Why Would You Wire Solar Panels In Series

Connecting your panels in series will increase the voltage level and keep the amperage the same.

Why would you wire solar panels in series.

If we have two or more solar panels with equal current and power and we want to increase the voltage the choice falls on the series connection. Wiring rv solar panels in parallel wiring your solar panels in parallel increases the amperage while keeping the voltage the same. When your panels are connected in series the operational voltage of the panels is added together. This can be done with the usual mc 4 solar panel connectors.

There are some major benefits to connecting solar panels in series. Now lets look at connecting solar panels in parallel. When solar panels are wired in series the voltage of the panels adds together but the amperage remains the same. For example if you installed 5 solar panels in series with each solar panel rated at 12 volts and 5 amps you d still have 5 amps but a full 60 volts.

When a solar installer wires your solar panels in a series each panel is connected to the next in a string the total voltage of each solar panel is summed together but the amps of electrical current stay the same. By connecting multiple solar panels in series we increase the system voltage. When installing solar panels in series the voltage adds up but the current stays the same for all of the elements. When you wire in series there is just a single wire leading from the roof for each string of solar panels.

If you are connecting two 100 watt panels in series and each panel has an output of 18 9 volts you will end up with 200w 37 8 volts and 5 29 amps under optimum conditions. When stringing in series the wire from the positive terminal of one solar panel is connected to the negative terminal of the next panel and so on. The reason why series connections are utilized with mppt controllers is that mppt controllers actually are able to accept a higher voltage input and still be able to charge your 12v or more batteries. In a solar power system the higher the voltage and the lower the energy losses along the cables.

When stringing panels in series each panel additional adds to the total voltage v of the string but the current i in the string remains the same. So when connecting solar panels in series always try to keep the electrical properties of the solar panels identical to get the full benefit of the solar array. Solar panels are wired in series when you connect the positive terminal of one panel to the negative terminal of another. Solar panels are connected in parallel to obtain higher output current.