Solar panels are built to last, but that doesn’t mean they keep performing at their best. Especially older installations (10+ years) are more likely to suffer from hidden defects, reduced output, or even safety issues. A thermal drone inspection offers a fast and safe way to detect these problems.
Older panels: weak or missing bypass diodes
Modern solar panels come with bypass diodes that help redirect current around faulty cells or zones. But older panels — often pre-2010 — don’t always have them, or they no longer function properly.
-
Some panels have no bypass diodes at all.
-
Others have cheap or damaged diodes after years of use.
-
Some were poorly designed, so the diode doesn’t activate as it should.