The best photovoltaic solar panels
Thought I would share some information on what are rated as the best/most efficient panels available. Sanyo HIT Power N Series. The cells are hybrids of monocrystalline silicone, surrounded by ultr...
Forum Discussion
red31 wrote:
sure there are more amps at 36v to get the same 220watts but the 220 watts is being transformed. Do you need it transformed to 12.8765V or 13.2754v, it is changing all the time (both on the input and output as conditions change).
With a 12v panel, nothing is being transformed, the panel matches its output to the battery.
Right you don't pay the loss for doing a dc-dc conversion on the power, but you DO pay the loss of running the panel at a sub-optimum output voltage. By pulling it down to the battery's voltage you are almost always running it at lower wattage than it is capable of producing.
It is like direct coupling the wheels on a car to the engine's crank shaft, vs using a continuously variable transmission to let them run at different optimum speeds at different times. Direct connect avoids transmission losses. CVT lets the engine run always at the most efficient RPM, regardless of the speed the wheels are turning.
Jim
