Frequently Asked Questions
If you need more support please contact our Support Team.
Construction & Manufacturing
How are Solaria panels different than other panels?
Standard solar panels utilize copper ribbons to interconnect all the cells in the panel together by means of high temperature soldering processes. Although this method is certainly the most common it is not the most efficient. The busbars need to cover a portion of the solar cells (as much as 3.5%) and require the cells to be spaced apart from one other. There is typically over 100 feet of ribbon per module to enable all these connections. That is a lot of copper and lot of potential failure points. Solaria panels remove this cumbersome element increasing the module power, efficiency and long-term reliability.
Why is your product higher power?
Solaria PowerXT® “cell shingling” allows more cells to be placed into the panel and is further able to extract more power per cell due to reduction of wasted “white space” and shading from the busbars. Because we dice the cells prior to interconnecting, it allows us more control over the final size of the panel. The Solaria panel is engineered to be both under 50 lbs. and large area, which also helps boost the power. Thus, Solaria PowerXT has higher power AND higher efficiency than typical panels.
How do you manufacture your solar panels?
Solaria utilizes a unique and proprietary process for dicing and connecting solar cells into a format that enables them to be “shingled” together instead of connected with traditional bussing ribbons. This unique format allows us to make higher power solar panels that still fall in typical Voltage and Current requirements for standard DC conditioning equipment used in PV systems such as inverters, battery chargers and power optimizers.
Where are Solaria PowerXT® panels manufactured?
Solaria panels are designed and engineered in the USA, and currently produced in Korea and South East Asia at multiple facilities to ensure steady supply.
Do Solaria panels have anti-reflective coating?
The anti-reflective coating on the Solaria PowerX performance solar panel and PowerXT premium solar panel is a durable layer factory-baked onto the cover glass at high temperature. It is designed to minimize reflections and to be resistant to contamination or attack by foreign materials.
When clean, the anti-reflective coating increases the power output by about 2% to 3%. For many geographic locations, it is substantially self-cleaning from the effect of rainy weather. If a cleaning process is desired, water and a squeegee is the simplest method (review other documentation about safety measures for height, electrical, etc).
How do I clean my Solaria panels?
Keeping your panels clean is important to ensure maximum system performance. Under most weather conditions, the average rainfall is sufficient to keep the panel glass surface clean. However, panels mounted at a small tilt angle might not self-clean as quickly as panels that are mounted at larger tilt angles.
If dirt build-up becomes excessive, clean the glass surface with an all-purpose detergent and warm water applied with a soft sponge or soft cloth. This is the safest and easiest cleaning method. It may also be helpful to use a squeegee.
NOTE: Solaria panels have a proprietary, anti-reflective coating on the glass that can be damaged if subject to abrasive cleaning materials. Damage to this coating will reduce the output of the panel.If you live near high traffic of heavy equipment area, we recommend cleaning twice a year to ensure maximum energy harvest.
On rare occasions, oily stains may appear on the panel glass surface. In these instances, Solaria recommends gently wiping the affected area with isopropyl alcohol and a soft cloth.
DO NOT ATTEMPT to clean the back surface of the panel. It is not necessary for proper operation and may damage the electrical components of the panel.
Cleaning panels on the roof should be done by a licensed solar contractor. Always wear proper safety equipment including hard hats and harnesses when working on rooftops.
Warranty
How do I register my modules for the warranty?
Solaria does not require solar panel registration to validate the warranty; if you have any issue with your Solaria panels, please contact the Warranty Claims department at warrantyclaims@solaria.com . Every Solaria module has a unique serial number which we use for warranty validation.
What is your PowerXT 400 Series warranty and power degradation rate?
Solaria offers a comprehensive warranty for the PowerXT 400 Series with a 30-year, “bumper-to-bumper” linear power, labor and workmanship warranty.
Based on the nameplate rating of the module the guaranteed maximum power degradation rate is as follows: • No more than -2% in the first year • No more than -0.5%/year thereafter through year 25 • Minimum power after 30 years is 84% of the initial nameplate value
Download Solaria PowerXT 400 Series 30-year Warranty here.
What is your PowerXT 300 Series warranty and power degradation rate?
Solaria offers a comprehensive warranty for the PowerXT 300 Series with a 25-year, “bumper-to-bumper” linear power, labor and workmanship warranty.
Based on the nameplate rating of the module the guaranteed maximum power degradation rate is as follows: • No more than -2% in the first year • No more than -0.5%/year thereafter through year 25 • Minimum power after 25 years is 86% of the initial nameplate value
Download Solaria PowerXT 300 Series 25-year Warranty here.
What is your PowerX Performance Series warranty and power degradation rate?
Solaria offers a comprehensive warranty for the PowerX Performance Series with a 25-year, “bumper-to-bumper” linear power, labor and workmanship warranty.
Based on the nameplate rating of the module the guaranteed maximum power degradation rate is as follows: • No more than -2% in the first year • No more than -0.5%/year thereafter through year 25 • Minimum power after 25 years is 86% of the initial nameplate value
Download Solaria PowerX Series 25-year Warranty here.
What is the warranty on Solaria AC Panels? Is the AC unit also covered for 25 years?
Yes, the Solaria AC Panel is also warranted for a full 25 years including the AC unit itself. Enphase is our exclusive customer care provider for this product. Using their “Enlighten” monitoring system, Enphase will diagnose issues remotely to determine the best course for remedy. For any issues with Solaria PowerXT® AC Panels over time please contact Enphase Support at: • (877) 797-4743 • https://enphase.com/en-us/support/contact
If Enphase determines the DC panel component is underperforming per the warranty, Enphase will coordinate with Solaria to ensure a replacement solution is offered.
Can I install Solaria panels on my boat or RV?
Solaria panels are designed for rooftop installations. Because of the unknown environmental conditions and exposures on boats or moving vehicles, we don’t recommend these types of installations.
Performance
How do I estimate the expected energy yield for my Solaria panels?
The Solaria PowerXT® product datasheet includes all the relevant information that a trained contractor can use to accurately estimate the energy yield of your PV system. Solaria PowerXT panels are also listed in commonly used design software such as Open Solar, Aurora and Helioscope. Solaria also offers our own design tool, a free design tool powered by OpenSolar specially for Solaria dealers. The Solaria Design Tool is specially designed to accurately capture the benefits of Solaria’s unique shade tolerant design.
Why do the Solaria PowerXT® panels have better shade tolerance and energy yield?
The Solaria PowerXT® panel utilizes more diodes and parallel cell connections than standard solar panels which makes them more tolerant of partial shading thus yielding higher energy output on typical residential applications. In conventional solar panel construction, all the cells are connected in series. Even with bypass diodes this makes shading much more disruptive to their output. For more information, please see our Enhanced Shading Performance White Paper for details on this unique aspect of Solaria PowerXT panels.
What are the extreme weather ratings for Solaria PowerXT® Panels?
Solaria PowerXT® panels are rated for a maximum snow load of 5400Pa (113 psf) and a maximum wind uplift resistance of 3600Pa (75 psf). See Installation manual for specific mounting instructions to achieve maximum snow and wind resistance. For hail resistance PowerXT® panels have passed the following testing standards: • UL 1703: “A module … is to be subjected to a 5 ft-lb (6.78 J) impact normal to the surface resulting from a 2-in (51-mm) diameter smooth steel sphere weighing 1.18 lb (535 g) falling through a distance of 51 in (1.295 m). The module or panel is to be struck at any point considered most vulnerable… there shall be no accessible live parts… Breakage of the superstrate material is acceptable provided there are no particles larger than 1 square in (6.5 cm2) released from their normal mounting position.” • IEC 61215: “A 25mm ice ball weighing 7.53g is shot at the module at a speed of 23 m/sec. 11 shots are fired at specific locations around the module that are considered to be the most vulnerable. No permanent damage can result for a Pass.”
Compatibility
Are there any special requirements for mounting a Solaria PowerXT® Panels?
No, Solaria uses industry standard 35mm or 40mm anodized aluminum frames which are compatible with most UL2703 certified racking systems. Check with your installer for specific mounting options available to you. The Solaria PowerXT® Installation Manual describes allowable mounting methods in more detail.
Do Solaria panels work with Microinverters and Power Optimizers?
Yes, although the power is higher than standard solar panels the voltage and current characteristics of the panel are within the allowable operating window of most major suppliers of Module Level Power Electronics (MLPE) including Enphase, SolarEdge and APSystems. We recommend always checking the latest manufacturer specs to ensure compatibility with Solaria PowerXT® panels. Use our Guide To Selecting MLPE for Solaria Panels to find the best fit.
What Enphase microinverter do you recommend for Solaria PowerXT & PowerX solar panels?
The Enphase IQ8A, IQ7+, and the IQ7A microinverters are fully compatible with the Solaria PowerXT-400R-PM & PowerX 400R. Which unit you use comes down to system economics. We encourage installers to model their systems with both and select based on total system value. For more details on how the microinverter selection effects system performance see our Technical Bulletin, “Why Is My PV Module Rating Larger Than My Inverter Rating? “
What SolarEdge optimizer do you recommend for the Solaria PowerXT & PowerX solar panels?
Solaria recommends the SolarEdge S440 or P401 optimizer for SolarEdge based systems.
Solaria PowerXT-400R-PM Solar Panel
Why did you create the “PowerXT-xxxR-PM” format?
Solaria is committed to providing the highest power panels over time. Current and next generation cell technologies are being more commonly produced on larger wafer formats. In order to continue to access the best technologies in our panels now and in the future, we need to change the format to accommodate the higher power cells. With less panels the installation is typically easier, faster and more attractive. The Solaria PowerXT-400R-PM panel is the same weight as the smaller format PowerXT 360-370W PD series, making installation handling safer and more efficient.
How does Solaria PowerXT-400R-PM compare to other solar premium brands and products?
Solaria is unique in the solar industry as the company is the only US-based, premium panel provider dedicated to the US residential rooftop market as a distribution-based product available to all dealers. Furthermore, Solaria panels offer the industry benchmark for aesthetics with its unique pure-black design. The Solaria PowerXT-400R-PM solar panel offers best-in-class power, performance, aesthetics and reliability.
Financing
Can I get a loan to finance a system with Solaria panels?
Yes, Solaria is on the Approved Supplier Lists (ASL) for most major solar lenders in the United States.
For a complete list of qualified finance partners go to: www.solaria.com/financing-partners. Please note financing terms are predicated on customer credit worthiness and not guaranteed.
Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) is another financing mechanism that enables low-cost, long-term funding for energy efficiency and renewable energy projects to be financed and repaid as an assessment on the homeowner’s regular property tax bill. PACE financing can offer payment terms of up to 20 years with no out-of-pocket costs.
Still need help?
Contact our Tech & Warranty Support Team.