Mono vs Poly Solar Panels Explained

What is the difference between mono and poly solar panels? Why should I care?
In this video, we will go through the differences between the two most common types of solar panels: monocrystalline and polycrystalline. Although there are quite a few differences, in the end it is not a big deal and not something you should lose sleep over. Still, it is best to go into the decision knowing the pros and cons so you can get the best bang for your buck.
If you are interested in a grid tied solar system for your entire house, these are the experts:
www.energysage.com/p/ldsreliance
If you found this video helpful and want to give back, donate here:
/ ldsreliance
Shopping for your first solar panel system? Buy here:
kit.com/LDSreliance

[@johnlord8337]

Good detailing, great information.

[@LDSreliance]

Thanks! I appreciate it. And thanks for watching.

[@DaisyChain]

Best video I seen on the topic! Thank you!

[@LDSreliance]

You are welcome. Thanks for watching!

[@ozcanonal]

Thank you for this valuable information.

[@LDSreliance]

You are welcome. Thanks for watching!

[@IJoeAceJRI]

Mono: More expensive, Generally black, more efficient, better in low light, more heat tolerant. Poly: Cheaper, Generally blue, less efficient, worse in low light, less heat tolerant. If your very concerned about cost, poly is where you want to go. If you want the most efficiency, better looks, go to mono.

[@Kymtuz]

A very good site for beginners solarlife.network/

[@vadivelanellappan42]

This crystal clear info i want

[@GatorLife57]

Awesome vid brother ! Very clear to understand ! TY Thumbs up. ... ENJOY....THE SIMPLE LIFE

[@LDSreliance]

Thanks, I am getting better slowly but surely.

[@GatorLife57]

What are you talking about ? You are doing great ! Don`t see where you need any improvement ???

[@LDSreliance]

I need to find more time to make videos and get better at editing.

[@longochu8588]

Is the temperature degradation going to be severe for the range of 30-120F in southern Utah or Vegas with strong sunlight? Thank you for the clear explanation.

[@jacksonmacd]

great info. thanks. as for the mono being cheaper, is that calculated on a per square foot basis, or a per watt basis? since they are more efficient, it is possible that they are more expressive per foot, but cheaper per watt. or maybe it's a wash???

[@LDSreliance]

Mono is more efficient so it is cheaper per square foot. Per watt it is more expensive.

[@7homas0wen]

Ok so I’m doing a science assignment and I’m doing it on two different panels found on solar garden lights and seeing which one stays on longer but I’m not sure what panels I’m dealing with at first I though mono poly but now I’m beginning to rethink the name of the lights are: gardenglo 35cm garden light and Alerc Elinor led solar path light. The Alerc one has a blue panel and the gardenglo one is black with small lines running through it

[@LDSreliance]

Poly panels are more often the bluish color and mono are more often black. But that is not always true. The best way to tell is that mono cells will be very uniform and even. Poly cells will be more irregular and have transitions and jagged looking features.

[@jjseandxcefree]

Hi LDS . I see 100watt solar panels rated at 12V but a lot of 200watt ones are 18volt. Are the 18volt ones better to use for off grid homes?

[@LDSreliance]

They are the same thing. 12V solar panels are in reality 18V panels.

[@yankey4]

Mono do beater in cooler places. My mono do will in the winter but in the summer my pol out do the hands down. I live in SC where in the summer it can be 110 F with 95% humidity to 100%. I do not know if that has much to do with it or nit. Just know the pols make more power in full sun and the mono make more in shade or in cloud cover. It's nuts just how much pv has come down. 10 years about I payed 6 bucks a watt. Now it's what 80 cents lol.

[@taylormotyl5085]

Definitely going mono for a full house system

[@moneefbarakat3734]

mono or poly comes in 2nd place after selecting the best vendor. I would use Poly from Trina Solar rather than Mono from some unknown brand

[@tahquameken]

When you say that mono panels are better in low light, is that comparing to the same space size poly, or the same wattage size poly?

[@LDSreliance]

Just the technology in general. It isn't a big enough factor to persuade someone from buying mono unless you are getting many many panels and low light conditions will be common. Like if you have an off grid cabin in Alaska or something.

[@Ichinin]

What do you think about flat film solar panels? I've heard that it's a new technology with lots of potential.

[@LDSreliance]

Thin film? It is new and has potential but right now it has been less efficient than either mono or poly in the past. However, I have seen CdTe panels that are now 21% efficient, which is better than mono or poly so I think we are moving in the right direction. There are very few companies making them right now, though, so I have not gotten my hands on one. I may try to see if I can do a review this summer.

[@GlobalIdiot101]

I just saw a documentary on solar that followed an Australian companies research. What they did was combined the traditional Silicon cells and the Gallium Arsenide cells in a unique double layering technique. What makes it work so well is that it filters out the most efficient type of light for the Silicon and the rest of the light is reflected to the Gallium Arsenide. The only draw back is that it must be liquid cooled to maintain efficiency. It is expensive to produce, but I believe that since it is 30% or more efficient that it would pay for itself. They had 1sq meter set up with mirrors reflecting the light directly into the panel and they recorded being able to produce 220kw. I would like to know your thoughts on all of this, whether it is BS, viable, unrealistic, etc.

[@simonrandall5471]

Great job. You have told me NOTHING about why the cells are differently shaped.

[@LDSreliance]

Sorry. I didn't think that was relevant.

[@evehp1]

mono is cut from cylindrical boules where some of the rounded edges that remain can be seen, multi is cut from rectangular cast blocks

[@JonGretarB]

I'm wondering. I've heard that solar panel production can genetate quite a bit of local pollusion. Is there a difference in these manufacturing styles in that regard. I'm all solar but as I understand it you would not want to live close to the factories.

[@jakemyboy72]

Jon Gretar Borgthorsson The factories are inside the sun so definitely not healthy being near. On earth it is much safer when they get delivered from the sun.

[@LDSreliance]

The processes are not all that different so I am sure they both have similar impacts on the environment. Most rare earth element production happens in China and they don't really have great pollution and environment controls so that is probably where you are hearing about pollution.

[@JonGretarB]

LDSreliance Yeah I was propably thinking of the silicon tetrachloride byproduct from when they process the silicon with hydrochloric acid. Some of the cheaper manufacturers just dump it.

[@LDSreliance]

Yeah that is not good!

[@IJoeAceJRI]

I dont know about everyone else, but I always stick to american made things no matter what. Yes, it may be a few extra bucks, but id say being the cause of someone losing their job is worse than paying a dollar or so more. Does anyone else agree?

[@diyguild1327]

I'm looking to wire my own panels and just buying the solar cells. Can anyone reccomend specific companies? I've only found reviews on panels, not cells. Thanks!

[@LDSreliance]

I was waiting for someone to chime in and answer this. I have not built my own before. So I am sorry but I can't recommend any cell brands. Hopefully someone sees this eventually.

[@MrWookie21]

Look for Sunpower solar cells.

[@jhpphillips]

So which would you recommend?

[@LDSreliance]

Poly if you have plenty of room and want to save a bit of money. Mono if space is limited or you are worried about high heat.

[@cherylmartin4050]

soooo poly is what is on thin film and what Tesla is putting out on roof shingles? which is better film or panels?

[@yankey4]

No polys are polys. thin film is more or less an ink that is printed on flex plastic. More or less. Polys snap and brake just like mono's.. you can't bend them like you can an thin film or amorphous panel. Hope that helps

[@cherylmartin4050]

yankey4 what about there quality and performance to collect solar etc.

[@yankey4]

From the few I have had over the years. The amorphous panel down right suck. They did not last more than 2 years and there out put even new was maybe at best 70% of what there ratings where. Thin film I have not had much time with. They are kind of new to me so I do not know or can speek for there quality and performance . Sorry for spelling 2 ivs in my arms and computer hard to hold laing down..

[@yankey4]

I do have polys now that are 12 years old made from Kyocera. There still putting out 95% or so of there power. My mono's are doing the same there 13 years old. So tho's I can speak for,, I know that is not what your looking for. I just have to say what I know..

[@cherylmartin4050]

Amorphous is what kind

[@primadonnagoingoffgrid4313]

It's a hard choice. I went w/ mono for size and heat reasons. I did not know I was going to be in a cloud bank or would have gone w/ poly. I still have the heat issue though and have my doubts as to how long I will stay here, so could end up w/ more sun in the future. I find the better option is just double the panels to make up for clouds. Other than that very happy w/ the mono. ones!

[@LDSreliance]

Do you have yours permanently mounted to the RV?

[@primadonnagoingoffgrid4313]

No I have them portable and heavily staked into the ground and also weights over the frames. I get pins and needles tingles if it even gets near my RV. Many have a hard time w/ them on the roof. They find they don't feel well in the house.

[@LDSreliance]

Interesting. I haven't heard that before. So why do you have the heat issue then?

[@primadonnagoingoffgrid4313]

There are a few heatwave days in summer, where the sun actually comes out and then it can be way over 105 degrees and even with the clouds be over 90. Of course they are in the sun getting much hotter than these air temps. I have had so many days of over 90 and sopping humidity. I had a day a couple weeks ago that was full sun and about 80. I noticed it took a lot longer to charge, as the panels being in the sun were probably over 100 or more.

[@LDSreliance]

Yeah that is true. But think about how bad it would be if your panels were flush mounted with a roof or on top of your RV. Without air movement behind the panels, they would quickly climb to 150+ F and produce very little power. At least yours are probably closer to ambient temperature and still produce at least 50% of their rated power.

[@akramal-khazzar7227]

this is confusing because i have many compaines data sheets say they both same temperature degradiation!!!

[@LDSreliance]

Sorry to confuse you. Many of these differences are so small that you would not really notice them in the real world. Also these are generalities so there will be some few exceptions.

[@IJoeAceJRI]

I do have a question. Why do solar panel manufacturers stick to blue or black? those panels dont absorb all light waves. Why not make the panels out of a different color so they do absorb all colors?

[@LDSreliance]

That is just the color that results from the crystallization process of the silicon. I'm pretty sure they can't change it... yet.

[@IJoeAceJRI]

oh ok thx

[@LDSreliance]

You are welcome. Thanks for watching!

[@IJoeAceJRI]

your welcome

[@justsomeguy934]

You need to label better. On the panel diagram (about 1:20), you should label each panel so your viewers don't guess. Is the mono panel on the left or the right? We have to guess. Also, a national average cost per watt between the two types would be helpful; otherwise, it seems you'd always pick mono.,

[@LDSreliance]

Good ideas. Unfortunately, that picture was borrowed from another source but I guess I could have overlayed some text.

[@survivalizer]

Funny, I always liked the look of poly panels better.

[@LDSreliance]

They can both be pretty cool, I guess. But most people prefer that black on black look which does not draw as much attention on your roof, which is also usually black or dark gray.

[@survivalizer]

Since I live in phoenix I wonder if the efficiency loss for poly will outweigh the heat loss for mono.

[@LDSreliance]

Good question. The efficiency difference is so small (usually like 2-3%) and really only affects the size of the panel not the output. So a 100W poly vs a 100W mono will produce the exact same power. I would say that heat is your bigger enemy.

[@ravendon]

You forgot poly does better in partial shade.

[@PewPewDave]

Why?

[@thelionsden5087]

Why you put newer technology, how so? Poly is made from the corners of mono..

[@JonnyParker-]

If Tesla could only see us now , he would have a fit .

[@LDSreliance]

Why is that?

[@jeremysandidge1435]

Mormons love to prep for the apocalypse!

[@LDSreliance]

Yes we do!

[@jeremysandidge1435]

LDSreliance lol! 😎

[@bobstockwell3911]

WHEN I BUILD MY PREWIRED FUSED SOLAR BOXES I ALWAYS USE AT BOBSolar.com with Mono Panels with the the MPPT controllers and a 60000 WATT INVERTER