If you're looking to switch to solar, you may wonder if you have enough space to install the panels. This is a valid concern - solar panels are pretty big! Most home solar panels are about 5.5 feet x 3 feet and weigh roughly 40 pounds each.
You will get efficient and thoughtful service from OUSHANG SOLAR.
Most of the time, you won't see the size of solar panels expressed in feet. Instead, you'll see it's listed as the number of solar cells within a panel, with the most common solar panel sizes being 60-cell and 72-cell.
Let's take a closer look at the difference between these solar panel sizes and how to pick the right one for your home.
Calculate the costs and benefits of installing solar on your home
The number of cells within a panel dictates its size - 60-cell and 72-cell panels are the most common solar panel sizes.
60-cell solar panels are the standard solar panel size for homes. They are usually 5.5 feet by 3 feet and weigh around 40 pounds.
72- cell panels are bigger, measuring around 6.5 feet by 3 feet, weigh about 50 pounds, and are typically considered commercial solar panels.
An average solar panel system requires between 15 to 19 solar panels and takes up 260 to 340 square feet of space.
Solar panel efficiency, output, a good warranty, and a trusted brand are more important than focusing on solar panel size.
Residential solar panels usually hold 60 cells, while larger 72-cell panels are used for commercial installations.
When you look at a solar panel, you&#;ll see it&#;s made up of small squares. Those squares are called solar cells, and they're the part of the panels that turn sunlight into electricity.
You'll see the size of a solar panel described by how many cells it has. 60-cell panels are usually laid out in a 6 by 10 grid and are the most popular option for home solar installations. You&#;ll typically find that 60-cell solar panels have output ratings between 350 and 400 watts and efficiency ratings between 17% and 19%.
72-cell panels, on the other hand, are usually arranged in a 6-cell by 12-cell grid. Because 72-cell panels hold more cells, they are bigger and can produce more solar power, making them popular for commercial installations. 72-cell panel wattage usually sits around 415 to 450 watts, but they can get into the 460-watt range. Their efficiency ratings are typically between 18% and 21%.
Half-cut solar cells. You may see some solar panels that have 120 cells or 144 cells. These are made using half-cut solar cells, which maximize how much of the panels&#; surface can turn sunlight into electricity. Panels with 120 half-cut cells are effectively the same size as 60-cell panels. In contrast, 144-cell panels are similar to 72-cell panels.
60-cell panels are generally around 65 inches x 39 inches. In comparison, 72-cell panels are a bit larger, at about 80 inches by 40 inches.
Many people want to know the physical size of solar panels, not just how many cells the hold. The average 60-cell solar panel is about 65 inches by 39 inches, or 5.4 feet by 3.25 feet, and weighs around 40 to 50 pounds. The actual dimensions will vary from panel to panel, so we&#;ve listed a few for some of the most popular 60-cell panels on the market:
60-cell panel brand
Dimensions
Weight
LONGi
64.96 x 39.02 x 1.57 inches
40.13 lbs
QCells
65.7 x 39.4 x 1.26 inches
41.45 lbs
Trina
65.3 × 39.1 × 0.236 inches
51.8 lbs
Jinko Solar
65.55 x 39.45 x 1.38 inches
41.9 lbs
72-cell panels are larger, about 80 inches by 40 inches and about 1.5 inches tall. This works out to just about 6.5 feet by 3 feet for 72 cell panels, give or take a few inches. 72-cell modules generally weigh around 50 pounds. Here are the dimensions for 72-cell panels offered by top brands:
Brand
Size 72 cell panel
Weight 72 cell panel
LONGi
82.44x 40.86 x 1.38 inches
51.80 kg
QCells
79.33 x 39.37 x 1.38 inches
52.71 lbs
Trina
77.2 x 39.1 x 1.57 inches
49.6 lbs
Jinko Solar
79.06 x 39.45 x 1.57 inches
49.6 lbs
Are solar panels too heavy for my roof? A solar photovoltaic system can add over 700 pounds to your roof! Most roofs can withstand solar panel weight. But, if you have an old roof, consider replacing it before installing solar. It may also be a good idea to hire a professional for an inspection if you have an older home.
Here&#;s a brief breakdown of the pros and cons of each panel size.
Panel
Pros
Cons
60-cell
More compact, can fit on smaller roof segments, harder to damage
Less output per panel (on average), installation requires more panels
72-cell
If you are looking for more details, kindly visit 72 Cell Solar Module Factory.
More output per panel, cheaper cost per watt
Larger size means it doesn't fit well on smaller roof segments, heavier and harder to install
&#;How many solar panels do I need to power my home?&#;; the age-old question with absolutely no easy answer. Based on the U.S.'s average energy consumption and sunlight, a residential solar system needs between 15 and 19 solar panels, which will require around 260 to 340 square feet of roof space.
The actual number of solar panels your specific home needs will depend on various factors like:
The amount of energy you use: The more solar panels you have on your roof, the more power they will produce. If your electricity usage is higher than your neighbor, your solar systems will vary in size because you will need more panels to cover your extra energy use.
Sunlight available: If you live in sunny Arizona, your solar panel system can produce more power than panels on a roof in Illinois.
Panel output: Solar panels with higher power ratings, or wattages, can produce more electricity. Using high-wattage panels, you can install fewer panels to meet your energy usage and eliminate your utility bill.
When you work with a solar installer to find the perfect number of panels to provide solar energy for your home.
Once solar panels are installed on your roof, you don&#;t have to think much about their size anymore.
But, with portable off-grid panels, solar panel size is one of the most important things to consider. Your RV might only have a small amount of roof space, or you might want something you can carry around and set up outside your campsite!
Because portable solar panels are made for travel, they tend to be smaller and have about 40 cells as opposed to 60. 200-watt portable panels are around 5 feet by 2 feet.
You could also opt for flexible solar panels, which also measure about 5 feet by 2 feet. But flexible panels can bend and are much thinner than crystalline panels, so they&#;re easier for storage.
The flexible panel sold by Renogy, a popular portable solar brand, has 72 cells, but they&#;re smaller than the ones used in typical commercial panels. The panel is also substantially lighter, weighing just 10.8 pounds!
Folding solar panel kits are also an option for portable use. Foldable panels can be small enough to fit in your backpack, or large enough to power your RV - there's a wide range of options out there.
There are many factors that you should consider before the size of your solar panels, like solar panel efficiency and solar panel warranties.
Solar panel efficiency is the percentage of light that strikes the surface of a panel that is converted into usable electricity. Modern solar panels have efficiencies that range from around 17% up to 22.8% in some premium models.
Highly efficient panels take up less space, which will allow you to fit more panels on your roof.
There are two types of warranties that cover solar panels.
The first is the product warranty. This is the period during which you can ask the manufacturer to replace the solar panel should any problem arise. Nowadays, a product warranty of 12 years is standard, but more brands are starting to offer product warranties of 25 years.
The second type of warranty is a performance guarantee. Most mainstream panels have a 25-year production warranty, guaranteeing the panel will produce a certain level of output at every stage of the panel&#;s life. From the date your panels are installed up until the 25-year mark, the minimum guaranteed output of your panels will gradually decrease.
You can expect an output of close to 100% for year one, gradually down to between 80 and 92 percent for year 25. This loss in output is technically known as solar panel degradation. Some solar panel manufacturers, such as Canadian Solar, even offer a 30-year performance warranty on certain panel models.
Find out if solar panels are worth it for your home
The easiest way for homeowners to figure out the best solar panel size for their needs is to work with a dedicated solar installer. Solar installers will size your system based on your energy needs, coupled with your available roof space and the sunlight in your area. They can recommend a system size that can fit on your roof and reduce or eliminate your electric bill.
For portable panels that will be drilled into an RV or need to fit on a boat, measuring where these panels can fit is important. But for a residential solar array, rest assured that your installer will get the right-sized panels for your space and energy requirements. You can find an installer in your area through the SolarReviews savings calculator to get one step closer to adding renewable energy to your roof.
In today&#;s market, the vast majority of solar panels produce between 250 and 400 watts of clean energy. On your solar installation quote, you might see a number like 245W, 300W or 345W next to the name of each panel. They all refer to a solar panel&#;s capacity, power output and wattage.
All solar panels are rated according to how much DC (direct current) power they produce when tested under standard conditions.
The output of a solar panel is expressed in units of watts (W) and represents the theoretical power production of the panel under ideal sunlight and temperature conditions. The wattage of a panel is calculated by multiplying volts x amps. Volts refer to the force of electricity and amperes (amps) determine how much energy is being used over time.
Most home solar panels have power output ratings ranging from 250 to 400 watts, with higher power ratings generally considered better than lower ones. Pricing in solar is usually expressed as dollars per watt ($/W) and the overall cost of your solar system depends on the total watts generated by those panels.
For instance, if you&#;re a California homeowner who gets 5 hours of direct sunlight per day, you could calculate your solar panel output like this:
5 hours x 290 watts (an example wattage of a premium solar panel) = 1,450 watts-hours, or roughly 1.5 kilowatt-hours (kWh)
So, the output for each solar panel in your array will be about 500-550 kWh of energy per year.
The amount of energy a solar panel can produce depends on two key factors: cell efficiency and solar panel size.
Let&#;s take a closer look at each one of these factors.
Today, most solar cells are made of silicon and can convert 20 percent or more of the sunlight that hits them into usable energy. This has led to solar panels that are able to generate more than 400 watts of power.
Higher efficiency = more energy produced. As a result, high-efficiency solar panels convert more of the sun&#;s energy into electricity to produce more power for your home.
To simplify, we can divide solar panels into two groups based on their size: 60-cell and 72-cell. Most 60-cell solar panels are roughly 5.4 feet tall by 3.25 feet wide and can generate 270 to 300 watts of electricity per panel.
On the other hand, 72-cell panels are larger than 60-cell panels because they have an extra row of cells. They&#;re able to produce an average of 350&#;400 watts. Because of their large size and weight, 72-cell panels are typically used on commercial solar projects, not on residential homes.
The efficiency of a solar panel and the number/size of its individual solar cells directly impact its rated power output.
In the real world however, other factors affect how much power a solar panel will actually produce:
Shading will produce less electricity from your solar panels. Though a solar panel&#;s wattage rating indicates the amount of energy it can produce when in full sunlight, other factors&#;such as shade from trees or buildings&#;can lower that output.
Your panel&#;s orientation can impact your solar panel&#;s output production, but a panel&#;s output rating doesn&#;t take this into account. Ideally, your panels should be positioned so that they face directly towards the sun. In reality, roof planes are rarely made at maximum efficiency angles.
Hours of sunlight refers to the amount of time during a day or year that your panels are exposed to the sun&#;s rays. More hours of sunlight for your solar panel means higher energy output.
In the above example, the solar panel produces 1.5 kilowatt-hours of electricity per day, or about 45 kilowatt-hours per month. That&#;s enough energy to power a handful of small appliances. In order to produce enough energy to offset usage of your AC unit, refrigerator, cooking appliances, etc.&#;you&#;ll need more panels.
How Much Energy Will an Entire Solar Panel System Produce?
The amount of solar energy produced by a single panel is important, but it&#;s also necessary to know how much power you can generate on your roof. Let&#;s do the math:
Using the example above, let&#;s say you get an average of five hours of sunlight daily (this is an average amount for most California homeowners) and your solar panels are rated at 290 W. If you install 30 of those premium solar panels on your roof&#;which would be an 8.7 kW system&#;you could net an 8,700 watt, or 8.7 kW solar panel system.
When you multiply the five hours of direct sunlight estimated above by 8.7 kW, you get approximately 43.5 kWh of electricity produced daily. A final conversion will tell us how many kWh the solar panels produce in a year: multiply 43.5 by 365 days, and you get 15,800 kWh of electricity produced annually by 30 premium, 290 W panels. Since the average American family uses about 10,600 kilowatt hours of electricity per year, that would be more than enough energy to run your home on solar power. Again, that&#;s if your usage is within the 10,600 kilowatt hour average.
Power output is one of the most important measurements for your home or commercial solar energy system. Solar photovoltaic energy systems are typically priced by the amount of electricity they can produce (expressed in watts or kilowatts).
Solar panel wattage refers to a panels&#; ideal power production under perfect sunlight and temperature conditions. The wattage is calculated by multiplying volts x amps, where volts represent the force of electricity and amperes (amps) refer to how much energy that current draws.
For grid-tied systems, open-circuit voltage and the voltage of your system are less significant factors. For homeowners who want to go off-grid or install a home battery storage solution, it&#;s an important part of a PV system. The savings from your solar energy system come from the electricity it generates over time (expressed in kilowatt-hours).
It is important for consumers to consider the overall quality and performance of a solar panel, not just its power output.
Some panels have a higher power output rating because they are physically larger, rather than more efficient or technologically superior.
If two solar panels both have 15 percent efficiency ratings, but one has a power output rating of 250 watts and the other is rated at 300 watts, it means that the 300-watt panel is about 20 percent physically larger. This is why measuring a panel&#;s efficiency&#;as opposed to simply its capacity&#;better reflects how well it performs.
Practically speaking, a 5kW (kilowatt) solar panel system could consist of either 20 250-watt panels or 16 300-watt panels. Both systems will generate the same amount of power in the same location. While a 5kW system may produce 6,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity each year in Boston, that same system is expected to produce 8,000 kWh yearly in Los Angeles due to the amount of sun.
If you&#;re ready to save money and power your home with clean, reliable energy, contact us today for a free customized solar quote.
For more information, please visit 72 Cell Solar Module China.