Connecting solar panels in series and parallel
In this video on #connectingpanels in series and parallel, we'll show how to connect panels this way and the results they offer.
For 48V installations, this is necessary since there are no panels that offer that voltage, and what we have to do is pair up 24V panels to reach the voltage required by the charge controller. With MPPT systems, we always have to use a panel voltage higher than the battery voltage, and we recommend connecting as many panels in series as the controller supports to take advantage of its unique operation. When we want to add more power without modifying the voltage, the only solution is to add more panels in parallel to the previous ones, which is what we're going to show.
We have four panels, let's say 12V, that produce 5A each. We connect two in series, and now we have a pair that delivers 24V and 5A through its free terminals. As we also saw in the corresponding video on our channel. If we want to add more power to our system and can't add more panels to the same series, what we'll do is create another group of identical panels and connect them in parallel. That is, we'll create another pair of 24V and 5A panels. We connect the positive terminals of both pairs in a single connector, and the negative terminals with their corresponding terminals. Now, we'll have 24V and 10A on the final terminals because in parallel, we add current intensity, maintaining the voltage, as we saw in the other parallel connection video.
If we have many more panels, like the kits we offer on our website that include a dozen or more solar modules, we recommend using a 2-pole power distributor to make system expansion as easy as possible and to avoid problems with the wiring section, given that we'll be significantly increasing the output amps. Never connect all the panels in series if you're not sure your regulator can handle the sum of the voltages of all the panels, and never connect all the panels in parallel if your regulator also can't handle the sum of the currents of each panel. These precautions, along with using the appropriate wiring and proper connections, will ensure the best performance of your solar system.
For any questions, please contact our technical team:
AutoSolar Spain: call 96 143 01 13 or email [email protected]
AutoSolar Peru: call 01 641 9239 or email [email protected]
We will be happy to assist you!