electrical:solar:series_vs_parallel
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electrical:solar:series_vs_parallel [2021/06/06 15:01] frater_secessus [Series-Parallel] |
electrical:solar:series_vs_parallel [2024/01/03 13:52] frater_secessus [Series and Parallel solar arrays] tldr |
====== Series and Parallel solar arrays ====== | ====== Series and Parallel solar arrays ====== |
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Generally speaking, parallel arrays of nominal 12v [[electrical:solar:panels|panels]] are used with [[electrical:solar:charge_controller#pwm]] [[electrical:solar:charge controller|charge controllers]] and serial arrays or higher nominal voltage panels are used with [[electrical:solar:charge_controller#mppt|MPPT]] controllers. | ===== TL;DR ===== |
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| * With [[electrical:solar:charge_controller#mppt|MPPT]] solar charge controllers and a 12v house battery bank there is often little practical difference between parallel and series setups. |
| * [[electrical:solar:charge_controller#pwm|PWM controllers]] run arrays of the same nominal voltage as their battery bank: 12v and 12v, 24v and 24v. A 24v array could be made of 24v panels in parallel or 12v panels in series.((2S)) |
| * series arrays can reduce costs in some circumstances |
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A fully-parallel configuration (4p1s) would require 3x 2-into-1 MC4 adapters or 1x 4-into-1 adapter. The wiring from the array would need to carry 30A+ to the controller, necessitating heavier wiring that would cost more and might not even fit the controller terminals. It might be unable to charge at all under extreme low-light conditions. | A fully-parallel configuration (4p1s) would require 3x 2-into-1 MC4 adapters or 1x 4-into-1 adapter. The wiring from the array would need to carry 30A+ to the controller, necessitating heavier wiring that would cost more and might not even fit the controller terminals. It might be unable to charge at all under extreme low-light conditions. |
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A compromise might be series-parallel array (2p2s) with 45.6Voc and ~16A. This would require 1x 2-into-1 MC4 adapter to combine the two serial strings. | A compromise might be series-parallel array (2p2s) with 45.6Voc and ~16A. This would require 1x 2-into-1 MC4 adapter to combine the two serial strings. Voltage is low enough for the controller, but high enough to allow low-light charging and the use of lighter wiring. |
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| ===== further reading ===== |
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| * [[https://www.explorist.life/solar-panels-series-vs-parallel/|Solar Panels – Series vs Parallel]] by Explorist Life |
| * [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1s2gsKWqyjM|How To Wire Solar Panels In Series vs Parallel -- For Beginners]] |
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electrical/solar/series_vs_parallel.txt · Last modified: 2024/03/09 11:00 by frater_secessus