<![CDATA[Lots of people talking about buying solar panels.]]>Lots of people talking about buying solar panels. Alas if you look online there's a lot of retailers with all sorts of panels for sale, not all of which are honest. Want an easy way to check if the listed power output is plausible?
Example using a 50w panel listed on Amazon. It's 370x820mm.
Step 1 calculate the area in square meters. (0.37*0.82=0.3034)
Step 2 multiply by 1000w. (0.3034*1000=303.4)
Step 3 assume 20% efficiency and multiply (303.4x0.2=60.68)

60.68>50w. It's Plausible.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/topic/ca33f5fc-b68a-4055-b915-6f860a3aa197/lots-of-people-talking-about-buying-solar-panels.RSS for NodeFri, 15 May 2026 05:12:15 GMTSun, 10 May 2026 16:00:33 GMT60<![CDATA[Reply to Lots of people talking about buying solar panels. on Tue, 12 May 2026 10:04:01 GMT]]>@quixoticgeek Just for a point of reference:

The average solar energy around the globe is 135W/h &m².

OFC that assumes nighttime and also uniform energy output, which isn't at higher lattitudes, so 270W/m² & h is the global average at daytime and >540W is closer to a sunny day.

So yeah, that number is well within the cards.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://c.im/ap/users/116307071344437495/statuses/116561034715878781https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://c.im/ap/users/116307071344437495/statuses/116561034715878781Tue, 12 May 2026 10:04:01 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Lots of people talking about buying solar panels. on Mon, 11 May 2026 10:57:45 GMT]]>@quixoticgeek @ShaulaEvans That is GOOD info. Thank-you.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://toot.community/users/GinevraCat/statuses/116555583698080459https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://toot.community/users/GinevraCat/statuses/116555583698080459Mon, 11 May 2026 10:57:45 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Lots of people talking about buying solar panels. on Mon, 11 May 2026 09:58:14 GMT]]>@HollieK72 @failedLyndonLaRouchite I'm out of characters...

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://social.v.st/users/quixoticgeek/statuses/116555349626231202https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://social.v.st/users/quixoticgeek/statuses/116555349626231202Mon, 11 May 2026 09:58:14 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Lots of people talking about buying solar panels. on Mon, 11 May 2026 09:57:19 GMT]]>@HollieK72 @DavidPenington exactly. I just used an example of Amazon. The same maths works for any panel. So when you are a stack of 10 440w panel offered for sale for a good price. You can check the size with the maths I showed and see if they really are 440w panels or if someone is trying to scam you.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://social.v.st/users/quixoticgeek/statuses/116555346022967280https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://social.v.st/users/quixoticgeek/statuses/116555346022967280Mon, 11 May 2026 09:57:19 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Lots of people talking about buying solar panels. on Mon, 11 May 2026 09:55:25 GMT]]>@DavidPenington the reason I used this example, is one of the main areas where solar panel power rating is often inflated is on small portable setups for things like hiking, camping, etc... it might not be what you need to run your apartment on, but it may be enough to charge your phone when camping.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://social.v.st/users/quixoticgeek/statuses/116555338553556476https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://social.v.st/users/quixoticgeek/statuses/116555338553556476Mon, 11 May 2026 09:55:25 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Lots of people talking about buying solar panels. on Mon, 11 May 2026 06:45:33 GMT]]>@vgarzareyna @quixoticgeek plants are about 2%, so we're 10x on nature already. And plants are how you make wood chip or coal for burning.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://typo.social/users/drj/statuses/116554591967575016https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://typo.social/users/drj/statuses/116554591967575016Mon, 11 May 2026 06:45:33 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Lots of people talking about buying solar panels. on Mon, 11 May 2026 06:03:32 GMT]]>@billiglarper @disorderlyf @quixoticgeek @edavies maybe, and probably and thanks for the link, but i dont want to read german regulations (very detailed and complicated lingo) until i have an overview, specially of hardware, tech stuff and installation possibilities.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://chitter.xyz/users/annantidote/statuses/116554426809189302https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://chitter.xyz/users/annantidote/statuses/116554426809189302Mon, 11 May 2026 06:03:32 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Lots of people talking about buying solar panels. on Sun, 10 May 2026 21:44:27 GMT]]>@bloodripelives @vgarzareyna @billiglarper yep.. basically the only time we need to care about even greater efficiency than we have now is if your putting the panels on something moving, like a boat, plane, or space craft. But I'd you're doing that, you're getting advice from a nerd on fedi...

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://social.v.st/users/quixoticgeek/statuses/116552464328023554https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://social.v.st/users/quixoticgeek/statuses/116552464328023554Sun, 10 May 2026 21:44:27 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Lots of people talking about buying solar panels. on Sun, 10 May 2026 21:42:27 GMT]]>@vgarzareyna @billiglarper @quixoticgeek there isn't, but IMO the language of efficiency is a bit misleading when it comes to solar panels because we're using to thinking low efficiency = bad and needs fixing. That's true for fossil fuel technologies, where the energy put into the system is in a form that is rare, expensive and dangerous, so it matters a lot what percentage of that energy in is actually going to come out as useful work.

Photons from the sky are ludicrously plentiful and free, so the trajectory of solar panel manufacture has generally been to not worry too much about pushing the limits on efficiency, and work instead on making them cheaper and cheaper. And it's worked, solar is now the world's cheapest energy source! The solar panels we already know how to make are GREAT, the improvement needed is nearly all in, well, political will. (And battery storage/grid stability, but that's just political will in a trenchcoat.)

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://federatedfandom.net/users/bloodripelives/statuses/116552456408286994https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://federatedfandom.net/users/bloodripelives/statuses/116552456408286994Sun, 10 May 2026 21:42:27 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Lots of people talking about buying solar panels. on Sun, 10 May 2026 21:41:01 GMT]]>@quixoticgeek @vgarzareyna

Oh, absolutely. ~23% it will be for quite some time.

Just trying to be positive by pointing out that this it's not a hard limit and technological innovation is possible.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://rollenspiel.social/users/billiglarper/statuses/116552450823329846https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://rollenspiel.social/users/billiglarper/statuses/116552450823329846Sun, 10 May 2026 21:41:01 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Lots of people talking about buying solar panels. on Sun, 10 May 2026 21:35:29 GMT]]>@quixoticgeek @billiglarper @vgarzareyna And it’s not fedi without pedantry! 😂🤣😂🤣

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mstdn.social/users/arcadiagt5/statuses/116552429020092070https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mstdn.social/users/arcadiagt5/statuses/116552429020092070Sun, 10 May 2026 21:35:29 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Lots of people talking about buying solar panels. on Sun, 10 May 2026 21:33:48 GMT]]>@billiglarper @vgarzareyna all true. But if you're getting your advice on solar panel rating plausibility, you're not getting any of those, so the basics check stands. But yes. There are some edge cases.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://social.v.st/users/quixoticgeek/statuses/116552422448465297https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://social.v.st/users/quixoticgeek/statuses/116552422448465297Sun, 10 May 2026 21:33:48 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Lots of people talking about buying solar panels. on Sun, 10 May 2026 21:32:37 GMT]]>@vgarzareyna @quixoticgeek

At least for consumers for now.

There's bifacial cells, where the backside also collects sunlight. But positioning matters a lot.
https://www.energysage.com/solar/bifacial-solar-panels-what-you-need-to-know/

It's possible to combine multiple layers to increase output (multi-junction cells). 32% efficiency is a thing. But this is DAMN expensive.
https://www.azurspace.com/en/products/space-products/

There's research on adding hybrid-organic (Perovskite) or organic solar cell layers. Would be huge if it works.
https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20251015-perovskite-the-wonder-material-that-could-transform-solar-energy

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://rollenspiel.social/users/billiglarper/statuses/116552417741573280https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://rollenspiel.social/users/billiglarper/statuses/116552417741573280Sun, 10 May 2026 21:32:37 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Lots of people talking about buying solar panels. on Sun, 10 May 2026 21:06:54 GMT]]>@billiglarper @quixoticgeek :0 i guess there's not that much room for improvement then

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mstdn.mx/users/vgarzareyna/statuses/116552316669838176https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mstdn.mx/users/vgarzareyna/statuses/116552316669838176Sun, 10 May 2026 21:06:54 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Lots of people talking about buying solar panels. on Sun, 10 May 2026 21:01:47 GMT]]>@quixoticgeek Great post. Distilling info into self-contained useful advice is a rare skill.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/users/renardboy/statuses/116552296560085616https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.social/users/renardboy/statuses/116552296560085616Sun, 10 May 2026 21:01:47 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Lots of people talking about buying solar panels. on Sun, 10 May 2026 20:40:42 GMT]]>@disorderlyf @quixoticgeek @billiglarper @annantidote @edavies
Ours is actually a Solar and grid charged UPS.
We run all the core stuff, 3x freezers, big fridge, server, WAN/LAN/Satellite, PCs etc 24x7 off it. No feed to grid, so no cert or smart meter. We have a dumb meter & pay cash when the bill arrives.
In emergency we can swap plug socket and finish wash cycle of clothes or dishes, or even add airfry/uWave.
Halved the bill.
Save more in winter if smart meter by charge at night for daytime.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.ie/users/raymaccarthy/statuses/116552213639731955https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.ie/users/raymaccarthy/statuses/116552213639731955Sun, 10 May 2026 20:40:42 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Lots of people talking about buying solar panels. on Sun, 10 May 2026 20:39:33 GMT]]>@quixoticgeek

oh god, that is so true . .

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mas.to/users/failedLyndonLaRouchite/statuses/116552209134143915https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mas.to/users/failedLyndonLaRouchite/statuses/116552209134143915Sun, 10 May 2026 20:39:33 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Lots of people talking about buying solar panels. on Sun, 10 May 2026 20:38:34 GMT]]>@failedLyndonLaRouchite yep. But if I jump to that, someone will moan.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://social.v.st/users/quixoticgeek/statuses/116552205217640838https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://social.v.st/users/quixoticgeek/statuses/116552205217640838Sun, 10 May 2026 20:38:34 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Lots of people talking about buying solar panels. on Sun, 10 May 2026 20:37:37 GMT]]>@quixoticgeek

another way of saying this
there are about 200W/square meter

which for those of us with rudimentary math, is a lot cleaner expression ??

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mas.to/users/failedLyndonLaRouchite/statuses/116552201477209267https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mas.to/users/failedLyndonLaRouchite/statuses/116552201477209267Sun, 10 May 2026 20:37:37 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Lots of people talking about buying solar panels. on Sun, 10 May 2026 20:31:42 GMT]]>@quixoticgeek @vgarzareyna
I doubt any single sides panel at summer temps is more than 22%. The 19% to 21% is realistic.

There are double sided panels (no opaque back) which can make it seem like more than 21%,

It's physics. Note voltage is much higher if bright & -20 °C and batteries charged. Do the sum and make sure the MPPT doesn't have over voltage! Voltage drops with load and rising temperature.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.ie/users/raymaccarthy/statuses/116552178245431322https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.ie/users/raymaccarthy/statuses/116552178245431322Sun, 10 May 2026 20:31:42 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Lots of people talking about buying solar panels. on Sun, 10 May 2026 20:26:36 GMT]]>@ariaflame @BoydStephenSmithJr @quixoticgeek

Ireland
We get close to rated o/p on a sunny day May to August, peak in June / July.

December and Jan you need a smart meter, at least 15 kWH of batteries and charge at night. About 1/20th output then.

I might get 35 to 50W from a pair of 100W transportable panels on a good March / April day 10 am to 3 pm.

The main panels are all "200 W". We can see the W/sq m on our weather station and that is an accurate guide if the batteries are not full.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.ie/users/raymaccarthy/statuses/116552158214888437https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.ie/users/raymaccarthy/statuses/116552158214888437Sun, 10 May 2026 20:26:36 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Lots of people talking about buying solar panels. on Sun, 10 May 2026 20:11:01 GMT]]>@disorderlyf probably this panel is just less than 20% efficient (300 watts is power of the sun on that area)

@quixoticgeek

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.ml/users/mo/statuses/116552096882677226https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://mastodon.ml/users/mo/statuses/116552096882677226Sun, 10 May 2026 20:11:01 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Lots of people talking about buying solar panels. on Sun, 10 May 2026 19:48:10 GMT]]>@quixoticgeek @billiglarper @annantidote @edavies It's sounding like until solar balconies are more of a thing here, it's not useful to me for more than a backup source of power in an emergency.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://todon.eu/ap/users/115601049471092408/statuses/116552007034113147https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://todon.eu/ap/users/115601049471092408/statuses/116552007034113147Sun, 10 May 2026 19:48:10 GMT<![CDATA[Reply to Lots of people talking about buying solar panels. on Sun, 10 May 2026 19:43:47 GMT]]>@disorderlyf @billiglarper @annantidote @edavies Inside a window, assume 50% losses over the rated max power of the panel.

]]>https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://social.v.st/users/quixoticgeek/statuses/116551989840466406https://board.circlewithadot.net/post/https://social.v.st/users/quixoticgeek/statuses/116551989840466406Sun, 10 May 2026 19:43:47 GMT