FAQ: What is the quality inspection for solar panels?

During production the solar panels are inspected several times and electrical parameters are tested repeatedly to make sure the panels are 100% quality.

The cells received from the cell factory come with an inspection report giving test results for each cell. In the module factory, the cells are once more inspected and sorted to several subcategories based on their nominal specifications from the manufacturer. The goal is to select groups of cells that match perfectly.

Each group of cells is once more tested by light exposition to verify that the specifications of the cells within the group are really identical.

After the cells are soldered together they make a section (also called a branch). Again, each section is inspected and tested electrically to make sure the parameters of the section are identical after the soldering is done.

The sections are placed together on the back sheet of the solar module. In this moment the whole module is inspected by infra-red camera to see any discrepancies or problems. The infra red camera will discover any kinds of possible quality problems.

The goal is to be 100% sure about the quality before the lamination of the solar module. The reason is simple: after the module is laminated to the front glass, there is no more way to repair or change anything on the module.

After the model is laminated, the alum frame is added and the junction box is installed.  The final product is tested again on the illumination testing machine. The machine will report the total specification of the solar panel including the MPPT values.

Due to the strict inspection, it is possible to make sure that all panels are within the guaranteed parameters.  It is mostly unlikely there would be a solar panel that would have a manufacturing defect that would escape the strict inspection.