Illustration · 144 half-cut cells

Solar panelSunman (Zhenjiang)

Sunman (Zhenjiang) SMH515J-12X12UW

Name: Sunman (Zhenjiang) SMH515J-12X12UW
Brand: Sunman (Zhenjiang)

144 half-cut cells. Power classes 500–535 W in the CEC list.

CEC listed · May 12, 2025UL 61730

Power class

Power (STC)515 WCEC nameplate
Efficiency≈19.1%calculated from area
%/°C Pmax−0.348CEC listing test
PTC / STC93.7%PTC 482 W (CEC)

Power classes

CEC PV Module List (Oct 7, 2026) · Cali-Graf calculation · 8 models

Model	Pmax	Voc, V	Isc, A	Vmp, V	Imp, A	Efficiency	PTC	CEC listed
SMH500J-12X12UW	500 W	48.70	13.32	41.30	12.07	≈18.6%	468 W	May 12, 2025
SMH505J-12X12UW	505 W	48.90	13.38	41.54	12.13	≈18.8%	473 W	May 12, 2025
SMH510J-12X12UW	510 W	49.10	13.44	41.78	12.19	≈19.0%	478 W	May 12, 2025
SMH515J-12X12UW	515 W	49.30	13.50	42.02	12.25	≈19.1%	482 W	May 12, 2025
SMH520J-12X12UW	520 W	49.50	13.56	42.26	12.31	≈19.3%	487 W	May 12, 2025
SMH525J-12X12UW	525 W	49.70	13.62	42.50	12.37	≈19.5%	492 W	May 12, 2025
SMH530J-12X12UW	530 W	49.86	13.68	42.74	12.43	≈19.7%	497 W	May 12, 2025
SMH535J-12X12UW	535 W	50.10	13.74	42.98	12.49	≈19.9%	502 W	May 12, 2025

≈ efficiency = Pmax ÷ CEC-listed area 2.69 m².

Build & dimensions

CEC PV Module List (Oct 7, 2026)

Module area2.69 m² (29 ft²)CEC-listed area
Cells144 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	−0.348 %/°C
Voc coefficient β	−0.258 %/°C
Isc coefficient α	+0.026 %/°C
Operating cell temperature	NOCT 43.6 °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
500 W	372.4 W	38.33 V × 9.71 A	95.8 W	96%
505 W	376.4 W	38.56 V × 9.76 A	96.8 W	96%
510 W	380.4 W	38.78 V × 9.81 A	97.9 W	96%
515 W	384.5 W	39 V × 9.86 A	98.9 W	96%
520 W	388.6 W	39.23 V × 9.91 A	100 W	96%
525 W	392.7 W	39.45 V × 9.95 A	101 W	96%
530 W	396.8 W	39.67 V × 10 A	102.1 W	96%
535 W	401 W	39.89 V × 10.05 A	103.2 W	96%

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

Certifications

CEC PV Module List (Oct 7, 2026) · Clean Energy Council (Australia)

UL 61730IEC 61215:2021 / IEC 61730:2023

UL 61730CEC listing
IEC 61215:2021 / IEC 61730:2023TÜV Rheinland LGA Products GmbH, valid to Mar 2028

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

52.2 V

Voc when cold

per panel

34.3 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	2–11
Solis (Ginlong) S6-EH1P10K-H-US	600 V	80–520 V	datasheet	3–11
Solis (Ginlong) Solis-1P7.6K-4G-US	600 V	100–500 V	datasheet	3–11
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	52.2 / 34.3 V	✗ Not a match: module voltage below MPPT range	1.36
APsystems (Alt Power System) DS3-L	265–570 W	60 V	28–45 V	52.2 / 34.3 V	✓ Within range	0.66

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	863	12,084	6.08
Palmdale	1,835	945	13,230	6.69
Chula Vista	1,696	873	12,228	6.11
Huntington Beach	1,643	846	11,846	5.89
Riverside	1,696	873	12,228	6.21
Santa Clarita	1,724	888	12,430	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 515 W panels

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

Panel	Pmax	Efficiency	γ Pmax (CEC)	Voc, V	Isc, A	Size	PVEL (product / brand)	SoCal permits (series)
Sunman (Zhenjiang) SMH515J-12X12UW	515 W	≈19.1%	−0.348	49.3	13.5	—	—	—
SEG Solar SEG-515-BTD-BG	515 W	≈26.4%	−0.290	40.7	16.07	67.8 × 44.6 in	product 2023, 2024, 2025, 2026	8
Canadian Solar CS6W-520MB-AG	520 W	≈20.2%	−0.324	48.4	13.7	89.2 × 44.6 in	product 2024	1
LONGi LR5-72HBD-520M	520 W	≈20.3%	−0.323	48.9	13.57	88.8 × 44.6 in	product 2026	1

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.

Questions & answers

How efficient is the Sunman (Zhenjiang) SMH515J-12X12UW?

Calculated from the panel area (2.69 m²): about 19.1% for the 515 W class. 515 W over 2.69 m² equals about 191 W per square meter.

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

PVWatts v8 with typical-year weather gives about 863 kWh per year per 515 W panel in Los Angeles and about 945 kWh in Palmdale (20° roof, facing south, 14% system losses).

How much power does it lose on a hot roof?

With γ = −0.348 %/°C, at a 77 °C cell temperature (hottest modeled hour in Palmdale) output is about 18% 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 2–11 panels per string (Voc at 2 °C = 52.2 V, Vmp at 74 °C cell = 34.3 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 52.2 V vs max input 60 V; Vmp when hot 34.3 V vs MPPT low 28 V; recommended module power 265–570 W. Confirm on the microinverter maker’s compatibility list.

Sources

California Energy Commission — Solar Equipment Lists, PV Module List, Inverter List (snapshot Oct 7, 2026).
SEG Solar — manufacturer datasheet “XXXTFHTPMBSDPN YUKON/Series )BMG$FMM/5ZQF501$PO”.
Canadian Solar — datasheet BiHiKu6 BIFACIAL MONO PERC CS6W-520|525|530|535|540|545|550MB-AG.
LONGi — manufacturer datasheet “LR5-72HBD Suitable for distributed projects Advanced module technology delivers superior”.
Kiwa PVEL — PV Module Reliability Scorecard, Top Performer lists.
NLR (formerly NREL) — System Advisor Model CEC inverter library (version 2026.7.3).
Clean Energy Council (Australia) — Approved PV modules list (as of Oct 8, 2026).
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).