What does 6BB even mean for Solar Panels?

ICellpower has started shipping their new, higher efficient 6 busbar solar panels. What does that mean, and how does that affect you?

The busbars are the metal lines you see going down the individual squares, or cells, of the solar panel. They are the wires that connect each cell to the other, allowing the current to flow. Since each cell is generally just over half a volt, the bus bars wire them together in series to create the higher voltages needed to be a usable solar panel. For a typical 60 cell, 20V nominal solar panel, that equals around 32Vmp (maximum power point voltage).

The older models of the  ICellpower modules have three bus bars, as seen in this picture with the 3 lines on each column of solar cells.

The newer models have 6 busbars connecting the cells in series. You can see the picture has five lines down each column of solar cells.

What is the benefit of more busbars on ICellpower Solar Panels?

Additional busbars create lower resistance between cells. Ohms Law tells us that as resistance (ohms, R, or Ω) goes down, the current (amps) goes up. And when the current goes up for the same voltage, power (which is volts times amps) goes up. Think of it as adding two more lanes to the highway, more cars can pass through at one time.