subject: Tips For Buyers: Which Solar Cells Produce The Best Solar Panels [print this page] If you are new to the world of solar panels, you may be wondering how you can make sure that you buy the best product for your money. It seems like there are always new developments in the technology used to create solar panels, which makes it even harder to choose the right product.
The first thing you will notice when researching solar panels is size differences. There are larger and smaller panels. Solar panels are typically priced in dollars per Watt. Generally the size of the panel is directly related to the amount of Watts it produces--the more Watts the panel generates, the larger the panel will be. Well, this is the case when you are looking at panels that are made out of the same material.
In addition to this, the type of solar cells used to create the panels can also determine size. There are three main types of solar cells: mono-crystalline silicon, poly-crystalline silicon, and amorphous silicon.
Mono-Crystalline Silicon
This is by far the most efficient solar cell material. It produces smaller sized cells. As a result, it also produces smaller sized panels. Even though they are smaller, they can produce the same amount of energy as larger sized panels that generate the same amount of power.
Poly-Crystalline Silicon
This is the next most efficient solar cell material. They produce slightly larger panels than mono-crystalline silicon solar cells.
Amorphous Silicon
These produce the least efficient cells and are composed of less silicon than the materials listed above. Because they are less efficient, the panels they produce need more area to generate the same amount of power as the examples above. This means that the panels they produce will be much larger. One advantage of this material is that it can be used on irregular or curved surfaces that solid panels would not be suitable for.
Knowing what solar panels are made of will give you a good idea of which panels may provide more quality. Remember too that it is important to calculate the amount of electricity you use before buying solar panels. This way you will know that you are buying a product that can produce enough energy to account for your energy use. Also, look for a good warranty. Reputable panels typically have a warranty of about 25 years.
