Canadian Solar is the only non-Asian company that consistently makes Top-5 solar brands in the world. What’s its secret? Let’s take a look at this NA manufacturer and examine their products closely.
About Canadian solar
The company was founded by Dr. Shawn Qu in 2001 in Canada. Today it consistently makes the Top-5 of the largest solar manufacturers in the world.
- 20 production facilities in Asia and Americas
- customers in over 160 countries all over the world
- 13,500 employees.
Canadian Solar makes panels for all kinds of applications, finding the right balance between efficiency of their product, high quality and relatively low price.
Canadian Solar panels for sale
Canadian Solar 400W Solar Panel CS1Y-400MS
- Condition — New
- Backsheet color — black
- Cell number — 72 cell
- Connector Type — MC4 or MC4 comparable
- DC/Charger Volt Compatible —12v, 24v, 48v
- Dimensions LxWxH — 79.6 x 39.2 x 1.38 in
- Frame color — black
- Manufacturer — Canadian Solar
- Model — CS1Y-400MS
- Operating temperatures — -40 °F to +185 °F
- Rated Efficiencies — 19.9%
- Scope of application — Home, Commercial, Boats, RV systems
- Use — Grid-Tie, Off-Grid
- Weight — 49.8 lbs
- Price per Watt — 0.84
- Rated Power Output — 400
- Voltage (VOC) — 52.3V
- Cell Type — Monocrystalline
- Warranty — 15/25 year warranty
- Delivery Time — 5-7 business days
Quality And Performance
Canadian Solar offers panels for all kinds of installations and they vary in output from 300 to 600 W. The efficiency of the latest models range from 19% to 21.3%. The manufacturer also puts out bifacial modules for sale that allow you to get up to 30% from a single panel, depending on the albedo. Performance in low-light conditions is especially notable about Canadian Solar panels. The modules lose little production on cloudy days and perform decently even in the winter.
The quality of Canadian Solar products is decent and there are rarely any failures with their product. Every Canadian Solar panel meets international quality and safety standards and comes at a fairly low price. If you expect extreme weather conditions to occur in your area, find modules in the Canadian Solar product line that are able to withstand high mechanical pressure.
Warranty And Service
Standard product warranty for Canadian Solar panels is 12 years which is a typical number for the industry. There are a few models with 15 years warranty and some that come with a 25 year warranty for the product. There is also an output warranty for 25 years with annual degradation at 0.55% for most models. The modules usually don’t lose over 2% of their power in their first year.
What to look for when choosing a Canadian solar panel
The first thing you want to look out when choosing a panel is its output, number of cells and size. Residential-tier panels range from 300 to 400W in output and often have 60 full cells or 120 half-cut cells. Modules for commercial and industrial-scope installations are usually over 400W in power and have 72 full or 144 half-cut cells. You can go for either type, but 72/144 cell panels are larger and it can be harder to fit them on a small roof.
Confused about full and half-cut cells? Half-cut cell design is a more modern technology. It costs more but modules with split cell design produce more energy from square foot, live longer and deal with shading better.
Canadian Solar has panels with different designs in their product line. All-black modules look great on any roof, but tend to heat a bit more than standard-looking panels. Therefore going for all-black modules isn’t recommended when you try to maximize production or in particularly hot areas.
FAQ
Q.: How to prolong the lifetime of panels?
A.: Solar panels are almost maintenance-free, but it is recommended to wash them every once in a while and perform visual inspection from time to time. Check the connections, look for any sign of discoloration or damage to the cells. Calling over a certified electrician for a checkup once in a few years is a good idea.
Q.: How do I transport solar panels without breaking them?
A.: If you plan to grab your panels from a shop or pickup point, prepare ahead. If the panels aren’t in a package, then wrap them in bubble wrap or blankets, before putting them in a car. When carrying panels, avoid applying too much pressure in one area.
Q.: How does cloudy weather affect my panels?A.: Generally, the performance of PV modules drops by 10-40% in bad weather, depending on how thick the clouds are and what the panels are. However, as long as it is daylight, the PV modules keep working. Canadian Solar panels are especially good in low-light conditions and barely lose any performance.