How To Connect Multiple Solar Panels Together

Parallel series and a combination of parallel and series.

How to connect multiple solar panels together.

For this example i am showing you connecting panels that are for a 12 volt system. The connection of multiple solar panels in parallel arises from the need to reach certain current values at the output without changing the voltage. Connect the negatives to the negatives and positives to the positives. There are two main types of connecting solar panels in series or in parallel.

The series connection is done by wiring the positive terminal of each panel to the negative terminal of the next panel a connection similar to the ones of the christmas lights until the final panel is connected to the charge controller or inverter. The first way i am going to talk about is parallel because this is probably the most common way that panels will be connected. The type of your solar panels system the solar power you want to generate the other system components such as a charge controller battery and inverter. Considering the example in the figure two 5a 12v panels wired in series produce a voltage of 24v and a current of 5a.

Maximum rated current 5 8a. Connecting solar panels in series. You connect solar panels in series when you want to get a higher voltage. For example our 115w sunpower solar blanket has the following ratings.

If both panels are rated at the same maximum voltage then you ll get maximum output. As clearly visible in the picture it is sufficient to wire the positive pole of one panel to the negative pole of the other and at the output we will find a doubling of the voltage. Connecting two solar panels in parallel. Wiring solar panels in a parallel circuit connect all the positive terminals of all the solar panels together and all the negative terminals of all the panels together.