The following is a summary of the best solar panels and inverters, as reviewed by Solar Power Authority and our friend “Solar Dave” in Colorado. You can see his full articles on inverters here and panels here.
Best Solar Panels
Below is a recommendation of the best solar panels, based on a short interview with Dan Yechout of Namasta Solar
- SunPower and Sanyo solar panels are both high-efficiency and high-end, which means you get the most power per square foot — but also the highest cost per watt. SunPower panels are preferred by home-owners because they are all black and blend in nicely. They don’t have silver strips or noticeable lines.
- Sharp and Kyocera solar panels are lower-efficiency and lower-cost brands, but require more roof space. Sharp has a new SRS (solar racking system) which is easy to mount and aesthetically pleasing, but less flexible in terms of where you can install it.
The short video above is a clip of the interview with Dan Yechout.
Best Solar Inverters
Below is a recommendation of the best solar panel inverters, also based on a short interview with Dan Yechout of Namasta Solar:
- Sun Power has its own line of inverters, with reverse-polarity panels (meaning they are positive-grounded). The company buy inverters from original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) Xantrex or SMA and flips the polarity to make them compatible.
- SMA and Fronius are the preferred inverters for Sharp and Kyocera solar panels, based on reliability in the field and high-efficiency output.
The short video above is a clip of the interview with Dan Yechout.
