In what projects can you use the Yingli panels?

Well, so far we've found a number of different off-grid uses for Yingli products.

• DIY
• Caravans
• Motorhomes
• Dual battery solar power systems
• Motorcycles

Who are Yingli?
To date, Yingli have supplied over 2GW of solar panels worldwide and have over 11,000 staff.
Apart from being a major supplier in the solar industry, Yingli also appear to be football mad. Yingli sponsored last year's FIFA World Cup. That gave them two firsts - the first Chinese sponsors and the first in green energy. They will also be sponsoring the FIFA World Cup in Brazil in 2014 and they have partnered with FIFA to build solar powered football centres across Africa.

How do Yingli panels cope with partial shade?
In order to cope with a shadow falling across part of the panel, the 30W (and above) Yingli panels are fitted with bypass diodes. These prevent a drain occurring between a sunlit cell and a shaded cell. (Without bypass diodes, the shaded cell would be a drain on the overall power and reduce the output of the panel).

This is a standard feature to expect from better quality solar panels. It's also a feature of our popular 32W flexible panel.

Sealed against the weather:
The cells are sealed in Tedlar (TPT), 3mm of glass and two EVA sheets to protect the panel and keep moisture out.  The glass used is high transmission, meaning that it allows as much light as possible to pass through it.

Heavy duty frame:
The frame that supports the solar panel is a robust, anodised aluminium unit. The frame has already been prepared with mounting holes, ready for you to fit. When fitted correctly, it's able to resist high winds so that it stays where you put it.

Finally,the anodised aluminium finish gives the whole item a smart professional look, which means it looks good whether it's on your garage roof or on your boat.

What else will you need (or need to know) for your installation?
1. A suitable solar charge controller. If you are not fitting a charge controller then you will need a blocking diode to prevent your battery discharging back into the solar panel.
2. A 10mm gap under the panel so that heat can dissipate.
3. In the UK, a 50 degree angle (if you can) to get the best fall of sunlight on the panel. If fixed to a vehicle, when parked try to make sure the panel is aligned to the sun and not under shade.

How do you maintain the panel?
There's not a lot to do. Just remove anything blocking the light, such as leaves etc and clean regularly with a mild solution of soap and clean water then rinse - no abrasives or solvents.

Combined 25 Year and 10 Year Warranty:
Each of the Yingli panels carries:
1. A 25 year limited output warranty against defects in workmanship and materials affecting performance. (i.e. If the panel is producing less than 80% of its peak power).
2. A 10 year limited output warranty against defects in workmanship and materials affecting performance. (i.e. If the panel is producing less than 90% of its peak power).

The defective product will be replaced, providing it is within the stated warranty period and returned by the original purchaser with proof of purchase.

The warranty does not apply to wear or breakage due to misuse/abuse (for example if there are signs that the panel has been walked on).

Technical specifications:
These vary depending on the wattage rating, for each of the different Yingli panels, but an overview is provided below.

Yingli Overview:
Heavy duty anodised aluminium frame provides high wind resistance and convenient mounting access. Cells are laminated between high transmissivity, low iron, 3mm tempered glass and a sheet of TPT material and finally two sheets of EVA to prevent moisture entering the module.

• Installation holes for standard bracket systems are located on the frame.
• Bypass diodes on panels 30W and above to improve shadow tolerance.
• Waterproof versatile junction box provides flexibility of connections.
• 60W, 85W and 130W panels come fitted with approx 1m  length positive and negative cables fitted with Type 3 Multicontact connectors; cables are easy to remove and replace if necessary
• 10W to 40W panels come fitted with approx 1m of 2-core cable
• Modules are manufactured in accordance with IEC 61215.
• 25 years limited output guarantee.
• Require blocking diodes if not used with a regulator.