Stc and ptc are both test conditions used to rate the performance of a photovoltaic module pv panel while noct is referred to the pv cell temperature and it s obtained under prefixed environmental conditions.
Solar panel stc vs ptc.
This nameplate value makes it easy for different panels and system sizes to be compared.
For example if you had 10 spr230 sunpower 230 watt panels panels you would have a 2300 watt dc stc sized system.
As the panel heats up as they all do in the real world its output goes down.
Ptc value is used by california to figure your rebate for instance a nsp neo solar power 260watt panel is 236 5watts ptc.
Their ptc ratings varied from 217 1 watts ptc stc 0 835 to 239 8 watts ptc stc 0 922 the canadian solar panel referenced above is at the high end of the scale ptc stc 0 919 it s important to note what the ptc testing reveals not all panels with the same stc rating perform the same.
The jinko solar jkm260p 60 watts polycrystalline module has a ptc rating of 238 2 watts and an stc rating of 260 watts.
For example take a look at the following product.
Ptc is an acronym for pv usa test conditions which were developed at the pv usa test site at the university of davis california.
The light spectrum is the same as for stc.
This means that solar panels will always have higher ratings at stc compared with notc.
Stc ratings are always higher than ptc because they are based on the modules instant output under.
A windspeed of 1 m s is considered with air at 20 c.
What ptc means is they put the panels under outside test conditions and see what they actually pump out.
Max power at noct is the wattage that.
For example a 327w sunpower solar panel has a max power at stc of 327w.
This number will be slightly less than stc.
The temperature of the solar cells and the ambient room temperature are both set at 77 degrees.
The percentage drop off depends largely on the type of solar panel materials used and the manufacturer.
The ptc of solar panels with stc rating of 260 watts varies in the gosolarcalifornia table.
Of course it s not necessary to know what they are in order to buy a solar panel.
You can find ptc test results at gosolarcalifornia.
Max power at noct.
The light source in the laboratory is calibrated so that precisely 1 000 watts per square meter of solar light falls on the photovoltaic panel.
The ptc rating which is lower than the stc rating is generally recognized as a more realistic measure of pv output because the test conditions better reflect.
Max power at stc is the number that both consumers and those within the solar industry refer to as the size of the solar panel.
Solar panels heat up considerably during operation so the temperature considered is 45 3 c.