Illustration · 120 half-cut cells

Solar panelCanadian Solar

Canadian Solar CS3L-365MS

Name: Canadian Solar CS3L-365MS
Brand: Canadian Solar

120 half-cut cells. Power classes 345–390 W in the CEC list.

CEC listed · Feb 1, 2021UL 61730

Power class

Power (STC)365 WCEC nameplate
Efficiency≈20.4%calculated from area
%/°C Pmax−0.395CEC listing test
PTC / STC93.1%PTC 340 W (CEC)

Power classes

CEC PV Module List (Oct 7, 2026) · Cali-Graf calculation · 10 models

Model	Pmax	Voc, V	Isc, A	Vmp, V	Imp, A	Efficiency	PTC	CEC listed
CS3L-345MS	345 W	39.80	11.23	34.10	10.43	≈19.3%	321 W	Mar 11, 2021
CS3L-350MS	350 W	40.00	11.28	33.30	10.52	≈19.6%	325 W	Feb 1, 2021
CS3L-355MS	355 W	40.20	11.33	33.50	10.61	≈19.8%	330 W	Feb 1, 2021
CS3L-360MS	360 W	40.40	11.40	33.70	10.69	≈20.1%	335 W	Feb 1, 2021
CS3L-365MS	365 W	40.60	11.47	33.90	10.78	≈20.4%	340 W	Feb 1, 2021
CS3L-370MS	370 W	40.80	11.54	34.10	10.86	≈20.7%	344 W	Feb 1, 2021
CS3L-375MS	375 W	41.00	11.61	34.30	10.94	≈20.9%	349 W	Feb 1, 2021
CS3L-380MS	380 W	41.20	11.68	34.50	11.02	≈20.9%	358 W	Feb 1, 2021
CS3L-385MS	385 W	41.40	11.75	34.70	11.10	≈21.5%	359 W	Feb 1, 2021
CS3L-390MS	390 W	41.60	11.82	34.90	11.18	≈21.4%	368 W	Sep 13, 2021

≈ efficiency = Pmax ÷ CEC-listed area 1.79 m².

CEC note: Formerly listed under Canadian Solar Inc.

Build & dimensions

CEC PV Module List (Oct 7, 2026)

Module area1.79 m² (19.3 ft²)CEC-listed area
Cells120 half-cut cells
Back coverWhite backsheet

Heat & cold behaviour

CEC PV Module List (Oct 7, 2026) · Cali-Graf calculation

	CEC listing test
Pmax coefficient γ	−0.395 %/°C
Voc coefficient β	−0.297 %/°C
Isc coefficient α	+0.050 %/°C
Operating cell temperature	NOCT 43.3 °C

Vmp coefficient ≈ γ − α (CEC); used only for the hot-roof voltage estimate.

Away from lab conditions — CEC listing test points

Class	Pmax at NOCT	Vmp × Imp at NOCT	Pmax at 200 W/m²	Low-light efficiency vs STC
345 W	254.1 W	30.21 V × 8.41 A	66.6 W	96%
350 W	257.8 W	30.39 V × 8.48 A	67.6 W	97%
355 W	261.6 W	30.57 V × 8.56 A	68.5 W	97%
360 W	265.1 W	30.75 V × 8.62 A	69.5 W	96%
365 W	268.9 W	30.94 V × 8.69 A	70.5 W	97%
370 W	272.5 W	31.12 V × 8.76 A	71.4 W	97%
375 W	276.1 W	31.3 V × 8.82 A	72.4 W	96%
380 W	283.3 W	32.39 V × 8.75 A	73 W	96%
385 W	283.4 W	31.67 V × 8.95 A	74.3 W	96%
390 W	290.7 W	32.76 V × 8.87 A	75 W	96%

Pmax = Vmp × Imp from the CEC listing; low-light efficiency = Pmax at 200 W/m² ÷ (20% of STC Pmax).

Independent reliability testing

Kiwa PVEL Scorecard · RETC PV Module Index

PVEL Scorecards

Canadian Solar named Top Performer, 2020–2026

RETC PV Module Index

Canadian Solar, 2025

This exact series is not listed in published PVEL Top Performer tables. Results below are for the manufacturer.

RETC PV Module Index — Canadian Solar

Year	Recognition
2025	Reliability High Achiever

Inverter compatibility & string sizing

CEC PV Module List (Oct 7, 2026) · Cali-Graf calculation · NLR PVWatts v8 · inverter datasheets · NLR SAM inverter library · CEC Grid Support Inverter List (Oct 7, 2026)

CityColdest air, °CHottest cell, °CString inverter

43.4 V

Voc when cold

per panel

26.5 V

Vmp when hot

per panel

Max panels / string

max DC 600 V

Min panels / string

MPPT from 60 V

Defaults come from NLR TMY weather (coldest hour, hottest modeled cell). Code calculations (NEC 690.7) use the ASHRAE extreme annual minimum, which is usually colder — enter it above. β is the CEC-measured coefficient; NEC 690.7 calculations use the datasheet value.

String inverters most named in SoCal permits

Inverter	Max DC input	MPPT	Window source	Panels per string
Tesla 1538000-xx-y	600 V	60–480 V	datasheet	3–13
Solis (Ginlong) S6-EH1P10K-H-US	600 V	80–520 V	datasheet	4–13
Solis (Ginlong) Solis-1P7.6K-4G-US	600 V	100–500 V	datasheet	4–13
Qcells Q.VOLT H7.6SX	498 V	234–498 V	CEC test window	9–11

Microinverters (one per panel)

Microinverter	Recommended module power	Max DC input	MPPT	Voc cold / Vmp hot	Check	DC/AC
Enphase IQ8PLUS-72-2-US	235–440 W	60 V	29–45 V	43.4 / 26.5 V	⚠ Works; below MPPT at peak heat	1.26
Enphase IQ8X-80-M-US	320–540 W	79.5 V	43–60 V	43.4 / 26.5 V	✗ Not a match: module voltage below MPPT range	0.96
APsystems (Alt Power System) DS3-L	265–570 W	60 V	28–45 V	43.4 / 26.5 V	⚠ Works; below MPPT at peak heat	0.47
Enphase IQ8M-72-2-US	260–460 W	60 V	30–45 V	43.4 / 26.5 V	⚠ Works; below MPPT at peak heat	1.12
Enphase IQ8A-72-2-US	295–500 W	60 V	32–45 V	43.4 / 26.5 V	⚠ Works; below MPPT at peak heat	1.05

Voltage check against the microinverter datasheets — confirm the pairing on the manufacturer’s module compatibility list. Rows appear only when the panel’s power is inside the microinverter’s recommended module power range.

SolarEdge and other optimizer-based systems size strings by the optimizer rules — use the manufacturer’s designer. Reference inverters: most named in SoCal permits since Oct 2024.

Expected production in Southern California

NLR PVWatts v8 · Cali-Graf calculation

PanelsCity for chartSystem size

City	kWh / kW / yr	kWh / panel / yr	kWh / system / yr	Sun, kWh/m²/day
Los Angeles	1,676	612	11,623	6.08
Palmdale	1,835	670	12,726	6.69
Chula Vista	1,696	619	11,762	6.11
Huntington Beach	1,643	600	11,394	5.89
Riverside	1,696	619	11,762	6.21
Santa Clarita	1,724	629	11,956	6.28

Estimate for comparison, not a quote: shading, roof orientation and local losses change real output. Roof mount, 20° tilt, south, 14% system losses.

Compare with similar 365 W panels

CEC PV Module List (Oct 7, 2026) · Kiwa PVEL Scorecard · building permits

Panel	Pmax	Efficiency	γ Pmax (CEC)	Voc, V	Isc, A	PVEL (product / brand)	SoCal permits (series)
Canadian Solar CS3L-365MS	365 W	≈20.4%	−0.395	40.6	11.47	brand 5×	—
LONGi LR4-60HPB-365M	365 W	≈20.6%	−0.339	41	11.41	product 2021, 2022	193
REC Group REC365AA	365 W	≈21.7%	−0.279	44.3	10.26	brand 9× (2016–2025)	30
Trina Solar TSM-365DE06X.05(II)	365 W	≈20.1%	−0.339	45	10.35	product 2022	23

Same fields from the same sources for every row; ≈ efficiency is calculated from the listed area. Comparable series: other brands, same product group, power range covering this class.

About Canadian Solar

CEC PV Module List (Oct 7, 2026) · Kiwa PVEL Scorecard · RETC PV Module Index · building permits

ManufacturerCanadian Solar
Listed in CEC asCSI Energy Storage Co., Ltd., CSI Solar Co., Ltd., Canadian Solar
Websitecanadiansolar.com
PVEL Top Performer (manufacturer)5 Scorecards (2020–2026)
RETC PV Module Index2025
Current panel series in CEC list38

Other series by SoCal permits

CS6R-xxxMS-HL · 46CS3N-xxxMS · 46CS6.1-54TM-xxxH · 9CS1Y-xxxMS · 6CS3W-xxxMS · 6CS3W-xxxMB-AG · 5

Questions & answers

How efficient is the Canadian Solar CS3L-365MS?

Calculated from the panel area (1.79 m²): about 20.4% for the 365 W class. 365 W over 1.79 m² equals about 204 W per square meter.

How much energy does one panel produce in Los Angeles or Palmdale?

PVWatts v8 with typical-year weather gives about 612 kWh per year per 365 W panel in Los Angeles and about 670 kWh in Palmdale (20° roof, facing south, 14% system losses).

How much power does it lose on a hot roof?

With γ = −0.395 %/°C, at a 77 °C cell temperature (hottest modeled hour in Palmdale) output is about 20.5% below the STC rating.

How many panels fit on one string?

With the Tesla 1538000-xx-y (max DC 600 V, MPPT from 60 V, datasheet) in Los Angeles the calculator gives 3–13 panels per string (Voc at 2 °C = 43.4 V, Vmp at 74 °C cell = 26.5 V). Final design must follow the inverter manual and NEC 690.7.

Has this panel been reliability-tested?

This exact series is not in published PVEL Top Performer tables; Canadian Solar was named a Top Performer in 5 Scorecards (2020–2026).

Sources

California Energy Commission — Solar Equipment Lists, PV Module List, Inverter List (snapshot Oct 7, 2026).
Kiwa PVEL — PV Module Reliability Scorecard, Top Performer lists 2020–2026.
RETC — PV Module Index report.
NLR (formerly NREL) — System Advisor Model CEC inverter library (version 2026.7.3).
NLR (formerly NREL) — PVWatts v8, NSRDB PSM v3 typical-year weather for Los Angeles, Palmdale, Chula Vista, Huntington Beach, Riverside, Santa Clarita.
Inverter datasheets — APsystems (Alt Power System), Enphase, Solis (Ginlong), Tesla (manufacturer documents).
Building permits — Southern California permit portals. Equipment matched from permit descriptions.
Cali-Graf calculations — formulas and inputs are shown next to each calculated value (efficiency from area, temperature-corrected voltages, string sizing, energy estimates).