Monocrystalline Vs. Polycrystalline Solar Panels: Which should you choose?

Are you looking to harness some of those juicy rays shooting from our sun, but aren't sure where to start?  Let's learn some knowledge about Monocrystalline Solar Panels and Polycrystalline Solar Panels!

Lets start with the appearance:

Monocrystalline Solar Panels(MSP's) have a darker appearance and rounded edge squares.

Polycrystalline Solar Panels(PSP's) typically have more a blueish color and sharp square edges.  The way the sun reacts with the multi-crystalline is the reason for the blue coloration.

MSP cells are made up of one single silicon crystal, hence the "mono" designation.

And as you can probably deduce, PSP cells are made up of many silicon fragments melded together.

Pro's and Con's:

MSP's

MSP's are more efficient.  They typically have a conversion efficiency of 15-20%.

MSP's are more expensive than PSP's.

MSP's because they are more efficient, are able to be made smaller and take up less space.

The lifespan of the MSP is in the neighborhood of 40 years.

MSP's tend to work better in higher temperature applications than PSP's.

PSP's

The conversion rate of a PSP is around 13%-16%, making them less efficient than their MSP cousins.

Because they are less efficient, they are needed to be made larger and take up more space.

The main advantage the PSP has(i.e. the end user) is the price. They are less expensive than the MSP's.

The lifespan of the PSP is in the neighborhood of 35 years.

PSP's are better suited for colder temperature applications than MSP's.

Checkout the collection of Solar Panels we carry from our awesome vendors here.

We hope this article was able to "Shed Some Light"(get it?) on some of the differences between Monocrystalline and Polycrystalline Solar Panels.  As always please send us a message or give us a ring and we will do our best to add some value to your day!