Connecting 2 Solar Panels In Parallel

Connecting solar panels in parallel.

Connecting 2 solar panels in parallel.

When installing solar panels in series the voltage adds up but the current stays the same for all of the elements. There are 3 ways to connect solar panels. Parallel series and a combination of parallel and series. That is a parallel connection.

Solar panels are connected in parallel to obtain higher output current. Connecting different solar panels in parallel. Optimum voltage on a series of modules should invariably be less than highest input dc voltage of the inverter. This is usually used with 12v set ups.

The first way i am going to talk about is parallel because this is probably the most common way that panels will be connected. On the other hand if our two solar panels have both different wattage and different voltage then parallel connection is not possible since the panel with the lowest voltage would behave like a load and would begin to absorb current instead of producing it with the. 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. 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.

Connecting solar panels in parallel is just the opposite of series connection and is used to increase the total output current of the array and hence the total output power while keeping the same voltage. If we have two solar panels with the same voltage but different wattage there is no problem. Connecting multiple solar panels in parallel refers to 2 or more solar panels of the same wattage being connected positive to positive negative to negative. For this example i am showing you connecting panels that are for a 12 volt system.

Now lets look at connecting solar panels in parallel. Wiring solar panels in parallel implies connecting positive terminals of each panel together and wiring the negative terminals of each panel together as well. The same voltage is the system voltage which for off grid solar panels systems is usually as low as either 6v or 12v. They can be wired in parallel.

Simply put parallel is the same as when you are trying to jump start a car positive to positive negative to negative. Then they are connected to the charge controller or to the inverter of the solar system.