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A rooftop with space for another panel, a battery bank waiting for its charge, a cabin running through a cloudy week: each is a moment when the panel’s figures matter. This guide explains 500 watt solar panel specifications: the watts, volts, dimensions and warranty figures a listing states, and how to read them against your system. Read the watts first, then the voltage, then the size and weight, and finish with the warranty and certifications.
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The quick answer
A 500 watt panel is a panel the listing rates at 500 watts. The 500W SUNGOLDPOWER listing states 500W, Mono PERC Half-Cut cells, efficiency up to 21.05%, dimensions of 82.4 by 44.7 by 1.4 inches, a weight of 54.0 pounds, IP68 stated, and a 12-year workmanship warranty with a 25-year linear performance warranty. Before you buy, check the voltage figures against the controller input, the dimensions and weight against the space you have, and the warranty term against how long you plan to keep the panel.
Step 1: Read the watts first
Watts are the headline figure on a panel listing. The SUNGOLDPOWER 590W bifacial (on Amazon) listing states 590W per panel and sells as 6 panels. The SUNGOLDPOWER 500W listing states 500W per panel and lists 32 panels with a total of 16000W. The flexible listing states 2 panels of 500W and a total of 1000W, with a 40A charge controller included. Compare watts to watts across listings, and read the rest of the figures before you decide.
| Listing | Watts stated | Pack stated |
|---|---|---|
| SUNGOLDPOWER 590W bifacial | 590W | 6 panels |
| SUNGOLDPOWER 500W | 500W | 32 panels, 16000W total |
| Generic flexible pair | 500W each, 1000W total | 2 panels, 40A controller |
Read the pack count with care. The 500W listing title states 32 panels and a total of 16000W, while its spec table lists the number of items as 1, so the title and the spec table disagree on the pack. The flexible listing title states 1000 watts for 2 panels of 500W, so the 1000W figure is the pair total, not the figure for 1 panel. Trust the title and bullets over the spec table when they disagree.
Step 2: Read the voltage figures
Voltage figures tell you what system the panel fits. The 590W listing states Vmp 44.4V and Voc 52.35V, and lists the panel for 24V and 48V DC systems, home backup, energy storage, and on-grid and off-grid systems. Vmp is the voltage at maximum power and Voc is the open-circuit voltage, and both figures come from the listing. The 500W listing and the flexible listing state no voltage figures, so they leave the voltage question open. Check the Vmp and Voc figures against the controller or power station input the maker lists, and match the panel to a system voltage the listing names. For the system side, see 12V vs 24V solar panels and 24V vs 48V solar systems.
Step 3: Check size, weight and build
Dimensions and weight decide where a panel fits and how it mounts. The 590W bifacial panel measures 89.69 by 44.65 by 1.38 inches and weighs 69.45 pounds, with dual-glass construction stated. The rigid 500W panel measures 82.4 by 44.7 by 1.4 inches and weighs 54.0 pounds, and the listing states Grade A cells and IP68. The flexible listing states dimensions of 46.3 by 21.3 by 0.2 inches, bends to a maximum angle of 260 degrees, and has pre-drilled threaded holes for fasteners. The 590W listing states N-Type 16BB cells with efficiency up to 22.8%, the 500W listing states Mono PERC Half-Cut cells with efficiency up to 21.05%, and the flexible listing states a conversion rate of up to 25%. The listings state efficiency in different words, so compare the figures with care. The 590W listing also states up to 30% additional energy from rear-side reflection, a bifacial claim from the maker, so read it as the maker’s claim.
Step 4: Read the warranty and certifications
Warranty terms and certifications are stated on the listing, and they differ across the listings. The 590W listing states a 12-year product warranty and a 30-year linear performance warranty, with UL61730 certified, ETL, and CEC listed. The 500W listing states a 12-year workmanship warranty and a 25-year linear performance warranty, with TUV certified and UL 61730 stated. The flexible listing states no warranty term and no certification. Read the term the listing states before you buy, and note when a listing states no term.
Ways to use 500 watt solar panel specifications
- Match the watts to the system: the listings state 590W, 500W and 1000W totals, so start from the watts figure the listing states.
- Match the voltage to the controller: the 590W listing states Vmp 44.4V and Voc 52.35V for 24V and 48V DC systems, and the other listings state no voltage figures.
- Match the size and weight to the space: 89.69 by 44.65 by 1.38 inches at 69.45 pounds, 82.4 by 44.7 by 1.4 inches at 54.0 pounds, or 46.3 by 21.3 by 0.2 inches for the flexible listing.
- Match the warranty to the plan: 12-year and 30-year terms on the 590W listing, 12-year and 25-year terms on the 500W listing, and no term stated on the flexible listing.
FAQ: power away from the grid
What does 500 watts mean on a solar panel?
It is the headline power figure the listing states. The 500W SUNGOLDPOWER listing states 500W per panel and lists 32 panels with a total of 16000W, so the 500W figure is per panel and the 16000W figure is the pack total.
What voltage does a 500 watt panel run at?
The listings here state no voltage figures for the 500W panels. The 590W listing states Vmp 44.4V and Voc 52.35V and lists the panel for 24V and 48V DC systems, so use the voltage figures the listing for your panel states.
How big is a 500 watt solar panel?
The rigid 500W listing states 82.4 by 44.7 by 1.4 inches and 54.0 pounds. The flexible listing states 46.3 by 21.3 by 0.2 inches, and the 590W listing states 89.69 by 44.65 by 1.38 inches and 69.45 pounds.
What warranty comes with a 500 watt panel?
The 500W SUNGOLDPOWER listing states a 12-year workmanship warranty and a 25-year linear performance warranty. The flexible listing states no warranty term, so check the warranty the listing for your panel states.
Related solar guides
See the 100 watt solar panel specifications, the 12V vs 24V solar panels, the 24V vs 48V solar systems and the what is an N-type solar panel. For shed power, see the best 500 watt solar panels for a shed.
