How to wire different sizes of solar panels together
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- Опубліковано 3 тра 2022
- Learn how to wire different sizes of solar panels together using different combinations of series and parallel configurations.
⏱️Timestamps:
0:06 Intro
0:49 Same panels in series configuration
2:12 Same panels in parallel configuration
3:29 Same panels in mixed configuration
4:37 Same panels but inefficient design
5:58 Different panels in series
7:36 Different panels in parallel
8:45 Different panels summary
8:57 Different panels in mixed configuration
10:19 Different panels but inefficient design
11:33 Other videos and resources
For more information, visit: go.umd.edu/FarmSolar
This is wild, never thought adding a panel would hurt the efficiency of the system. Thank you for info!
Been watching tons of solar videos so far but no one told me this. Thank you.
Your video helped me immensely. Thank you so much
Although I have a good grasp off this topic
Your explanations are far and above the easiest too follow on the Internet
Very good explanation 👏
Bro thank u soooo much that helped me so much. im working on a 12v system rn i can double it to make 24 but I'm not quite there and all the different Configurations is absolutely what I have been searching for 4 like the last 5 to 10 days. Tully thank u.
Thank you for posting a educational video.
Great video! Just what I was looking for, a clear explanation of the different types of combinations of PV panels. Greetings from Argentina.
Thank you for your time I learned a lot
Running through your content. I know how much time it takes to put this stuff together so appreciate the explanations
Good 👍 stuff.
In the last diagram with the 5 panels you could have wired them for 40V 10A with 400 watts and 100% array efficiency. 40V 5A for two 100watt panels in series. Then the one 100watt in series with the two 50W panels but those 50W panels would be in parallel so they combined would equal a 100W 5A panel. They could have also be wired for 80V 10A for 400W and 100% array efficiency. In both configs just imaging turning the two 50W 2.5A panels into one 20V 5A panel then wiring the rest up.
Also your wiring on the last diagram would likely burn out the two 50W panels. You're trying to connect a 60V 5A strand to a 40V 2.5A strand that would likely burn out the smaller 50W panels.
The voltage and current cannot be mismatched in this manner when connecting in series or parallel.
In series, the current has to be the same through both strands, which isn’t the case here. The panels wired to produce 40V, 2.5A cannot handle the 5A current that the 60V strand can handle, which could indeed lead to the lower-rated panels being damaged or burned out.
In parallel, the voltage across both strands has to be the same, which also isn’t the case here.
Therefore, connecting these two strands as depicted would likely cause failure in the lower-rated panels due to overcurrent. The appropriate method is to match panels with the same ratings in series and the same in parallel to prevent any damage and ensure proper functionality.
At 12:04 could you increase the efficiency by wiring the two 50w panels in parallel and then wiring that string in series with the two 100w panels for a total of 275w and 91% efficiency? (55v x 5a = 275w)
Excellent. Content that isn't other available on UA-cam!
Congrats.
I understood before that wiring dissimilar capacity panels would impact array output but never understood why, or how to design around that constraint. This explanation is very clear and simple, and may show me how to address a problem I’m working on now to upgrade my current installation. THANKS!!
Thanks you for bringing this information to our memory.
Thank you for showing the effects of different serial & parallel configurations, very helpful!
I think it is important to consider the length of the run of wire, and the purpose/inverter used. Lower voltage can be better for batteries and higher voltage for a grid tie inverter.
Very infirmative and educative explanation with great presentation ,Thank you, all the best.
At 5:44, is total installed capacity 400W or 500W due to the new 100 w panel, hence efficiency is now 60%??
Thank you Sir.
Great video, did not know that.
Excellent video. Clear explanation about solar wiring.series,parallel,series-parallel of different solar panels Thanks Sir.watching from Philippines
Well illustrated and explained, thanks
Awesome video, sir. Well done 👏
You’re great! Thanks for your help.
Sir ,You had very good knowledge of circuits. 👌👌👌👌
Thank you you made it very easy to understand solar
Thanks for this information. I’ve always been told that you can’t use a 100w & 50w in parallel. Not so if the voltage is the same. I had to try it for my self. Connected both panels. One 21.8v and 20.0v. Works great.
I'm on a van project, I'm using ecoflow powerhub, so it has 3 solar input, but one is used for alternator charge, so 2 inputs.
I have 3x175W solars in one input.
And the other i have 2 flex in the roof and 2 more flex in the hood. Both flex group are in series (separate). 1-1 + 1-1 thing. So series between them and then parallel to the controller. But like that wont charge. (very low wattage). but if I connect one pair, I get 30w and the other around 38w.
One is 41v total the other is 36v. Something is happening there. where somehow the lower panel is bringing the other panels down or something, and I dont get more than 0.5 A, which is not enought to start charging (20w minimum)
I will try to rewire them in parallel, since the voltage will be closer that way. Too see what happens
Благодарю Вас за подробное рассмотрение вариантов с расчетом каждого варианта. Это был настоящий урок для новичка. Познавательно и доступно. Благодарю, успеха Вам.
I have 25 x 100w 24.3voc panels and 2x 320w 40.3voc Renogy solar panels to install. Perhaps I should not have bought the 320w yesterday. I hope I didn't do a boo boo. Thanks for the video, great stuff.
that's ok; majority over-rules; the new ones will reduce down to the voltage of the old 25, they have to,because different voltages cannot co-exist; ; meaning, the 2 new ones will only produce a fraction of the rated 320watts, maybe around 120 watts.
Sir this is very good explanation, I am learning Thank you...
Hello, great to hear you're enjoying the videos! One question, can I use a set of 4 panels of 330W (2 in parallel) and add (2 in parallel) 4 panels of 550W, all in pairs, then in series, and connect them in a combiner box? I don't want to discard the old panels.
Your the man ❕❕👍🏼
This is good, for a theoretical example. However, as you know, solar panels' VDC varys wildly, depending on conditions. So, at what reference point does one determine the voltage requirements, for combining panels of various voltage? Open circuit VDC? Vmax? Or somewhere in between?
Loving the series, BTW. Thanks.
Thank you for this video I’ve now watched a few videos ,I’m very impressed on how you deliver the general understanding of systems
THANK YOU
Very well explained and informative video . I have one more question at this point in my next system addition . I currently have one 250w panel that rated at 23.83v and 10.51 a. My charge controller's nominal pv power is 700w, so would the addition of 2x220w panels be better for the total of 680w , or one addtl.250w panel and one 200w panel be the way to go? I have a Victron 100/50 mppt controller and Newpowa 250w panel so far . Thank you for your time .
Hi! Have you ever heard of the Shoals Plug and Play cables / system? Can anyone judge whether it makes sense to use it? Although they seem to be a bit more expensive, they are extremely easy to use and no professional installer is required. Installation is also said to be very quick and more energy efficient than conventional cables... How do you think about that?
Thanks I have 12 panels that produce 29.7v @ 7.3 amps. I am getting 10 more panels that have 31.5v @13 amps. It comes out to around 6400 watts max. My inverter can handle 6000 PV watts so that is perfect. my other inverter will get 6600 watts PV but only use 6000 max. Over sizing a bit is good for winter.
thanks
Is this the same of you have pairs in series and then those in parallell, all the with the same rating, but facing different ways. Will the more shaded seriell connnected pair, bring down the other pair?
The question comes from if the problem is what they atr producing or the internal resistance of the product itself.
on the example where you did paralell to add current but 20volt and 15 volt panels. doesn that matter since controller cuts the woltage on a pwm to battery 14.2 setting for example ?
I like how you've got the black dot moving around on the diamonds on the panels, can't be looked at but exists. Bit like the electrons thru the slots experiment.... different when viewed... ok off topic but interesting LOL
So if we run a windmill and an array of solar panels they go through a controller that matches them up so that they work together efficiently? Instead of connecting their + and - at the batteries. Generally speaking if we had 2 large strings of panels of differing voltage and current we could wire one into the dolar input and the other into the wind input and they should produce efficiently? Or if we had an array on a roof that got more midday sun and an array on a wall that got morning or winter sun better we should use 2 different controllers before feeding the batteries. I'm going a bit wide off the subject but does this make sense?
Can two seperate 400 watt arrays setup like shown here in 2s2p be combined in a combiner box for 80v at 10amps? Also would I need inline fuses for my power lines or is a combiner box good enough?
Hi Drew, can you help me please, I have 4 x 120ah lithium battery's can I wire them in series or not as I have heard it may cause a ballance problem...or is there a way it can be done...thank you
Something every mismatch solar panel video fails to mention is the Diodes. The lower value diodes in smaller panels must be changed to the value of the diodes your highest output panel .
In your last example, would i be correct in assuming that adding two more of the 50 watt in series with the other 2 50 watt panels, your efficiency would go back up to 100%?
Great video by the way!
He could have just connected the two 50W panels in parallel first to form a single 20V 5A panel. Then he could have made a 80V 5A series panel or a 40V 10A series parallel setup or all in parallel for 20V 20A. All setups would have a 100% system efficiency. Also the guy does not know his stuff. You never connect a 60V 5A string of panels in parallel to a 40V 2.5A string of panels. You would overcurrent the lower voltage lower amperage panels and likely burn them out.
Then, I can assume, that a combiner (of separate solar panel series strings) can no be an ‘adder combiner’? I have two identical strings of 255watt panels (wired in series), coming into a combiner box. However, each series array, is on opposite sides of the roof. Neither string will have the same voltage/current, except at about noon. Although, the voltage is most often the same, the currents (wattage generated) are not the same!
How do I ‘maximize’ this setup?
at 6:20 - when speaking of series connections being limited by the current of the ' panel with the lowest current rating ' Should it be better said that the series configuration would be limited by the current of ? :
EITHER
1 . the panel with the lowest current rating
or
2 . a paralleled panel group whose amperage summation is lowest
Also - in that diagram of the two 100 watt and two 50 watt panels - would this be correct :
If the two 100 watt panels were in series with the paralleled two 50 watt panels then the equation would be 55 volts times 5 watts = 275 watts ?
Second question :
Do the panels communicate with each other, or is there some regulation from an external source ? I can readily understand how the current would be restricted in a series circuit, however, I don't understand how a higher voltage at a parallel junction can be limited solely by the presence of a lower voltage .
I have not looked into the workings of these systems yet, however, just the mention of open circuit and short circuit gives me an idea that it is some type of pulsed on off switching . Is that similar to a water hammer - only with electrons ? Just kidding .
And at the last example -> would putting the two 50 watt panels as parallel to each other and in series with the 100 watt panels give 80 volts times 5 amp = 400 watts ?
Am I correct in asserting that ' only the best professors ' reply : ' you are correct in all of your assumptions, surmising, suppositions, and assertions ' ...
Does it mean it's possible to parallel batteries with different amps but the same voltage
I thought the whole idea of going in parallel was to have one string not affect another string. So if one of the two series panels got shade, the voltage would go down as well. You are saying that the lowest voltage in parallel is he output. Interesting.... That doesn't sound intuitive. Is there some diode setup to isolate effects of parallel string with another parallel string? Video was well done, I subscribed.
@11.90 wire the 3 100w x 5A pv in series with the 2 x 50w x2.5A pv wire in parallel connected to the 3 x 100watt pv in series.
would that not give 80volts at 5A making 400w - am i missing something .
Hello. I am setting up my own solar power system. So I have "2" 415w panels with voc 37.5 in parallel. What size charge controller would I need and the size batter bank? I truly would love your assistance. 👍
Hi, if they face the same way, put them in series for best results and less loss in the wires, choose a Victron BlueSolar MPPT 100V/20A or Victron BlueSolar MPPT 150V/45A. The battery can be 12v/24v/48v, it depends on what you want, most 12v cigar to usb for car can also run at 24v. you can also get inverters that run on 24v. A battery of 24v / 200Ah with 100A bms. then you have a 4.8Kwh battery and can load it with "2400watts for two hours" if the inverter can do it. good luck with the project
Thanks for the lecture. However, I saw two types of current ( short circuit current and maximum power current) and also two types of voltage (open circuit voltage and maximum power voltage) on the label or tag of solar panels. Which of these currents and voltages should be considered when merging solar panels of different capacities (wattage) either in series or parallel? Thanks
Hello. I am new to learning about volts and amps, and connecting up solar panels to an Ecoflow power station (generator). I have a question that I hope someone will answer. Is it ok, if I connect four 200W 12 Volt panels in series, to add in one additional 200W 12 Volt panel, using parallel? Or will this cause problems. Thank you, Lori
What about connecting two separate charge controllers in parallel to the battery Brand A on 1 and Brand B on 2? 1:24
So if I have 2 string of 260 w panels and a string of 230 watt panels
If I just add an extra panel in the lower voltage string I should be good when I combine them in the combiner box
There’s only .5 amps difference in the panels Is my logic / Calculations correct ?
HOWdy E-UME,
Thanks
COOP
...
thanks for the information. how best can i connect 330w, 370w, 400w and 400w to get best results all panels have same voltage of 36 volts
what will be the total power
Hello sir, my 6kw growatt only has max 150 open voltage ..I have 16 panels of 320w 39 open voltage..I want to run 4 different strings 2series n 4 parallel..is the combiner box will allow me to be able to do that? Thank you
@Colin Mitchell to run 5 times , do I need a combiner box? Thank you..
hi there, I have bought 4 solar panels 340w ,Max Current (Imp) 9.82A
Max Voltage (Vmp) 34.6V
Short Circuit Current (Isc) 10.51A
Open Circuit Voltage (Voc) 42.5V
Weight 18.7KG
Dimension 1664x992x35mm
Cell Technology Monocrystalline but I didn't parallel yet I need help before somethings goes wrong LOL, my system run by 48v what I must to do? do I need to do all panels + and - to parallel ?
WILL IT DAMAGE THE PHOTOVOLTEC CELL OF LOW WATT PANEL
Why not combine the 50 w panels in parallel. Wouldn't that be just like a 100 w panel 20 v 5 a
No it's not.
My single panel is giving 20V and 7Amps.
When I wire 4 of them together in parallel then it gives me 16V and 16 Amp Combined? What is the issue?
No. You would have 20v and 28a =560w
Not fair changing the specs of the 50w panels in mid-stream from 15v*3.3a to 20v*2.5a. Of course, the 20v*2.5a is probably more realistic, but wouldn't have illustrated your earlier parallel example as well.
I just hook everything up as 12 volt bringing each line in to a positive and bring it into the house and bring anything negative into the negative and bring it to the house without combining them and my one's doing fine my other one I'm not exactly sure cuz it's never been able to put on its full power because the battery is enough so I don't know if I'm running all that one or just kiss somebody and 28 amps and the one I know is okay because that's all I hooked up to is 28 amps and they're both hooked up the same way with two different size solar panels but the bigger 60 amp one is connected with additional 60 w solar panels same as the other one with 150 w solar panels and they both sets have two 405 w solar panels no one at 950 Watts runs okay for the tubing size solar panels I'm not sure about the other one which is 1440 Watts I'm not sure how that one is actually doing cuz it's never been a run up to its total amount of power. Cuz in other words connected to it and with them together it's running smaller than the small one is I'm not sure why except that I don't have enough batteries I'm not using the power to make it work all its power that it needs to work I'm not sure.
5:53 wouldn't efficiency be 60% as you are limited to 300W but have a total of 500W of panels installed?
and at 11:31 why not parallel the 2 50W panels to basically make a single 20V 5A 100W panel that could then be wired in series to produce 400W and 100% efficiency
@@busimagen youre right. just wasnt thinking clearly
I have a crazy idea.
What if some company creates a voltage regulator. For example, Ani input from 18v to 60v to regulate it to 18. And you can put that regulator in every "same type" pannels group,. then you end up with a 18v output. that you can set in parallel. getting the most efficent output even with different pannels. And if one group goes down wont affect the other
Microinverters, anyone?
@@kevinrtres for a house may be, but for charging batteries, on a van or small off grid set up?
Yeah, you can just buy fancy panels with microinverters, but for that you just buy all the same voltage panels...
Not the point :D
Damn I must be doing something wrong! Mine keeps jumping well above the wattage the panels are rated for 😂.
5x 375w panels voc-41.60 10.98amp max
2x 400w panels voc-37.07
12.90amps max
I am trying to get as close to 1900 watts as I can while keeping the volts between 120v-300v but the panels are getting more watts not less with the calculations of series in the video.😂 2x2 of each panel I am getting 1727.59watts
Ht60-166m-375
Dna-108-bf10-400w
Can someone help?
In the last scenario If you were to parallel the two 50 watt panels, then wire them in series with the three 100 watt panels you would get 100% efficiency or 400 watts. Why then would you ever wire them the way shown in the video.
Your first example adding an additional 100w panel you forgot to add that to the total system capacity 500w vs 400w
And it would be 60 percent, not 80 percent. Unless I screwed up the math.
500 Watts Total, 300 Watts output, 40% Loss ? ? Yes/No
Yes
@5:43 should be total system capacity of 500w (5x100 panels), but producing only 300w, net efficiency of 60%.
I have always been taught that two 12V 100W panels in series is now 24V 100W output.
Two 12V 100W panels in parallel is 12V 200W output.
And that is how the world actually works.
Now you have changed the laws of electric physics?
I think you might have got your Watts muddled up with your Amps. Both your scenarios should produce 200W, but the 12v arrangement will be delivering twice as many amps as he 24v one.
And now for a question that I am sure that you will really enjoy :
Why would you you go through all the bland momentum-less-ness of, day after day, just letting your beard grow; when you could be symphonically orchestrating and conducting the movement by incessantly chopping all those face hiding proteins ?
Speaking of proteins - what about the insanity of their attempt to ( their - meaning they - the ones who think they know what's better for everyone else ) make us eat bugs ?
After they get told to eat mud until they stop it - maybe they will learn how to make hamburgers out of hair and try to make us eat that ?
Want some conditioner sauce on that ? How about a pony tail pie ?
How to use otsar jar opener
This lowest common denominator, is it not BS???
I mean, if you have 200000 panels of total 20 volts and 2 panels of total 15 volts, you really think that the whole shibang is gonna come down to 15 volts? i don't, i had 6 panels putting out 60 volts and then i made a mistake wiring 2 more, and they only put out 30 volts(i did not put these 2 in series, like the others--3P2S); i fixed that a week later; meantime, the wattage stayed the same as if the 2 last panels were not there; that is why i saw some' was wrong;
Remember, they have DIODES to protect them from being"charged" by higher voltages; i see this deal of the lowest voltage ALL OVER the Net and of UA-cam, so i must be wrong ?
I skipped thru the stuff I didnt come here for, I didnt see how to wire anything... Did i FF to quick or was it not there?