2 100 watt solar panels. Parallel or series?

[Maggie Flinn]

Should I buy an adapter or just hook them up together?


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[jimindenver]

First thing is what kind of controller do you have. Putting them in series requires a more expensive MPPT controller. With a PWM controller you can only do parallel.

Do the panels have connectors at the ends of the lead? If so you would connect the positive from one panel to the negative of the other and run the two remaining leads into your MPPT controller.

 

[akrvbob]

Generally, the only reason to go with series is if you have a very long run and the cost of the cabling is a consideration. If that's not a factor, I'd go parallel.

 

[Wabbit]

I do my 2x100w panels in series because of the 40 feet of cable run. When I had ordered the stuff from Renogy I had asked for all cables to be 10AWG but they sent one of the 20ft extensions as 12AWG. If that 40 ft was all 10AWG then I could prob do parallel, but series is fine for me because they are homebrew portable so shading isn't really an issue.

 

[Weight]

I recommend and do myself have Renogy wired as parallel. I have the 10awg they lead from the panels, and 8awg extensions leading to a junction box, then 4awg to the controller. My opinion is with only 2 or 4 hundred watts, and less than 6 panels, parallel is best. Less shading issues as well.