The SunPower story began in 1985 when Dr Richard Swanson started the company. so you now know that SunPower Solar Panels have been there right from the start.
In this review we are going to look into the popular SunPower Maxeon 3 400w and Maxeon 5 and 6 AC, a solar system that combined the latest microinverter technology from Enphase. So if you don't have much roof space these high efficiency system will do the job for you! There is also a SunPower Australia office, to back their huge 25 to 40-year warranty.
SunPower Maxeon 3 400w
The Maxeon 3 400W solar panel is a great option for those looking to save money on electricity bills. Its durable, highly efficient and reliable.
These record setting panels, ensure that you have the very best solar for your home or business.
The SunPower Maxeon pedigree has evolved over five generations of solar cell development. That amounts to an incredible 3,500,000,000 cells fitted to over 33,000,000 solar panels.
During normal use over years in service, other, traditional solar cells gradually lose power. This is caused by breakage and corrosion. This degradation is even worse in harsh climatic conditions.
Some of these problems show up as “browning” of the cell, potential induced degradation (PID), cracks forming in the cell, cell delamination and back sheet failure. In fact, a study of European solar plants, found that over 40% of panel failure was attributed to these issues.
Essentially different, advanced.
The SunPower Maxeon is unique in its design so as to reduce or eliminate the problems that plague ‘normal’ solar panels, to give you years of trouble-free service and ongoing savings.
SunPower don’t expect customers to invest their money into their products without the reassurance of significant and ongoing research and field testing. To date, the Maxeon panel has been subjected to 8 years of testing at 264 sites – which amounts to over 800,000 actual panels! So far, the SunPower Maxeon has shown the lowest degradation rate of any kind across the industry.
The SunPower Maxeon has demonstrated exceptional reliability that is nearly 4 times that of traditional solar panels.
Sunpower Maxeon 3 400w
Sunpower Maxeon 5 AC
featuring Enphase Inverter
This is the first successful integration between AC micro inverter technology, and high-end solar modules. The AC micro inverter is right there, at the back of the panel reducing the loss that traditional panels experience, when they are connected to a conventional string inverter, which is often many metres away.
This improved design and performance also results in a much better appearance; some may even recognise that these are SunPower panels from the street level view! If you’re wanting the very best micro inverter and panel solution, then the SunPower Maxeon 5 AC package is waiting for you. This product is supported by extremely long warranties. 25 years for the Enphase AC micro inverter, and 40 years for the SunPower Maxeon solar panel.
Advanced solar technology
Commonly, one inverter controls the output of an entire solar battery setup, it's a design with one point of failure. SunPower AC Modules spread this risk across every panel using better technology: Enphase microinverters. What is a microinverter? A microinverter is a small electronic 'box' that sits on the back of each solar panel. Its main task is to convert the electricity generated by your solar panels from DC (DC) into AC (AC) that you simply can use directly in your home or export out to the grid.
Each SunPower AC module is in effect, independent, making your rooftop more productive, and in fact the whole system, more reliable. With a conventional approach, the system performance is only as good as the weakest panel, and this aspect can dramatically reduce the output, due to shade or other challenges, like leaves or debris.
Sunpower Maxeon 5 AC - Diagram: SunPower
SunPower Maxeon 6 AC
featuring Enphase Inverter
Released in 2022, the SunPower Maxeon 6 AC is manufactured with the same 66 cell size as the popular 5 AC series, but now it comes with the next generation Maxeon 6 cells, which increase efficiency up higher to 22.8%. The new Maxeon 6 panels are slightly larger than the 5 series measuring 1032 mm wide and 1872 mm high. As a result, the output power increased by 6%, and the rated peak power increased from 415W to 440W, using the IBC N-type cells (Gen 6). Also, like the 5 series, the Maxeon 6 AC comes with the factory-integrated Enphase Energy micro inverter.
To meet the needs of the commercial market, the 6 AC series is available in a larger 72-cell format which boosts the output power from 450W to up to 475W.
The SunPower Maxeon 6 AC has been designed to provide 35% more power with an average lifespan of at least 25 years. It achieves this with its improved high temperature performance, and energy conversion in low light conditions - such as morning, night and on cloudy days. This panel is engineered to perform in all types of weather conditions, and features non-cracking cells and reinforced compounds that protect them against fatigue and corrosion. The micro inverter in each panel makes the panel independent, and helps to minimize the shadow effect while improving overall system performance.
Maxeon 6 AC
Who can match SunPower's Warranty?
SunPower stands behind the quality of its Maxeon line-up through extensive testing and field data from more than 33 million panel installations worldwide. This is why their panels come with the Industry’s Longest Warranty; 40-Years!
- Year 1 - the minimum guaranteed output is 98.0%
- Maximum annual degradation 0.25%.
- Microinverter limited product warranty is covered by Enphase 25 Years.
Sunpower Maxeon Solar Panels Review
The Benchmark of Durability*
Solar panels and cells are often subjected to extreme forces that cause ‘normal’ panels to bend and break. The SunPower Maxeon has a patented cell design that features a metal foundation, that also withstands these forces allowing a 40-year service life with an incredibly low 0.005% panel return rate.
Global Independent Test House Validation
The PVEL PV Module Reliability Scorecard, has become the industry’s leading test and benchmark authority. In the 2021 assessment, unsurprisingly, SunPower Maxeon solar panels were awarded “Top Performer” status. The PVEL Product Qualification Program (PQP), testing regimen draws from reliability data from panel producers worldwide.
That’s right. A 40-Year Product Warranty.
You read that correctly. This is indisputably the longest and most comprehensive warranty in the Solar Industry. Only a company that has been around for as long as SunPower, with its unmatched products and performance can stand behind its products with such solid, exceptional support. Did you know that statistically, you have 100 times greater chance of returning a ‘normal’ solar panel, than a SunPower Maxeon? Its so unlikely that you would ever need support, but if you did, given that the warranty is so inclusive that you can invest with total confidence in SunPower Maxeon solar panels.
Advanced solar technology - Image: SunPower
The unique SunPower Maxeon cell technology
Take a closer look…No grid lines at all.
Because SunPower Maxeon cells have their connections at the back of the cell, this actually eliminates all the metal gridlines, commonly seen in ‘normal’ panels. This not only looks better, but as the shading these grid lines cause has been removed, it also lets more sunlight into the cells so they can produce more electricity.
Solid Copper Metal Foundation
While other manufacturers work out ways to save money and ‘penny-pinch’ on quality, SunPower continue to build their panels to the highest standards in the industry. The copper base gives the cell immense strength and durability to repel corrosion.
Big, fat connectors
One of the main stresses that solar panels must endure is constant heating up and cooling down. This constant expansion and contraction cause eventual cracking in solar cell connectors. However, SunPower use three, very heavy, thick metal connectors that deal with this problem.
SunPower Maxeon Solar Cell Design Layout