Obtaining　the　best　performance　of　photovoltaic　requires　a　proper　model.　This　paper　uses　a　new　approach　based　on　a　modified　social　network　search　algorithm　combined　with　the　dichotomy　method　to　produce　the　best　parameters　of　a　photovoltaic　cell,　module,　and　array.　To　improve　the　performance　of　the　parameters　to　be　estimated,　a　control　parameter　via　a　Gaussian　and　Cauchy　distribution　is　randomly　added　in　the　search　space　to　allow　the　agents　to　converge　to　the　optimal　solution.　Then　the　dichotomy　method　is　inserted　into　the　objective　function　to　compute　the　best-estimated　currents.　The　application　of　the　proposed　model　on　three　different　systems,　and　the　subsequent　comparison　with　existing　methods　show　the　high　accuracy　of　the　proposed　method,　with　the　best　root　mean　square　error　of　6.3554　×　10−4　for　the　RTC　cell,　1.9096　×　10−3　for　the　Photowatt　PWP　module　and　0.0134　for　the　18　PV　experimental　field.　©　2023　Informa　UK　Limited,　trading　as　Taylor　&　Francis　Group.