| Whether we know it or not, most of us buying cheap | | | | reluctant to pay out if your panels do are not UL |
| solar panels for our solar energy house need panels | | | | certified. |
| that have Underwriters Laboratories (UL) certification. It | | | | Off Grid Systems |
| does not matter whether they are cheap solar panels | | | | If you want to buy cheap solar panels for an off grid |
| or very expensive solar panels, it is the UL certification | | | | installation and are not looking to claim the financial |
| that matters. Here's why: | | | | incentives on offer from your Government, you don't |
| Cheap Solar Panels for Grid Tied Systems | | | | have to get solar panels with the appropriate |
| If you want your solar panels to be connected to the | | | | certification. But keep in mind that panels only get |
| electricity Grid, your photovoltaic (PV) panels MUST | | | | Underwriters Laboratories certification after passing a |
| have a UL certificate (this is true for the USA, and | | | | rigorous testing regime. Therefore, wherever possible, |
| many other countries have similar regulations). If your | | | | try and obtain UL certified panels, even if you don't |
| PV panels do NOT have UL certification you will NOT | | | | actually have to. |
| be allowed to connect them to the grid. To do so or | | | | UL Certification |
| attempt to do so will be a criminal offence in many | | | | Although in the USA every state is different, California |
| countries. | | | | has stated that qualifying PV panels must be certified |
| Cheap Solar Panels for Government Rebates & | | | | to UL1703 and additionally have IEC61215 for crystalline |
| Tax Incentives | | | | panels and IEC61646 for thin film panels. |
| In the USA, if you want a solar energy house and | | | | To obtain UL certification PV panels go through |
| want your photovoltaic panels to qualify for | | | | various tests to see how well they might perform |
| government rebates and tax incentives, your panels | | | | after a prolonged exposure to weather elements and |
| MUST be UL certified. It does not matter how much | | | | even extreme temperatures. These tests also gauge |
| you paid for them or what warranties they came with, | | | | the sturdiness of the insulating materials and the |
| no Underwriters Labs certification means no money | | | | performance of the wiring: how quickly do they stop |
| from the Government. | | | | working, whether they leak too much current or pose |
| Note: UL certification is still not a guarantee that you | | | | fire and health hazards. Buying cheap solar panels with |
| your panels are approved by your state. Not all panels | | | | UL certification should give you the peace of mind that |
| that have UL certification have been through each | | | | your panels are safe and will give you decades of |
| state's approval process, so it is possible to have a UL | | | | good reliable service. |
| certified panel that does not (yet) qualify. Please check | | | | Conclusion |
| with the appropriate authorities. You don't want to | | | | For the majority of us it is vital that the cheap solar |
| spend $15,000 on PV panels only to find out that they | | | | panels we buy have UL certification 1703. Even if you |
| don't qualify. Keep in mind that Government incentives | | | | are going for an off grid system, it makes sound |
| can add up to a staggering 60% of the total cost in | | | | sense to buy PV panels with UL certification. Our |
| some US states! | | | | investigations indicate that there is rarely a premium to |
| House Insurance | | | | be paid for solar panels with UL certification. I wish you |
| If one of your PV panels catches fire and damages | | | | all the best with your solar energy house. |
| your property, your insurance company could be very | | | | |