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04-02-2020, 10:44 AM
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#1
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 746
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Install Renogy Solar
I bought the Renogy 200w solar kit and am fixing to install. They do not include a manual but I found one online. I have a couple of questions on it.
1. The instructions say to ground the frames. No grounding wire included. I do not understand why / if it is needed because one of the wires goes to the battery ground.
2. I need to keep the positive and negative cables clear when routing. The connectors for combining the two panels are confusing as one input end has two plus signs and a single output with a negative sign and the other two negative inputs and positive output. I may have input and output confused.
3. Should the panels be parallel or series?
Help!
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04-02-2020, 11:36 AM
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#2
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Kamloops, BC, 60 miles from the Center of the Universe according to the Rinpoche, of the SF monks.
Posts: 7,305
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I have mine in parallel and didn't ground the frames.
They work just fine that way
I figured that parallel was the way to go because if there is some shade on one panel, the other in full sun will put out it's max.
I don't know if that's right, but it works for me.
Happy Glamping.
__________________
Happy Glamping, Norman & Elna. 2008 Winnebago Adventurer 38J, W24, dozens of small thirsty ponies. Retired after 40 years wrenching on trucks! 2010 Ford Ranger toad with bicycles or KLR 650 in the back. Easy to spot an RVer, they always walk around with a screwdriver or wrench in one hand!
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04-02-2020, 11:39 AM
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#3
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 746
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Unplanned
I have mine in parallel and didn't ground the frames.
They work just fine that way
I figured that parallel was the way to go because if there is some shade on one panel, the other in full sun will put out it's max.
I don't know if that's right, but it works for me.
Happy Glamping.
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Do I need to keep track of which wire is positive?
And which is it? The connectors labels confuse me. The two negatives go to positive and vice versa.
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04-02-2020, 01:41 PM
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#4
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Senior Member
Winnebago Owners Club Workhorse Chassis Owner
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Kamloops, BC, 60 miles from the Center of the Universe according to the Rinpoche, of the SF monks.
Posts: 7,305
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Quote:
Originally Posted by LarryinID
Do I need to keep track of which wire is positive?
And which is it? The connectors labels confuse me. The two negatives go to positive and vice versa.
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Yes, you must keep positive to positive, and negative to negative.
Use your digital voltmeter to be sure you have everything hooked up correctly.
I put a junction box on top by my panels, then ran all the wires to it. Then heavy wires (8 gauge) from there down to my charge controller, then to the batteries.
Happy Glamping.
__________________
Happy Glamping, Norman & Elna. 2008 Winnebago Adventurer 38J, W24, dozens of small thirsty ponies. Retired after 40 years wrenching on trucks! 2010 Ford Ranger toad with bicycles or KLR 650 in the back. Easy to spot an RVer, they always walk around with a screwdriver or wrench in one hand!
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04-02-2020, 03:19 PM
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#5
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 746
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Unplanned
Yes, you must keep positive to positive, and negative to negative.
Use your digital voltmeter to be sure you have everything hooked up correctly.
I put a junction box on top by my panels, then ran all the wires to it. Then heavy wires (8 gauge) from there down to my charge controller, then to the batteries.
Happy Glamping.
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Yes, that will work because the panels are putting out voltage all the time they have light.
Thanks.
I am thinking the plus and minus signs on the parallel connections don’t mean it in a voltage sense. Since they are idiot proof connectors I’ll just ignore the + and -.
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04-02-2020, 03:27 PM
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#6
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 746
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Unplanned
I have mine in parallel and didn't ground the frames.
They work just fine that way
I figured that parallel was the way to go because if there is some shade on one panel, the other in full sun will put out it's max.
I don't know if that's right, but it works for me.
Happy Glamping.
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I suppose you might get a quicker charge with them in series although that depends on what the controller does and the feedback from the batteries. I’ll go with parallel since they included the connectors...although they might do that in case you want to add to more panels. You could series connect two pair and use the connectors to parallel the pairs.
Their manual is worthless.
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04-02-2020, 07:40 PM
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#7
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Member
Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Edmond, OK
Posts: 35
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Should be parallel connections. The connection "Y`s" are matched for positive line and negative line. We install about 100 panels a season, always in pairs and use the Y connectors
__________________
2000 Tiffin Allegro Bus
1999 Wrangler TJ Sport & BlueOx
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04-03-2020, 03:21 PM
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#8
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Senior Member
Join Date: Dec 2017
Posts: 612
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If you wire your panels in parallel and 1 panel is partially shaded while the other is recieving full sunlight you will get full power output from one panel and partial output from the other. If in series a partially shaded panel will limit the output amperage of both panels. What charge controler do you have? If the panels are wired in series the output voltage of the panels will likely be about 45 volts. Wired in series lighter wire could be used from the panel to controller vs if the panels are wired in parallel. (with only 200 watts your not going to require heavy gauge wire either way). My panel frames are not grounded.
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04-04-2020, 09:46 AM
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#9
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2017
Posts: 746
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 4x4ord
If you wire your panels in parallel and 1 panel is partially shaded while the other is recieving full sunlight you will get full power output from one panel and partial output from the other. If in series a partially shaded panel will limit the output amperage of both panels. What charge controler do you have? If the panels are wired in series the output voltage of the panels will likely be about 45 volts. Wired in series lighter wire could be used from the panel to controller vs if the panels are wired in parallel. (with only 200 watts your not going to require heavy gauge wire either way). My panel frames are not grounded.
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They are wired in parallel and not additionally grounded. Today I complete the wiring. Still have options.
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