How To Run Solar Panels In Parallel

The connection of multiple solar panels in parallel arises from the need to reach certain current values at the output without changing the voltage.

How to run solar panels in parallel.

To wire two or more solar panels and batteries in parallel simply connect the positive terminal of solar panel or battery to the positive terminal of solar panel or battery and vise versa respectively as shown in the fig below. The solar panels are usually designed that they can handle being backfed from one panel but if you have a whole bunch you do run the risk of ruining your solar panel. The amps of electrical current for each solar panel are summed together but the system voltage stays the same. The positive wires are connected to a positive connector within a combiner box and the negative wires are connected to the negative connector.

To combine the wires from the solar panels you will need to use mc4 branch connectors. When an installer wires your solar panels in parallel each panel s wires are connected to a centralized wire leading from the roof. The latter is only valid provided that the panels connected are of the same type and power rating. Paralleling the system would keep the voltage the same and increase the amps by the number of panels paralleled.

Unlike connecting in series connecting in parallel allows the voltage to stay the same but the current adds up. The operating voltage is 18 9v and the operating current is 5 29 amps. In fact it s the exact opposite of connecting in series. Since each panel is 12v and the battery bank you want to charge is 12v then you need to parallel your system to keep the voltage the same.

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 solar panels in parallel the total output voltage of the solar array is the same as the voltage of a single panel while the total output current is a sum of the currents passing through each panel. Wiring solar panelsin parallel simply means combining all of the positive wires together into one wire that will go to the charge controllerand combining all of the negative wires together into one wire that will go to the charge controller. When solar panels are wired in parallel the positive terminal from one panel is connected to the positive terminal of another panel and the negative terminals of the two panels are connected together.

Connecting in parallel solar cells can also be arranged in parallel where each solar panel is connected to every other panel in the circuit.