Shame to only see this now. I was in the market for PV panels, and noticed the NeoStar coming to Europe, in April/May. Even waited a bit with purchasing this and that, for them to be in stock. But information is scarce. And I couldn't find why these would be better. Other companies surely also have shading optimization, surely they won't outrun each other that much, I thought. My beliefs strengthen by the lack of information on the Aiko's. Believing that they are good. But doubtful about how much they would differ to the competition. So I went for DMEGC 505W panels which are a little big bigger, longer, than the Aiko's: 1950mm vs. 1757mm long (both are 1134mm wide). And so a little bit more max output. With only 6 panels, I thought this was the smartest way to make the most of the space I had. They do not have the all black look, which I personally do like. Though, I also do like the look of the DMEGC's: a silver frame with more visible lines. But it is a total different look. Actually, I went for a combination of panels. Along with above (4) DMEGC panels, I got 2 Trina 675W panels, which are huge! 2384mm long * 1303mm wide. Again, I did do my research. To the extent of my capabilities as a layman. Since I am a private person, not a professional installer. Or, not in this branch. And again, information was and is scarce. On the Aiko's I mean. Other than "these new Aikos are the best!" there is not that much out there. Also, not on their website! The datasheet or their website don't mention the amount of busbars for example! And I don't recall hearing it earlier. If I am not mistaken, and recall right, the brand Sunpower is among the top of the chain, also because of the (higher than average?) amount of busbars. Or maybe that is how it is advertised, and I blindly believe how that works. Because of their average prices against competition here, I hardly looked at Sunpower. Though more routing for battling shading sounds intuitive, as a good thing. So, silly that Aiko doesn't mention it on their website, or so I believe. Also because I thought that was given as reason for Sunpower to be more expensive. Looking just now on their website I do get the feeling it has been updated here and there, between now and say two months ago. Though, just browsing to their Aiko product page still doesn't mention the busbars or anything other revealing. Why their panel would stand out to the competition. The DMEGC panels for example have an efficiency of 22.8%. The Aiko's 23.1%. The Trina panel I got 21.7%, so that is already a more substantial gap. But "every percent counts" put aside, as a layman, I did think of the DMEGC to Aiko efficiency as negligible. Though I did have the realization - after I bought my stuff - that efficiency rating (probably?) doesn't talk about when in the shade. Real life use. As you already also mention. As it is, I think what I bought will bring me more than enough pleasure. And to loosely quote a shop I saw somewhere: "If you are interested in PV panels, pick a color you like, and get them installed. In the end they, more or less, don't outrun each other that much." And of course: In every branch, there can always be some sort of innovation that puts a brand ahead of the rest (for a while). But as that shop said, that is how I picked mine in the end. I Looked at the space I had (on a shed). And filled it up how I could the most, with what was available to buy, so to say. Did see a test run somewhere, where some panels they sell atm are mounted live, and where the Aiko's did not stand out. Though that was some random day, when I looked. Not a long run of different weather and such. I am really curious if it would outperform than or not. They don't run yet. What I bought. Work in progress. And I do like them again. But I liked the Aiko's also, and as I hear it now, they really are a little bit better build? Price wise, all those panels I looked at, were in the same
Hi Maurits, interesting to talk about panel efficiency, a 500 Watt panel is a 500 Watt panel, if you have two 500 Watt panels of different physical size, the smaller one is more efficient. Efficiency matters more when you have limited space upon which to install the panels. Forgive me if you were already aware of this😀. Would Tigo help your installation, that is "per panel" optimisation?
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Shame to only see this now. I was in the market for PV panels, and noticed the NeoStar coming to Europe, in April/May. Even waited a bit with purchasing this and that, for them to be in stock. But information is scarce. And I couldn't find why these would be better. Other companies surely also have shading optimization, surely they won't outrun each other that much, I thought. My beliefs strengthen by the lack of information on the Aiko's. Believing that they are good. But doubtful about how much they would differ to the competition.
So I went for DMEGC 505W panels which are a little big bigger, longer, than the Aiko's: 1950mm vs. 1757mm long (both are 1134mm wide). And so a little bit more max output. With only 6 panels, I thought this was the smartest way to make the most of the space I had.
They do not have the all black look, which I personally do like. Though, I also do like the look of the DMEGC's: a silver frame with more visible lines. But it is a total different look.
Actually, I went for a combination of panels. Along with above (4) DMEGC panels, I got 2 Trina 675W panels, which are huge! 2384mm long * 1303mm wide. Again,
I did do my research. To the extent of my capabilities as a layman. Since I am a private person, not a professional installer. Or, not in this branch. And again, information was and is scarce. On the Aiko's I mean. Other than "these new Aikos are the best!" there is not that much out there. Also, not on their website! The datasheet or their website don't mention the amount of busbars for example! And I don't recall hearing it earlier.
If I am not mistaken, and recall right, the brand Sunpower is among the top of the chain, also because of the (higher than average?) amount of busbars. Or maybe that is how it is advertised, and I blindly believe how that works. Because of their average prices against competition here, I hardly looked at Sunpower. Though more routing for battling shading sounds intuitive, as a good thing. So, silly that Aiko doesn't mention it on their website, or so I believe. Also because I thought that was given as reason for Sunpower to be more expensive.
Looking just now on their website I do get the feeling it has been updated here and there, between now and say two months ago. Though, just browsing to their Aiko product page still doesn't mention the busbars or anything other revealing. Why their panel would stand out to the competition.
The DMEGC panels for example have an efficiency of 22.8%. The Aiko's 23.1%. The Trina panel I got 21.7%, so that is already a more substantial gap. But "every percent counts" put aside, as a layman, I did think of the DMEGC to Aiko efficiency as negligible. Though I did have the realization - after I bought my stuff - that efficiency rating (probably?) doesn't talk about when in the shade. Real life use. As you already also mention.
As it is, I think what I bought will bring me more than enough pleasure. And to loosely quote a shop I saw somewhere: "If you are interested in PV panels, pick a color you like, and get them installed. In the end they, more or less, don't outrun each other that much." And of course: In every branch, there can always be some sort of innovation that puts a brand ahead of the rest (for a while). But as that shop said, that is how I picked mine in the end. I Looked at the space I had (on a shed). And filled it up how I could the most, with what was available to buy, so to say.
Did see a test run somewhere, where some panels they sell atm are mounted live, and where the Aiko's did not stand out. Though that was some random day, when I looked. Not a long run of different weather and such. I am really curious if it would outperform than or not.
They don't run yet. What I bought. Work in progress. And I do like them again. But I liked the Aiko's also, and as I hear it now, they really are a little bit better build? Price wise, all those panels I looked at, were in the same
Hi Maurits, interesting to talk about panel efficiency, a 500 Watt panel is a 500 Watt panel, if you have two 500 Watt panels of different physical size, the smaller one is more efficient. Efficiency matters more when you have limited space upon which to install the panels. Forgive me if you were already aware of this😀. Would Tigo help your installation, that is "per panel" optimisation?
So they're basically the same as Sunpower, are they not?