weather
As we all know, solar panels are built with tempered, thick glass that is quite powerful when standing against unstable weather conditions. But on the other hand, some panels are made of monocrystalline silicon, which is tested with heavy rain and strong winds.
Generally, rain does not affect your solar panels. They may help you clean the packed dirt and junk panels naturally. In addition, rain is also reflective, luring more sunlight to the panels and thus generating more and more energy.
Solar panels are built to stand up to 140 mph wind speed. Some winds are slower than that, even in a category three storm. People can rely entirely on the energy from their solar panels if their power goes out during a storm because of this rigid testing of the solar panel.
There is no match for solar panels regarding large, speedy hail. The odds of solar panels being damaged by hail are extremely low. There are very few instances in which solar panels are damaged due to extreme weather conditions. There is no doubt that they are durable.
2. Requires Regular Maintenance
Solar panels need regular care in order to function correctly without any trouble. This is because they are continually exposed to different elements, which can result in collecting dirt and debris on their surface. If there is no regular care of panels, they cannot absorb as much sunlight as possible, which means that the panels’ efficiency will also suffer.
It is vital to clean your solar panel and check their links regularly thus they will work in the best condition. Furthermore, you should call the expert to check for any panel problems. If found, repair them immediately to stop any future worries. With all these, solar panels will work properly, and their life will increase.
3. Panel Damage
Solar panels are more prone to breakage as they are made of glass. This is generally due to harsh weather conditions such as hails or high winds. If there is damage to the solar panel, it can lead to a fire or loss of power.
To stop the damage to solar panels, it is vital to have your panel installed in a spot dwindling from different weather conditions. In addition, you must be sure to inspect your solar panels frequently for any symptoms of damage.
4. Roof Issues
It is very vital to know that solar systems should not affect your roof veracity by any means. However, the solar panel should be a special layer guard for your roofs. Regardless, in some examples, solar panel installation may cause damage to your roof. Furthermore, you must inspect your roof regularly to watch for any harm.
5. Lightning
There may be a possibility that lightning can damage solar panels. In most cases, lightning damage can destroy a large part of the electric source. And the repairing cost will be high and can cut down your pocket. But you are thinking about how lightning can harm solar panels. Damage caused by lightning strikes is divided into two parts direct and indirect. There is a slight difference between the former and the latter, the latter being more common. There are more chances of the indirect strike making electromagnetic induction that develops a high voltage in the solar panel unit.
If this high voltage passes through the wiring to the parts solar panel, it can break down the panels, conductor, and the other unit parts. The high voltage also increases the risk of sparks igniting flammable materials and causing them to spurt into fires.
In contrast, direct strikes are hurtful but irregular. If a lightning flash hits your solar panels straightly, it can damage the whole solar unit and make it useless.
It causes damage to the solar unit parts by melting the components of the panels. Moreover, direct strikes also induce a high current, which is the common cause of solar unit overheating. If you recently faced this type of issue, contact this solar system expert to get it repaired as soon as possible.
6. Electrical Issues
There are two ways to connect solar panels, parallel or series. A series of positive points of one panel with the negative terminal of the next are connected. But in parallel linking, all the positive and negative points are connected. However, both types of connection have their kind of problems.
When panels are connected in a series setup, the performance of one panel could badly affect the overall energy output of the series. It is possible for the high current generated by a parallel connection to damage the electrical connection if the wires used are not thick enough.
7. Inverter Problems
One of the main functions of a solar panel is to convert solar energy from direct current into usable electrical energy that we all use in our homes in the form of alternating current. We can easily store these parts as they come in boxes and are generally stored on the top floor of our house. The life of the solar panel is about 20 years. Still, inverters need to be replaced repeatedly as they are usually effective for only 10 to 12 years.
Solar panels are only used with a working inverter. Therefore, it is wise to call the expert if you face any issues with your solar panel inverter. Trying to DIY can save time and money and may cause accidents. Furthermore, you should keep an eye on the display panel of the inverter to see if any error messages may indicate a problem with the inverter.
8. Battery Problems
Suppose you have a solar energy unit that is not linked to the grid. In that case, you may have batteries that store the electricity made by these panels. These batteries can experience many issues, such as overcharging, no charging, and sulphation. Battery troubles can lead to loss of electricity or even a fire accident if these are not appropriately maintained.
It is a wise idea to install these batteries with the help of experts to stop any kind of problem with your batteries. They must be regularly inspected to prevent any future issues. Moreover, you should check the battery for any wear or damage. If you find any signal, it is wise to call the expert to manage this matter.
9. Cost
Cost is one of the most common and top famous problems with solar energy is that it can be costly to install and maintain a unit. Solar panels are expensive, but with the rise in technology, their cost has decreased dramatically in recent years. Still, the initial asset can be a significant amount. In addition, solar energy systems need regular care to work correctly. If they are not appropriately maintained, they can create a lot of trouble, wasting time and money.
If you are too concerned about the price of energy, there is something that you can do to stop this issue. For example, you can get aid from state subsidies such as tax credits or refunds. Moreover, many loan and lease programs are available to help you fund your solar energy system.
10. Hot Spots
In the event of trouble in a solar panel’s energy production tracks, hot spots can occur. The energy from your solar panels may not be able to flow perfectly to your solar inverter. In that case, it could become overloaded and cause more heat, resulting in big trouble. Therefore, this is one of the most commonly faced problems with solar panels. It is important to note that hotspots may lower the overall performance and lifespan of your solar panels and, in some instances, render them unusable and beyond repair.
There are many causes of hotspots on your solar panels, like gathering dirt, limited shading, structural effects or bird stools.
It is easy to eliminate this problem with your solar panel by ensuring no bird stools or dust is gathering on it. Although, it may be challenging to deal with factors such as structural errors or partial shading. Therefore, it is wise to take care of an expert to handle these cases as you can damage your panels, and you will have to spend more money buying new ones.
11. Snail Trails
Despite the fact that it looks like snails may have crept across the panels, there is no relation between this and slimy creatures. There is a tendency for this problem to arise after the device has been in use for a few years. There is more to it than just the lines visible on the surface, which goes much deeper. Because of poor sealing, water may seep through the back sheet of rooftop solar panels. This substance can diffuse slowly to reach the cover of the cells. The water would cause the silver in the grid fingers to break down, resulting in snail trails arising along the grid fingers. Although this may not affect the performance of solar cells in and of itself, it can worsen over time, resulting in deeper cracks in the solar cells, causing hotspots to form and, in turn, declining their performance.
A solution to this problem is carefully handling the solar panels and ensuring they are waterproofed as much as possible.
12. Micro-Cracks
Micro cracks are tiny claps that can appear on the panel of a unit. There is generally a great deal of difficulty in watching these cracks. Still, the cracks can develop and become more easily visible as time passes. It is important to note that when these microcracks become too large, they can impede the flow of energy through your solar panel, reducing the efficiency of your PV unit. Thus, it decreases the output of the power unit.
There is little you can do to repair micro-cracks that become large enough to impact your solar panel’s performance negatively. Therefore, you may have to replace your solar panels. These can sometimes happen from less famous producers during solar panel making. Still, they can be produced more normally by sloppy management during installation and shipping. In addition, there might be another chance that micro-cracks occurred due to the bad climate. Call the expert instantly if you observe any micro gap in your solar panel.
13. PID Effect
A PID occurs when there is a voltage fluctuation between the voltage generated by the solar panel and the voltage generated by the earthing wire of the solar panel. As a result, the primary power circuit displays a varying percentage of discharged voltage.
Professionals specializing in solar panel repair can resolve the issue to prevent faster ageing of the panels and maintain their performance over time.
14. Efficiency
One of the most common solar panel issues is a loss in efficiency and electricity generation. In the case of those watching their system’s performance, this may become clear over time. In contrast, other system owners may only become evident once their electric bill arrives as a surprise.
On the other hand, Solar panels lose their efficiency slowly over time. Still, some factors can cause them quickly to drop performance. This contains debris and dirt, filled snow on the top of the panel, or a group of slugs and other insects. Suppose you find your solar panel efficiency could be much higher. In that case, it is wise to call the expert to prepare it as soon as possible.
Bottom Line
This blog mentions the top most common problems of solar panels. These problems mentioned above in the blog can damage your solar panel to a great extent. Therefore, checking regular signs for any issue with your solar panels is wise. If you find a problem with your solar panel or unit, it is wise to call an expert to repair it as soon as possible. If the Solar Panel works correctly, you will get an accurate power supply and live happily in any weather. You will save a lot of money on your electricity bills.
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