Wiring Solar Panels On Sailboat In Series

Typical marine solar panels are comprised of a number of silicon cells normally 32 connected together in a series string.

Wiring solar panels on sailboat in series.

The following solar panel and battery wiring diagram shows how to wire a four 12v solar panels in series parallel connection to a 24v 400ah battery with an automatic inverter system. 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. Bumping the voltage up by wiring your solar array in series will minimize the loss if the wire run between the panels and the controller is particularly long. To understand how wiring in series works in comparison to how parallel wiring works let s think for a moment about how christmas lights used to work.

Individual silicon cells produce only around 0 6v and so enough of them have to be connected together in series to produce a voltage high enough to be able to charge a 12v battery. Comparing solar panels in series vs. A fifty foot 8 gauge wire with 48 volts dc at 4 amps 192 watts will lose 0 25 volts or 0 52 over the run. Multiple batteries and solar panels can be connected in series parallel or series parallel.

Maximum power point tracking mppt charge controllers are for wiring solar panels in a series where pulse width modulation pwm charge controllers are used to wire solar panels in parallel. Most solar panels come with mc4 connectors attached to 3 foot solar wire pigtail coming from the panel junction box. Mc4 connector a water proof connector used in solar wiring. A solar power installation on a sailboat is made up of two independent systems.

A charge controller must be connected. Decide between parallel or series wiring for our solar install. The capacity of a solar panel to produce energy is measured in watts which is calculated by multiplying a solar panel s voltage by the amps of current it produces when a solar installer builds a solar energy system they need to find the right balance of voltage and amps to ensure that the system performs well. These connectors are easily disconnected.

One system to charge the batteries and another system to provide 120 volt ac power for household appliances. In the charging system the solar panels convert sunlight into electrical current and deliver it to the batteries via a solar charge controller. Note that the number of solar panels and batteries depends on the system s design and load requirements i e. Series would allow us to run thinner gauge wires which means smaller holes in our boat and less potential for leaks.

There are some major benefits to connecting solar panels in series. How to best orient the solar panels because of shading. Less leaking would be a huge plus but that tilt test still sticks in my head and makes me nervous. Solar controller except for small trickle charge systems all solar systems should have a solar controller.