Cell Count in Solar Panels: How Many Do You Need?

Here, we explore all of the considerations over cell counts in typical solar panels. If you've ever wondered how many solar cells you need for a solar panel - we have you covered!

"You're probably going to notice that most solar panels are going to be in 60-cell, 72-cell, or 96-cell configurations."

Choosing the Right Solar Panel: How Many Cells Do You Need for Your Energy Needs?

Have you been thinking of transitioning to renewable energy with solar panels and wondering how many solar cells are in one panel? Well, that is understandable. Solar panels, or photovoltaic (PV) panels, are the first ray of hope in the transition towards green energy. At their core are solar cells that convert light into electricity. The quantity of cells determines many aspects about a solar panel such as its wattage (power), its efficiency and ultimately what application a solar panel is suitable for. Whether you want to transition to solar for your home, business or an industry, keeping in mind how much power is determined by the quantity of cells will help you in making a decision. In the following, we first take a look at the different standard configurations of cell arrangement – 60-cell, 72-cell and 96-cell panels and finally shed some light on how to choose the right panel based on your energy requirements and constraints.

Standard Solar Panel Configurations:

60-Cell Panels: This is the most common variety used in residential applications. Its usual dimension is about 1.65 metres by 1 metre (65 inches x 39 inches) and it typically produces about 270 to 300 watts of power. The cells are usually a 6-inch square and the entire panel is placed in a 6x10 grid. This dimension is popular in home applications as it balances size, efficiency, and cost.

72-Cell Panels: These are larger and commonly used in commercial and industrial applications. A standard 72-cell solar panel is about 2 metres by 1 metre (77 inches by 39 inches) in size, but produces 350 to 400 watts. It has a 6×12 matrix of cells. These present an advantage in their power density, but their larger size and heavier weight aren’t conducive for residential use on rooftops.

96-Cell Panels: These panels are much less common for home and personal-use installations, and are used instead for special-purpose installations that require a higher wattage of electricity in a small area. (Depending on their size, a 96-cell panel can provide between 400 watts and more). A 96-cell panel is often recommended when there is a high electricity demand and limited space for installation.

Our DIY Team Recommends This 400W Solar Panel by EF Ecoflow

Factors Affecting the Number of Cells

Several factors influence the decision on the number of cells in a solar panel:

Power requirements: more power requirements usually mean more cells — or multiple cells in a panel with higher cell count.

Space Availability: The space available to be installed is very important. For large panels with more cells, it may not be possible to use them in smaller rooftop spaces. It may be necessary to use smaller panels in order to service the same power needs, but that would require more units.

Efficiency: High-efficiency cells would produce more power in a given surface area than lower efficiency cells. If a higher efficiency cell was used, fewer cells would be necessary to achieve the required power throughput.

Cost: more cells = more dollars. Economies of scale need to be considered for cost-effective installations.

Application: For residential applications the amount of electricity required between day and night requires a balance so that photo voltaic or PV systems in early morning and after sunset operate on battery power. 60-cell panels are suitable for residential installations. For commercial and industrial applications, the amount of electricity required is often so much larger that it can be supplied all day out of the PV array, while battery power is used only at night. In such cases 70-cell or even 90-cell panels are used.

Exceptions and Special Configurations

Although standard configurations of 60, 72 and 96 cells are dominant; there are exceptions and special configurations for different applications and requirements:

36-Cell Panels: Typically used for off-grid systems and small solar gadgets, these compact panels make less power – roughly 100 to 150 watts – and are ideal for powering RVs, small boats, and other mobile setups with limited space.

Custom Panels: A few manufacturers make panels of arbitrary size, to fit into a particular architecture, or a shape not covered by the modules available from a manufacturer. The size and shape of the panel affects how many cells it needs.

High-efficiency panels: Today’s best solar panels exploit technological advancements and use fewer cells than in the past to produce the same (or better) power output. Such panels usually incorporate newer cell technology, such as PERC (Passivated Emitter and Rear Cell), bifacial cells or multi-junction cells. The fingerprint of 650W on natural solar panels is the same for all fingerprints.

Flexible and Thin-Film Panels: flexible solar panels, in thin-film techs, can vary the number of cells, and their arrangement, in devices that are configured to target niche applications, where regular (rigid) panels aren’t feasible, like say on curved surfaces or portable solar chargers.

Bifacial Panels: Two-sided cells, both sides capturing sunlight as well as sunlight reflected off the back. Cell counts can vary, but dual-sided nature increases efficiency and power output suitable for high reflective surfaces such as snow or white roofs.

How Many Cells Should Be in a Solar Panel?

Our DIY Team Highly Suggests You Read our Article on Home Solar Batteries Before Making any Off Grid Solar Panel Purchase

Recommended Off-Grid Solar Products

As is often the case in a plethora of off-grid solar products it is easy to get lost. But you have a head start, as we have done some of the work for you and have compiled a list of some of the best products on the market in 2024. Here are some of the best and most recognized solar brands: Bluetti, EF EcoFlow and Jackery. They are not only reliable and efficient but also offer the best value for the money. We have included generators, panels, inverters and portable power stations.

Bluetti - DIY's Top Brand Choice For Panels

Generator: Bluetti AC200P Portable Power Station With a 2000Wh lithium battery and multiple output ports, it's a versatile and powerful choice for emergency power or off-grid camping.

Panel: Bluetti 200W Solar Panel With high conversion efficiency, this foldable solar panel pairs seamlessly with Bluetti power stations for efficient off-grid charging.

Inverter: Included within their portable power stations, Bluetti integrates pure sine wave inverters, ensuring efficient and reliable power conversion directly within their units.

EF EcoFlow - DIY's Top Brand Choice for Generators

Generator: EcoFlow DELTA Pro Portable Power Station. Offering a hefty 3.6kWh expandable capacity, it's a powerhouse for off-grid living, emergency backup, or extensive camping trips.

Panel: EcoFlow 160W Solar Panel. Lightweight and portable, this panel is designed for high performance and durability, making it an excellent companion to EcoFlow's power stations.

Inverter: EcoFlow's power stations, such as the DELTA Pro, include built-in pure sine wave inverters, providing safe and efficient AC power from their battery reserves.

Jackery - DIY's Top Choice for Consistent Product Reliability.

Generator: Jackery Explorer 1000 Portable Power Station. It strikes a balance between portability and power, suitable for camping, RV use, or as a backup power source.

Panel: Jackery SolarSaga 100W Portable Solar Panel. It's designed for ease of use and portability, offering efficient solar charging for Jackery's power stations.

Inverter: Jackery's portable power stations come with integrated pure sine wave inverters, ensuring that devices are powered safely and efficiently.

Factors to Consider When Deciding on the Number of Cells in a Solar Panel

How many cells do you need for a solar panel? There are some factors you need to consider first. Look at your daily and peak energy consumption to determine how many cells you need in the panel to generate that amount of power.

Module-size installation is a major factor in determining how many cells you will place in one module. If your space is smaller, you may go for 60 or 72 cells to get the most out of such a limited space. More cells leads to more costs, so you'll need to choose the number of cells you can afford. Weigh how many cells is right for your budget versus how much money you can make back over time.

Also, the higher the efficiency these panels produce more power per cell. Using this information, energy goals can be met with the minimum amount of cells required. So, the amount of cells will the panel need also greatly depends on how the solar power will be used. For residential needs, a good option is 60-cell panels as they provide the perfect balance in size and power for the average homeowner. Commercial or industrial installations may go for 72-cell or 96-cell panels for maximum output.

If you will further increase the size of your solar system, think in advance how the arrangement of the current panel will transform when the system is further expanded, and how friendly that arrangement is going to be with the newly added panels. This could also influence the decision over cell count. Another thing to think about is to check the local building code restrictions, any state regulations about solar installation, and any incentives or rebates available to you, as these restrictions and subsidies can also affect your decision on the cell count.

By taking all of this into account, you can choose the right number of cells for your solar panel, to harness energy effectively while minimizing the amount of materials and minimizing your costs.

For our Artice on DIY Solar Power Banks

If Interested in Maximizing Solar Electric Efficiency

Concluding Insights on Solar Cell Count

Choosing the optimal number of cells for your solar panel usually involves considering a number of critical issues: your energy needs, the space available to place your panels, your budget, panel efficiency and, if relevant, your plans to expand your installation at a later date.

Greater cell counts will crank out greater power (watts) per panel, which is why these get used in large installations, where space is available (to efficiently house the panels) or demanding (such as high energy demands). Conversely, a standard 60-cell panel offers a good balance of size, efficiency and affordability, which in turn makes it well-suited for a range of residential installations. Custom configurations allow flexibility in sizing and panel efficiency to meet the technical and human constraints of site-specific installations. Finally, there are distinct types and manufacturing processes that have been developed for specialty markets. High-efficiency panels, for example, can squeeze even more electricity out per panel area and are therefore ideal for highly space-constrained cases. Bifacial panels, which generate electricity from both sides and absorb some of that light through the back of the panel, also become more advantageous for certain site constraints.

Besides, local regulations and economic incentives can make a critical difference to your options, translating into real dollars in savings or compliance. Expect continued innovation in solar technology to yield ever more bespoke and efficient cell configurations.

A well-designed solar system, tailored to your needs, will provide what you need now with a view to future expansion and efficiency. In short, beyond creating comfort and convenience for you, it will contribute to the eco-friendliness and cost-effectiveness of your building for years to come. With a little research, you can tap into that energy, and enjoy it cleanly, reliably and affordably for decades to come.

Because of the bifacial design by JJN, our DIY team picked this Panel for Fixed Use

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External Resources for Guidance:

Homeowner’s Guide to the Federal Tax Credit for Solar Photovoltaics | Department of Energy

ConsumerAffairs | Solar Companies