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TriBeard's avatar
TriBeard
Explorer
Aug 24, 2020

Remove Stock 40w Panel Before adding?

So I just got an Arctic Fox 811, and I'm adding 2 x 100 solar panels to the unit to help us with boondocking. The camper came with a zamp solar 40w panel already on the roof, and a zamp solar 30a pwm controller already installed.

On the roof, there are two SAE plugs (inverted wires because of being "zamp ready") and my plan was to wire my two panels together in parallel on one of the plugs, leaving the 40w factory panel plugged into the other one as it came originally. Then I got to thinking, I'm not sure if that's the best plan. Will having that one other panel, presumably also wired in parallel with the larger panels (not sure how they wire it up from the factory) cut down my output? Should I just disconnect it and use the 2 100w panels?

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  • naturist's avatar
    naturist
    Nomad
    Aug 24, 2020
    Assuming all panels are the same voltage, a 30 amp controller should be able to handle all 240 watts of panels. Put them all in parallel, and it should be fine. 240 watts at 12 volts is 20 amps, well within the controller’s capacity.

    But that does require all panels to be the same voltage. If the existing 40 watt panel is 24 volts, your extra 200 watts being 12 volts, you would have to put the new one in series to combine with the existing 40 watt panel.

    Of course, upgrades are always possible. But the simplest is just adding the 200 watts.
  • TriBeard's avatar
    TriBeard
    Explorer
    Aug 24, 2020
    Some additional info - these are the panels in question:

    https://www.amazon.com/Richsolar-Polycrystalline-Efficiency-Module-Marine/dp/B07DNP14JY/ref=sr_1_4?dchild=1&keywords=100w+solar+panels&qid=1597084597&sr=8-4

    https://plugandplaysolarkits.com/products/obsidian-45-watt-solar-panel-kit?variant=31384666538097

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