This video will teach you how to wire solar panels in Parallel for your DIY Camper Solar Install.
How to Wire Solar Panels in Parallel for your DIY Camper Solar Install
This video will teach you how to wire solar panels in Parallel for your DIY Camper Solar Install.
Can you connect positive wires to negative wires on the solar panels
I really appreciate the short and to the point videos in this series. Ive watched other youtubers and you are the only one that I actually can understand haha. Thank you for explaining even the smallest detail that most people that know this stuff dont tend to explain. I appreciate your content. 🙂
So I'm about to do this on my RV. I don't have any 4 to 1 MC4 connectors, but I have a boat load of 2 to 1 MC4 connectors. My question is (running 4 panels); Can I run two positives into one branch on a set of panels and then run another two into another branch of positives and then use yet another 2 to 1 MC4 connector to run those 2 sets into a final 2 to 1 positive connection and then do the same with the negatives? Seems to me this would be fine, but if someone reading this sees a problem with that, please let me know asap 🙂
My only question is how many panels can a controller handle?
Just to be safe the 2 to 1 mc4 connector has to be male to female right?😅 You did not mention that so i thought i'll ask just to be sure. They sell female to male as well.
Hi ,, can I add 5 solarpanel in parallel or do they have to be in 2's 4's or 6's..
Thnks
When connecting 5 panels in parallel is it better to use 2 to 1 connectors or 5 to 1?
With the inverter 3000 watts
How big the fuse amp I should put between the battery and the inverter?
Hi can you please kindly help me on my solar panel I have Panasonic VBHN330SJ53 330W Solar Panel Module which I have connected 7 panels in series which is 7 x 330 watts = 2310 watts dc voltage approximate 483…
And I have another string same solar 7 x 330 panels in series which 2310 watts
Can I connected this 2
strings in parallel so the dc voltage approximate will be 483 and the total watts should be 4,620 will this system will work ? Please kindly help me on this thanks you
Sam
Hey Nate! Great video, thanks! Not sure if you can see this but is there a box of some sort that you can attach to the roof to house the MC4 branch connectors? All I can find are various DIY builds, hoping for something simple (like myself). Thanks, Steve!
Good Morning. Thank you for the info. I have most of the items from my last RV solar sys. The 200 watt solar panels is what I need and will get. Love watching your YOUTUBE programs. I have learned so mush from you. Again thank you. Jack
Good Morning. I'm looking at putting on two Solar panels. I was thing of either 2 HQST 200 Watt each or two Renogy 175 Watt panels. I have two Battle Born 100ah for a 200ah sys. I have a 2000 Watt inverter but at this time I do not plain on BOON DUCKING very much or long. I do have a back up invertor Generator. This will be for help maintain the batteries. Any sajustshion would be Great. Jack
Dont you need diode when you connect in parallel?
How do you get awg 4 wire in to a charge controller even using a furrule crimpers. Do you trim some of the strands to fit a smaller sheld on the wire?
so.. if you have 10x panels. rated at 12v, 100w. 6.7A wired together in parallel, potentially making about 67A of current.
Suddenly nutty the squirrel decides to climb on your roof and shades one panel. What stops 9 panels from pumping 60+ amps into the shaded panel and creating a fire? a fuse?
Why not large bypass diodes?
Hi, do you know how I can open the junction box of a flexible solar panel to check the diode?
Hi Nate, these are great videos!! I'm wondering if you can comment on using a chain of two 2 to 1 Y-branch connectors vs a single 3 to 1 MC4 combiner connector.
I have 3 panels; 2 are 20v & 5a and 1 is 20v and 9a. The most efficient way to connect these are in parallel which should give me 96% efficiency (if I am doing the math right) vs series and parallel which would drop efficiency to 71%.
Should have bought a 3 to 1 combiner connector that you are using here. or am I ok to use two Y-branch connectors that I already have? My logic is: first connector branch wires 20v/5a to 20v/5a for 20v/10a and the second branch would be equivalent to parallel wiring a 20v/10a to a 20v/9a which would give me 20×19= 380W. (I'll be fusing positive connections along the chain with 30a MC4 fuses).
Hey Nate new subscriber great video can’t find your update video on when to use fuses I’m gonna connect 3 100 w solar panels in parallel to my 3600 w natures generator would I need the fuses ? If so they are already in my cart in Amazon and would I need 15 A or 30A ? Thanks in advance awesome channel …..
This was so helpful. Thank you.
You forgot to leave the link to the vid B4 this one?
But nice vid how to and the covering of the solar panels before connecting is shear GREAT! THX!
witch one is better parallel or series using a combiner box? THANKS,
So …to do parallel wiring is it safe to connect all the positive leads together on the 3 flexible .solar panels,&then all the negative leads together? Person who installed the system cut off all the connectors leaving only the bare wires to connect to .Is it standard on all flexible panels that the + is on the left& negative wires on the right? Thank you for all your help.really appreciate .(Lensun Solar Panels)
So I don’t have a van, but I do have 6 /100 watt panels and I saw that you put inline mc4 fuses. So my question is. Do I need to put one of this in each y connector on the positive side. I understand that with six panels you do need inline fuses due to the about of power generated. I was thinking of using 20A fuses per panel. What is your advise I am in the process of putting this together so I want to make this right. Thanks
Although I don't have the cables on front of me to test the positive and negative wires to see if they're accurate- what I ordered has negative females and positive males, this is for two solar panels, yet the same brand (rich solar y connection that reduces it from 2 cords to 1) is actually 2 negative females which ends as a positive male, and the other is two positive males which ends in a female negative. Shouldn't I be plugging in 2 negative males (which the solar does not have) into the 2 female negative y connections and 2 positive females into the 2 positive male y plugs? Or should it all work out and the signs don't necessarily need to correlate? I talked to Rich solar on the phone today and he didn't answer my question, just referred me to this specific video.
Can you use a 3 split for 2 panels only, with the intention of adding a 3rd panel later on?
Problem with parallel connecting is it increases the current so you'll need larger diameter wire (smaller AWG). Will both increase weight and increase heat on the wire increasing power loss. Parallel connect current should be no greater than 30 Amps on the wire (MC4 rated at 30 amp max), increase voltage and use a good MPPT solar charger and you can get by with lower current serial connected solar panels. Be careful I've seen many videos that gives enough information to be dangerous. You need a full understanding of electrical currents and voltage to configure a safe system. Not partial pictures.
Hi, so I used you calculator for sizing controllers and it said the amps going into the controller would be 29.22 amps which seams very close but my Isc for my panels would end up been 32.01, would this be to much? It means ether the 150/60 or 70 or 250/85 which is a big price difference. hope I worded this adequately with minimal info.
Do you have any used battle born batteries you could sell me for the low low? Homeless trying to get power in my van and learn how to assemble a solar system to make my life better and I can't afford brand new batteries but know I want good ones to give me the least trouble. Thanks for your videos either way! God bless 🙂
Nice DIY , I'm watching all your video , I'm from India .
This is good stuff. Thank you for making these videos
Hi Nate, I'm back again with another question! I'm currently purchasing all my required wiring and accessories for the electrical part of my shuttle bus conversion. I have 4 250watt solar panels with a short – circuit current of 8.85amps. I believe it's safe for me to wire these in parallel however I'm unsure of my needed inline fuse requirement. For each panel the fuse rating is 15amps. I've spent the last few hours watching your videos about fuse ratings and reading your articles about when inline fuses are required but I'm still confused on what I should do. Based off your video, couldn't I input a 30amp inline fuse on each pair of positive connectors, correct? But based off your articles, I've read that I do not need an inline fuse due to the short circuit current rating being lower that the fuse rating of 15amps, right? I hope this all makes sense, I'm super confused over this simple fuse, please help if you can):
-Micah
Would it still work to wire each panel to its own charge controller and then merge the loads onto the battery?
First, I think you have the best videos for me to understand, almost.. I just got a 2021 trailer with a solar package which included a 12v frig, 165w furrion solar panel and a furrion 25a MPPT controller. Haven't been out yet but want to add to solar a little at a time. I already added a second 12v battery I hooked in parallel. The furrion panel is $500. I was looking at the 175w Renogy for $200. I can either try to match my 165w with this 175w or there is also a 160w. In one of your videos you said as long as the voltage is "close". Easiest for me to hook up with the Y adapter in parallel. Next I'll try the inverter… Thanks for the help..
Thank you !
Are these 10 amp fuses?
Thank you for the videos! I have a quick question: Renogy has a solar panel: 300-Watt 24-Volt Solar Panel. It's Optimum Operating Voltage is 32.2V. What is the output voltage of this panel? Basically, What 24-volt in the title means and what Optimum Operating Voltage means? Thanks a lot.
Thanks for this video. Vanning Ain't No Joke but stuff like this makes it more attainable for people. Your a real van life hero!!! Thanks so much!!
Thanks Nate! Excellent tutorials. I'm really enjoying this practical skills series. Since there were no links with this video Am I safe in assuming that you have not made a video yet on when to use inline fuses?
I’m wondering if you have any videos on how to wire a trailer from the shell off restoration. I am interested in how to wire the lights but I am also interested in how to wire the seven pin. For instants do you need a plug that has to male And so that it can plug into the trailer and the truck? I cannot find any videos on this
What gauge wire do you use for let's say 700 watts of solar panels on a 12 volt system?
hi did you get a chance to make the fuse video thank you for all the great tutorials
👍 Danke fürs Hochladen!
#👍 Thanks for uploading!
Hi, what's the meaning of maximum overcurrent protection rating found at the back of a PV module?
The wire that comes with solar panel it’s self will that be sufficient enough to work as a parallel? I’m using a HSQT solar panel? And I have 6 of them 175 watts each
So even if using 6 x 100 watt panels in parallel just fuse between each panel and between the junction point and charge controller correct? Can you use in line breakers?
I know or running series or parallel Different thickness wire going to your charge controller how do you determine the size of either