Photo voltaic panels are available in numerous configurations — from smaller, 36-cell thin-film photo voltaic panels to bigger 72-cell monocrystalline choices.
The latter has gained traction through the years, turning into one of many extra fashionable panel sizes for residential photo voltaic functions.
As a home-owner trying to spend money on photo voltaic, having quite a few choices at your fingertips is unbelievable. Nonetheless, it may additionally muddy the waters and make the funding course of more difficult.
So, are 72-cell photo voltaic panels well worth the funding?
On this article, we make it easier to decide whether or not these panels are the best alternative for you.
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What are 72-cell photo voltaic panels?
Because the title implies, a 72-cell photo voltaic panel is just a photo voltaic panel comprised of 72 particular person vitality conversion parts.
Let’s take a more in-depth have a look at the function and make-up of those cells.
What are photo voltaic cells?
If you happen to look intently at a photo voltaic panel, you’ll discover it incorporates a number of particular person square-shaped parts. These square-shaped parts are known as photo voltaic cells.
A photo voltaic cell is a element answerable for absorbing daylight and changing it into vitality.
Whereas the variety of photo voltaic cells in a panel can affect the quantity of vitality it may produce, different key components, reminiscent of cell effectivity, play an excellent higher function.
Though there are at the moment many various photo voltaic cell sizes, the usual dimension of a photo voltaic cell is 156 mm by 156 mm (roughly 6 inches lengthy by 6 inches large).
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The common dimension of a 72-Cell photo voltaic panel
A 72-cell photo voltaic panel is organized in a 6 x 12-cell grid configuration, whereas the extra frequent 60-cell photo voltaic panel follows a 6 x 10-cell design.
Understanding the grid configuration of a 72-cell photo voltaic panel and the
dimensions of a regular photo voltaic cell, we will decide the typical sizes of a 72-cell photo voltaic panel: roughly 39 in large x 77 in lengthy (99 cm large and 195 cm lengthy).
Evaluating photo voltaic panels: variety of photo voltaic cells
Because of their smaller dimension, 60-cell panels are a extra frequent alternative for residential functions or in RVs and campervans. The facility output of those panels ranges from 150W to 300W.
Due to this fact, a 72-cell photo voltaic panel might fit your state of affairs higher if in case you have the house and require extra energy. For reference, a 72-cell photo voltaic panel’s wattage normally ranges between 300W and 450W.
As for 96-cell photo voltaic panels, they’re much bigger, so they have an inclination to generate a higher quantity of energy (between 400W to 500W of energy).
Because of its massive dimension and heavy weight, a 96-cell photo voltaic panel just isn’t a sensible possibility for residential functions. Nonetheless, it’s extremely efficient for industrial functions like photo voltaic farms.
| Variety of Cells in Photo voltaic Panel | Wattage Vary | Common Dimensions |
|---|---|---|
| 60 cells | 200W to 300W | 65″ lengthy and 39″ large |
| 72 cells | 300W to 450W | 77″ lengthy and 39″ large |
| 96 cells | 400W to 550W | 77″ lengthy and 50″ large |
What about voltage and wattage?
Every commonplace photo voltaic cell produces round 0.5 volts. When linked in collection, the panel’s complete voltage equals the sum of every cell’s voltage.
Due to this fact, the open circuit voltage of a 72-cell photo voltaic panel is 36V:
Whole Voltage (V) = 72 cells x 0.5 V = 36 V
Following the identical logic, a 60-cell photo voltaic panel can produce as much as 30 volts (open circuit voltage), so its nominal voltage is inadequate to cost a 24V battery effectively.
Conversely, 72-cell photo voltaic panels are also called “24V nominal photo voltaic panels” since their voltage is right for charging a 24V battery or two 12V batteries wired in collection.
As for the amperage, it’s instantly proportional to the dimension of the photo voltaic cells — that’s, the realm of the semiconductor. Due to this fact, bigger photo voltaic cells have a tendency to provide extra amps than standard-sized cells.
In abstract, the wattage of a photo voltaic panel is instantly proportional to the variety of photo voltaic cells (determines voltage) and the size of the photo voltaic cells (determines amperage).
How a lot does a 72-Cell photo voltaic panel value?
Our analysis has proven that costs can vary between $380 and $600, with the typical value being $490.
That mentioned, the price of a 72-cell photo voltaic panel can fluctuate considerably and relies on components reminiscent of:
- Set up value
- Producer/model
- Expertise (monocrystalline, polycrystalline, thin-film)
- Wattage
Relying on the scale of your photo voltaic array, prices can add up rapidly, so ensure to issue them into your finances when deciding whether or not or to not spend money on 72-cell photo voltaic panels.
Professionals and cons of 72-cell photo voltaic panels
As with all issues in life, 72-cell photo voltaic panels include their professionals and cons.
Professionals
- Able to producing extra electrical energy than commonplace 60-cell panels with the identical effectivity ranges.
- Nice for bigger properties or companies.
- Require fewer panels than 60-cell modules to attain the identical vitality output.
- Sometimes, the value per watt could be lower than 60-cell photo voltaic panels.
- Cheaper to put in on a big scale.
Cons
- Often dearer than 60-cells photo voltaic panels.
- Require extra space for set up
- Transport and set up could be troublesome on account of their heavy weight.
- Not really useful for off-grid installations reminiscent of RVs and campervans.
- Their cumbersome nature could make them troublesome to maneuver on a roof.
- Not environment friendly for small-scale techniques.
Are 72-cell photo voltaic panels well worth the funding?
Whether or not 72-cell photo voltaic panels are worthy investments relies on your particular person wants and finances.
When you’ve got sufficient house and wish a system that may generate a considerable amount of vitality, then 72-cell photo voltaic panels will make for a very good funding.
Nonetheless, a smaller panel — reminiscent of a 60-cell variant — could also be a greater possibility when you’re pressed for house and don’t require as a lot energy. This is applicable to off-grid techniques (RVs, campervans, and so on.) and smaller homes.
It’s additionally price remembering that different photo voltaic panels, reminiscent of half-cut cell photo voltaic panels, could also be higher suited to your wants.
So do your analysis and think about all of your choices earlier than making a choice.
Are photo voltaic panels with extra cells superior?
Typically talking, photo voltaic panels with extra cells are extra environment friendly and may generate extra electrical energy than these with fewer cells.
Nonetheless, different, extra vital components play a task, reminiscent of:
- Cell dimension
- Cell kind
- Effectivity
- Price per watt
In the end, photo voltaic panels with greater than 72 cells aren’t viable for residential use: they’re too massive and too heavy for roof set up and price extra.
Nonetheless, for large-scale/industrial functions, panels with greater than 72 cells are normally a greater possibility, as fewer modules are required to attain the specified output.
Due to this fact, the general value of constructing bigger photo voltaic arrays could be considerably smaller utilizing photo voltaic panels with extra cells.
Remaining ideas
If you must generate a considerable amount of vitality and have sufficient house for set up, a 72-cell photo voltaic panel generally is a nice alternative.
Nonetheless, when you’re on a decent finances and/or your vitality demand just isn’t that top, a smaller and cheaper panel could also be a greater possibility.
We hope this text has helped you make an knowledgeable choice as as to whether 72-cell photo voltaic panels are the best alternative for you.
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