60 vs. 72-cell solar panels: which size is best for you?
There are many different types of solar panels available on the market, with options ranging in inefficiency, wattage, manufacturer, and more.
Panels can also vary in the number of silicon cells they have. Today most people install either 60 or 72 cell solar panels for their projects.
But what’s the difference between them? Which option is best for your installation?
When it comes to choosing the right solar panels, aesthetics is just as important as cost. 72-cell and 60-cell are both great options depending on your needs. In this post, we'll discuss some of their differences.
72-cell solar modules are great for large installations. Because they're about a foot taller than the 60-cells.
They cost less to mount, but both options use the same cell technology and end up being equal in pricing from a cost-per-watt perspective.
Your ideal choice will depend on your array layout or space limitations, and the type of your project (residential or commercial).
Background on solar modules
Solar modules are made of silicon wafers that have been cut from silicon blocks. These squares, which comprise the solar cells, produce approximately 0.55 volts each, and multiple cells wired in series can be combined to produce a usable voltage for electricity production.
The power produced by your PV panel increases proportionally for each cell added in parallel with another, plus to minus wire connection through them.
What’s the difference between 60-cell and 72-cell panels?
60-cell solar panels are the most common for residential installations, while 72-cells are more commonly used in commercial or other large-scale projects.
The main difference between these two types is that 60 cells take up less space and can be mounted on rooftops, ground mounts, carports, and other structures, whereas 72 cell panels must be mounted only on roofs due to their size.
Dimensions
The number of photovoltaic cells on a solar panel determines the physical size, and 72-cell panels are larger than 60-cells.
The average dimensions for 72-cell panels is 6.42 ft. by 3.25 ft. while that or 60 cell panels would be 5.4 x 3.25 feet respectively depending on whether they're six cells wide with ten rows high or ten cells tall and six columns wide in dimension.
This extra space can make a significant difference in the design of your solar system.
If you have plenty of continuous roof space or a ton of space for a ground-mounted installation, 60 or 70-cell panels would work for you similarly.
However, if you have limited installation space or a more complex layout (such as a single panel on a dormer or a small garage to fit a few panels), most installers will advise 60-cell panels.
If your local jurisdiction or fire department has strict setback codes for solar arrays, installing 60-cell panels may be the best option.
They are shorter and take up less space on a roof than 72-cell modules, do so you can install more of them in some areas where spacing is an issue.
Cost of installation
Installations of 72-cell solar panels are less expensive and may use fewer materials than 60-cell panels.
The more cells in a panel, the cheaper it is to install for large projects. This happens because you can get away with installing one or two smaller pieces rather than many larger ones.
The installation cost of 60-cell vs. 72-cell panels may differ slightly depending on your installation. 72-cell solar panels are more common in commercial applications.
Because they are less expensive to install on a large scale. Since panel contains more solar cells, fewer panels are typically required to produce the same amount of electricity.
Fewer panels necessitate less racking, which reduces total equipment and installation costs.
Also, 60-cell panels are lighter and easier to install, which is why they are more commonly used for residential rooftop installations. This may result in lower installation labor costs.
The extra size and weight of a 72-cell panel aren't as much of an issue for large commercial installations because cranes are frequently used to lift the equipment to the rooftop.
One of the major disadvantages that 72 Cell panels have is with clamping zones.
The locations where clamps need to be attached can vary from standard-sized solar panels making them difficult and time-consuming to install correctly.
While larger panels mean fewer panels must be carried in total, it is generally safer to make more trips with lighter loads than fewer trips with heavier loads in terms of strains and injuries.
Also, the extra weight of 72 cell panels isn't a problem for the roof because it's distributed over the same area as 60 cell modules.
Power output
Because of the additional photovoltaic cells, a 72-cell panel may have a higher wattage and power output than a 60-cell panel.
However, this is not always the case. In fact, the number of cells in panels has nothing to do with their power outputs.
The efficiency is more dependent on the quality and durability of the solar cells themselves, rather than the quantity or size that distinguishes them.
Other factors to consider
For a homeowner, the number of cells included in your solar panels is not the most important factor.
In order to find out which type of panel will work for you and provide maximum efficiency, it's best to take into account cost, aesthetics (they can be customized), warranty (multiple decades!), power production capability (different sized homes may need different types) as well as durability.
Fortunately, these items are all easy enough to evaluate when shopping around.
When comparing different system sizes, cost-per-watt ($/W) is an important consideration.
When comparing $/W, you can standardize the price of installations using either 60-cell or 72-cell panels and compare them more effectively on a per watt basis.
This allows you to make better decisions when it comes to installation costs while also taking into account quality differences between brands.
Panels come in a range of colors, including dark blue and black.
If you're concerned about appearance, look at an image or obtain photos of the installer's previous installations with the same equipment before signing any agreements. It will give you an idea of how they will look on your roof.
For those wanting a new solar panel for their house, you can compare the warranty, efficiency, and durability of one brand against another with customer ratings across independent sources.
This provides excellent information on warranties as well as how durable each product is in comparison based on reviews from people who have purchased them firsthand already.
