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490 vs 500 16 of 19 identical Swap Change panels

Trina Solar TSM-NEG18R.28-490 vs Trina Solar TSM-NEG18R.28-500

Trina Solar TSM-NEG18R.28-490
TSM-NEG18R.28-490
490 Wp 22.00 % TOPCon
Open panel page Datasheet PDF
VS
Trina Solar TSM-NEG18R.28-500
TSM-NEG18R.28-500
500 Wp 22.50 % TOPCon
Open panel page Datasheet PDF
The verdict

500 leads on the differences that matter

The largest is module efficiency: 0.50 pp more efficient. 16 of 19 comparable parameters are identical.

See all 3 differences
How alike are they
16 of 19 comparable
parameters are identical
identical differs
01

What actually differs

3 of 19 parameters
Parameter 490 500 Difference
Module efficiency 22.00 % 22.50 % 0.50 pp more efficient
Power density 220.3 Wp/m² 224.8 Wp/m² 4.5 Wp/m² higher
Rated power 490 Wp 500 Wp 10 W more power
02

What it means on a roof

Thirty years of production
Each panel's own declared degradation curve, at 1,200 kWh/kWp a year
Same temp coeff. for both panels (-0.290 %/°C), so a warmer roof scales both curves by the same factor: the totals fall together and neither panel gains on the other.
490
16,440 kWh
500
16,776 kWh
Lifetime gap
336 kWh
Output when it is hot
Rated power carried across the range a module actually sees
Scenario 490 500
Standard test conditions 25 °C 100.0% of rated power 490 W 500 W
Cool, bright day 40 °C 95.7% of rated power 469 W 478 W
Typical summer roof 55 °C 91.3% of rated power 447 W 457 W
Hot roof 70 °C 87.0% of rated power 426 W 435 W
03

Full specification

Parameter 490 500 Difference
Power and efficiency
Rated power 490 Wp 500 Wp +10 W for 500
Module efficiency 22.00 % 22.50 % +0.50 pp for 500
Power density 220.3 Wp/m² 224.8 Wp/m² +4.5 Wp/m² for 500
Open-circuit voltage 39.60 V 40.10 V Effectively the same
Voltage at max power 32.90 V 33.30 V Effectively the same
Short-circuit current 15.80 A 15.86 A Effectively the same
Current at max power 14.91 A 15.03 A Effectively the same
Temperature
Temperature coefficient -0.290 %/°C -0.290 %/°C Same
Mechanical
Dimensions 1961x1134x30 mm 1961x1134x30 mm Same
Module area 2.224 m² 2.224 m² Same
Weight 23.5 kg 23.5 kg Same
Weight per kWp 48.0 kg/kWp 47.0 kg/kWp Effectively the same
Warranty and degradation
Product warranty 15 yrs 15 yrs Same
Performance warranty 30 yrs 30 yrs Same
Annual degradation 0.40 %/yr 0.40 %/yr Same
Technology
Cell technology TOPCon TOPCon Same
Cell type Monocrystalline Monocrystalline Same
Cell count 108 108 Same
Bifacial No No Same
04

Against the whole database

14,005 panels
Efficiency
#6,517 vs #4,222
500 leads by 2,295 places
Power density
#6,276 vs #4,468
500 leads by 1,808 places
Heat behaviour
#2,165 vs #2,165
Tied - the same position in the database
Weight
#1,984 vs #1,450
500 leads by 534 places
Warranty
#21 vs #21
Tied - the same position in the database
Overall
#7,493 vs #6,484
500 leads by 1,009 places
05

More useful comparisons

Open the full database
Same series, other bin
Trina Solar TSM-NEG18R.28-490 vs Trina Solar TSM-NEG18R.28-510
4 differences, the largest is module efficiency
Same series, other bin
Trina Solar TSM-NEG18R.28-490 vs Trina Solar TSM-NEG18R.28-505
3 differences, the largest is module efficiency
Same series, other bin
Trina Solar TSM-NEG18R.28-490 vs Trina Solar TSM-NEG18R.28-495
One difference: module efficiency
Same series, other bin
Trina Solar TSM-NEG18R.28-490 vs Trina Solar TSM-NEG18R.28-485
One difference: module efficiency
Same manufacturer
Trina Solar TSM-NEG18R.28-490 vs Trina Solar TSM-NEG21C.20Q-760
16 differences, the largest is module efficiency
Same manufacturer
Trina Solar TSM-NEG18R.28-490 vs Trina Solar TSM-NEG21C.20Q-755
16 differences, the largest is module efficiency
06

Written summary

07

Questions about this pairing

Which panel is better: Trina Solar TSM-NEG18R.28-490 or Trina Solar TSM-NEG18R.28-500?
According to our database: Trina Solar TSM-NEG18R.28-500 has higher module efficiency (22.50% vs 22.00%). See the full spec comparison and 30-year energy simulation above for a complete picture.
What is the efficiency of Trina Solar TSM-NEG18R.28-490 and Trina Solar TSM-NEG18R.28-500?
Trina Solar TSM-NEG18R.28-490 has a module efficiency of 22.00%, while Trina Solar TSM-NEG18R.28-500 is 22.50%. Higher efficiency means more electricity from the same roof area - useful when space is limited.
What cell technology does Trina Solar TSM-NEG18R.28-490 use vs Trina Solar TSM-NEG18R.28-500?
Trina Solar TSM-NEG18R.28-490 uses TOPCon cells; Trina Solar TSM-NEG18R.28-500 uses TOPCon. Modern n-type technologies (TOPCon, HJT, BC) typically deliver higher efficiency and lower degradation compared to older PERC (p-type) cells.
What is the warranty on Trina Solar TSM-NEG18R.28-490 and Trina Solar TSM-NEG18R.28-500?
Trina Solar TSM-NEG18R.28-490 has a 30 years power warranty; Trina Solar TSM-NEG18R.28-500 has a 30 years power warranty. The power warranty guarantees a minimum percentage of rated output at the end of the warranty period (typically 80-87%). Product (materials) warranties are usually shorter.

Shop prices: See 250 Trina Solar offers

Every figure here is from the manufacturers' own datasheets - a dash means the value is not published, never an estimate. The thirty-year projection and the temperature scenarios are calculations from those figures, and each states its assumption above.