solar wiring

[N.W.Gypsies]

Hi all just wanted to know what everyone thinks is better
series or parrell wireing for solar panels useing a mppt controller

[JeepTJ5]

I would think that would be a question best answered by the controller manufacturer. What you want is the most efficient mode of the mppt controller so that the maximum amount of energy gets transferred from the solar panels to your batteries.

[Wanderman]

The answer really depends on a few factors. 1st of which is what is the voltage of the panels? Which MPPT controller and how you wish to use you panels to recharge your battery bank.

Let us know!

Rick

[N.W.Gypsies]

at this time I have 2 100 w 12 v panels with a low grade controller and am looking to add at least anouther 100 w panel with new controller am thinking morningstar so as to be able to adj the out put to around 14.6 v
for a full charge then drop to float your thoughts ???

[Wanderman]

Ok well your panels are nominally 12v figure they are actually 17v panels. if you have a Morningstar MPPT controller like the TS-45-MPPT (I have this one) than it will handle voltages up to 108v as input. So, 17v x 3 panels = 51v this is fine. So wiring in series would give you some additional amp/hrs into the battery early morning and evening. More if you tilt the panels.

Rick

[Alan Roberts]

Hello - the answer is in the loss or voltage drop in your wiring - the higher the panel voltage the lower the current; the higher the current the more loss or voltage drop you will get in a given wire run (wire gauge & length). A few tenths of a volt is very significant loss. This is particularly true for the run between the controller and the batteries.

So, panels in series will produce a higher voltage and thus less current (for a given power rating) and less system loss. However, you cannot exceed the input voltage of your controller.

Another point is that you can series/parallel panel (like batteries) to create matched arrays.

At the end of the day: watts is watts.

Alan
02 Windsor PKD
600 Watt Solar/440AH Battery

[wa8yxm]

Depends on the panels.. Now this, is something of a guess. but I'm guessing the panels you have likely produce 18-24 volts in full sunlight no load (or very light load)

If this is the case.. Then you wire them in parallel via diodes.. Kind of like this

G
R-Panel 1--Diode-- L
O-Panel 2--Diode--e
U-Panel 3--Diode--ad to controller
N
D

In parallel the current outputs add for faster re-charge

The reason for the diodes.. if ONE panel is in shade, the reverse current can damage it, a Diode is like a "Check Vavle" or "Backflow Preventer" in a water line, Current flows one way and only one way thus preventing said reverse current.

Note, some panels are made with a diode (or multiple diodes) already installed for just that reason.

[N.W.Gypsies]

Sorry I have not been back sooner
so it sounde like the Best way to go for us would be in series with good controller
as that would give us a good charge rate as well as being able to increase system
if needed thanks