Illustration · 144 half-cut cells

Solar panelUniversal Solar Americas

Universal Solar Americas UNI540-144BMH-DG

Name: Universal Solar Americas UNI540-144BMH-DG
Brand: Universal Solar Americas

144 half-cut cells, bifacial. Power classes 445–550 W in the CEC list.

CEC listed · Dec 12, 2022UL 61730Bifacial

Power class

Power (STC)540 WCEC nameplate
Efficiency≈21.3%calculated from area
%/°C Pmax−0.369CEC listing test
PTC / STC92.6%PTC 500 W (CEC)

Power classes

CEC PV Module List (Oct 7, 2026) · Cali-Graf calculation · 5 models

Model	Pmax	Voc, V	Isc, A	Vmp, V	Imp, A	Efficiency	PTC	CEC listed
UNI445-144BMH-DG	445 W	49.20	11.44	41.00	10.86	≈20.2%	415 W	Dec 12, 2022
UNI450-144BMH-DG	450 W	49.40	11.52	41.20	10.93	≈20.4%	420 W	Dec 12, 2022
UNI540-144BMH-DG	540 W	49.65	13.85	41.65	12.97	≈21.3%	500 W	Dec 12, 2022
UNI545-144BMH-DG	545 W	49.81	13.92	41.80	13.04	≈21.5%	505 W	Dec 12, 2022
UNI550-144BMH-DG	550 W	49.92	13.99	42.00	13.10	≈21.7%	510 W	Dec 12, 2022

≈ efficiency = Pmax ÷ CEC-listed area 2.2 m².

Heat & cold behaviour

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

	CEC listing test
Pmax coefficient γ	−0.369 %/°C
Voc coefficient β	−0.288 %/°C
Isc coefficient α	+0.059 %/°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
445 W	338.6 W	38.75 V × 8.74 A	90.7 W	102%
450 W	342.5 W	38.94 V × 8.8 A	91.7 W	102%
540 W	407.1 W	38.89 V × 10.47 A	109.3 W	101%
545 W	410.8 W	39.03 V × 10.52 A	110.3 W	101%
550 W	414.7 W	39.22 V × 10.57 A	111.3 W	101%

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

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

52.9 V

Voc when cold

per panel

32.9 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. 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	4–11
Qcells Q.VOLT H7.6SX	498 V	234–498 V	CEC test window	8–9

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	52.9 / 32.9 V	✗ Not a match: module voltage below MPPT range	1.42
APsystems (Alt Power System) DS3-L	265–570 W	60 V	28–45 V	52.9 / 32.9 V	✓ Within range	0.69

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	905	11,766	6.08
Palmdale	1,835	991	12,882	6.69
Chula Vista	1,696	916	11,906	6.11
Huntington Beach	1,643	887	11,534	5.89
Riverside	1,696	916	11,906	6.21
Santa Clarita	1,724	931	12,102	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 540 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)
Universal Solar Americas UNI540-144BMH-DG	540 W	≈21.3%	−0.369	49.65	13.85	—	—
JA Solar JAM72D30-540/MB	540 W	≈21.4%	−0.330	49.6	13.86	product 2023, 2024	3
Canadian Solar CS6W-540MB-AG	540 W	≈21%	−0.324	49.2	13.9	product 2024	1
LONGi LR5-72HBD-540M	540 W	≥21.1%	−0.354	49.5	13.85	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 Universal Solar Americas UNI540-144BMH-DG?

Calculated from the panel area (2.54 m²): about 21.3% for the 540 W class. 540 W over 2.54 m² equals about 213 W per square meter.

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

PVWatts v8 with typical-year weather gives about 905 kWh per year per 540 W panel in Los Angeles and about 991 kWh in Palmdale (20° roof, facing south, 14% system losses).

How much power does it lose on a hot roof?

With γ = −0.369 %/°C, at a 77 °C cell temperature (hottest modeled hour in Palmdale) output is about 19.1% 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 = 52.9 V, Vmp at 74 °C cell = 32.9 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 52.9 V vs max input 60 V; Vmp when hot 32.9 V vs MPPT low 28 V; recommended module power 265–570 W. Confirm on the microinverter maker’s compatibility list.

Is it bifacial?

Yes. Rear gain depends on mounting height and ground reflectance.

Sources

California Energy Commission — Solar Equipment Lists, PV Module List, Inverter List (snapshot Oct 7, 2026).
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 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 — 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).