Currently, for most homes, 400W solar panels are the best option. In earlier years, the market was still full of 300W solar panels. Nowadays, 400W solar panels supply the power needs of most households with more electricity and tend to be their preferred choice. And while 500W solar panels are also popular in the market, and even 600W and 700W solar panels are being produced, most of them are used for commercial buildings and other large-scale power-consuming projects rather than for general residential use.
What are 400W solar panels?
A 400W solar panel, as the name suggests, is a solar panel that can produce 400W of DC electricity under ideal conditions. However, in real life, 400W solar panels usually produce 350W to 400W. Many people are aware of this issue, so they will consider how many solar panels to install for their home’s electrical needs.
The amount of power generated by solar panels is affected by a variety of factors, such as lighting conditions, seasons, and so on. Ideally, a 400W solar panel can generate about 0.4kWh of electricity per hour, which is about 1.6~2.2kWh per day. If a family does not have special large-scale electrical appliances, the daily power consumption is about 10~30kWh, and the monthly power consumption is about 250~900kWh. The power consumption varies greatly depending on the family’s habits. Under normal circumstances, a family needs to install 5~10 pieces of 400W solar panels.
What is 500W solar panel?
A 500W solar panel is a solar panel that can produce 500W of DC power under ideal conditions. 500W solar panels tend to provide 450~500watt of power. Ideally, a 500W solar panel can produce roughly 2~3kWh of electricity in a day, greatly increasing the power supply. It is possible to achieve the same power supply with fewer panels, thus increasing efficiency and reducing costs.
Size of 400W solar panels vs 500W solar panels
Solar panel sizes tend to vary depending on the manufacturer. A common size for 400W solar panels is 2000mm*1000mm with varying thickness. Monocrystalline 500W solar panels are currently available in sizes of 1960mm*1300mm*40mm, which are much larger than 400W solar panels. Larger size means that there is some trouble for the arrangement and layout of solar panels, small size solar panels can make full use of the available space on the roof, while the large size may be a bit inconvenient, but also can be considered for ground mounting. However, the larger size requires fewer panels, and the entire solar system structure will be smaller than the 400W, which doesn’t need to occupy too much area.
Price of 400W solar panels vs 500W solar panels
The price of solar panels depends on the brand of solar panels, and the price of 500W solar panels tends to be greater than the price of 400W solar panels. However, the 500W will be smaller than the 400W in the overall solar system, which can offset some of the cost and labor.
The high power production of 500W solar panels can save more on electricity bills and the return on investment it brings (e.g. incentives).
Why are 400W and 500w solar panels good choices?
1. If you consume a lot of electricity or will be adding some massively consuming appliances in the future, then 500W solar panels are really good choices that can help you offset your electricity bills. But the upfront installation cost is high. But in the long run, it will earn back your installation cost.
2. If the shape of your house is more complicated and you can’t lay out a large size 500W solar panel, then you should consider a smaller size 400W solar panel, which can help you utilize the small space so that you can install a larger number of solar panels to supply energy for your home.
3. However, if you have an uncomplicated roof structure and small available space, 500W solar panel may not be a bad choice. Because when providing the same power, it is smaller the whole solar system.
To summarize
Today, 500W solar panels are common for residential installations and it is also mainly used for large-scale installations. Regardless of which panel is installed, it can save us money on our electricity bills. So, whether to choose 400W,or 500W solar panels? We can consider the three aspects of electricity demand, house space, and cost profit, so as to choose the more suitable solar panel for us.
