It’s fantastic that you’ve chosen to go solar. Your decision will not only save you money, but it will also be beneficial for the environment. However, there are many other aspects to consider before choosing your ultimate solar panel, and as a common man, making a decision might be challenging. It’s difficult to choose among the plethora of options accessible in today’s market.
You first sift through hundreds of brands on the market before making a final pick based on the manufacturer’s reputation, warranty, and services, among other factors. Then you must decide on your panel’s ranking. Solar panels come in a variety of wattages and voltages. We also get a lot of questions from readers and potential purchasers who aren’t sure what rating their solar panel should have.
This blog is aimed at those individuals. It tries to tell the difference between a 12V and a 24V solar panel. In comparison to a 24V solar panel, a 12V solar panel is often ideal for smaller households or projects. Aside from this basic rule, there are a variety of technicalities to consider while choosing between the two. We attempted to distinguish them based on the following five criteria:
- Battery compatibility is important.
- Compatible with the Inverter
- Charge Controller Compatibility
- An Actual Use Case (Applications)
- Price & Range
1. Compatibility with Battery
The choice of a solar panel’s rating is determined by the battery’s rating. A 12V solar panel should typically be used with a 12V battery, while a 24V solar panel should be used with a 24V battery. A key aspect to remember is that while a 24V battery is not currently available on the market, you may make one by connecting two 12V batteries in a series.
- 24V panel – 24V (2 x 12V batteries connected in series)
- 12V battery – 12V panel
- 2/6V battery – 6V panel
2. Compatibility with Inverter
Solar panels, like batteries, should be compatible with the inverter’s rating. A 12V solar panel, for example, should be connected to a 12V inverter, whereas a 24V solar panel should be connected to a 24V inverter. Inverters come in a variety of voltage ratings, including 12V, 24V, and 48V.
- A 12-volt battery – A 12 V inverter will be used, and a 12 V solar panel will be attached.
- A 24-volt battery (connected in series) – A 24V inverter will be used, and a 24V solar panel will be attached.
3. Charge Controller Compatibility
A charge controller’s rating should correspond to the inverter and battery ratings. If you have a 12V battery and an inverter, you should utilise a 12V charge controller. Likewise, for 24V. Keep in mind that the solar panel’s rating should not exceed that of the charge controllers. A 9 Ampere solar panel, for example, cannot be used with a 6 Ampere charge controller.
A charge controller is available in a variety of amperage rates, ranging from 6 to 53 ampere. Solar panels are also available in a variety of ratings, such as A, B, and C.
- 1 Amp – 10W Panel
- 2.5 Amp – 20W Panel
- 180 Watts x 9 Amps
- 350 Watts x 8-9 Amps
4. Application
Street lights, tourist vans, stores, modest residences, home illumination, mobile charging, solar bags, science projects, solar water pumps, offices, fishing boats, and so on can all benefit from a 12V solar panel.
A 24V solar panel can be utilised in large residences, hospitals, banks, and offices, as well as off-grid applications such as industries, apartments, parking lots, parks, government buildings, and solar parks. To see our case studies, click here.
5. Product Line & Pricing
10W, 20W, 40W, 50W, 125W, 160W, and 180W solar panels are available in 12V, while 330W and 350W solar panels are available in 24V.
A 12V solar panel might cost anything from Rs. 2,400 to Rs. 15,000. A 24V solar panel might cost anything from Rs. 11,000 to Rs. 24,000.
Summary
The purpose of this blog is to help readers decide how many solar panels they should buy to support the normal functioning of their home in the event of a power outage, what voltage of solar panel – 12V or 24V – is best for them, and how long my fan and lights will run on solar in the event of a load shedding. Much of this is determined by the battery, inverter, and charge controller ratings. We hope that we were able to assist you in any way. You can continue to write to us in the comments section if you have any further questions. Contact G8Solar Today!!