Solar Panels in Series or Parallel?

[nineinchheel]

On a narrowboat - I've got three solar panels which will feed into a solar charger controller to charge three leisure batteries (starter battery on a different circuit). Should I connect them in series or parallel? I've been looking at sites across the web and can't work out which would be better. What do you do?

[inetdog]

On a narrowboat - I've got three solar panels which will feed into a solar charger controller to charge three leisure batteries (starter battery on a different circuit). Should I connect them in series or parallel? I've been looking at sites across the web and can't work out which would be better. What do you do?

If and only if the solar charger is really an MPPT device (which converts current at a high input voltage to more current at the lower battery voltage) then you may want to wire the panels in series [corrected].
One deciding factor is whether in normal use it is likely that one of the panels will be shaded while the others are not. If that is the case then parallel wiring might be better.
I am assuming that your three leisure batteries will be wired in parallel for a 12V system?
Look at the smartgauge.com site I mentioned in your other thread for info on how best to wire your battery connections. And how to bring the starter battery into the picture without risking starting ability.

[Naptown]

With Mppt provided it ts within voltsge at lowest temperature than a series is best
The above was a mistake when Inetdog said in parsllel
If some shading then yes parsllel

[nineinchheel]

So as far as I understand it if my MPPT device reduces current then put them in series and if not put them in parralel. I'm not sure if my device does that or merely stops an excessively large input - this is the manual for my solar charger - any thoughts would be appreciated!

[Wy_White_Wolf]

Your controller is a PWM so only option is parallel.

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[nineinchheel]

Thank you very much for this, just to be clear what does PWM stand for?

[Naptown]

Thank you very much for this, just to be clear what does PWM stand for?

Pulse width modulation.
With 5 panels in parallel you will need to put a fused combiner and each panel on a fuse.

[Wy_White_Wolf]

Thank you very much for this, just to be clear what does PWM stand for?

Page 10 Section 7.2 of your manual. Shunt controller that simple turns the power on/off when the batteries are charged to create pulses that will keep the batteries at full charge.

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