Illustration · 156 half-cut cells

Solar panelCanadian Solar

Canadian Solar CS3Y-460P

Name: Canadian Solar CS3Y-460P
Brand: Canadian Solar

156 half-cut cells. Power classes 440–485 W in the CEC list.

CEC listed · Dec 1, 2020UL 61730

Power class

Power (STC)460 WCEC nameplate
Efficiency≈20.1%calculated from area
%/°C Pmax−0.340CEC listing test
PTC / STC93.1%PTC 428 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
CS3Y-440P	440 W	51.20	11.18	42.00	10.48	≈19.2%	409 W	Dec 1, 2020
CS3Y-445P	445 W	51.40	11.23	42.20	10.55	≈19.4%	414 W	Dec 1, 2020
CS3Y-450P	450 W	51.60	11.28	42.40	10.62	≈19.7%	419 W	Dec 1, 2020
CS3Y-455P	455 W	51.80	11.33	42.60	10.69	≈19.9%	423 W	Dec 1, 2020
CS3Y-460P	460 W	52.00	11.38	42.80	10.75	≈20.1%	428 W	Dec 1, 2020
CS3Y-465P	465 W	52.20	11.43	43.00	10.82	≈20.3%	433 W	Dec 1, 2020
CS3Y-470P	470 W	52.40	11.48	43.20	10.88	≈20.5%	438 W	Dec 1, 2020
CS3Y-475P	475 W	52.60	11.53	43.40	10.95	≈20.7%	442 W	Dec 1, 2020
CS3Y-480P	480 W	52.80	11.58	43.60	11.01	≈21.0%	447 W	Dec 1, 2020
CS3Y-485P	485 W	53.00	11.63	43.80	11.08	≈21.2%	452 W	Dec 1, 2020

≈ efficiency = Pmax ÷ CEC-listed area 2.29 m².

CEC note: Formerly listed under Canadian Solar Inc.

Build & dimensions

CEC PV Module List (Oct 7, 2026)

Module area2.29 m² (24.6 ft²)CEC-listed area
Cells156 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	−0.340 %/°C
Voc coefficient β	−0.274 %/°C
Isc coefficient α	+0.068 %/°C
Operating cell temperature	NOCT 46.1 °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
440 W	326.3 W	38.87 V × 8.39 A	84.5 W	96%
445 W	330.1 W	39.06 V × 8.45 A	85.5 W	96%
450 W	333.8 W	39.24 V × 8.51 A	86.4 W	96%
455 W	337.6 W	39.43 V × 8.56 A	87.4 W	96%
460 W	341.1 W	39.61 V × 8.61 A	88.3 W	96%
465 W	344.9 W	39.8 V × 8.67 A	89.3 W	96%
470 W	348.5 W	39.98 V × 8.71 A	90.2 W	96%
475 W	352.3 W	40.17 V × 8.77 A	91.2 W	96%
480 W	355.9 W	40.35 V × 8.82 A	92.1 W	96%
485 W	359.8 W	40.54 V × 8.88 A	93.2 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

55.3 V

Voc when cold

per panel

34.2 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	2–10
Solis (Ginlong) S6-EH1P10K-H-US	600 V	80–520 V	datasheet	3–10
Solis (Ginlong) Solis-1P7.6K-4G-US	600 V	100–500 V	datasheet	3–10
Qcells Q.VOLT H7.6SX	498 V	234–498 V	CEC test window	7–9

Microinverters (one per panel)

Microinverter	Recommended module power	Max DC input	MPPT	Voc cold / Vmp hot	Check	DC/AC
Enphase IQ8X-80-M-US	320–540 W	79.5 V	43–60 V	55.3 / 34.2 V	✗ Not a match: module voltage below MPPT range	1.21
APsystems (Alt Power System) DS3-L	265–570 W	60 V	28–45 V	55.3 / 34.2 V	✓ Within range	0.59
Enphase IQ8M-72-2-US	260–460 W	60 V	30–45 V	55.3 / 34.2 V	✓ Within range	1.42
Enphase IQ8A-72-2-US	295–500 W	60 V	32–45 V	55.3 / 34.2 V	✓ Within range	1.32

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	771	11,564	6.08
Palmdale	1,835	844	12,662	6.69
Chula Vista	1,696	780	11,702	6.11
Huntington Beach	1,643	756	11,337	5.89
Riverside	1,696	780	11,702	6.21
Santa Clarita	1,724	793	11,896	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 460 W panels

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

Panel	Pmax	Efficiency	γ Pmax (CEC)	Voc, V	Isc, A	PVEL (product / brand)	SoCal permits (series)
Canadian Solar CS3Y-460P	460 W	≈20.1%	−0.340	52	11.38	brand 5×	—
REC Group REC460AA Pure-RX	460 W	≈22.8%	−0.248	65.3	8.88	brand 9× (2016–2025)	33
Aptos Solar DNA-120-MF10-460W	460 W	≈21.3%	−0.363	41.7	14	—	22
SEG Solar SEG-455-BTD-BG	455 W	≈23.3%	−0.262	39.76	14.11	product 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026	8

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 CS3Y-460P?

Calculated from the panel area (2.29 m²): about 20.1% for the 460 W class. 460 W over 2.29 m² equals about 201 W per square meter.

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

PVWatts v8 with typical-year weather gives about 771 kWh per year per 460 W panel in Los Angeles and about 844 kWh in Palmdale (20° roof, facing south, 14% system losses).

How much power does it lose on a hot roof?

With γ = −0.340 %/°C, at a 77 °C cell temperature (hottest modeled hour in Palmdale) output is about 17.6% 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 2–10 panels per string (Voc at 2 °C = 55.3 V, Vmp at 74 °C cell = 34.2 V). Final design must follow the inverter manual and NEC 690.7.

Does it work with APsystems (Alt Power System) DS3-L microinverters?

Voltage check against the APsystems (Alt Power System) datasheet: Voc when cold 55.3 V vs max input 60 V; Vmp when hot 34.2 V vs MPPT low 28 V; recommended module power 265–570 W. Confirm on the microinverter maker’s compatibility list.

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).
Aptos Solar — datasheet Legacy Products.
SEG Solar — manufacturer datasheet “XXXTFHTPMBSDPN YUKON/Series )BMG$FMM/5ZQF501$PO”.
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).