Short on Time? Here’s The Article Summary

The article discusses the considerations for choosing and reviewing solar panels, focusing on LG solar panels. It emphasizes the importance of efficiency, durability, warranty, and cost when selecting panels. LG NeON 2 Series panels are highlighted for their high efficiency, durability, and warranty, making them a reliable choice despite their premium price.

The article also mentions LG's decision to cease manufacturing solar panels in 2022 due to supply chain issues, but notes that existing stock is still available. Overall, it suggests that investing in high-quality panels like the LG NeON 2 Series can lead to long-term savings and reliability in powering a home with solar energy.

Introduction

To grid or not to grid? Good question. If you choose to grid, you have a long but rewarding road ahead. After estimating energy needs, the next big step is selecting a system, starting with panels. 

It's better to avoid letting experience teach you that not all panels are created equal. But that requires research, and there are tons of options. So, we're breaking down some of the top solar panel brands and what they offer. 

LG Solar Panels Review

LG is a colossal name in consumer electronics. You probably know them for their TVs, smartphones, and kitchen appliances. But they make a lot of devices that people might not be aware of. Not too long ago, LG manufactured solar panels. Based on LG solar panel reviews, they were widely considered some of the best on the market. 

Sadly, as of 2022, LG ceased manufacturing solar panels because of supply chain issues and parts shortages. But that doesn't mean you can't still buy them.

Don't bust out the credit card yet, though. First, you have to do some research, so you can make an informed choice about which solar panel is worth the price. 

What To Look for in a Solar Panel

If you're considering adopting off-grid solar energy, you've likely researched how to construct your home energy system. You should know that the panel is a critical part of any solar system because its this part that contains photovoltaic cells, which convert sunlight into usable energy. 

Overall, you need to look at the panel's effectiveness, longevity, and reliability. Once you know how to place these within a market context properly, we can conduct the LG solar review. 

Efficiency

Unfortunately, solar panels can't convert 100% of the sunlight they receive. Panel efficiency indicates the rate at which it converts sunlight to actual energy. This number is measured as a percentage. High-efficiency panels produce more kilowatt hours, meaning you have more juice to power your appliances for longer. 

Solar panel efficiency ranges from 15% to 22%, and anything above 20% is considered high efficiency.

Durability

There is a cluster of industry standards to determine solar panel durability. For example, the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) independently tests solar panels to see how they hold up under extreme conditions. If they pass, they are certified. The main certifications to check for are: 

• IEC 61215: Tests for electrical characteristics, insulation resistance, performance in wind or snow, harsh climate durability
• IEC 61730: Tests for safety against electrical shock and fire safety
• IEC 62716: Tests for resistance to ammonia
• IEC 61701: Tests for resistance to salt and mist corrosion

Some tests only matter under certain geographical conditions. For example, if you don't live near saltwater, the IEC 61701 may not be essential. 

Warranty

Almost all solar panels come with a warranty, which guarantees the manufacturer will fix or replace the panel if something goes wrong. 

The industry average for panel warranties ranges from 12 years to 25 years. Many manufacturers also offer performance warranties, which guarantee power-output effectiveness to a certain percentage over a period of 25 years. 

Cost 

After understanding the key metrics concerning performance, the final thing to check is the cost. On average, every watt of a solar panel costs $2 to $3 per watt. Meaning if you want to run the standard 6 kWh system, it'll cost between $12,000 and $18,000. But remember, averages vary by state.

What Are the Best LG Solar Panels?

Now, let's get back to our regularly scheduled LG panels review. Back when the company still manufactured panels, LG sold two main lines:

• LG NeON 2 Series
• LG NeON-R Series

The R-series was the premium line, but the NeON 2 was the most popular. Since it's the most common today, this will largely be an LG NeON 2 solar panel review. But along the way, we'll point out how the NeON R differs from the NeON 2 series. 

LG NeON 2 Solar Panels Review

The most recent version of the LG NeON 2 dropped in 2020. It's a 60-cell monocrystalline panel with options ranging from 345W to 400W. LG uses N-type photovoltaic cells, which are higher performing and boost efficiency. The design also uses thinner wires to provide a pure black aesthetic that many homeowners prefer.

LG Efficiency

A 370W LG NeON 2 panel has an efficiency of 21.2%, considered very high performing. The LG NeON 2 also uses bifacial CELLO technology, which captures light from both sides to increase overall efficiency. In comparison. The NeON R Series has a slightly higher efficiency of 22.1%, which is among the best available efficiency on the market. 

The NeON 2 also has a low-temperature coefficient of 0.33%/Celsius, a rating that measures how much the panel drops in performance as temperatures increase. Industry averages are between minus 0.2%/Celsius and minus 0.5%/Celsius.

LG Durability

The LG NeON 2 is incredibly durable. It's constructed with a double-wall aluminum frame and has a front-end Pascal rating of 5,400, which is right at the industry average. Pascal (Pa)  is a unit of pressure and a way to measure how the panel holds up under extreme snow or wind. 

The LG NeON 2 series also has a full range of IEC certifications, including salt and mist corrosion and ammonia protection. 

LG warranty

There's no doubt that LG offers one of the best warranties on the market. The NeON 2 comes with a 25-year warranty, far surpassing the industry average of 12 years to 15 years. These warranties state that the company will replace the panel if any manufactural defects or environmental factors cause the panel to fail.

LG offers an additional  25-year enhanced performance warranty. This warranty guarantees that the panel will keep a retained capacity of 90.8% of its performance for up to 25 years. If it drops below this mark, LG will fix or replace it.

LG Cost

The LG NeON 2 is a premium panel, meaning you pay a premium price. Estimates have premium LG solar panels, such as the LG NeON 2 series, at about $3 to $3.25 per watt. So if you take the average home solar energy system, which uses 6 kWh daily, you'll pay anywhere from $18,000 to $19,500 for enough panels to power a home. Overall, this is about 30% higher than the average solar panel. 

While the isn't exact, especially now that the panels are out of production, you could expect the R Series to be slightly higher than the 2 Series.

When looking through LG solar panel reviews from actual buyers, the cost always sticks out as the most noticeable complaint. 

The Verdict: Are LG Solar Panels Any Good?

The LG NeON 2 Series is a cutting-edge, high-performing solar panel that understandably comes at a steep price. The same goes for the rest of LGs models. 

Remember, solar energy is a long-term game. This means investing in high-grade products with great guarantees helps save significant costs and headaches over the years. Given that the LG NeON 2 Series has remarkable efficiency and lengthy warranties, you can rest easy knowing you've purchased a reliable, quality product to power your home. 

How To Find the Best Price on Solar Panels

There are a lot of solar panels out there, and it's exhausting to research and discover which one is best for you. Do yourself a favor and begin somewhere that has everything under one sun-paneled roof. 

Check out ShopSolar.com to browse our massive online warehouse of solar panels, batteries, kits, and generators. We have the market's leading brands and are one of the largest solar equipment distributors out there.

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