Solar Panel Series and Parallel Calculator
To wire solar panels in series, connect the positive terminal on the first panel to the negative terminal on the next, and so on. The resulting voltage will be the sum of all of the
In the diagram above, 4 x 100w panels, each with a rated voltage of 17.9 and current of 5.72A, wired in series could produce 71.6 volts and 5.72 amps – a total of 409 watts. Note, solar panels' wattage is rated under standard test conditions. So, for example, these 100w panels will provide 100w then but slightly more in colder temperatures.
This means the total power would drop from about 324 watts (54 volts X 6 amps = 324 watts) to 216 watts (54 volts X 4 amps = 216 watts). Alternatively, when wiring your solar array in parallel, all of the panels should have the same voltage rating. The system output voltage will match the panel with the lowest voltage rating.
The output current is 18 amps (6A + 6A + 6A = 18A), yet the output voltage is still 18 volts. Solar panels in parallel operate independently of one another and therefore are the best option for mixed-light conditions. If shade covers one or two of your panels, the remaining panels in the array will continue to generate power as expected.
To wire solar panels in series, connect the positive terminal on the first panel to the negative terminal on the next, and so on. The resulting voltage will be the sum of all of the panel voltages in the series. However, the total current will be equal to the output current of a single panel.
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