Solar Panel Specifications Explanation

The max power rating in watts that your solar panels are rated at is the figure that everyone quotes when talking about panel size.

Solar panel specifications explanation.

A collection of pv modules is called a pv panel and a system of panels is an array. The number of cells isn t something that s important to you but the dimensions of the panel is. Sw manufacturer solarworld 255 watt poly q cells q peak g4 1 product line of polycrystalline module 295. On a solar panel module cell or laminate there are a number of different specifications given.

Refers to the amount of wind force that the solar panel can withstand without breaking. Photo voltaic cells use sunlight as a source of energy and generate direct current electricity. How to interpret solar panel specifications and use them to choose the proper panels for your application. Solar panel efficiency is the efficiency of the panel as a whole and will always be slightly lower than the cell efficiency because of the gaps between individual cells.

The solar panel description usually starts with the name of the manufacturer then the category of solar module and afterward the solar panel wattage. Since voltage and current change based on temperature and intensity of light among other criteria all solar panels are tested to the same standard test conditions. Here are some sample specs i uh stole for purposes of illustration. Stc is the set of criteria that a solar panel is tested at.

The value for a typical solar panel of around 2400 pa 50 psf equates to a wind speed of around 63 m s which is 227 km hr or 141 mph. Most panels should have an efficiency of 13 or more. The defined stc for solar is a panel pointed directly at a bright sun with 1000w of solar energy landing per square meter with the panel kept at 25 degrees celsius 77 degrees fahrenheit with an atmospheric mass a number that refers to the amount of atmosphere between the panel and the sun of 1 5 overhead. A solar panel or solar module is commonly made up of 60 72 or 96 solar cells wired together.

Here s what you will find and how to interpret it. If the installer or salesperson talks aout a 190w or 250w panel they are talking about the max power rating of the panels. The term solar panel is used colloquially for a photo voltaic pv module. Here are a couple of examples.