Solar Panel Upgrade

Removed failing 120watt panels on a ground mount frame. Then we reconfigured and reused all of the original railing and mounted it to the frame running perpendicular so we could fit the newer larger panels.
Once it was reconfigured we installed 12 REC 400 NP3 panels providing a total increase of 1,920watts if the original panels were working correctly (and they weren't).

[@isovideo7497]

With the only a small area increase, the only other win you get is if the panels are newer (small gain) or more efficient (also a small gain).

[@lighthouseelectricsolarllc4219]

We removed 24 120w panels and replaced them with 12 400w panels. So in a similar area we increased from 2880w to 4800w. Also, the 120w were failing with the Kyocera soldering problem that plagues those panels, so it was much more than just the wattage increase.

[@mb-3faze]

Nice, but what about the rest of that perfectly sloped roof which is perfectly oriented for maximal irradiance ? :) Panels are so cheap now - $100 for a 400W LONGi new panel. Even if you don't wire them up they will keep the roof cool in summer...

[@lighthouseelectricsolarllc4219]

In this case, the customer did not want any holes in his roof.