diff --git a/docs/sphinx/source/whatsnew/v0.10.2.rst b/docs/sphinx/source/whatsnew/v0.10.2.rst
index ec9ca5891a..f399621356 100644
--- a/docs/sphinx/source/whatsnew/v0.10.2.rst
+++ b/docs/sphinx/source/whatsnew/v0.10.2.rst
@@ -42,6 +42,11 @@ Documentation
   (:issue:`1811`, :pull:`1812`)
 * Removed Stickler-CI integration as the service has ceased June 2023.
   (:issue:`1722`, :pull:`1723`)
+* Specified that :py:func:`pvlib.singlediode.bishop88`,
+  :py:func:`pvlib.singlediode.bishop88_i_from_v`, and
+  :py:func:`pvlib.singlediode.bishop88_v_from_i` parameters `breakdown_factor`,
+  `breakdown_voltage`, and `breakdown_exp` should be floats.
+  (:issue:`1820`, :pull:`1821`)
 * Fix and update example in :py:func:`pvlib.pvsystem.retrieve_sam`.
   (:issue:`1741`, :pull:`1833`)
 * Fix error in :py:func:`pvlib.iotools.get_pvgis_hourly` documentation of `surface_azimuth`.
diff --git a/pvlib/singlediode.py b/pvlib/singlediode.py
index cfc63f3591..768ab7518c 100644
--- a/pvlib/singlediode.py
+++ b/pvlib/singlediode.py
@@ -109,13 +109,13 @@ def bishop88(diode_voltage, photocurrent, saturation_current,
         (a-Si) modules that is the product of the PV module number of series
         cells :math:`N_{s}` and the builtin voltage :math:`V_{bi}` of the
         intrinsic layer. [V].
-    breakdown_factor : numeric, default 0
+    breakdown_factor : float, default 0
         fraction of ohmic current involved in avalanche breakdown :math:`a`.
         Default of 0 excludes the reverse bias term from the model. [unitless]
-    breakdown_voltage : numeric, default -5.5
+    breakdown_voltage : float, default -5.5
         reverse breakdown voltage of the photovoltaic junction :math:`V_{br}`
         [V]
-    breakdown_exp : numeric, default 3.28
+    breakdown_exp : float, default 3.28
         avalanche breakdown exponent :math:`m` [unitless]
     gradients : bool
         False returns only I, V, and P. True also returns gradients
@@ -238,13 +238,13 @@ def bishop88_i_from_v(voltage, photocurrent, saturation_current,
         (a-Si) modules that is the product of the PV module number of series
         cells ``Ns`` and the builtin voltage ``Vbi`` of the intrinsic layer.
         [V].
-    breakdown_factor : numeric, default 0
+    breakdown_factor : float, default 0
         fraction of ohmic current involved in avalanche breakdown :math:`a`.
         Default of 0 excludes the reverse bias term from the model. [unitless]
-    breakdown_voltage : numeric, default -5.5
+    breakdown_voltage : float, default -5.5
         reverse breakdown voltage of the photovoltaic junction :math:`V_{br}`
         [V]
-    breakdown_exp : numeric, default 3.28
+    breakdown_exp : float, default 3.28
         avalanche breakdown exponent :math:`m` [unitless]
     method : str, default 'newton'
        Either ``'newton'`` or ``'brentq'``. ''method'' must be ``'newton'``
@@ -373,13 +373,13 @@ def bishop88_v_from_i(current, photocurrent, saturation_current,
         (a-Si) modules that is the product of the PV module number of series
         cells ``Ns`` and the builtin voltage ``Vbi`` of the intrinsic layer.
         [V].
-    breakdown_factor : numeric, default 0
+    breakdown_factor : float, default 0
         fraction of ohmic current involved in avalanche breakdown :math:`a`.
         Default of 0 excludes the reverse bias term from the model. [unitless]
-    breakdown_voltage : numeric, default -5.5
+    breakdown_voltage : float, default -5.5
         reverse breakdown voltage of the photovoltaic junction :math:`V_{br}`
         [V]
-    breakdown_exp : numeric, default 3.28
+    breakdown_exp : float, default 3.28
         avalanche breakdown exponent :math:`m` [unitless]
     method : str, default 'newton'
        Either ``'newton'`` or ``'brentq'``. ''method'' must be ``'newton'``