Illustration · 156 half-cut cells (6 × 26)

Solar panelQcells

Qcells Q.PEAK DUO XL-G10.3/BFG 480

Name: Qcells Q.PEAK DUO XL-G10.3/BFG 480
Brand: Qcells

156 half-cut cells (6 × 26), bifacial, 0.08 in (2.0 mm) semi-tempered glass. Power classes 460–500 W in the CEC list.

CEC listed · Jul 21, 2021UL 61730Bifacial12-yr product + 30-yr performance warrantyPVEL Top Performer 2022, 2023Installed in 5 SoCal permits

Power class

Power (STC)480 WCEC nameplate
Efficiency≈21.6%calculated from area
%/°C Pmax−0.34CEC test: −0.339
Degradation / yr0.45%after year 1 (warranty)

Power classes

CEC PV Module List (Oct 7, 2026) · Cali-Graf calculation · 9 models

Model	Pmax	Voc, V	Isc, A	Vmp, V	Imp, A	Efficiency	PTC	CEC listed
Q.PEAK DUO XL-G10.3/BFG 460	460 W	52.44	10.95	44.11	10.43	≈20.7%	430 W	Jul 21, 2021
Q.PEAK DUO XL-G10.3/BFG 465	465 W	52.68	11.00	44.42	10.47	≈20.9%	435 W	Jul 21, 2021
Q.PEAK DUO XL-G10.3/BFG 470	470 W	52.91	11.04	44.73	10.51	≈21.2%	440 W	Jul 21, 2021
Q.PEAK DUO XL-G10.3/BFG 475	475 W	53.15	11.08	45.03	10.55	≈21.4%	445 W	Jul 21, 2021
Q.PEAK DUO XL-G10.3/BFG 480	480 W	53.39	11.12	45.33	10.59	≈21.6%	450 W	Jul 21, 2021
Q.PEAK DUO XL-G10.3/BFG 485	485 W	53.63	11.16	45.63	10.63	≈21.8%	454 W	Jul 21, 2021
Q.PEAK DUO XL-G10.3/BFG 490	490 W	53.86	11.20	45.93	10.67	≈22.1%	459 W	Jul 21, 2021
Q.PEAK DUO XL-G10.3/BFG 495	495 W	54.10	11.24	46.22	10.71	≈22.3%	464 W	Jul 21, 2021
Q.PEAK DUO XL-G10.3/BFG 500	500 W	54.34	11.28	46.51	10.75	≈22.5%	469 W	Jul 21, 2021

≈ efficiency = Pmax ÷ CEC-listed area 2.22 m².

CEC note: Formerly listed under Hanwha Q CELLS

Build & dimensions

CEC PV Module List (Oct 7, 2026) · Qcells datasheet

Module area2.22 m² (23.9 ft²)CEC-listed area
Weight64.2 lb (29.1 kg)
Cells156 half-cut cells (6 × 26)
Front glass0.08 in (2.0 mm) thermally pre-stressed glass with
Back cover0.08 in (2.0 mm) semi-tempered glass
FrameAnodized aluminum
Junction box2.09–3.98 in × 1.26–2.36 in × 0.59–0.71 in
Cable / connector4 mm² Solar cable; (+) ≥ 27.6 in (700 mm), (-) ≥ 13.8 in (350 mm) · Stäubli MC4, Stäubli MC4-Evo2, Hanwha Q CELLS HQC4, IP68

Heat & cold behaviour

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

	Datasheet	CEC listing test
Pmax coefficient γ	−0.34 %/°C	−0.339 %/°C
Voc coefficient β	−0.27 %/°C	−0.268 %/°C
Isc coefficient α	+0.04 %/°C	+0.058 %/°C
Vmp coefficient	≈ −0.38 %/°C	—
Operating cell temperature	NMOT 42 ± 3 °C	NOCT 45 °C

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

At normal operating conditions (NMOT, 800 W/m²) — datasheet

Class	Pmax, W	Voc, V	Isc, A	Vmp, V	Imp, A
475 W	357.6	50.27	8.92	43.06	8.30
480 W	361.4	50.49	8.96	43.35	8.34
485 W	365.1	50.72	8.99	43.63	8.37
490 W	368.9	50.95	9.02	43.92	8.40

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
460 W	340.7 W	40.68 V × 8.37 A	89.4 W	97%
465 W	344.4 W	40.97 V × 8.41 A	90.4 W	97%
470 W	348.1 W	41.25 V × 8.44 A	91.4 W	97%
475 W	351.8 W	41.53 V × 8.47 A	92.4 W	97%
480 W	355.4 W	41.81 V × 8.5 A	93.3 W	97%
485 W	359.1 W	42.08 V × 8.53 A	94.3 W	97%
490 W	362.9 W	42.36 V × 8.57 A	95.3 W	97%
495 W	366.5 W	42.63 V × 8.6 A	96.2 W	97%
500 W	370.2 W	42.89 V × 8.63 A	97.2 W	97%

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

Electrical & strength ratings

Max system voltage1,500 V
Max series fuse20 A
Protection classClass II
Design load push / pull75 / 33 psf3,600 / 1,600 Pa
Test load push / pull113 / 50 psf5,400 / 2,400 Pa
Module temperature−40 °F to +185 °F−40 °C to +85 °C

Bifacial performance

NLR SAM module library · Qcells datasheet

BifacialYes
Back cover0.08 in (2.0 mm) semi-tempered glass

Power with rear gain (BSTC) — datasheet

Class	Pmax with rear gain
475 W	475 W
480 W	480 W
485 W	485 W
490 W	490 W

Rear gain depends on mounting height and ground reflectance; flush roof mounts receive little rear light.

Certifications

CEC PV Module List (Oct 7, 2026) · Qcells datasheet

UL 61730IEC 61215IEC 61730

UL 61730CEC listing
IEC 61215datasheet
IEC 61730datasheet

Warranty & degradation

Qcells datasheet · Cali-Graf calculation

Product warranty12 years
Performance warranty30 years
Year 1≥ 98%
Then≤ 0.45% / year
Year 10≥ 93.95%calculated from warranty terms
Year 30≥ 84.95%

Independent reliability testing

Kiwa PVEL Scorecard · RETC PV Module Index

2022, 2023

PVEL Top Performer

this series

Tests passed as Top Performer

DH, LID+LETID, MSS, TC

PVEL Scorecards

Qcells named Top Performer, 2016–2026

2023, 2026

RETC Overall Highest Achiever

Qcells, manufacturer level

PVEL Top Performer tests

Year	Product	Tests
2022	Q.PEAK DUO XL-G10.3/BFG	DHLID+LETIDMSS
2023	Q.PEAK DUO XL-G10.3/BFG	DHLID+LETIDMSSTC
2023	Q.PEAK DUO XL-G10.3 (closely related product name)	LID+LETID

Tested bill of materials

PVEL-tested factorySouth Korea
Cell technology (tested BOM)p-type PERC
Module design (tested BOM)Bifacial - glass//glass
Power class range tested455-500W

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

RETC PV Module Index — Qcells

Year	Recognition
2023	Overall Highest Achiever; High Achievement in Performance (Module efficiency, Pan file performance); High Achievement in Reliability (Damp heat test, Pid resistance, Thermal cycle test)
2024	High Achievement in Performance
2025	Performance High Achiever
2026	Overall Highest Achiever; High achievement in performance; High achievement in reliability; Performance discipline high achiever (Conversion efficiency, Iam, Letid, Lid, PTC-to-STC, Temperature coefficient); Quality discipline high achiever (BOM verification); Reliability discipline high achiever (Sdml, Tc, Uvid, Budt, Damp heat, Hdt, Pid)

Inverter compatibility & string sizing

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

CityColdest air, °CHottest cell, °CString inverter

56.7 V

Voc when cold

per panel

36.9 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.

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	7–8

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	56.7 / 36.9 V	⚠ Works; below MPPT at peak heat	1.26
APsystems (Alt Power System) DS3-L	265–570 W	60 V	28–45 V	56.7 / 36.9 V	✓ Within range	0.62
Enphase IQ8A-72-2-US	295–500 W	60 V	32–45 V	56.7 / 36.9 V	✓ Within range	1.38

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	804	12,067	6.08
Palmdale	1,835	881	13,212	6.69
Chula Vista	1,696	814	12,211	6.11
Huntington Beach	1,643	789	11,830	5.89
Riverside	1,696	814	12,211	6.21
Santa Clarita	1,724	828	12,413	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.

Who installs Q.PEAK DUO XL-G10.3/BFG panels in SoCal

building permits

Permits naming this series

Oct 2023 – Apr 2025

Jurisdictions so far

LA County (unincorp.) (5)

Permits over time

Power class named in permit

480 W

485 W

Only installer and ZIP level is shown — no homeowner names, street addresses or permit numbers. Permits from LA County (unincorp.) come without a contractor license, so they count toward totals but not toward installers. Counts grow as more permit portals are loaded.

Installed together with

building permits

Inverters

Chint Power Systems (model not specified)

Batteries

Tesla Powerwall 3

Number of permits naming both this panel series and the product; 5 of 5 permits list other equipment.

Compare with similar 480 W panels

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

Panel	Pmax	Efficiency	γ Pmax (CEC)	Voc, V	Isc, A	PVEL (product / brand)	SoCal permits (series)
Qcells Q.PEAK DUO XL-G10.3/BFG 480	480 W	≈21.6%	−0.339	53.39	11.12	product 2022, 2023	5
REC Group REC475AA Pure-RX	475 W	≈23.5%	−0.248	65.7	9	brand 9× (2016–2025)	33
SEG Solar SEG-495-BTD-BG	495 W	≈25.3%	−0.290	39.9	15.82	product 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026	8
Elin Energy (Sirius PV) ELNSM60M-HC-475	475 W	≈22.1%	−0.332	41.82	14.26	—	2

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 Qcells

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

ManufacturerQcells
Listed in CEC asHanwha Qcells (Qidong) Co. Ltd., Qcells North America
Parent companyHanwha
Websiteq-cells.com
PVEL Top Performer (manufacturer)11 Scorecards (2016–2026)
RETC PV Module Index2023, 2024, 2025, 2026
Current panel series in CEC list81

Other series by SoCal permits

Q.PEAK DUO BLK ML-G10+ · 221Q.PEAK DUO BLK ML-G10.C+ · 124Q.TRON BLK M-G2+ · 40Q.TRON BLK M-G2.H+ · 33Q.TRON BLK M-G2.C+ · 24Q.TRON M-G2+ · 20

Questions & answers

How efficient is the Qcells Q.PEAK DUO XL-G10.3/BFG 480?

Calculated from the panel area (2.22 m²): about 21.6% for the 480 W class. 480 W over 2.22 m² equals about 216 W per square meter.

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

PVWatts v8 with typical-year weather gives about 804 kWh per year per 480 W panel in Los Angeles and about 881 kWh in Palmdale (20° roof, facing south, 14% system losses).

How much power does it lose on a hot roof?

With γ = −0.34 %/°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 = 56.7 V, Vmp at 74 °C cell = 36.9 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 56.7 V vs max input 60 V; Vmp when hot 36.9 V vs MPPT low 28 V; recommended module power 265–570 W. Confirm on the microinverter maker’s compatibility list.

What does the warranty cover?

12 years on the product and 30 years on performance: at least 98% of rated power in year 1, then no more than 0.45% per year — at least 84.95% after 30 years (manufacturer datasheet).

Is it bifacial?

Yes; with rear gain the 480 W class reaches 480 W per datasheet. Rear gain depends on mounting height and ground reflectance.

Has this panel been reliability-tested?

Q.PEAK DUO XL-G10.3/BFG was a PVEL Top Performer in 2022, 2023 (DH, LID+LETID, MSS, TC).

Sources

California Energy Commission — Solar Equipment Lists, PV Module List, Inverter List (snapshot Oct 7, 2026).
Qcells — manufacturer datasheet “Q.PEAK DUO XL-G10.3 / BFG BIFACIAL DOUBLE GLASS MODULE”.
SEG Solar — manufacturer datasheet “XXXTFHTPMBSDPN YUKON/Series )BMG$FMM/5ZQF501$PO”.
Kiwa PVEL — PV Module Reliability Scorecard, Top Performer lists 2016–2026.
RETC — PV Module Index reports 2023–2026.
NLR (formerly NREL) — System Advisor Model CEC module and inverter libraries (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 — Los Angeles County Public Works (EPIC-LA, unincorporated areas) (Oct 2023 – Apr 2025). Equipment matched from permit descriptions by model number.
Cali-Graf calculations — formulas and inputs are shown next to each calculated value (efficiency from area, temperature-corrected voltages, string sizing, energy estimates).