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  • Connecting panels of different wattages

    Hi

    I would just like to know if there is any reason why you should not connect solar panels of different wattages and I have heard it is not a good idea.

    any thoughts on this??

  • #2
    Wattage does not matter.

    What must be matched:

    Panels in parallel, Voltage must match
    Panels in series, Amps must match

    give or take 10% or so.

    Parallel panels, will limit to the Lowest Voltage panel, so attaching a 200W 40V panel, in parallel to a 50W 18V panel, you will only harvest 140W at 18V, wasting half the capability of the 200w panel.

    Series, the lowest amp panel, will limit the total amps of the entire string.

    Hope this helps
    Powerfab top of pole PV mount (2) | Listeroid 6/1 w/st5 gen head | XW6048 inverter/chgr | Iota 48V/15A charger | Morningstar 60A MPPT | 48V, 800A NiFe Battery (in series)| 15, Evergreen 205w "12V" PV array on pole | Midnight ePanel | Grundfos 10 SO5-9 with 3 wire Franklin Electric motor (1/2hp 240V 1ph ) on a timer for 3 hr noontime run - Runs off PV ||
    || Midnight Classic 200 | 10, Evergreen 200w in a 160VOC array ||
    || VEC1093 12V Charger | Maha C401 aa/aaa Charger | SureSine | Sunsaver MPPT 15A

    solar: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Solar
    gen: http://tinyurl.com/LMR-Lister

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