top of page

Solar Panel Comparison - REC Alpha Pure R vs Sumec Phono Helios Clear

Updated: Nov 11



SIDE BY SIDE: THE SPECS


REC Alpha Pure R

Sumec Phono Helios Clear

MODEL

​REC410AA Pure R

​PS440L12GFH-16QSH

​RATED POWER

​410 W

​440 W

PRODUCT WARRANTY

​25 years

​30 years

CELL TYPE

​​HJT

​HJT

​PANEL EFFICIENCY

​21.2 %

​22.02 %

TEMPERATURE COEFFICIENT (VOC)

​-0.24 %/°C

​-0.24 %/°C

MANUFACTURED IN

Singapore

​China

​GLASS

​3.2 mm 'solar glass'

​1.6mm/1.6mm 'toughened glass'

​FRAME

​Anodized aluminium (black)

​Anodized aluminium alloy

DIMENSIONS

​1730 x 1180 x 30 mm

​1762 x 1134 x 30 mm

PERFORMANCE WARRANTY

​25 years

​30 years


REC VS SUMEC

​REC

​SUMEC Australia

REPUTATION

​REC is a well-known and reliable brand in the global solar industry. REC’s combination of product quality, company reliability and commitment to sustainability makes REC solar panels among the top performers in the marketplace.

SUMEC Australia is the Australian, wholly owned subsidiary of SUMEC Energy Holdings Co.

FOUNDED

​1996

Sumec: 1978​ Sumec Australia: 2017

AUSTRALIAN SUPPORT

Office in Melbourne. Competent support from REC reps.

​Office in Sydney. Competent support from Supply Partners, the supplier of the Phono panels.

HEADQUARTERS

​Norway

China

​OPERATIONAL HEADQUARTERS

​Singapore

China

Notable differences

Design

The REC Alpha Pure has a sleek, all-black design that appeals to a wide range of customers. Those building their dream home or if the are panels visible from the front often favour the Alpha Pure for its elegant aesthetic.

Conversely, the Phono Helios features a more traditional solar panel design where the busbars are visible, yet it maintains an appealing look.


Price

At the moment, the Alpha Pure panels are more expensive but the price difference between the Phono and REC panels is closing as REC panels have fallen to better meet the market.


Support bars

The REC Alpha Pure distinguishes itself with two support bars running across its back, enhancing its structural integrity and theoretically making it a stronger solar panel. In contrast, the Phono panels do not have any support bars.


Dual glass

The Phono panel features a dual-glass design, containing glass on both the front and back of the panel. This design offers the advantage of minimising water ingress into the panel. In contrast, the REC panel has glass solely on the front.


Warranty

The Phono Helios has a longer product warranty compared to REC Alpha Pure, providing an additional 5 years of coverage and peace of mind. Nevertheless, REC maintains an impressive 25-year product warranty, surpassing industry standards.


Wattage

Both panels share a very similar physical size, yet the Phono panel has a higher wattage, enabling the generation of a higher power system within the same roof space. This distinction allows for a more efficient utilisation of available space.


Support

We have a longstanding history of installing REC solar panels, and throughout the years, we have consistently been impressed by REC's support in terms of communication and efficiency.



Comments


bottom of page