How to connect 16 solar panels for best performance

[Robert1234]

P.S. What brand / model solar heaters are those? Are they made of neoprene rubber?

[Robert1234]

I assume based on looking at the pic that these are solar collectors for heating water. Looking at the panels in the upper end of the picture, it looks like everying is in one big parallel stream as you say. If you hook them up like in your sketch you should (may) get a higher outlet temperature at the end of the string, but you will also get higher backpressure and probably decreased flow rate through the system. My tendency would be to keep backpressure at a minimum to minimize pumping power and potential leaks. Hooking everything up in parallel will give you either (1) increased flow at the same outlet temperature, or (2) increased temperature at the same flow.

The one advantage you have in segmenting the system into multiple parallel groups (even though everything is still in parallel as your friend says) is that you have the ability to take a small set of them off-line for maintainence should you have problems and/or desire to work on them.

Just my thoughts.

[henningdalgaard]

Great site!

I have 11 panels (size 120x300 cm) on my roof connected in one big parallel group. I use them to heat my pool (55.000 liters). I just got 5 more. The question is how to connect them for best performance (I live in Denmark so I need to get the most out of them). You can see a picture here:

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/21941908/solardur.jpg

I read somewhere that it is better to divide a large number of panels into groups. But should the groups be connected in parallel or seriel? Or combined? My friend (who knows a lot about pools and solarheating) suggested this setup:

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/21941908/diagram.JPG

I thought 3 or 4 groups in parallel were better but my friend pointed out that it would be the same as one big group in parallel.

Any ideas are most welcome