Difference Between Solar Panels
The majority of the solar panels installed in homes and businesses in the USA today have ratings between 250 and 365 watts. The average panel installed in the home is a 350 watt solar panel. To know if this size is best for you requires that you understand how much energy they produce and if this rating is suitable for your needs. If you’re seriously considering solar panels for your home, you should also consider the different aspects of leasing vs buying solar panels.
A single 350 watt solar panel is rated to generate 350 watts per hour, however, in reality, it will vary, and depend on several factors. The most significant factors are the location, the tilt, and the amount of shade.
The number of 350-watt panels will depend on knowing how much electricity do you want to generate, and how much space you have available.
System size comparison table
System Size Average KWH Production How many 350 watt Panels
2 kW 2,820 6
5 kW 7,050 14
6 kW 8,460 17
7 kW 9,870 20
The average electricity consumption will depend on where you live.
For example, in Louisiana 15276 kWh annually. Louisiana has the highest average consumption in the USA. Not surprisingly Hawaii has the lowest average consumption, with 6180 kWh annually.
The average 2,000 sq ft American home has an annual consumption of 12,000 kWh, and you will see that even with 20 panels you will not be able to completely supply all household needs. To power the average house if it had a south-facing roof and no shading in the day it could take around 25 panels to provide all the power. Note: this is a very rough calculation based on using premium solar panels, and depends on a great many factors but is intended as a basic figure.
The same calculation if based on budget solar panels would require between 24 and 38 budget solar panels to power the same home.
What is the difference between Premium and Budget Solar Panels?
Most solar panels look very similar, however, they are not all the same, and some work far more efficiently than others.
Premium panels are more efficient and consequently, you will need fewer panels to produce the same amount of electricity. When looking for solar panels you will come across two varieties of the panel. These are mono and poly solar panels? Mono is generally regarded as a premium panel and poly is regarded as a budget panel.
What is the difference between mono and poly solar panels?
Both types of solar-panel do the same job, the difference is that mono solar panels are more efficient than poly solar panels. Mono panels are made from a single crystal of silicon that is formed into bars and then cut into wafers, Poly solar panels typically are less efficient. Manufacturers melt a selection of fragments of silicone together to form the wafers.
Top 5 Most Efficient 350 Watt Mono Solar Panels
Solar panel efficiency is how we measure the ability of a solar panel to convert sunshine into electricity that can be used. Higher efficiency panels take up less space and produce more electricity. Most panels will be rated between 15% and 20% but some may exceed 20%. Here is a list of common higher efficiency panels.
Panel Manufacturer Panel Model Efficiency
SunPower SPR-X21-350-BLK-D-AC 21.5
LG LG350Q1C-A5 20.3
LG LG350Q1K-A5 20.3
Solaria PowerXT-350R-PD 19.4
Solaria PowerXT-350R-AC 19.4
How Much Does a 350 watt Solar Panel Cost?
The average individual price of solar panels in the USA is between $245 and $525. Mono panels will cost more than poly panels and prices fluctuate all the time.
In Conclusion – the Cost of Solar Power
After you decide to buy 350 watt solar panels, there are some of the factors that will have an impact on the cost of a solar installation are how much sunlight you get locally, the cost of the system, whether you have a south-facing roof, the cost of labor for installation. Remember though, that the cheapest solar panel does not necessarily mean it is the best value.
Over the past few years, the cost of solar systems has dropped significantly. As little as 10 years ago, the cost of a 6Kw solar power system (residential) would have cost over $50,000 to buy. These days you can purchase a typical home solar installation for between $16,200 to $21,400, which is substantially cheaper. With falling prices like this, it is understandable that new installations are taking place every 100 seconds in the USA.