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Key takeaways
- Photograph the sealed box from every side before you open it, then keep all packaging until you are sure the panels are fine.
- Inspect glass, frame, backsheet, junction box, cables and connectors, then count the hardware against the listing.
- Damaged modules can be electrical and cut hazards. Do not connect or test a panel with cracked glass or a torn back.
- Check the label against your order, and read the maker's manual before you handle or wire anything.
- Read the seller's return and damage-claim terms right away, because deadlines vary and you should not assume a window.
Before you open the box
The inspection starts at the door. How a box looks when it arrives can matter later if you need to make a claim, so look at it before you cut the tape.
- Look at the outside. Check for crushed corners, punctures, wet patches, torn tape or signs that the box was dropped.
- Photograph it. Take wide shots of the box on all sides, plus the shipping label and any carrier damage stickers. Take close-ups of any damage.
- Note it with the carrier. If the damage is obvious, record it with the driver or on the delivery confirmation if that is possible. Check the seller's and carrier's policies, because the claim terms differ.
- Unpack on a clean, flat surface. Use a table or the floor with a blanket under it, and keep sharp tools away from the panel. A cutter blade that slips can scratch a panel's surface.
A simple photo set is enough, and it takes five minutes:
- The sealed box from all sides, with the label visible.
- The panel face, flat on the surface, in good light.
- Each corner and edge of the frame, close up.
- The back of the panel, including the junction box and cable exits.
- The nameplate label, so the model and serial information are readable.
- Anything that looks wrong, with something in the frame for scale.
Photograph the packaging as you open it, including the foam or corner protectors. If the panel is damaged, the way it was packed is part of the story, and the seller or carrier may ask to see it.
What to inspect on the panel
Go over each panel slowly, in good light, front and back. A residential module maker's guide that we cite below gives a sensible list of what to look for: broken glass, a torn back sheet and broken connectors, and it notes that damaged modules are electrical and laceration hazards.
| Check | What good looks like | If it is wrong |
|---|---|---|
| Glass | Smooth, no cracks, chips or spiderweb patterns | Do not connect it. Photograph and contact the seller |
| Frame | Straight, with square corners and no dents or twists | Photograph; a bent frame can stress the glass |
| Back of the panel | No tears, scratches through the backsheet or bulges | Photograph; do not connect |
| Junction box | Intact, fully attached, no cracks | Photograph; do not connect |
| Cables and connectors | Complete, uncut and not kinked | Do not pull or twist them; photograph and contact the seller |
| Label | Legible, and matching the model you ordered | Photograph the label and compare with the listing |
| Cells | Even appearance, no obvious discoloration or lines | Photograph; ask the seller whether it is normal |
The maker's guide also says to avoid dropping modules, pulling or twisting the cables and scratching the glass, back sheet or junction box. Panels should stay in their packaging until installation, which is a good reason to inspect and then repack if you are not mounting right away.
If you have a flexible panel, the same logic applies, with extra attention to the surface and edges. Flexible panels have limits on how much they can be bent, and the maker's instructions govern. Our flexible panel guide covers some of the tradeoffs.
Count the hardware and read the paperwork
Many returns are about missing pieces rather than broken ones. Compare the box contents to the listing you saved when you ordered:
- Mounting brackets, screws or hardware shown in the listing.
- Cables, extension leads, adapters or connectors the listing says are included.
- A charge controller or other components if you ordered a kit. Our kit guide explains what a complete kit includes.
- The manual, warranty information and any safety sheets.
Read the manual before you mount anything. It tells you how the maker wants the panel handled, cleaned, mounted and wired, and it is the document that matters if you ever make a warranty claim. For installation background, see our guide to installing rigid panels on an RV, and follow the panel and mount makers' instructions over any general advice.
Spare connectors and a connector tool
Do not improvise with connectors that only look similar. Match the family to your panel's maker and manual. If a connector is damaged on arrival, tell the seller before you modify anything; changing the panel's wiring may complicate a claim.
Should you test the panel?
A simple output check on an undamaged panel can reassure you that it works, but only after the visual inspection is clean. Use a multimeter as the meter's manual describes, take the reading in daylight, and compare it with the voltage information on the label and the maker's spec sheet. Expect real-world readings to vary with light and temperature, and read the maker's guidance on what a reasonable reading looks like.
Do not test a panel with cracked glass, a torn back or damaged cables. That is a cut and electrical hazard, and it belongs with the seller and the maker. Our meter guide covers which meter functions matter, and any wiring beyond a simple check belongs with your manuals and a qualified RV technician or electrician.
If something is wrong
Act the same day, while the evidence is fresh.
- Stop. Do not install, connect or modify the panel.
- Document. Photograph the damage, the label, the box and packaging, and write down the date, order number and what you found.
- Keep everything. Hold on to the box, foam and packing materials until the matter is resolved.
- Read the policies. Look at the seller's return, replacement and damage-claim terms, and the carrier's claim terms. Deadlines vary, so check the actual wording rather than assuming.
- Contact the seller. Send the photos and a short, factual description, and ask what they need to arrange a replacement or refund.
If the order is late or incomplete rather than damaged, the FTC's mail, internet and telephone order rule gives you some rights over shipping delays, and the sale-season buying guide summarizes them. For more on buying secondhand, which needs a different inspection routine, see buying used RV solar gear on eBay.
Frequently asked questions
What should I check when my solar panels arrive?
Check the box for damage, photograph it, then inspect the glass, frame, back, junction box, cables and connectors, and compare the label and hardware with your order.
Can I install a solar panel with a cracked corner or bent frame?
No. Do not connect a panel with cracked glass or a torn back, and photograph a bent frame and contact the seller. A damaged module can be an electrical and cut hazard.
What photos should I take before returning a panel?
Photograph the sealed box, the shipping label, the packing materials, the damage up close and the panel's label.
Should I keep the packaging?
Yes. Keep the box and packing materials until you are sure the panel is fine and any claim is settled.
Is it safe to test a new panel with a multimeter?
Only on an undamaged panel, in daylight, following the meter's manual. Never test a panel with cracked glass, a torn back or damaged cables.
Sources and verification
- SolarEdge, Smart Modules Installation Guide: inspect modules for broken glass, a torn back sheet and broken connectors; damaged modules are electrical and laceration hazards; keep modules in their packaging until installation; avoid dropping them, pulling or twisting cables, or scratching the glass, back sheet or junction box. This is a residential module guide used as an example; your panel's manual governs.
- FTC, business guide to the Mail, Internet, or Telephone Order Merchandise Rule: the shipping-time and delay rules for orders.
This guide quotes no return-window lengths, claim deadlines or electrical specifications. Check the seller's and carrier's policies for those, and the panel maker's manual and spec sheet for handling and electrical details.