Solar Panels and Terminology
I thought I’d share here a little information on the characteristics and terminology used when discussing solar panels. When shopping for solar panels, the characteristics you are usually looking for include the output rating, physical size and weght of the panels.
As we have discussed in the previous article, the output characteristics you need to know about the panel are the ratings in terms of Watts, Volts and Amps. Typically you will see Volts abbreviated as VDC or Volts Direct Current. Sometimes you will see the Volts and Amps abbreviated in different ways for different reasons. For example, Vmp = Volts at Max Power, and Voc = Volts at Open Circuit. Also, you will see Amps or current described as Imp for Current at Max Power and Isc for Current at Short Circuit. In some applications it is important to know these max power ratings. You may have a device such as a motor of some kind that will, at times, draw more current and require additional power when it’s working hard. Therefore, you will need to know if your solar panel is capable of creating enough power for that surge.
You will typically see solar panels grouped in terms of Watts and Volts. This is done for convenience sake so you can quickly find the group of panels you need to match the power requirements of your grid and to match the input requirements of your batteries. Once you find the group of panels that fit your needs, then you can look to the differences in size, weight and of course cost. Hope this helps!
