By Admin | 02 November 2022 | 0 Comments
How To Keep Your Portable Solar Panels From Overheat In Summer
With the arrival of summer, RV camping is also in peak season. Portable solar panels are selling like hotcakes. Many people think that the hotter days the higher efficiency generated by solar panels. No! This is a common misunderstanding. In fact, solar panels can overheat and cause negative effects. This article will explain in detail.
The answer is no! In summer, solar systems can generate twice the electricity than in the short days of winter. But really hot days can actually reduce the solar output power. Just like our smartphones. High temperature affects our electric devices, and solar panels are no exception. What’s the reason? This is mainly related to the working principle of solar panels.
Solar panels are made up of individual solar cells, which are made of semiconductor materials. When sunlight passes through this semiconductor material, it creates an electric charge in each cell by using incident photons to excite electrons to higher energy levels. This is called the photovoltaic effect. According to the formula:
Efficiency=(Max current x Max voltage)/Input power from the sun
As the operating temperature of solar panels increases, the solar cells get hotter, and the number of electrons in an excited state also increases. Its output current increases exponentially, while the voltage output decreases linearly. Since the voltage decreases faster than the current increases, this results in a reduction in the power output of the solar panels.
As we mentioned above, if solar panels overheat, their solar efficiency and output power would be decreased.
Higher temperatures also increase the resistance of the circuit that converts the photovoltaic charge into alternating current. This means that as the temperature and the resistance increase, the actual delivered and used power decreases.
Most solar panels can withstand high temperatures up to 149°F. At that point, the efficiency of the solar cell will begin to drop significantly, and probably no more heat will be retained. If you touch these panels at this temperature or higher, you may slightly burn your skin. Also, your energy efficiency will drop by about 60%.
In the summer of 2017, The Times published an article discussing the issue of Qatar being too hot for PV solar panels. According to the article, a temperature rise to 50°C (122°F) plus dust reduced the power output of the solar panel to less than 40%.
Recently, some campers mentioned on RV forums that the surface of their portable solar panels or suitcase solar panels was burnt and damaged due to the high temperature.
On the specification data of the solar panels, there is the operating temperature. One of the best 100w portable solar panels XTAR SP100 has an operating temperature rating of -10℃ to 65℃ ( 14℉ - 149℉). That’s the temp range you can safely operate your panels. While it doesn’t keep the same high efficiency as the temperature changes.
Manufacturers test the solar panels under the stand test condition of around 77℉. That means the optimal operating temperature of solar panels is 25℃. When the temperature of the panels is above 25℃, it would result in some negative effects.
In general, most solar panels have a temperature coefficient in the range of -0.20% to -0.50% per degree Celsius. The closer this number is to zero, the less the solar panel will be affected by increased temperatures. For example, if you tested the temperature of your panel is 38℃ and the coefficient is -0.20%, you can calculate how much output power your panel would drop.
(38-25) x -0.2% = -2.6%
So, when the panel reaches 38℃, the output power of your solar system will decrease by 2.6%.
Firstly, always leave room for air to circulate behind the panel. We do not recommend laying portable panels in particular flat on the ground. But even with kickstands, on a hot surface such as concrete or a Trex-type deck, these panels can get exceedingly hot. The grass ground would be cooler than others.
Secondly, having a fan blowing on the panels or spraying water on the surface of the panels would cool them down.
Finally, use an infrared thermometer gun to test the temperature of your portable panels. Once you find them overheat, disconnect the panels, and set them in the shade partly open, accordion-like to allow them to cool. It's just like car driving, when you find your car overheats, do you keep driving or stop immediately?
The solar system is a big investment for us. Every action to increase its efficiency would be worthy. If you haven’t noticed this overheat issue, it’s time to act. Go ahead! keep your portable or folding solar panels at a cool operating temperature.
Do Hotter Days Produce More Solar Energy?
The answer is no! In summer, solar systems can generate twice the electricity than in the short days of winter. But really hot days can actually reduce the solar output power. Just like our smartphones. High temperature affects our electric devices, and solar panels are no exception. What’s the reason? This is mainly related to the working principle of solar panels.
Solar panels are made up of individual solar cells, which are made of semiconductor materials. When sunlight passes through this semiconductor material, it creates an electric charge in each cell by using incident photons to excite electrons to higher energy levels. This is called the photovoltaic effect. According to the formula:
Efficiency=(Max current x Max voltage)/Input power from the sun
As the operating temperature of solar panels increases, the solar cells get hotter, and the number of electrons in an excited state also increases. Its output current increases exponentially, while the voltage output decreases linearly. Since the voltage decreases faster than the current increases, this results in a reduction in the power output of the solar panels.
What Happens If Solar Panels Overheat?
As we mentioned above, if solar panels overheat, their solar efficiency and output power would be decreased.
Higher temperatures also increase the resistance of the circuit that converts the photovoltaic charge into alternating current. This means that as the temperature and the resistance increase, the actual delivered and used power decreases.
Most solar panels can withstand high temperatures up to 149°F. At that point, the efficiency of the solar cell will begin to drop significantly, and probably no more heat will be retained. If you touch these panels at this temperature or higher, you may slightly burn your skin. Also, your energy efficiency will drop by about 60%.
In the summer of 2017, The Times published an article discussing the issue of Qatar being too hot for PV solar panels. According to the article, a temperature rise to 50°C (122°F) plus dust reduced the power output of the solar panel to less than 40%.
Recently, some campers mentioned on RV forums that the surface of their portable solar panels or suitcase solar panels was burnt and damaged due to the high temperature.
At What Temperature Do Solar Panels Lose Efficiency?
On the specification data of the solar panels, there is the operating temperature. One of the best 100w portable solar panels XTAR SP100 has an operating temperature rating of -10℃ to 65℃ ( 14℉ - 149℉). That’s the temp range you can safely operate your panels. While it doesn’t keep the same high efficiency as the temperature changes.
Manufacturers test the solar panels under the stand test condition of around 77℉. That means the optimal operating temperature of solar panels is 25℃. When the temperature of the panels is above 25℃, it would result in some negative effects.
In general, most solar panels have a temperature coefficient in the range of -0.20% to -0.50% per degree Celsius. The closer this number is to zero, the less the solar panel will be affected by increased temperatures. For example, if you tested the temperature of your panel is 38℃ and the coefficient is -0.20%, you can calculate how much output power your panel would drop.
(38-25) x -0.2% = -2.6%
So, when the panel reaches 38℃, the output power of your solar system will decrease by 2.6%.
How To Keep Your Portable Solar Panels From Overheat In Summer?
The maximum temperature a solar panel can reach depends on a combination of factors such as solar irradiance, outside air temperature, panel location, and type of installation. Then, how to keep your solar panels from overheat? There are some tips for you.Firstly, always leave room for air to circulate behind the panel. We do not recommend laying portable panels in particular flat on the ground. But even with kickstands, on a hot surface such as concrete or a Trex-type deck, these panels can get exceedingly hot. The grass ground would be cooler than others.
Secondly, having a fan blowing on the panels or spraying water on the surface of the panels would cool them down.
Finally, use an infrared thermometer gun to test the temperature of your portable panels. Once you find them overheat, disconnect the panels, and set them in the shade partly open, accordion-like to allow them to cool. It's just like car driving, when you find your car overheats, do you keep driving or stop immediately?
The solar system is a big investment for us. Every action to increase its efficiency would be worthy. If you haven’t noticed this overheat issue, it’s time to act. Go ahead! keep your portable or folding solar panels at a cool operating temperature.
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