Do you have to purchase 72-cell photo voltaic panels?

Photo voltaic panels are available varied configurations — from smaller, 36-cell thin-film photo voltaic panels to bigger 72-cell monocrystalline choices.

The latter has gained traction over time, changing into one of many extra well-liked panel sizes for residential photo voltaic functions.

As a house owner seeking to put money into photo voltaic, having quite a few choices at your fingertips is incredible. Nevertheless, it could possibly additionally muddy the waters and make the funding course of tougher.

So, are 72-cell photo voltaic panels definitely worth the funding?

On this article, we enable you to decide whether or not these panels are the correct alternative for you.

What are 72-cell photo voltaic panels?

Because the identify 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 position and make-up of those cells.

What are photo voltaic cells?

When you look intently at a photo voltaic panel, you’ll discover it comprises a number of particular person square-shaped parts. These square-shaped parts are known as photo voltaic cells.

A photo voltaic cell is a part 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 could possibly produce, different key elements, comparable to cell effectivity, play an excellent higher position.

Though there are at the moment many alternative 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 broad).

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 widespread 60-cell photo voltaic panel follows a 6 x 10-cell design.

Figuring out the grid configuration of a 72-cell photo voltaic panel and the 

dimensions of a regular photo voltaic cell, we are able to decide the common sizes of a 72-cell photo voltaic panel: roughly 39 in broad x 77 in lengthy (99 cm broad and 195 cm lengthy).

Evaluating photo voltaic panels: variety of photo voltaic cells

As a consequence of their smaller dimension, 60-cell panels are a extra widespread alternative for residential functions or in RVs and campervans. The facility output of those panels ranges from 150W to 300W.

Subsequently, a 72-cell photo voltaic panel may fit your state of affairs higher when you’ve got the house and require extra energy. For reference, a 72-cell photo voltaic panel’s wattage often 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).

As a consequence of its massive dimension and heavy weight, a 96-cell photo voltaic panel will not be a sensible choice for residential functions. Nevertheless, it’s extremely efficient for business functions like photo voltaic farms.

What about voltage and wattage?

Every normal photo voltaic cell produces round 0.5 volts. When linked in sequence, the panel’s whole voltage equals the sum of every cell’s voltage. 

Subsequently, 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 referred to as “24V nominal photo voltaic panels” since their voltage is right for charging a 24V battery or two 12V batteries wired in sequence.

As for the amperage, it’s instantly proportional to the dimension of the photo voltaic cells — that’s, the realm of the semiconductor. Subsequently, 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 price?

Our analysis has proven that costs can vary between $380 and $600, with the common worth being $490.

That stated, the price of a 72-cell photo voltaic panel can differ considerably and is dependent upon elements comparable to:

• Set up price
• Producer/model
• Know-how (monocrystalline, polycrystalline, thin-film)
• Wattage

Relying on the scale of your photo voltaic array, prices can add up shortly, so ensure to issue them into your funds when deciding whether or not or to not put money into 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 execs and cons.

Professionals

• Able to producing extra electrical energy than normal 60-cell panels with the identical effectivity ranges.
• Nice for bigger properties or companies.
• Require fewer panels than 60-cell modules to realize the identical vitality output.
• Often, the value per watt might be lower than 60-cell photo voltaic panels.
• Cheaper to put in on a big scale.

Cons

• Normally dearer than 60-cells photo voltaic panels.
• Require more room for set up
• Transport and set up might be troublesome because of their heavy weight.
• Not really useful for off-grid installations comparable to RVs and campervans.
• Their cumbersome nature could make them troublesome to maneuver on a roof.
• Not environment friendly for small-scale methods.

Are 72-cell photo voltaic panels definitely worth the funding?

Whether or not 72-cell photo voltaic panels are worthy investments is dependent upon your particular person wants and funds.

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 an excellent funding.

Nevertheless, a smaller panel — comparable to a 60-cell variant — could also be a greater choice if you happen to’re pressed for house and don’t require as a lot energy. This is applicable to off-grid methods (RVs, campervans, and so forth.) and smaller homes.

It’s additionally value remembering that different photo voltaic panels, comparable to half-cut cell photo voltaic panels, could also be higher suited to your wants.

So do your analysis and take into account all of your choices earlier than making a choice.

Are photo voltaic panels with extra cells superior?

Usually talking, photo voltaic panels with extra cells are extra environment friendly and may generate extra electrical energy than these with fewer cells.

Nevertheless, different, extra important elements play a task, comparable to:

• Cell dimension
• Cell sort
• Effectivity
• Value per watt

Finally, 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 value extra.

Nevertheless, for large-scale/business functions, panels with greater than 72 cells are often a greater choice, as fewer modules are required to realize the specified output.

Subsequently, the general price of constructing bigger photo voltaic arrays might be considerably smaller utilizing photo voltaic panels with extra cells.

Closing ideas

If you’ll want to generate a considerable amount of vitality and have sufficient house for set up, a 72-cell photo voltaic panel is usually a nice alternative.

Nevertheless, if you happen to’re on a decent funds and/or your vitality demand will not be that top, a smaller and cheaper panel could also be a greater choice.

We hope this text has helped you make an knowledgeable choice as as to if 72-cell photo voltaic panels are the correct alternative for you.

When you’ve got any questions in regards to the topic, attain out to us within the remark part under or comply with us on Twitter.