Everything You Need To Know About 500 Watt Solar Panel

Ever since solar technology evolved, different sizes of solar panels have poured into the market. With the advent of big-shots like a 500 watt solar panel, the amount of energy production that seemed impossible at one time has become a reality. 

It is intriguing to see that many brands are now actively manufacturing solar panels of such huge sizes to level up the power output. 

Although the ideal solar panel size for residences is between 350 to 400W, nowadays, a 500 watt solar panel is as much used in residential installations as it is used in commercial and industrial sectors.

Want to learn more about a 500 W solar panel and how it works? Dive in. This quick post has all the answers!

How does a 500 Watt Solar Panel Work? 

Like all other solar panels, 500 W solar panels work the same way. 

The principle is the same: when the panels are exposed to sunlight, the PV cells collect the energy from the sun’s rays and convert it into electrical energy. 

Despite the different types of 500-watt solar panels available in the market, the function is the same for all.   

Major Types of a 500 Watt Solar Panel 

There are three types of 500-watt solar panels: Monocrystalline, Polycrystalline, and Bifacial. Let’s look into all of these in detail. 

• Monocrystalline 500W Solar Panels: As the name suggests, this type of solar panel is made of mono-silicon cells. It offers a staggering efficiency of 19% to 20%.  
• Polycrystalline 500W Solar Panels: The second type, polycrystalline solar panels, are cheaper than monocrystalline panels. The efficiency is about 16% to 17%, and they are made of multi-crystalline cells. 
• Bifacial 500-Watt Solar Panels: Unlike the other two, this solar panel has mono cells attached to both sides. Therefore, it is more efficient than the others and provides up to 22% energy output. For this reason, a 500w solar panel price for the bifacial type is higher.

Pricing of 500 Watt Solar Panel 

If you’re planning to install a solar system, you might as well be curious to learn about the rates of solar panels. 

Decoding prices, however, isn’t easy. The prices vary because the types of panels, their manufacturing technique, as well as the brands are different. 

It clearly means that the price of a monocrystalline solar panel will not be the same as that of a polycrystalline 500 watt solar panel. 

Likewise, the price of a bifacial solar panel will not be similar to monocrystalline and polycrystalline variants. 

Still, there’s a price range that might give you an idea. You can expect:

• The cost of a 500-W monocrystalline solar panel to be between Rs. 13,500 to Rs. 16,500.
• The cost of a 500-W Polycrystalline solar panel to be between Rs. 11,475 to Rs. 14,025.

Bifacial solar panels are a lot expensive and are not that frequently used in India yet. 

Specifications of a 500 Watt Solar Panel 

If you’re planning to purchase a 500 W solar panel, you must know the specifications before investing your money. 

No matter the type, there’s always a warranty period. If the solar panels show manufacturing defects or inefficient output performance, you can get the panels repaired or replaced within the warranty period. 

1. The warranty for manufacturing defects typically ranges between 2 to 5 years. 
2. For output performance issues, the warranty could be anywhere between 10 to 15 years. 

Benefits of a 500 Watt Solar Panel

Let’s get you familiar with the advantages of using 500 W solar panels: 

• They yield more energy. Although the cost is higher, it is worth the investment as these panels produce a good amount of energy. 
• The 500-watt solar panels allow medium and large-sized solar panel systems to work efficiently and better. 

Cons of installing 500 W Solar Panels 

The following are the few limitations you should be aware of. 

• You’ll need more space to accommodate these panels.  
• Although the installation is similar to other panels, the 500-watt solar panels are difficult to set up because of their size and weight. 

Now that you know the advantages and disadvantages, let’s understand how many 500-watt solar panels you need to install for your needs. 

How Many 500W Solar Panels Do You Need? 

Whether you want to install solar panels in residential or industrial or commercial places, the number of solar panels needed depends on the energy you require. 

You can calculate the number of solar panels by determining the energy output you wish to get from a solar system. 

Let’s assume you want to install a 1 KW solar system, and you want to know the number of solar panels you need. 

Here’s how it can be done: divide the solar system’s capacity by the solar panel’s capacity. 

In this case, 1000 watts/500 watts = 2.

Hence, you would require 2 500-watt solar panels for a 1 KW solar system. 

Similarly, we have made the following calculations for your convenience. 

• For a 2KW solar system, you need 4 solar panels (2000 watts/500 watts).
• For a 3KW solar system, you need 6 solar panels (3000 watts/500 watts).
• For a 4KW solar system, you need 8 solar panels (4000 watts/500 watts)

Please note: The number of panels can still differ based on the panel type and the brand you choose. 

Applications of a 500 Watt Solar Panel 

If you’ve been wondering about the applications of 500-watt solar panels, here are the top uses:

• You can use these panels to charge a generator. 
• These panels can also power up LEDs and laptops. 
• In bigger settings, you can power up fans, ACs, and lights with a 500 watt solar panel.
• You can also run microwaves, heaters, and refrigerators using these panels. 

Now that you are aware of the applications, let’s discuss what subsidies the Government of India provides for 500W solar panels to individual homeowners and small housing societies. 

Subsidy on a 500 Watt Solar Panel 

Here’s the simple math:

• For a solar system between 1KW- 3KW, the government provides a subsidy of 40% on L1 prices.
• For solar systems above 3KW and ranging up to 10 KW, the government offers a subsidy of 20% on L1 rates. 

For housing societies, it’s 20% of L1 rates up to 500 KW.

Do keep in mind that the government does not provide subsidies for industrial or commercial installations. 

Conclusion 

The invention of a 500 watt solar panel is truly a blessing. With their advent, more solar energy can be generated. Therefore, they’re a worthwhile investment in commercial settings as well as residential rooftop installations. 

The number of 500-watt solar panels that you require, however, will depend upon your power requirements. 

FAQs

Q. Is it worth installing 500-watt solar panels at home? 

Yes. Earlier, 500 watt PV panels didn’t find much use in residential installations. 

However, now they’re as commonly used in residential installations as in industrial and commercial setups. 

Q. Can I charge mobile phones from a 500 watt solar panel?

Yes, you can charge mobile phones from a 500 watt solar panel. You can also power up the chargers for mobile phones. 

Q. Is one 500 watt solar panel sufficient for 1kw solar system installation?

No, you need at least two 500-watt solar panels for 1kw solar system installation. 

The exact number, however, depends upon the type of panels you choose and the brand.