Silfab SIL-370-BK 370W vs Astronergy ASTRO N5 460W
The Silfab SIL-370-BK 370W wins this comparison by a decisive margin. It offers better long-term durability with 25-year warranty. For most residential installations, the Silfab SIL-370-BK 370W is the stronger choice.
Key Differences
- • Silfab SIL-370-BK 370W is rated at 370W while Astronergy ASTRO N5 460W is rated at 460W, a 90W difference.
- • Astronergy ASTRO N5 460W achieves 21.3% efficiency vs 20.4% for the other, a 0.9 percentage point gap.
- • Silfab SIL-370-BK 370W comes with a 25-year product warranty vs 12 years for the other.
- • Astronergy ASTRO N5 460W has a superior temperature coefficient of -0.34%/°C vs -0.35%/°C, retaining more power in hot climates.
Specifications Breakdown
Module Efficiency
The Astronergy ASTRO N5 460W achieves 21.3% module efficiency compared to Silfab SIL-370-BK 370W's 20.4%, meaning Astronergy ASTRO N5 460W converts 0.9 percentage points more sunlight into electricity per square meter. In practical terms, the Silfab SIL-370-BK 370W produces 189.5 watts per square meter of panel area while the Astronergy ASTRO N5 460W produces 230.2 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 Astronergy ASTRO N5 460W delivers 460W per panel versus 370W for the Silfab SIL-370-BK 370W, a 90W difference per module. To build an 8 kW residential system, you would need 22 Silfab SIL-370-BK 370W panels or 18 Astronergy ASTRO N5 460W panels. Choosing the higher-wattage option saves 4 panels, reducing total racking hardware, wiring, and installation labor costs. Higher wattage per panel is particularly valuable for commercial-scale installations where panel count directly impacts balance-of-system costs.
Temperature Coefficient
The Astronergy ASTRO N5 460W has a temperature coefficient of -0.34%/°C versus -0.35%/°C for the Silfab SIL-370-BK 370W. On a hot summer day when cell temperature reaches 65°C (40°C above the 25°C STC baseline), the Astronergy ASTRO N5 460W retains 93.2% of its rated power while the other retains 93.0%. While the numerical gap is modest, it still accumulates over decades of summer production, especially in southern latitudes with prolonged peak heat hours.
Warranty Coverage
The Silfab SIL-370-BK 370W is backed by a 25-year product warranty and 25-year performance guarantee, while the Astronergy ASTRO N5 460W offers 12-year product and 25-year performance coverage. The Silfab SIL-370-BK 370W provides 13 additional years of defect protection, covering manufacturing issues, material failures, and premature performance loss. Based on their published degradation rates (1% first year then 0.4%/year for Silfab SIL-370-BK 370W; 1.5% first year then 0.5%/year for Astronergy ASTRO N5 460W), after 25 years the Silfab SIL-370-BK 370W should retain approximately 89.4% of original output versus 86.5% for the Astronergy ASTRO N5 460W. This 2.9 percentage point gap in end-of-life output meaningfully impacts lifetime energy economics.
Physical Dimensions & Weight
The Silfab SIL-370-BK 370W measures 1722×1134×30mm and weighs 19.5 kg, while the Astronergy ASTRO N5 460W measures 1762×1134×30mm at 23 kg. 1.95 m² of panel area for the Silfab SIL-370-BK 370W versus 2.00 m² for the Astronergy ASTRO N5 460W. The Silfab SIL-370-BK 370W is 3.5 kg lighter per panel, which reduces structural load requirements on the roof and makes handling easier during installation. For a 20-panel system, that is a total weight difference of 70 kg. Similar footprints mean both panels fit comparably on standard residential rooftop configurations.
Specification Comparison
| Specification | Silfab SIL-370-BK 370W | Astronergy ASTRO N5 460W |
|---|---|---|
| Power | 370W | 460W |
| Efficiency | 20.4% | 21.3% |
| Power Density | 17.6 W/sq ft | 21.4 W/sq ft |
| Cell Type | PERC Mono | PERC Mono |
| Bifacial | No | Yes |
| Weight | 19.5 kg | 23 kg |
| Temp Coefficient | -0.35%/°C | -0.34%/°C |
| Snow Load | 2400 Pa | 5400 Pa |
| Wind Load | 2400 Pa | 2400 Pa |
| Product Warranty | 25 years | 12 years |
| Performance Warranty | 25 years | 25 years |
| Degradation (Year 1) | 1% | 1.5% |
| Annual Degradation | 0.4% | 0.5% |
| Country | United States | China |
5-Dimension Head-to-Head Analysis
1. Efficiency & Power Density
Winner: Astronergy ASTRO N5 460WThe Astronergy ASTRO N5 460W achieves 21.3% efficiency versus 20.4% — a 0.9 percentage point advantage. On a typical 30-panel residential roof, this translates to approximately 2.7 kW more total system capacity, or 13 kWh more annual production in an average US location.
2. Hot Climate Performance
Winner: Astronergy ASTRO N5 460WThe Astronergy ASTRO N5 460W has a better temperature coefficient of -0.34%/°C versus -0.35%/°C. On a 45°C summer day (20°C above STC), the winner retains 93.2% of rated power versus 93.0%. The difference is modest but accumulates over 25 years of summer production.
3. Durability & Warranty
Winner: Silfab SIL-370-BK 370WSilfab SIL-370-BK 370W leads with a 25-year product warranty versus 12 years. Silfab SIL-370-BK 370W degrades more slowly at 0.4% per year versus 0.5%. After 25 years, expect 89.4% vs 86.5% of original output for Silfab SIL-370-BK 370W and Astronergy ASTRO N5 460W respectively.
4. Power Output
Winner: Astronergy ASTRO N5 460WThe Astronergy ASTRO N5 460W delivers 460W versus 370W per panel — 90W more. For an 8 kW system, you need 18 panels with the higher-wattage option versus 22 panels, saving 4 panels and the associated racking and labor costs.
5. Cell Technology
Winner: TieBoth panels use PERC Mono cell technology. No technology advantage for either product.
Silfab SIL-370-BK 370W
The SIL-370-BK is Silfab's entry-level US-made all-black panel delivering 370W for budget-conscious domestic installations.
Pros
- + Made in USA
- + All-black design
- + 25-year warranty
- + ARRA compliant
Cons
- - Lower wattage
- - Basic PERC technology
- - Less competitive efficiency
Astronergy ASTRO N5 460W
The ASTRO N5 is a mid-range PERC panel delivering 460W for residential and commercial installations at a value price point.
Pros
- + Good value per watt
- + Mid-size format
- + CHINT Group backing
- + Widely available globally
Cons
- - Older PERC technology
- - Standard efficiency
- - Less known in US
Choose Silfab SIL-370-BK 370W If...
- ✓ Long-term warranty protection is a top priority and you plan to stay in your home for 25+ years
- ✓ You want maximum output retention over the system's 25-30 year lifespan
- ✓ Government or institutional projects requiring ARRA/Buy America compliance.
Choose Astronergy ASTRO N5 460W 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 live in a hot climate (Arizona, Texas, Florida) where heat performance matters
- ✓ Value-oriented projects seeking competitive PERC pricing from a global manufacturer.
Our Recommendation
The Silfab SIL-370-BK 370W is the decisive winner in this solar panel comparison, outperforming the Astronergy ASTRO N5 460W in 1 of 5 dimensions. Unless you have a specific requirement that the Astronergy ASTRO N5 460W uniquely addresses, the Silfab SIL-370-BK 370W is the stronger choice for virtually every installation scenario.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better, Silfab SIL-370-BK 370W or Astronergy ASTRO N5 460W?
The Silfab SIL-370-BK 370W wins this comparison by a decisive margin. It offers better long-term durability with 25-year warranty. For most residential installations, the Silfab SIL-370-BK 370W is the stronger choice.
Which panel is more efficient, Silfab SIL-370-BK 370W or Astronergy ASTRO N5 460W?
The Astronergy ASTRO N5 460W at 21.3% module efficiency. Higher efficiency means more watts per square foot of roof space, which is critical for space-constrained installations. The difference of 0.9 percentage points translates to approximately 90W per panel under standard test conditions.
Which has a better warranty, Silfab SIL-370-BK 370W or Astronergy ASTRO N5 460W?
The Silfab SIL-370-BK 370W comes with a 25-year product warranty and 25-year performance guarantee. The Astronergy ASTRO N5 460W offers 12-year product and 25-year performance warranties. Silfab SIL-370-BK 370W provides 13 additional years of product coverage.
Which panel performs better in hot weather?
The Silfab SIL-370-BK 370W has a temperature coefficient of -0.35%/°C and the Astronergy ASTRO N5 460W is -0.34%/°C. Astronergy ASTRO N5 460W retains more power in heat — important in states like Arizona, Texas, and Florida. A lower (less negative) temperature coefficient is better.
How many Silfab SIL-370-BK 370W vs Astronergy ASTRO N5 460W panels do I need for an 8 kW system?
For an 8 kW system: you need 22 Silfab SIL-370-BK 370W panels (370W each) or 18 Astronergy ASTRO N5 460W panels (460W each). The Astronergy ASTRO N5 460W requires fewer panels, saving on racking hardware and installation labor.
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Last updated: February 2026