60 Cell vs. 72 Cell Solar Panels: Which is Right For You?

60-cell and 72-cell panels can be used in rooftop installations, ground mounts, carports, and more. That being said, 60-cell solar panels are much more common for residential solar installations, while 72-cell solar panels are more commonly used for commercial or other large-scale projects. There are a few key differences between the two that will impact which option you choose, regardless of whether you're installing for your home or business.

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Dimensions

72-cell solar panels have more photovoltaic cells, therefore, they are larger than 60-cell panels. When it comes to dimensions, 60-cell panels are usually built six cells wide and ten cells tall. 72-cell panels are also six cells wide but have an additional two rows of cells that make them a bit taller. What does this translate to in feet and inches? 60-cell solar panels have an average dimension of roughly 5.4 ft by 3.25 ft. 72-cell panels will roughly be the same width and average around 6.5 ft in height.

This extra space can make a big difference when it comes to your solar system design. If you have plenty of uninterrupted roof space or a lot of land for a ground-mounted installation, you can likely go with 60 or 70-cell panels. But, if you're going to have limited space for installation or a more complicated layout (such as a lone panel on a dormer or a small garage to fit a few panels), most installers are going to recommend 60-cell panels. Because they're smaller, they'll be able to fit in more tight spaces that may not work for a 72-cell panel. The same is true for roofs that are narrow - if your local jurisdiction or fire department has strict setback codes for solar arrays, 60-cell panels may also be the better option because they are shorter. A lot will depend on the specifics of your roof and your preferences for the layout of your array, so it's a good idea to talk to an installer about your options.

Cost of installing

The cost of installing 60-cell vs. 72-cell panels may also vary a bit for your installation. 72-cell solar panels tend to be cheaper to install on a large scale, which is why they're more common for commercial applications. Because each panel has more solar cells, you can typically install fewer panels to generate the same amount of electricity. Fewer panels mean less racking is necessary, which helps cut down on overall equipment and installation costs.

On the other hand, 60-cell panels are lighter and easier to install, which is why they're more common for residential rooftop installations. This can mean lower labor costs for the installation. For large commercial installations, the extra size and weight of a 72-cell panel aren't as much of an obstacle because cranes are often used to lift the equipment to the rooftop.

Wattage and power output

72-cell panels can have higher wattages and power output than 60-cell panels because of the additional photovoltaic cells, but that's not always the case. In fact, the number of cells in a panel doesn't have a direct correlation to its power output. The power output of a panel is more dependent on the quality and durability of the solar cells themselves.

Let's look at Axitec's AC-310P/156-72S as an example. This is a 310-watt (W) solar panel that has 72 cells. Despite having more photovoltaic cells, the panel has a lower power output than LG's LG325N1C-A5, which is a 60-cell 325W panel.

That being said, if you're looking for the highest wattage panels possible, you do often have to look towards panels with highly efficient solar cells and higher cell counts. Examples of this include LG's LG405N2W-A5, which is a 405W panel with 72 photovoltaic cells. 60-cell panels will rarely get up to 400W (though some can get up to 350W or more)

There is a bit of a myth out there that 60-cell solar panels are made for residential installations and 72-cell are for industrial and utility-scale use. There are pros and cons of using each for typical home solar panel installations, but the lines are really blurry. Your local marketplace has a lot to do with it, as does the supply chain as a whole.

Main Reasons to Select 60-Cell Solar Panels

One of the reasons that 60-cell solar panels are more popular for residential is that they are lighter and easier to handle. That is generally true. However, nationwide (and worldwide) roof pitches are much steeper than here in Florida. Most roofs here are &#;walkable,&#; making it easier to handle larger solar panels. It&#;s not much harder to install a 72-cell panel despite 20% increased size and weight. That&#;s not always the case, however. There are even 96-cell panels that are similar size and weight to 60-cell panels. The cells are just smaller. Smaller panels are easier to ship, warehouse, and transport to job sites. That makes them popular with smaller dealers that do primarily residential installations.

Since manufacturers consider 60-cell solar panels a residential product (see below for why), they often come in a larger variety of colors. You will see 60-cell panels with black frames and white back sheets, and all-black panels with black frames and black back sheets. These cost more typically, but some buyers demand them for aesthetic reasons. The traditional mill finish (silver) frames with white back sheets are a better value. Ultimately, most of our clients don&#;t see enough reason to reduce their return on investment over this minor aesthetic concern.

Industrial Users

Large solar fields and commercial rooftops have a lot of mounting components to pitch and orient panels and sometimes incorporate tracking mechanisms. That makes the racking a larger component of cost. As a result, it makes sense to use larger solar panels since the amount of racking doesn&#;t change much. This is the primary reason that 72-cell solar panels are sometimes considered more of a commercial product. Manufacturers may focus on this market for their 72-cell product. That may be one reason that this distinction exists. In fact, some manufacturers&#; marketing and data sheets actually specify the intended market.

But that doesn&#;t make 72-cell modules any less applicable to the residential market.

Contact us to discuss your requirements of 72 Cells Solar Panel Factory. Our experienced sales team can help you identify the options that best suit your needs.

Cost Differences

We discussed the other system components and factors that determine system cost above, but what about the solar panels themselves?

The cost for a given technology level us usually very similar in a 60-cell or 72-cell panel, all else being equal. But market forces sometimes skew the price differential. At times, 72-cell panels can fetch a premium when industrial buyers are gobbling up supply. At other times, 60-cell panels can be in high demand depending on incentives. Local market forces, manufacturing decisions, and supply chain issues can skew prices as well.

We see a lot of &#;closeout&#; specials in the distribution chain, so often you may be presented with a bargain price on a discontinued product.

The bottom line is pricing is all over the map and can&#;t be boiled down to a cell count. While the market is maturing and solar panels are becoming a commodity, there are many factors that go into the cost. It is your dealer&#;s job to find you the best value and present you with a product that is in your best interest.

The Local Factor

In cooler climates, 72 cell modules can have more than the recommended power for microinverters, which have become very popular. The power output is high and can exceed the usable power output of the microinverter. In Florida, the recommended DC to AC ratio is much higher due to heat-related performance losses. We have found that 60 cell modules are often insufficient to achieve microinverter saturation (maximizing the power output capability of microinverters). Although that is changing as efficiency rises. The power output of 60-cell modules today is approaching that of 72-cell modules of a few years ago.

Since locally the roofs are often suitable for 72-cell modules and the heat makes them a good match for inverters, we look at the cost difference. There is less racking, fewer microinverters, and fewer other components when using larger solar panels. Therefore there is a cost advantage to going this direction. On the other hand, at this time the cost of 60-cell panels can be less (on a per-watt basis). This is a complex dance routine we do to ensure we are providing maximum value to our clients.

Reliable availability from distributors also plays a part in selecting a solar module. 72-Cell modules have been plentiful for the last few years.

Interestingly, we see more 72-cell solar panels with higher wind test ratings. That may be because industrial users need a higher wind rating for open rack ground and roof-mounted systems. That makes these solar panels well suited for our high-wind areas. You would think a smaller panel would have a higher wind resistance, but the opposite is often true, at least as far as test results go. The frames of larger panels tend to be beefed up for better wind loads. 60-cell solar panels usually have a good snow load rating, but that is not important here for obvious reasons.

So What&#;s The Difference?

Ultimately, the only difference between your garden variety 60 and 72 cell modules is size and power output. A 72 cell module will be 20% larger and have 20% more power output, all else being equal. There is no magic. The residential vs industrial comparison is a myth propagated by companies that produce or deal in primarily 60 cell modules. This is also a regional phenomenon.

Some manufacturers simply have limited 72-cell modules to offer the residential market because their entire capacity is committed to industrial buyers.

Some manufacturers (like Hanwha Q-Cell, REC, Trina, Jinko, and others) actually make 120 or 144 &#;split-cell&#; modules that they sell in both the residential and utility-scale markets. They may target a specific market with these products, but they are equally applicable to either market depending on local conditions and pricing. These act like 60 or 72-cell panels from an electrical standpoint and are similar in size. Some manufacturer&#;s make full size 96-cell solar panels that are very large, and others make 96-cell solar panels that are roughly the size of a standard 60-cell solar panel.

There really is no technical difference other than size and power output. Efficiency is just power output divided by area (size). For a given technology, the efficiency difference is essentially zero based on 60, 72, 96, 120, 144, or other cell configurations.

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