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Solar panelFirst Solar

First Solar FS-6450A-P-B

268 cells. Power classes 420–480 W in the CEC list.

CEC listed · Oct 2, 2023UL 61730
Power class
  • Power (STC)450 WCEC nameplate
  • Efficiency≈17.9%calculated from area
  • %/°C Pmax−0.296CEC listing test
  • PTC / STC92.6%PTC 416 W (CEC)

Power classes

CEC PV Module List (Oct 7, 2026) · Cali-Graf calculation · 13 models
ModelPmaxVoc, VIsc, AVmp, VImp, AEfficiencyPTCCEC listed
FS-6420A-P-B420 W218.502.54180.402.33≈16.7%388 WJun 11, 2025
FS-6425A-P-B425 W218.902.54181.502.34≈16.9%393 WJun 11, 2025
FS-6430A-P-B430 W219.202.54182.602.36≈17.1%398 WJun 11, 2025
FS-6435A-P-B435 W219.602.55183.602.37≈17.3%402 WJun 11, 2025
FS-6440A-P-B440 W220.002.55184.702.38≈17.5%407 WOct 2, 2023
FS-6445A-P-B445 W220.402.56185.702.40≈17.7%412 WOct 2, 2023
FS-6450A-P-B450 W221.102.57186.802.41≈17.9%416 WOct 2, 2023
FS-6455A-P-B455 W222.002.58187.802.42≈18.1%421 WOct 2, 2023
FS-6460A-P-B460 W222.902.59188.802.44≈18.3%426 WOct 2, 2023
FS-6465A-P-B465 W223.802.60189.802.45≈18.5%431 WOct 2, 2023
FS-6470A-P-B470 W224.302.61191.102.46≈18.7%435 WOct 2, 2023
FS-6475A-P-B475 W224.802.61191.502.48≈18.8%440 WOct 2, 2023
FS-6480A-P-B480 W225.402.62192.802.49≈19.0%445 WOct 2, 2023
≈ efficiency = Pmax ÷ CEC-listed area 2.52 m².

Heat & cold behaviour

CEC PV Module List (Oct 7, 2026) · Cali-Graf calculation
CEC listing test
Pmax coefficient γ−0.296 %/°C
Voc coefficient β−0.271 %/°C
Isc coefficient α+0.051 %/°C
Operating cell temperatureNOCT 50.1 °C
Vmp coefficient ≈ γ − α (CEC); used only for the hot-roof voltage estimate.

Away from lab conditions — CEC listing test points

ClassPmax at NOCTVmp × Imp at NOCTPmax at 200 W/m²Low-light efficiency vs STC
420 W316.4 W166.65 V × 1.9 A82.4 W98%
425 W319.7 W167.67 V × 1.91 A83.3 W98%
430 W324.3 W168.68 V × 1.92 A84.5 W98%
435 W327.5 W169.61 V × 1.93 A85.3 W98%
440 W330.9 W170.62 V × 1.94 A86.2 W98%
445 W335.4 W171.55 V × 1.96 A87.4 W98%
450 W338.8 W172.56 V × 1.96 A88.3 W98%
455 W342.1 W173.49 V × 1.97 A89.1 W98%
460 W346.7 W174.41 V × 1.99 A90.3 W98%
465 W350 W175.33 V × 2 A91.2 W98%
470 W353.8 W176.53 V × 2 A92.2 W98%
475 W357.5 W176.9 V × 2.02 A93.1 W98%
480 W361.3 W178.11 V × 2.03 A94.1 W98%
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
2023
PVEL Top Performer
closely related product name
5
Tests passed as Top Performer
DH, LID+LETID, MSS, PID, TC
5
PVEL Scorecards
First Solar named Top Performer, 2018–2023

PVEL Top Performer tests

YearProductTests
2023FS-6xxxA-P (closely related product name)DHLID+LETIDMSSPIDTC

Tested bill of materials

Details describe the tested sample, not every module of the series.

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)
234.9 V
Voc when cold
per panel
155 V
Vmp when hot
per panel
2
Max panels / string
max DC 600 V
1
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

InverterMax DC inputMPPTWindow sourcePanels per string
Tesla 1538000-xx-y600 V60–480 Vdatasheet1–2
Solis (Ginlong) S6-EH1P10K-H-US600 V80–520 Vdatasheet1–2
Solis (Ginlong) Solis-1P7.6K-4G-US600 V100–500 Vdatasheet1–2
Qcells Q.VOLT H7.6SX498 V234–498 VCEC test window2–2

Microinverters (one per panel)

MicroinverterRecommended module powerMax DC inputMPPTVoc cold / Vmp hotCheckDC/AC
Enphase IQ8X-80-M-US320–540 W79.5 V43–60 V234.9 / 155 V✗ Not allowed: cold Voc above max input1.18
APsystems (Alt Power System) DS3-L265–570 W60 V28–45 V234.9 / 155 V✗ Not allowed: cold Voc above max input0.58
Enphase IQ8M-72-2-US260–460 W60 V30–45 V234.9 / 155 V✗ Not allowed: cold Voc above max input1.38
Enphase IQ8A-72-2-US295–500 W60 V32–45 V234.9 / 155 V✗ Not allowed: cold Voc above max input1.29
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
CitykWh / kW / yrkWh / panel / yrkWh / system / yrSun, kWh/m²/day
Los Angeles1,67675412,0676.08
Palmdale1,83582613,2126.69
Chula Vista1,69676312,2116.11
Huntington Beach1,64373911,8305.89
Riverside1,69676312,2116.21
Santa Clarita1,72477612,4136.28
788Jan788Feb1,012Mar1,117Apr1,104May1,173Jun1,236Jul1,250Aug1,093Sep964Oct829Nov717DeckWh per month · Los Angeles
Estimate for comparison, not a quote: shading, roof orientation and local losses change real output. Roof mount, 20° tilt, south, 14% system losses.

About First Solar

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

Other series by SoCal permits

FS-6xxx-P-BFS-6xxx-P-B-2FS-6xxxA-P-B-2FS-7xxxA-FT1FS-7xxxA-TR1FS-6xxxA-P

Questions & answers

How efficient is the First Solar FS-6450A-P-B?

Calculated from the panel area (2.52 m²): about 17.9% for the 450 W class. 450 W over 2.52 m² equals about 179 W per square meter.

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

PVWatts v8 with typical-year weather gives about 754 kWh per year per 450 W panel in Los Angeles and about 826 kWh in Palmdale (20° roof, facing south, 14% system losses).

How much power does it lose on a hot roof?

With γ = −0.296 %/°C, at a 77 °C cell temperature (hottest modeled hour in Palmdale) output is about 15.3% 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 1–2 panels per string (Voc at 2 °C = 234.9 V, Vmp at 74 °C cell = 155 V). Final design must follow the inverter manual and NEC 690.7.

Has this panel been reliability-tested?

FS-6xxxA-P was a PVEL Top Performer in 2023 (DH, LID+LETID, MSS, PID, TC) — a closely related product name.

Sources

  1. California Energy Commission — Solar Equipment Lists, PV Module List, Inverter List (snapshot Oct 7, 2026).
  2. Kiwa PVEL — PV Module Reliability Scorecard, Top Performer lists 2018–2023.
  3. NLR (formerly NREL) — System Advisor Model CEC inverter library (version 2026.7.3).
  4. NLR (formerly NREL) — PVWatts v8, NSRDB PSM v3 typical-year weather for Los Angeles, Palmdale, Chula Vista, Huntington Beach, Riverside, Santa Clarita.
  5. Inverter datasheets — APsystems (Alt Power System), Enphase, Solis (Ginlong), Tesla (manufacturer documents).
  6. Cali-Graf calculations — formulas and inputs are shown next to each calculated value (efficiency from area, temperature-corrected voltages, string sizing, energy estimates).