CMPower Shade Tolerant Solar Panels for Marine Applications
CMPower Shade Tolerant Solar Panels for Marine Applications
Solar panel shading is an issue for many boat owners. Shading can reduce a standard panel’s performance by over 60%. CMPower has developed a series of semi-flexible and walk-on shade tolerant solar panels that provide superior performance when shaded by boat equipment or nearby objects. Extensive field testing has shown that CMPower shade tolerant panels will produce up to 40% more power than comparable standard solar panels in shading conditions.
CMPower solar panels have high performance A+ Grade SunPower Maxeon solar cells which offer shade tolerant capabilities. CMPower shade tolerant solar panels with SunPower solar cells offer significantly higher energy production capabilities under shaded conditions.
Background:
|
Typical commercially available solar panels contain solar cells wired in series strings running down the length of the panel and back up to the junction box. There are one to five series strings of cells running the length of the panel. When a typical panel is shaded across the series strings i.e. boom shading, the panel performance is significantly degraded by the shaded cells (like the weak link in a chain). |
 |
|
CMPower shade tolerant solar panels are wired in sections with short strings of half-cut solar cells and diodes isolating each section. If one or two sections are shaded, the other sections perform at normal output. The result is a panel that will provide up to 40% higher output than standard panels when shaded. These amazing shade tolerant panels are ideal for bimini and dodger mounting where there is boom, mast and instrument pole shading. Patent pending |
 |
Advantages:
- Performance – CMPower shade tolerant solar panels provide up to 40% more watts per day in shaded conditions.
- Flexibility – CMPower shade tolerant solar panels are available in numerous shapes and sizes to accommodate the unique requirements of marine applications.
-
Reliability – CMPower shade tolerant solar panels are constructed to minimize points of failure. CMPower solar panels’ unique design does not require an excessive number of diodes (most common point of failure) to achieve shade tolerance.
Should a solar cell section be damaged, the other sections will continue to perform to specification.
- Expanded Application – CMPower shade tolerant solar panels enable the placement of solar panels in shaded areas previously not conducive to solar power generation.