Solar panel wiring
Has anybody ever heard of any 12 volt type solar panels not being able to wire them in series? Not physically of course but technically? I have 4 Coleman 100 watt panels and nowhere on the box or on t...
Forum Discussion
It's not the panels, it's the controller.
The issue is the PWM controller for 12v panels can only handle a low Voc like maybe 46 volts. Each panel has a Voc of 22v, so two in series is 44 (at 25C and higher when it is cold out.)
If you are using an MPPT controller, it will have a Voc limit more like 100, so your four 22s in series is 88 and could be done.
I have three 100s and have used them in parallel and in series. Got same amps to battery either way. I got the Isc value of 6.2 amps per panel in full high sun, so I was getting 18.6 amps with my PWM controller, panels in parallel.
With four you could get 25 amps, so be sure to have at least a 30 amp controller (needs margin for times when panels get more than rated amps) whether you have a PWM or MPPT controller.
The issue is the PWM controller for 12v panels can only handle a low Voc like maybe 46 volts. Each panel has a Voc of 22v, so two in series is 44 (at 25C and higher when it is cold out.)
If you are using an MPPT controller, it will have a Voc limit more like 100, so your four 22s in series is 88 and could be done.
I have three 100s and have used them in parallel and in series. Got same amps to battery either way. I got the Isc value of 6.2 amps per panel in full high sun, so I was getting 18.6 amps with my PWM controller, panels in parallel.
With four you could get 25 amps, so be sure to have at least a 30 amp controller (needs margin for times when panels get more than rated amps) whether you have a PWM or MPPT controller.
