Connecting 4 Solar Panels In Series

Comparing solar panels in series vs.

Connecting 4 solar panels in series.

There are 3 ways to connect solar panels. Say you have 2 x 100 watt solar panels and a 12v battery bank. 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. The connection of multiple solar panels in parallel arises from the need to reach certain current values at the output without changing the voltage.

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. The first way i am going to talk about is parallel because this is probably the most common way that panels will be connected. Parallel series and a combination of parallel and series. For this example i am showing you connecting panels that are for a 12 volt system.

Please see diagram below. After these clarifications let s see how the series connection takes place. When solar panels are wired in series the voltage of the panels adds together but the amperage 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.

By connecting multiple solar panels in series we increase the system voltage. As well as the positive equivalents. When installing solar panels in series the voltage adds up but the current stays the same for all of the elements. The 140w panel actually drags the 3 other 160w panel s wattage down to 140w as well meaning we effectively have 4 x 140w solar panels.

In fact by wiring several solar panels in series we increase the voltage keeping the same current while wiring them in parallel we increase the current keeping the same voltage. When you connect two or more solar panels like this it becomes a pv source circuit. In the below solar series wiring diagram i shown 4 solar panels which is 12 volts and 8 amperes when we connect these panel in series with one another the complete output of our panel come 48 volts and 8 amperes. The connecting solar panels in series is very easy just like connecting battery cell with one anther however lets get a review on.

Then the negative out and the positive out will be utilized to connect to your charge controller via a solar pv cable.