Silfab Elite SIL-420 vs Hanwha Q.TRON G11S 410W
The Silfab Elite SIL-420 wins this comparison by a narrow margin. It leads in efficiency (21.5% vs 21.3%) and matches or exceeds on warranty (25 vs 25 years). For most residential installations, the Silfab Elite SIL-420 is the stronger choice.
Key Differences
- • Silfab Elite SIL-420 is rated at 420W while Hanwha Q.TRON G11S 410W is rated at 410W, a 10W difference.
- • Silfab Elite SIL-420 achieves 21.5% efficiency vs 21.3% for the other, a 0.2 percentage point gap.
- • Both carry matching 25-year product warranties.
Specifications Breakdown
Module Efficiency
The Silfab Elite SIL-420 achieves 21.5% module efficiency compared to Hanwha Q.TRON G11S 410W's 21.3%, meaning Silfab Elite SIL-420 converts 0.2 percentage points more sunlight into electricity per square meter. In practical terms, the Silfab Elite SIL-420 produces 215.1 watts per square meter of panel area while the Hanwha Q.TRON G11S 410W produces 210.0 W/m². For rooftop installations where space is limited, this efficiency gap determines how many kilowatts you can fit on your available roof area. Over a 25-year system life, even a small efficiency advantage compounds into meaningful additional energy production.
Power Output
The Silfab Elite SIL-420 delivers 420W per panel versus 410W for the Hanwha Q.TRON G11S 410W, a 10W difference per module. To build an 8 kW residential system, you would need 20 Silfab Elite SIL-420 panels or 20 Hanwha Q.TRON G11S 410W panels. Despite the per-panel wattage difference, both require the same number of panels for this system size due to rounding. Higher wattage per panel is particularly valuable for commercial-scale installations where panel count directly impacts balance-of-system costs.
Temperature Coefficient
Both panels share an identical temperature coefficient of -0.29%/°C, meaning they lose power at the same rate as cell temperature rises above the 25°C standard test baseline. At 65°C cell temperature, both retain 94.2% of rated power. Neither panel has a thermal performance advantage, which makes this specification a non-factor in the comparison.
Warranty Coverage
The Silfab Elite SIL-420 is backed by a 25-year product warranty and 30-year performance guarantee, while the Hanwha Q.TRON G11S 410W offers 25-year product and 25-year performance coverage. Both offer identical product warranty duration. Based on their published degradation rates (1% first year then 0.4%/year for Silfab Elite SIL-420; 1% first year then 0.4%/year for Hanwha Q.TRON G11S 410W), after 25 years the Silfab Elite SIL-420 should retain approximately 89.4% of original output versus 89.4% for the Hanwha Q.TRON G11S 410W. The end-of-life output levels are closely matched.
Physical Dimensions & Weight
The Silfab Elite SIL-420 measures 1722×1134×30mm and weighs 21.5 kg, while the Hanwha Q.TRON G11S 410W measures 1722×1134×30mm at 20.8 kg. 1.95 m² of panel area for the Silfab Elite SIL-420 versus 1.95 m² for the Hanwha Q.TRON G11S 410W. Their weights are closely matched, so neither panel imposes a significantly different structural load on the mounting system. Similar footprints mean both panels fit comparably on standard residential rooftop configurations.
Specification Comparison
| Specification | Silfab Elite SIL-420 | Hanwha Q.TRON G11S 410W |
|---|---|---|
| Power | 420W | 410W |
| Efficiency | 21.5% | 21.3% |
| Power Density | 20.0 W/sq ft | 19.5 W/sq ft |
| Cell Type | TOPCon N-type | TOPCon N-type |
| Bifacial | No | No |
| Weight | 21.5 kg | 20.8 kg |
| Temp Coefficient | -0.29%/°C | -0.29%/°C |
| Snow Load | 5400 Pa | 5400 Pa |
| Wind Load | 2400 Pa | 2400 Pa |
| Product Warranty | 25 years | 25 years |
| Performance Warranty | 30 years | 25 years |
| Degradation (Year 1) | 1% | 1% |
| Annual Degradation | 0.4% | 0.4% |
| Country | United States | South Korea |
5-Dimension Head-to-Head Analysis
1. Efficiency & Power Density
Winner: Silfab Elite SIL-420The Silfab Elite SIL-420 achieves 21.5% efficiency versus 21.3% — a 0.2 percentage point advantage. On a typical 30-panel residential roof, this translates to approximately 0.3 kW more total system capacity, or 2 kWh more annual production in an average US location.
2. Hot Climate Performance
Winner: TieBoth panels share a temperature coefficient of -0.29%/°C — identical heat tolerance.
3. Durability & Warranty
Winner: TieBoth panels offer identical 25-year product warranties and 0.4% annual degradation. Neither has a durability advantage.
4. Power Output
Winner: Silfab Elite SIL-420The Silfab Elite SIL-420 delivers 420W versus 410W per panel — 10W more. For an 8 kW system, you need 20 panels with the higher-wattage option versus 20 panels, saving 0 panels and the associated racking and labor costs.
5. Cell Technology
Winner: TieBoth panels use TOPCon N-type cell technology. No technology advantage for either product.
Silfab Elite SIL-420
The Silfab Elite SIL-420 is a premium US-made N-type panel delivering 420W with advanced TOPCon cells and domestic manufacturing.
Pros
- + US manufactured premium panel
- + N-type technology
- + 25-year warranty
- + ARRA compliant
Cons
- - Premium pricing
- - Moderate wattage
- - Limited distribution
Hanwha Q.TRON G11S 410W
The Hanwha Q.TRON G11S delivers 410W N-type TOPCon performance in a compact residential format with a strong 25-year warranty.
Pros
- + 25-year product warranty
- + N-type TOPCon cells
- + Compact size
- + Korean quality
Cons
- - Moderate wattage
- - Premium pricing
- - Limited color options
Choose Silfab Elite SIL-420 If...
- ✓ Your roof space is limited and you need maximum power per panel
- ✓ You want fewer panels to reach your target system size, reducing racking and labor costs
- ✓ You prefer newer cell technology with a longer performance improvement runway
- ✓ Premium residential installations requiring US-made N-type panels.
Choose Hanwha Q.TRON G11S 410W If...
- ✓ You prefer newer cell technology with a longer performance improvement runway
- ✓ Residential installations valuing Korean quality with strong warranty.
Our Recommendation
Both the Silfab Elite SIL-420 and Hanwha Q.TRON G11S 410W are excellent solar panel options, and the margin between them is narrow. The Silfab Elite SIL-420 wins 2 of 5 comparison dimensions by a slim margin. Your decision may come down to local pricing, installer availability, and which specific performance metrics matter most for your project. Either product is a solid investment.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Silfab Elite SIL-420 or Hanwha Q.TRON G11S 410W?
The Silfab Elite SIL-420 wins this comparison by a narrow margin. It leads in efficiency (21.5% vs 21.3%) and matches or exceeds on warranty (25 vs 25 years). For most residential installations, the Silfab Elite SIL-420 is the stronger choice.
Which panel is more efficient, Silfab Elite SIL-420 or Hanwha Q.TRON G11S 410W?
The Silfab Elite SIL-420 at 21.5% module efficiency. Higher efficiency means more watts per square foot of roof space, which is critical for space-constrained installations. The difference of 0.2 percentage points translates to approximately 10W per panel under standard test conditions.
Which has a better warranty, Silfab Elite SIL-420 or Hanwha Q.TRON G11S 410W?
The Silfab Elite SIL-420 comes with a 25-year product warranty and 30-year performance guarantee. The Hanwha Q.TRON G11S 410W offers 25-year product and 25-year performance warranties. Both offer identical warranty terms.
Which panel performs better in hot weather?
The Silfab Elite SIL-420 has a temperature coefficient of -0.29%/°C and the Hanwha Q.TRON G11S 410W is -0.29%/°C. Both handle heat equally. A lower (less negative) temperature coefficient is better.
How many Silfab Elite SIL-420 vs Hanwha Q.TRON G11S 410W panels do I need for an 8 kW system?
For an 8 kW system: you need 20 Silfab Elite SIL-420 panels (420W each) or 20 Hanwha Q.TRON G11S 410W panels (410W each). The Silfab Elite SIL-420 requires fewer panels, saving on racking hardware and installation labor.
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Last updated: February 2026