Important Considerations When Purchasing a Marine Solar Panel

At other places on this blog and on our web site we talk about how to determine the size of solar panel (how many watts) you will need to meet you power consumption requirements.  Once you know your panel size requirement there are some things to consider in selecting a solar panel.

Panel Type - There are many articles written on the two types of solar panels; monocrystalline and polycrystalline.  Monocrystalline panels are made up of single crystal silicon wafers.  Polycrystalline panels are made up of silicon that has a multiple crystalline structure.  There are pros and cons to each type of panel.  Monocrystalline panels have a higher output per square inch in direct sun but are very sensitive to shading and output will degrade faster on cloudy days. Polycrystalline  panels are not as sensitive to being shaded and output will not degrade as much on cloudy days.  At CMP we offer both a polycrystalline and a monocrystalline panel.
Panel Crystal Quality - Because we have a confined space on our boats, we need to have the maximum output per square inch from our solar panels.  The quality of the silicon crystals used to make the panel is a key factor in determining the panel output.  Crystals are passed under a fixed light and graded as to their output (1-10).  Grades are grouped into classes.  Class A crystals are grades 8-10, Class B crystals are grades 4-7 and so on.  Crystal quality follows a bell curve; there are many more Class B crystals than Class A.  We at CMP specify only the best Class A crystals for use in our panels.  Less expensive Class B and C panels are often used on land based solar farms where space is not an issue.
Panel Shape - The largest market for solar panels is commercial applications where many many panels are mounted on a roof or in a field.  These panels are usually rectangular in shape often twice as long as wide.   This shape is often not ideal for marine application.  Often a more square shape is preferable, especially for pole mounting.

Choosing the right panel for your needs will require study and/or discussion with panel experts.