Wiring solar panels together

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Posted by Jerry Miller on December 14, 2008, 09:49:22 AM

I have 4 Kyocera 130 panels with each pare wired together. I soldered the positive and negative from each pare together and then feed each pare to a charge controller. I don't seem to be getting any power at the connection. Is this an acceptable setup or is it cancelling out each other? I don't seem to find any data on wiring two units together.

Posted by Keith Birchfield on December 14, 2008, 10:50:07 AM

Re: Wiring solar panels together (Reply #1)

For serial connection ( adds volts, keeps same amperage )

/--\ /--\
|PV|-(+)(-)-|PV|-----(+)
\--/ \--/
|
(-)
(+)
|
/--\ /--\
|PV|-(-)(+)-|PV|-----(-)
\--/ \--/

The above is an attempt to show what a typical 2x2 PV wiring could look like.

This means, that each PV feeds the next PV, where the first PV provides the + connection to your controller, and the last PV provides the - to your controller.

Here is another attempt a showing this same connection, but with each PV in a line ( 1x4 )

(-)_[PV]_(+)(-)_[PV]_(+)(-)_[PV]_(+)(-)_[PV]_(+)

« Last Edit: December 14, 2008, 11:08:28 AM by Keith Birchfield »

Posted by Thomas Allen Schmidt on December 14, 2008, 03:02:52 PM

Re: Wiring solar panels together (Reply #2)

I am not sure that I understand what you have done when you say "the positive and negative from each pare together"

You wired two sets of two PV modules in series to increase the voltage (ie; 12 to 24 volts nominal) and then wired those two sets in parallel to increase amperage, is this correct?
What voltage do you want to accomplish?
If 24 volts nominal, wire the pos. from module "A" to the neg. of module "B". Then take the remaining pos. of module "B" and the remaining neg. of module "A" to the appropriate terminals on the charge controller. Repeat procedure for remaining two modules.

Posted by James Cormican on December 15, 2008, 08:47:25 AM

Re: Wiring solar panels together (Reply #3)

here is a link to the manual.

http://store.altenergystore.com/mmsolar/others/KC40T-130TM_Install_Manual.pdf

page 3 shows a diagram. I believe the 130 has M type j-box.

let us know if you need more help, specifically what voltage you are trying to achieve (nominal) and how the modules are laid out physically.

cheers,

james

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Posted by Jerry Miller on December 25, 2008, 09:02:29 AM

Re: Wiring solar panels together (Reply #4)

What I did was follow the instructions to nake panels 12 volt. I then took the postive and negative from 2 panels and connected together and sent the output to a charge controller. I expected to get 12+ volts at around 240 watts in full sun light. I am only getting about 1 volt to charge controller when checking with amp meter. Not sure what is up with that. The output is going to a xantrex 1800 with 2 12 gel batteries. I am not getting enough juice to charge the batteries.

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