Solar Panel Series Versus Parallel

Here are the fundamental differences between wiring solar panels in series vs.

Solar panel series versus parallel.

With parallel wiring of the solar panels you will have less voltage and more amperage. In parallel we can use 10 gauge wire from the solar panelsto the combiner box but only if the longest wire length is shorter than 24 feet. Another consideration between series wired and parallel wired is the amount of wires that are used to connect the solar system into the grid. Since the two 5a 40v series strings are then wired in parallel we add the amps while not changing the volts because parallel wired solar panels or series strings get their amps added while their volts remain the same.

This means that each series string in this series parallel configuration is 5 amps at 40 volts. That sounds like a lot of work for sure. Using our same example of 5 panels each rated at 12 volts and 5 amps if you connected them in parallel you d still have 12 volts but now 25 amps. The solar panels in parallel connection have to function around 75 capacity to produce enough voltage for charging batteries.

A series wired circuit will use a single wire to connect. Unlike connecting in series connecting in parallel allows the voltage to stay the same but the current adds up. For series at the 57 volts and 9 amps we can use 10 gauge wire for anything under 70 feet from the panels to the charge controller. Meanwhile a parallel wired system will have multiple wires to connect it into the grid.

Wiring solar panels in series when a solar installer wires your solar panels in a series each panel is connected to the next in a string the total voltage of each solar panel is summed together but the amps of electrical current stay the same.