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Solar panels in parlell vs series.

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  • Solar panels in parlell vs series.

    For a system that is around 5000.00 watts What would be the advantage of connecting the solar panels in paralell for Lower Array voltage vs series where the solar array voltage can get quite high. If I kept the Solar Panel system voltage around 48 Volts but the current around 120 amps. Is this OK? What is normally done in this case and why?

  • #2
    high voltage low amperage will reduce line losses, reduce wire size reduce the need for combiners and fuses.
    All around a better solution.
    NABCEP certified Technical Sales Professional

    [URL="http://www.solarpaneltalk.com/showthread.php?5334-Solar-Off-Grid-Battery-Design"]http://www.solarpaneltalk.com/showth...Battery-Design[/URL]

    [URL]http://www.calculator.net/voltage-drop-calculator.html[/URL] (Voltage drop Calculator among others)

    [URL="http://www.gaisma.com"]www.gaisma.com[/URL]

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    • #3
      For the same reason electric companies use high voltage.
      MSEE, PE

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      • #4
        Originally posted by 48V_GE11_Motor View Post
        For a system that is around 5000.00 watts What would be the advantage of connecting the solar panels in paralell for Lower Array voltage vs series where the solar array voltage can get quite high. If I kept the Solar Panel system voltage around 48 Volts but the current around 120 amps. Is this OK? What is normally done in this case and why?

        No advantage, unless you want to make your wire supplier rich.
        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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        • #5
          Consider the gauge wire required for 120 amps, now raise it so you don't have a house fire, then price out that wire and the breakers required would cost.

          When inverters fail I'd expect it to be because of the current being drawn, PN junctions get warmer as they handle more power, much more so than wire.

          Higher voltage makes much more sense IMHO.

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          • #6
            As high a voltage as possible

            So the theory is to setup your panel array to produce the highest voltage as permitted by the charge controller. The result being efficiency and cable cost saving.

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