Life of solar PV components

[openspaceman]

What problems have people here noticed from deterioration of their panels or failure of inverters over the years?

I cannot say I have noticed any, though I have only been paying particular attention for the last couple of years out of my 10 year old installation.

I also still have the original inverter which, as yet, has not had issues.

I ask because a youtube video by Gary does solar has a predilection for Enphase micro inverters on the basis that they live longer but their extra cost is justified because string inverters need replacing every ten years and they better cope with degradation of individual panels.

[Thebeeman]

My Fronius inverter started showing issues and fault codes at 9 years and after long conversations with Fronius about numerous visits to "try" swapping boards etc I cut my losses and replaced with a new Fronius. I originally went with Fronius because they were the only supplier that had a IHD that would reach over 100 mts. to the house at the time. No 'net options back then.

[ALAN/ALAN D]

I have got 20 panels from 2010 with Aurora and Solidin inverters.
No problems apart from panel plugs and sockets. All been cut off and cables soldered.

[Caesium]

I have got 20 panels from 2010 with Aurora and Solidin inverters.
No problems apart from panel plugs and sockets. All been cut off and cables soldered.

Were these the usual MC4s? Did you have a particular problem with them as I always thought they were supposed to be pretty reliable.

Or just wanted to avoid potential future loose connections/rust etc?

[nowty]

In 10 years,

1 panel plug melted and went open circuit. Turned out a stray firework from a neighbour had hit the roof and rolled down against connector plug on fire. Replaced with a new MC4.



Panel wires chewed by a squirrel (twice) and caused insulation earth fault, fixed by some self amalgamating tape.



2 x Tigo failures in a non standard config and they are hammered on the current limit a lot, simply replaced. They were older units and the newer version's seem to be better (they do not run as hot).

1 SMA battery inverter failed (it still worked but at half power) and replaced under warranty, had to send diagnostic data but no quibble once analysed.

Immersun (solar diverter) mains connector burnt out (common problem) but easily self fixed by replacing with single piece cable version.



Ground mounted panels not secured properly and fell over in high wind but were surprisingly undamaged. Simple cable ties fixed that.



Pigeons nesting / roosting under panels, more of a nuisance issue. Mostly fixed by blanking off side of roof arrays.


No solar inverter failures and all were bought cheap second hand.

No battery failures.

No panel failures except for wire issues mentioned above.

[Stinsy]

I remember 10 years ago panels came with pretty charts explaining that by now the expected output would have reduced by 20% (or whatever). However 100% of the people I know with 10-year-old arrays say that they've seen no detectable deg whatsoever.

Inverters were expected to last 5-years. And all the RoI calculations done by the slimy salesmen included the cost of replacing the inverter 5 times over the lifespan of the panels. But again, the vast majority of inverters are still chugging away at their original efficiency (so far as can be measured). If used to be known for a small proportion of inverters to fail after a year or two and be replaced under warrantee, but that is no-longer the case and even the old ones that didn't fail soon after manufacture are still cranking.

[Fintray]

My 1st PV system is coming up for 13 years old in July and I can't say that I've noticed any degradation from the panels and the original SMA Sunny Boy is still working.
The annual kWh from the system is noted below:
1680 3665 3441 3524 3358 3573 3498 3449 3650 3609 3680 3459 3689

[nowty]

My 1st PV system is coming up for 13 years old in July and I can't say that I've noticed and degradation from the panels and the original SMA Sunny Boy is still working.
The annual kWh from the system is noted below:
1680 3665 3441 3524 3358 3573 3498 3449 3650 3609 3680 3459 3689

I also had a PB from my initial 11+ year old system in 2022.
937 4226 4168 4230 4013 4293 4075 4381 4142 4233 3979 4392

[sharpener]

No noticeable deg since 2011 of my original 16 panels.

StecaGrid 2000 Master inverter replaced 4 times (!) under warranty.

• Total failure due to suspected spike on grid supply (other stuff was affected too)

• Clock battery (allegedly) failed twice, so time and date required re-setting after power cut before generation would re-start

• Third replacement was pre-configured for German grid code and they preferred to ship a fourth from Germany rather than send me the unlock key, their choice but it meant another awkward hour in the loft to fit it, all too easy to break the unprotected DC terminals on the bottom edge

Now out of warranty but if the "battery" goes again it should be a fairly simple DIY replacement. Looking at it it is actually a Panasonic supercapacitor - with a projected life of 5 years. Maybe the replacement was old stock which is why it didn't last long. Have replaced several actual batteries in time switches etc, the Varta rechargeables seem typically to last >10 yrs.

[Swwils]

UK climate helps alot with panel stability.