Wiring Solar Panels On Sailboat In Series

A solar power installation on a sailboat is made up of two independent systems.

Wiring solar panels on sailboat in series.

For example if you installed 5 solar panels in series with each solar panel rated at 12 volts and 5 amps you d still have 5 amps but a full 60 volts. Typical marine solar panels are comprised of a number of silicon cells normally 32 connected together in a series string. When installing solar panels in series the voltage adds up but the current stays the same for all of the elements. When stringing panels in series each panel additional adds to the total voltage v of the string but the current i in the string remains the same.

Most solar panels come with mc4 connectors attached to 3 foot solar wire pigtail coming from the panel junction box. When stringing in series the wire from the positive terminal of one solar panel is connected to the negative terminal of the next panel and so on. To understand how wiring in series works in comparison to how parallel wiring works let s think for a moment about how christmas lights used to work. Individual silicon cells produce only around 0 6v and so enough of them have to be connected together in series to produce a voltage high enough to be able to charge a 12v battery.

Maximum power point tracking mppt charge controllers are for wiring solar panels in a series where pulse width modulation pwm charge controllers are used to wire solar panels in parallel. One system to charge the batteries and another system to provide 120 volt ac power for household appliances. Comparing solar panels in series vs. There are some major benefits to connecting solar panels in series.

Note that the number of solar panels and batteries depends on the system s design and load requirements i e. Less leaking would be a huge plus but that tilt test still sticks in my head and makes me nervous. Bumping the voltage up by wiring your solar array in series will minimize the loss if the wire run between the panels and the controller is particularly long. These connectors are easily disconnected.

Solar controller except for small trickle charge systems all solar systems should have a solar controller. A fifty foot 8 gauge wire with 48 volts dc at 4 amps 192 watts will lose 0 25 volts or 0 52 over the run. A charge controller must be connected. The capacity of a solar panel to produce energy is measured in watts which is calculated by multiplying a solar panel s voltage by the amps of current it produces when a solar installer builds a solar energy system they need to find the right balance of voltage and amps to ensure that the system performs well.

Decide between parallel or series wiring for our solar install. Mc4 connector a water proof connector used in solar wiring. How to best orient the solar panels because of shading. Series would allow us to run thinner gauge wires which means smaller holes in our boat and less potential for leaks.