mixing mono and polycrystaline panels

[mapmaker]

is it advisable to mix mono and polycrystaline panels of different wattages? what would be pros/cons of doing such?

Welcome to the forum,

As PNjunction mentioned, the issue is not poly vs mono, but is the electrical characteristics. What, exactly, are you trying to design? How many panels? What configuration (series, parallel)? What do you have for a charge controller?

--mapmaker

[PNjunction]

As long as they are within about 10% or less of the voltage to each other, in PARALLEL, you won't have much loss, and they can be of differing capacities.

If in SERIES, they need to be within about 10% or less of the current ratings, otherwise the smaller capacity panel will limit the overall current.

Mono or Poly doesn't matter as long as either the voltage or current specs (usually a 10% or less window) is observed.

On a side note, if your panels come with oem gauge wiring, and the small one is very small and placed in parallel with the large one, and the system isn't fused, then the small gauge wiring if shorted, becomes a flammable fuse when taking on the full current from the large panel.

[jim63]

is it advisable to mix mono and polycrystaline panels of different wattages? what would be pros/cons of doing such?