72 cell panels with half cut cells

[shane pendergraft]

Looking to see what’s the groups opinion on using 72 cell panels using half cut cells
What do you think ?
Any issues using the DSSR20 with them

Also could you use this type of panels for diversion heat?

The panel i am looking at is this one

Rec Solar 350W Poly 72 Cell Solar Panel 350 Watts

Just curios thanks for the replays

[Dacian Todea]

Shane,

If your focus is heating and so you want to reduce the number of cables and DSSR20's used then yes the 72 cell may be a good option for you.

If battery charging is more important than 60 cells will perform better because you do not pay for the extra 12 cells and get the same current in to battery and of course the 60 cell panels are 20% smaller than 72 cell panels.

To be even more exact say you have two panels made by the exact same manufacturer and with exact same type of cells then 350W / 72 cells = 4.86W thus a panel made with 60 cells will have 291W

Say your target is 3500W so exactly 10 of those 350W panels but at same cost and same surface area you can use 12 of those 60 cell 291W panels.

Now with the 10x 350W panels you only need 5x DSSR20 and only 5 pairs of 10 AWG cables and while is easy to know the price of 5x DSSR20 the cables cost will depend on distance.

But for the 12x 291W panels you will need 6x DSSR20 and 6 pairs of 10AWG cable so for same distance the cables will cost 20% more same as with the DSSR20's 20% higher cost as you need an extra DSSR20

So advantage for the 10x 72 cell panels is 20% lower cost for DSSR20 and cables

Advantage for 12x 60 cell panels is 20% more current available for charging battery.

So if most energy is used for heating and battery will use insignificant amount from the PV panels then 72 cell panels may be worth as you have some savings on DSSR20 and maybe even more on cables depending on how far the PV array needs to be.

On the other side 20% more battery charge current for same PV array area and cost for panels but higher cost for the extra DSSR20 and extra pair of cables may be worth in some case while the heating will be the same as on the 72 cell panels except maybe slightly more if battery is used as battery will charge about 20% faster so there will be slightly more time heating with the 12x 60 cell panels but it also comes at some extra cost.

  

In therms of electrical compatibility both 60 cells and 72 cells are fully supported by the DSSR20.