Advances in technology have made solar panels an excellent investment for home and business owners. especially those in sunny climates, helping reduce your power bills, increase your property value, and live a greener lifestyle.
For the most part, solar panels require little maintenance, especially if you opt for a mid-to-high quality system, which will offer durability, high performance, and a decent warranty. Of course, nothing is foolproof and solar panels can be susceptible to specific performance issues, especially when you shop at the cheaper end of the market.
We’ve put together a list of the most common solar panel problems and the actions you can take to help avoid them with your solar array.
Micro-Cracks
Solar panels are large, flat and fragile surfaces. In Australia, panels are exposed to a wide range of harsh weather conditions, and because of that, they can be susceptible to surface cracks.
What causes micro-cracks on solar panels?
Micro-cracks in solar panels are caused by incorrect handling during shipping, installation, or harsh weather conditions and hail stones.
Micro-cracks can be hard to see, but if they grow to the point of becoming visible, they may affect your solar panel’s performance—disrupting the flow of energy and decreasing your electricity production.
Micro-cracks aren’t common amongst well-manufactured brands of solar panels. Micro-cracks can also occur on the panels of solar hot water systems. However, it’s less likely due to the smaller size of hot water system panels.
Unfortunately, there isn’t an easy fix for micro-cracks. Usually, a solar panel with cracks needs to be replaced. To avoid micro-cracks, customers should avoid cheap panels. Solar panels that use lower grade, less durable components are more likely to crack.
Wiring Faults
Not only are solar panels fragile, but they’re also complicated. A solar array is a network of solar panels, batteries, inverters, and monitoring units connected to wires in a series circuit. This means there are many places for those wires to come loose, which can take some troubleshooting.
Solar panel wiring problems are usually a relatively straightforward fix. However, we suggest hiring an expert who will need the suitable meters and tools to safely detect the issue, disconnect the unit, and fix the problem.
Hot Spots
Hot spots occur when energy concentrates in certain areas of your solar panel—usually because the areas around it are covered or blocked (e.g. by shade or dirt)—causing those cells to overload and overheat. Those overloaded cells can cause your panels to short-circuit, stopping their ability to send energy from the panel to the inverter.
Hot spots are hard to fix. However, there are ways to prevent them from occurring. Ensuring your panels are installed at the correct angle, removing dust, dirt and obstructions, maintaining good airflow, and using panels with bypass diodes to ensure electricity flow will help prevent hot spots from occurring.
Roof Damage
Roof damage is a common concern for homeowners looking to install solar panels. We always recommend you work with a certified solar panel provider who has a qualified installation team and offers a decent warranty on their work.
Arranging regular maintenance and monitoring of your solar panels will also help you spot other roof issues that your solar panels may be hiding, for example, dampness or deterioration. In many cases, however, solar panels can be a great addition to your roof, offering an extra layer of protection against harsh weather.
Snail Trail
Snail trails are easily mistaken for their namesake. Snail trails are caused by localised heat build-up reacting with moisture in your panels (which can enter solar panels via micro-cracks) or defective conductive paste used during the manufacturing process.
Snail trails can reduce your solar panel performance. The best way to prevent them is to work with a reputable solar provider and installer and choose high-quality solar panels with durable components and decent warranties.
Solar Inverter Issues
Your solar inverter plays a crucial role in your solar array, converting the DC current from your panels into usable AC electricity. While your panels should last up to 20 years, inverters usually last between 10-15 years, so at some point, you will likely need to replace your inverter.
Again, we recommend avoiding the cheapest solar panel deals and buying a higher quality inverter that will have a longer lifespan and a better warranty.
Internal Corrosion
Rust can occur when moisture gets into your solar panels, causing corrosion to metal conductors and significantly reducing performance.
Your solar panels need to be air and watertight to prevent internal corrosion. High-quality solar panels prevent corrosion by the glass, cells, and back sheet being properly vacuum laminated during manufacturing. Should this not happen—again, a risk you run buying cheaper panels—the laminated components may detach during operation, allowing water to enter the unit.
Potential Induced Degradation (PID) Effect
Potential Induced Degradation occurs when there’s a voltage difference between your solar panel and the earthing, generating a partly discharged voltage in the primary power circuit.
What happens to solar panels that experience PID?
- PID may cause your solar panels to suffer a performance loss.
- PID can also reduce the overall lifespan of solar panels.
What causes PID issues with solar panels?
Like most solar panel issues, PID results from the design choice and component quality, and Frameless PV modules generally reduce the probability of PID. Still, we suggest you talk to your solar provider for more information on the cause and effect and how you can avoid potential induced degradation.
How to avoid the most common solar panel issues
As you can see, the exact common causes—poor build quality, poor installation, or poor maintenance—often lead to the same common issues, from water entering your solar panels to dirt build-up to general component damage.
Most of these issues can be avoided by doing your due diligence before purchasing solar panels. The build quality of your solar panels will impact their lifespan and performance. This is also why the proper, professional installation and ongoing maintenance are vital, helping you maximise your solar array’s performance while maximising your investment return.
Renew energy has over 30 years of combined experience in the solar industry. As a family-owned and operated business, we focus on providing genuine, impartial, and expert solar power advice to help you make the best decisions for your home and business.
Contact our expert team today for more help choosing the right solar solution for your needs.