Is there a chart on solar panel's power production?

[Wjolcz]

I'm playing with USI LS and that mod makes kerbals consume electric energy. What I need to know is if 4 solar panels will be enough for crew of 4 in the Jool system, BUT it would be nice to know all the figures and calculate it myself.

If nothing like that exists let me put all the numbers here (just in case you already did the same type of mission):

- 4x Gigantor XL Solar Array
- 4x Kerbals
- Food amount: Enough

Also if you know how efficient solar panels are on the northern pole of Laythe let me know that too.

Edited February 3, 2016 by Veeltch

[Tex_NL]

This could be of some use to you: http://wiki.kerbalspaceprogram.com/wiki/Electric_charge#Solar_panels

It was actually remarkably easy to find. I just did a search on the wiki for the word "solar".

Edited February 3, 2016 by Tex_NL

[Snark]

There's a handy chart of electric-power-per-mass for the various types of electricity producers here:

http://wiki.kerbalspaceprogram.com/wiki/Parts#Generators

Gigantors produce 81.33 power per ton, in the ideal case (facing directly at the Sun) at Kerbin.  Out at Jool, per the chart that Tex linked to, that'll be 3.18 power/ton.  In the best case (no shadow, optimum orientation).

Compare that to 9.38 power/ton for RTG's.  Aside from the fact that you get three times the power per mass:  That's guaranteed dependable power, doesn't depend where the sun is, what orientation the craft is, etc.

Moral of the story:  Solar panels are a terrible idea at Jool.  They really don't give much bang for the buck; you get much better power from RTG's.  Yes, they're expensive, but for a Jool trip they're worth it.

(And if you're going to do be doing fuel mining:  fuel cells are a great high-density power source.  Generate lots of electricity for not a lot of mass.)