The cost of solar panels is plummeting, so it’s an excellent time to add solar to your RV. However, before you can start benefiting from free, clean electricity, your installer will determine whether you should have your panels wired in series, in parallel, or both.
What does it mean to put your solar panels in series or parallel?
Solar panels can be wired to each other in series and/or parallel.
Like the batteries you use at home, every solar panel has a negative and positive terminal. How they’re connected to each other determines whether your system is in series or parallel.
A series connection is when each panel’s positive terminal is wired to another’s negative terminal. This increases the system’s overall voltage and, therefore keeps the output amperage the same as one panel.
Parallel connections are the exact opposite. They involve connecting all the positive terminals to each other and the negative terminals to each other. This will keep the system’s voltage low while increasing its amperage.
A disruption in a series connection, if something casts shade on your solar array, for example, will cause every panel in the system to produce less energy. On the other hand, panels in a parallel connection will continue to work independently of each other, regardless of what happens to the rest of the system.
Let’s say you’ve put up a string of fairy lights. If one bulb unexpectedly goes out and the lights are wired in parallel, the other lights will stay on, but if they’re wired in series, they’ll all go out.
It’s also relatively common to use a combination of series and parallel connections to ensure your system reaches the highest voltage and amperage it can without overwhelming your inverter.
Your installer must choose between series, parallel, or both, as how your panels are wired will have a massive impact on the amount of electricity they generate.
Should you put your solar panels in series or parallel?
Ideally, your installer will recommend what is best for your system and will ensure you use the highest voltage and amperage possible with your inverter charger, generating the maximum amount of solar energy.
If your panels are often in the shade, you may want to put them in parallel. Or if you aren’t getting many panels and they won’t be in the shade at any point, you may want to wire them in series alone. This quick overview should provide you with the basic knowledge necessary to have a conversation with your installer about whether to put your solar panels in series, in parallel, or both. Ultimately, though, you should primarily listen to your installer’s recommendation