Parallel Amps Question

Thanks for the good info. So I tried it out and it does divide. I used my coarse reading non-vital ammeter that goes to 50a to check it out instead of risking my 10a limit accurate one, and I got approx. 1/2 each but hard to say exactly with that margin of error. Anyway, it split by some amounts, which is what I wanted.

Good point about risk if one path fails. My usual max amps is around 20a- sometimes I get more but not a lot more. One of the two 20a PWM controllers should be ok. If not, it cost $39. The rest of the wiring and fusing is over-gauge to requirements so no problem there.

I took my portable mounted 130w Sharp panel down from the roof and added it to my contraption so now it holds two Sun 100w and one 130w which are all at the fixed tilt but the whole thing twirls by hand whenever I feel the need to twirl it.

I got the second 20a controller instead of buying a much more expensive 30a to do it all and that has worked well. In theory, with 20-21a and needing a 20% margin for more amps at times, one 20a controller was not enough. (It will hold the fort if the other path fails I think, as mentioned above)

I have the three panels in parallel at the contraption, to a single run of 25 ft #1 AWG copper clad aluminum booster cables, where at the trailer end of that close to the trailer I have the Y split with a shorter set of wires to each controller by the battery bank.

I didn't have enough wire to just run two whole paths out to the contraption, so we have the Y split instead.

The other way with one on the roof was working great, but got the urge to tinker. Can't be helped :(

WOW, this question will be common with most Solar use folks. Most all of the posts I read from those who are now into solar, seem to start small and continue to add. The question might soon come. Can the MPPT and the PWM be used in parallel for the same batt bank?? Using the 'connect to battery first idea'. I have one of each but need each for different batt/panel array.

A note to our friend in Victoria. I have the 20a PWM in use with the E/Scooters 24v system. Works like a charm. Waiting for a really bight sunny day to check the system for input to the batts. Hope the 100w panel will output as one reviewer stated, saying he experienced over 100w in total sun.

I'm waiting for the best angle to the sun chart, maybe I missing one way back somewhere.

This is some awesome challenge for the Old & Slow guy.

If a controller should fail or a branch goes open circuit for some reason consideration could be given to whether or not inherent (meaning built-in) protection is automatic.

Wire size not over-amped. Controllers not endangered, etc. How does one effective fuse protect a pair of power circuits?

20 amps for All Three Panels

yes it will devide, and a lot closer to even split than many people think
since it is going to the same battery bank

as for why.. thats easy ... less money to buy one more of the same controller than buy a bigger model
no problem should work just fine

Ohm's law will divide the amps.

Did you get another panel?

I dont know a thing about solar panels, but amps are normally drawn, not pushed.

Is it a fair statement to say your solar panels are capable of producing 20 amps per panel?

It would seem that if your load on each set of wires is similar (your controller) it should divide respectively.

I was just wondering what is going to happen if one fails or becomes disconnected on the downward side if that will overload your wiring. Will the remaining try to make up for the loss of the other?

The amps would divide but not very likely to be divided evenly. Think of it as a river splitting into two flows around an island then coming back together downstream of the island. The flow in each leg will depend on the flow dynamics which will be different for each channel.