solar panel wiring series

Posted January 2, 2011 By admin

solar panel wiring series
Solar Panel Wiring in SERIES?

I have a home made 24 volt electric cart. It is powered by two 12Volt deep cycle batteries. Since the motor runs on 24 volts the batteries are wired in series to produce the 24 volts. I only have a 12 volt battery charger, but I also have two 12 volt solar panels. It is a pain having to unhook wires, rewire it, or charge them one at the time.

HERE IS THE QUESTION REALLY… Can I wire the two 12 volt solar panels together in series (ie: negative to positive) then connect it to the existing 24 volt system and have it charge the batteries fine. I know basic wiring, but I know nearly nothing about solar panels, will it work fine? will it cause them to break? or short out?

(additional info, the solar panels are only rated at 5 amps so it will not overcharge the batteries or anything)

If the panels are the same, there is no problem in putting them in series. If you examine the panels, they will be made up of about 36 identical cells in series. Ok, now you have 72 cells in series, fine if they are the same.

You need (at a minimum) a diode in the line so that when it is dark, the panels do not draw current out the batteries (it wont be much but you might as well block it).

You say the panels are rated 5 amps? Those are pretty good sized panels! Unless you have a charging regulator, I guarantee that they Will overcharge the batteries (unless the batteries are huge, like the size of a refrigerator).

Did you maybe mean 5 watts? About a foot square? If so, the output is about 300mA (0.3 amps) which will not overcharge a battery as long as it is at least as large as a garden tractor battery. At a 300mA charge rate, it will take a longgg time to recharge.

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