PV Arrays (Solar Panels)

Electrical Properties of a Solar Cell

Photons

Junction

n-type
p-type

V
+

External circuit
(e.g., battery,
lights)

Diode current
5

BV

A(e BV 1)

External circuit
(e.g., battery,
lights)

Diode Amps

Isc

V
+

AA((eeBV 11))

I
0

I I sc A(e

BV

1)

0.0

Diode Volts

0.6

I-V Curve

I I sc A(e BV 1) , where A, B, and especially Isc vary with solar insolation

Increasing
solar insolation

Isc

Maximum
power point

Im
Pmax Vm I m

V
0

Vm

Voc

 36 Cells in Series Make a 12V-Class Panel (Voc 19V)

9 cells x 4 cells is a
common configuration

Two 12V-Class Panels in Series Make a 24V-Class Array (Voc 38V)

I-V Curve
Isc

I (V ) 5.34 0.00524 e 0.1777V 1

PV Station 13, Bright Sun, Dec. 6, 2002

Isc

Pmax at approx. 30V

Pmax 0.7 Voc Isc

I - amps

4
3
2
1
0
0

10

15

20

25

V(panel) - volts

30

35

40

45

Voc
5

The Maximum Power Point

PV Station 13, Bright Sun, Dec. 6, 2002
140.0

Pmax

P(panel) - watts

120.0
100.0
80.0
60.0
40.0
20.0

P=0 at short circuit

P=0 at open circuit

0.0
0

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

45

V(panel) - volts

On a good solar day, you get about 1kWh per

square meter of solar panels (corresponds to
about 150W rated)
6