Polycrystalline Solar Panels
The poly panels are the next step up from amorphous panels in terms of efficiency, you can get a bit more watt for size, so you don't have to give up as much real estate to catchin rays.
They are however a little pricier than their less efficient kin, but due to the manufacturing process utilized in their construction. They are still a good, lower cost alternative to fill your, first solar, need for power.
Polycrystalline cells are typically cast from a molten silicone solution to create a many crystal type of structure, hence the term Polycrystalline. The panel shown here is 12.7% efficient as apposed to the amorphous type that has an efficiency rating somewhere around 6-8 %.
Pound for pound though you will get a lot more bang for your buck with this kind of panel overall. Manufacturing costs are so much lower than the more efficient Mono-crystalline panels, and there have been advances in the efficiency of the poly type to make them a real competitor. If you have a little more to spend this would make a good first solar panel.
Pros
Polycrystalline panels are more efficient than thin film solar panels (amorphous)
Polycrystalline panels take up less room than thin film panels to collect the same wattage
Polycrystalline panels are less costly to manufacture than mono panels so the consumer pays less overall per watt
Cons
Polycrystalline panels are heavier than amorphous and delicate to handle due to their cast construction
Polycrystalline panels suffer greater losses from shadowing on part of the collection surface
This kind of panel is the most popular in use as of now, due to the low watt to dollar ratio. This is certainly the way to go for a first solar system if you have a place to mount them that is rigid and out of the shade. Perfect for the roof of a house or in a field without any overshadowing structure.
They are however a little pricier than their less efficient kin, but due to the manufacturing process utilized in their construction. They are still a good, lower cost alternative to fill your, first solar, need for power.
Polycrystalline cells are typically cast from a molten silicone solution to create a many crystal type of structure, hence the term Polycrystalline. The panel shown here is 12.7% efficient as apposed to the amorphous type that has an efficiency rating somewhere around 6-8 %.
Pound for pound though you will get a lot more bang for your buck with this kind of panel overall. Manufacturing costs are so much lower than the more efficient Mono-crystalline panels, and there have been advances in the efficiency of the poly type to make them a real competitor. If you have a little more to spend this would make a good first solar panel.
Pros
Polycrystalline panels are more efficient than thin film solar panels (amorphous)
Polycrystalline panels take up less room than thin film panels to collect the same wattage
Polycrystalline panels are less costly to manufacture than mono panels so the consumer pays less overall per watt
Cons
Polycrystalline panels are heavier than amorphous and delicate to handle due to their cast construction
Polycrystalline panels suffer greater losses from shadowing on part of the collection surface
This kind of panel is the most popular in use as of now, due to the low watt to dollar ratio. This is certainly the way to go for a first solar system if you have a place to mount them that is rigid and out of the shade. Perfect for the roof of a house or in a field without any overshadowing structure.
