Canadian Solar 445W vs 435W: TOPHiKu6 Model Guide
Reading time: ~8 min read
📋 Key Takeaways
- The CS6.1-54TM-445 and CS6.2-48TM-435 are both N-type TOPCon all-black residential panels at 21.8% efficiency — the difference is cell format: 108 half-cells (182×192mm wafer) in the 445 vs 96 half-cells (182×210mm wafer) in the 435.
- Voltage is the deciding spec for string design: the 445W runs 38.7V Voc / 13.59A Imp; the 435W runs a higher-voltage, lower-current profile (~52V Voc class / ~9.9A Imp) — they must never share an MPPT input.
- Both carry the same warranty stack: 25-year product warranty, 30-year linear performance (≤1% degradation year one, ≤0.4%/year after, ≥87.4% at year 30) and a −0.29%/°C temperature coefficient.
- Need maximum watts per roof? The CS6.1-54TM-H-460 hits 460W in the same footprint; commercial and ground-mount jobs should look at the TOPBiHiKu6 620W and TOPBiHiKu7 700W bifacials.
- Older HiKu and HiKu6 PERC panels (395–445W) remain valid value picks for budget arrays where all-black TOPCon aesthetics and hot-climate performance matter less.
Canadian Solar's model numbers are a code, not a name — and once you can read them, the catalog stops being confusing. CS6.1-54TM-445 breaks down as: sixth-generation platform, 54-cell-format module, TM = TOPCon monofacial, 445 watts. CS6.2-48TM-435 is the same technology in a 48-cell-format frame. This guide compares the two TOPHiKu6 residential panels everyone asks about, then places them against the older HiKu PERC line and the big TOPBiHiKu bifacials we stock, using datasheet numbers — not marketing copy.
Head-to-head: CS6.1-54TM-445 vs CS6.2-48TM-435
| Spec | CS6.1-54TM-445H | CS6.2-48TM-435 |
|---|---|---|
| Rated power | 445W | 435W |
| Efficiency | 21.8% | 21.8% |
| Cell type | N-type TOPCon, 108 half-cells (182×192mm) | N-type TOPCon, 96 half-cells (182×210mm) |
| Voc / Isc | 38.7V / 14.48A | ~52V class / ~10.5A class |
| Vmp / Imp | 32.8V / 13.59A | ~44V class / ~9.9A class |
| Dimensions | 1,800 × 1,134 × 35mm (70.9 × 44.6 × 1.38 in) | 1,762 × 1,134 × 35mm (69.4 × 44.6 × 1.38 in) |
| Weight | 50.7 lb (23.0 kg) | ~50 lb class |
| Temp coefficient (Pmax) | −0.29%/°C | −0.29%/°C |
| Mechanical load | 8,100 Pa snow / 6,000 Pa wind | 5,400 Pa front / 2,400 Pa rear class |
| Max system voltage | 1,500V | 1,500V |
| Warranty | 25-yr product / 30-yr linear (≥87.4% at yr 30) | 25-yr product / 30-yr linear (≥87.4% at yr 30) |
On the roof, these two panels are near-identical: same width, same efficiency, same warranty, within 38mm of length. The real difference shows up in the electrical design. The 445W is a higher-current panel (13.59A Imp) at a lower voltage; the 435W is a higher-voltage panel at roughly 10A. For microinverter or optimizer systems that hardly matters. For string inverters it decides how many panels fit per MPPT: higher-voltage strings reach the inverter's start voltage with fewer panels, while higher-current strings must respect the input amp limit. Either way, never mix the two on the same string — mismatched Imp forces the whole string down to the weaker panel's current.
Where the 460W fits, and when to step up to bifacial
The CS6.1-54TM-H-460 is the same panel family pushed to 460W (efficiency up to 23.0% in the 445–470W range) — worth it when roof area, not budget, is the constraint: 15 extra watts per panel is roughly one free panel for every 29 installed. For commercial roofs and ground mounts, the TOPBiHiKu6 620W and TOPBiHiKu7 700W are bifacial N-type TOPCon modules in the 600–720W class — up to 85% bifaciality means real back-side gain over white membrane or bright gravel, and fewer modules per megawatt cuts racking, clamps and labor.
The PERC value line: HiKu and HiKu6
Not every job needs TOPCon. The HiKu 445W (CS3W-445) is a 144-half-cell PERC mono panel — the previous generation — and the HiKu6 395W (CS6R-395MS-HL) covers the smaller residential format. PERC loses about 1–2 points of efficiency to TOPCon and degrades faster, but at pallet pricing it still pencils out for budget arrays, off-grid builds and replacements matching an existing PERC string.
Reading the part number (so the pallet matches the plan)
Canadian Solar's naming packs the whole spec into the code. Take CS6.1-54TM-445H: CS is Canadian Solar; 6.1 is the platform generation; 54 is the cell format (54 full cells = 108 half-cells); T is TOPCon; M is monofacial (B would be bifacial, AG means dual-glass); 445 is the wattage; and the trailing H marks the all-black residential variant. The CS6.2-48TM-435 reads the same way on the newer 6.2 platform with a 48-cell-format frame. Once you can parse that, a pallet listing tells you the technology, format and face before you ever open the datasheet — useful when a bid compares a TOPHiKu6 against a HiKu (no T = PERC) or a BiHiKu (B = bifacial) at a suspiciously similar price.
One logistics note contractors already know: these panels sell by the pallet (30–36 modules depending on format), and the TOPBiHiKu commercial sizes are 2.3m+ long — plan liftgate or forklift access at delivery, and check racking compatibility for the larger frame before the truck is booked.
Which Canadian Solar panel should you buy?
- Residential roof, aesthetics + hot-climate yield: CS6.1-54TM-445 (or the 435 where stock or pricing favors it) — all-black N-type, −0.29%/°C.
- Maximum watts on a small roof: CS6.1-54TM-H-460.
- Matching an existing string: match the electricals, not the wattage — check Voc/Imp of your current modules first.
- Budget / off-grid / pallet buys: HiKu 445W or HiKu6 395W PERC.
- Commercial or ground-mount: TOPBiHiKu6 620W / TOPBiHiKu7 700W bifacial.
Before you finalize a string count, run the voltage math with our solar string sizing guide — cold-weather Voc is where under-sized designs fail inspection — and check per-wattage trade-offs in the 400W vs 450W vs 500W wattage chart.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between the CS6.1-54TM-445 and CS6.2-48TM-435?
Both are all-black N-type TOPCon residential panels at 21.8% efficiency with identical 25/30-year warranties. The 445W uses 108 half-cells (1,800mm long) with 38.7V Voc and 13.59A Imp; the 435W uses 96 half-cells (1,762mm long) in a higher-voltage, lower-current configuration (~52V Voc class). Choose by inverter compatibility and stock — performance per square foot is effectively the same.
Can I mix 445W and 435W panels on the same string?
No. Their operating currents differ (13.59A vs ~9.9A class), so the string would be dragged down to the lower current and you would lose more than the 10W nameplate gap. Put them on separate MPPT inputs or keep strings uniform.
How many CS6.1-54TM-445 panels do I need for a 10kW system?
23 panels: 10,000 ÷ 445 = 22.5, rounded up to 23 (10.24kW nameplate). At 21.8% efficiency that needs about 470 sq ft of roof. The same system in CS6.2-48TM-435 takes 23 panels as well (10.0kW); in TOPBiHiKu6 620W it takes 17.
Are TOPHiKu6 panels good in hot climates?
Yes — that is one of TOPCon's main advantages. The −0.29%/°C Pmax temperature coefficient loses less output on hot roofs than typical PERC at −0.34 to −0.40%/°C, and N-type cells resist LeTID and PID degradation. At a 65°C cell temperature a TOPHiKu6 keeps roughly 1.5–3% more of its rating than a PERC equivalent.
What warranty do these Canadian Solar panels carry?
The TOPHiKu6 line carries a 25-year product warranty and a 30-year linear performance warranty: no more than 1% degradation in year one, no more than 0.4% per year after, guaranteeing at least 87.4% of nameplate output at year 30.
Get Canadian Solar Panels Quoted by the Pallet
PES Supply stocks the full Canadian Solar line — TOPHiKu6 residential, HiKu PERC value panels, and TOPBiHiKu bifacials — plus racking, inverters and BOS at contractor pricing. Send your panel count and zip code for a delivered quote.
Shop Solar Panels Contact Us for Bulk PricingRelated Resources
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- Solar panel wattage chart: 400W vs 450W vs 500W
- Solar system sizing calculator: from kWh usage to array size
- Solar wire size calculator: PV ampacity and voltage drop
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