Are some panels more shade tolerant?
Yes, but… The output of ANY panel will be reduced or cut off if shaded, but some are better than others, up to a point. If a single cell is heavily shaded, that cell is cut off. Most modern panels have “bypass diodes”, which send the output from the remaining cells around that dead cell. However, you have lost the output of that cell, so the total panel voltage will drop by about .48 volts per cell. Most panels are in the 16 to 18 volt range, and most batteries need at least 13.5 volts to charge completely. So if 2 or more cells are shaded, the output voltage of the panel may drop too low to charge the battery. The Unisolar panels are somewhat more shade tolerant than crystalline panels because each cell cuts out only when totally shaded. Dirt, dust, leaves, bird “stuff”, and shadows from trees, vent pipes, etc can all cause reduced output of any panel due to shading. It’s a good idea to wash your panels down once in a while, especially if they are laying flat on the roof like most R
