I've seen them for sale in USA but the plastic ones then have downside of only allowing 80% of the light compared to glass backs.
Is there a reason to not get bifacial panels?
- Thread starter wopachop
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shadowmaker
Solar Wizard
kgard1225
New Member
Ok, I’m confused now !! I was ready to order 2 200 watt Bougerv bifacial panels for my Anker 767 solar generator . Then I saw some bad reviews and looked at Rich panels but ….. they had 12 volt panels and 24 volt panels ??? They are not returning my phone calls so I’m lost . Can anyone tell me what benefits 24 volt has over 12 volts panels to charge the generator ?
Well, this is an odd thread for this question...
But if you look at the specs for the ankler mppt, whatever voltage ot can handle is what you should shoot for with the voc of the panel.
kgard1225
New Member
I was first replying to the bifacial thread and I guess I should have done a separate post. The generator can take from 10 v to 60 v. But that wasn’t my question. I’ll try to find a better place to ask it
SupraSPL
Solar Enthusiast
- Joined
- Aug 28, 2022
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For what it's worth, I have LG neon2 bifacial 405W panels on my roof right next to REC AA alpha black 365W panels. About 5 " off an asphalt roof surface.
They both have similar power density/ efficiency based on STC rating. The RECs have a lower coefficiency of temp so they should handle high temps better.
The LG bifacial panels consistently outperform the RECs in every single situation. Hot weather, cold weather, off angle, white skies, thin clouds, sudden sun, etc. Adjusting for both size and STC, the RECs perform about 89% as well as the LG bifacials.
It's not that the RECs are underperforming STC, I have seen them hit 363/365W in October. It's that the LGs perform better relative to their STC. Whether or not that's because of the bifacial (clear backing) or they are simply underrating, I can't say.
That said I got the RECs for $50 bucks each because they were blemish 1-year takedowns. Maybe they would perform closer to STC more often if they werent. The LGs were unused, $125 each, craigslist deal, came with a few aluminum scrapes across the glass that I removed with magic erasers and barkeepers friend.
They both have similar power density/ efficiency based on STC rating. The RECs have a lower coefficiency of temp so they should handle high temps better.
The LG bifacial panels consistently outperform the RECs in every single situation. Hot weather, cold weather, off angle, white skies, thin clouds, sudden sun, etc. Adjusting for both size and STC, the RECs perform about 89% as well as the LG bifacials.
It's not that the RECs are underperforming STC, I have seen them hit 363/365W in October. It's that the LGs perform better relative to their STC. Whether or not that's because of the bifacial (clear backing) or they are simply underrating, I can't say.
That said I got the RECs for $50 bucks each because they were blemish 1-year takedowns. Maybe they would perform closer to STC more often if they werent. The LGs were unused, $125 each, craigslist deal, came with a few aluminum scrapes across the glass that I removed with magic erasers and barkeepers friend.
On_The_Road
New Member
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- Mar 27, 2020
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- 229
Anything new on glass backsheets as opposed to non glass backsheets?
Dagoth Ur Does Solar
Solar Wizard
Well since this thread got bumped, it's interesting to see the prices on this stuff now.
My pallet of 27 Hyundai 390W bifacials was like $0.20/W including the $450 in freight shipping... So they're pretty darn cheap now!
And the weight of these are less than 50lbs each, so I guess whatever substrate they are using is keeping them pretty lightweight for the size.
Curious to see what else has changed in the ~2 years since this thread was new. Crazy how fast solar technology continues to evolve, panels, batteries, inverters, everything.
My pallet of 27 Hyundai 390W bifacials was like $0.20/W including the $450 in freight shipping... So they're pretty darn cheap now!
And the weight of these are less than 50lbs each, so I guess whatever substrate they are using is keeping them pretty lightweight for the size.
That would be great for me if true, because it gets hot here most of the year.
Curious to see what else has changed in the ~2 years since this thread was new. Crazy how fast solar technology continues to evolve, panels, batteries, inverters, everything.
shadowmaker
Solar Wizard
Just found Hanersun 730W specs on another thread here.
I mean it's too big/heavy for many to handle but for hot climate it has temp coef (Pmax) of -0,24%/C. I haven't seen Tc that low before and it should excel in hot environment. Also efficiency of 23,5%, 90% bifaciality and annual power decline of 0,3%.
I agree solar products evolve fast now.
I saw Will's video where the bifacial really underperformed. It would be interesting to see if anything has changed with recent versions in the desert environment. Also more than one brand. It's perhaps best not to extrapolate results from one panel to the whole class. But maybe there's more evidence out there than that one test.
The new ones are pretty good but nothing special. The mounting environment is what matters most with bifacial.
If I were putting them on a roof or a low to the ground, ground mount, I would just get the cheapest I can find
ksmithaz1
Solar / EV Junkie
I would also say size matters, and the various nominal values for voltage and current for the MPPT you have. The smaller the panel the easier it is to man-handle, and string together for the desired electrical specs. Some of the stuff out there now is almost 4x8, which can be unwieldy. Smaller tends to cost more per watt and require more mounting effort. First figure out the electrical spec targets you are looking for, then pick from the set of panels that will leggo together for those specs with the best price points per watt.
In the end, the only real advantage I'm finding is the smaller size per output of N-type. In my case, I'll probably go with mono-facial N-type to get the smaller footprint and skip the bifacial. The shade tolerance of the 16 BB diode enhanced designs may or may not give real-world results but size does matter - in some applications.
Not a Renology fan but both their bi-facial and mono facial N-types are priced well below $200 for 200 watt class- if you poke around.
Seen many 400w bifacials for less than standard panels over the past 2 years..
At the time I was buying my first pallet, the bifacials I found were $20 less than most standard panels. So the first pallet of panels I bought was bifacials for their lower cost per panel and free shipping.
I was ground mounting them so if there was any weight difference, it wasnt a issue to me.
traumaboyy
New Member
Just watched @Will Prowse last bifacial upload. Buy more panels appears to be the answer....then more batteries....bigger inverters......gotta add one...keep wife happy. It is a vicious cycle!!
I was really bummed, I thought this one would make a huge difference. Darn it! That rubber mat was so insulative, I thought it would cook the panel.
More testing I do, the more I realize I need to put solar panels in every possible place on my property 
more is better
more is betterI was hoping by off chance you read this on YT, I didn't care to attract attention to it. But the chit chat has been good so far I guess. As good as any other on YT. Here is a screen shot, but its there.More testing I do, the more I realize I need to put solar panels in every possible place on my property
Edit: I did not expand a section of my last screenshot, and noticed it now. So I expanded it(show more) and it shows all text of the conversation.
That is all that was changed.
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