Hey everyone! I'm looking to expand the solar setup on my camper by adding two more solar panels. I currently have one Windy Nation solar panel installed, and I'm wondering if I can mix it with two Renogy panels. I plan to wire them all in parallel. I'm particularly concerned about any potential downsides of mixing these different brands and models. Here are the specs of the panels:
Current panel: 100W Windy Nation
- Pmax: 100W
- Voc: 22.1V
- Isc: 5.91A
- Vmp: 18.0V
- Imp: 5.56A
New panels: 100W Renogy (2x)
- Pmax: 100W
- Voc: 24.3V
- Isc: 5.21A
- Vmp: 20.4V
- Imp: 4.91A
Also, I've got a Renogy RBC2125DS-21W-US charge controller which can handle up to 720 watts and 50 volts. Is it all doable?
2 Answers
Yeah, mixing them in parallel works fine. Just keep in mind that while the amps will add up, the maximum voltage you can get will be limited to the lowest voltage panel you have (which is the Windy Nation panel in this case). Just remember your total output won’t hit the max potential of each panel since they’re mismatched.
You can definitely mix those panels, but just keep in mind that if you wire them in parallel, the voltage will be determined by the panel with the lowest voltage. So, since your Windy Nation panel has a lower voltage, your output will be around 18V and you might lose a bit of power overall. Expect roughly 277 watts instead of a full 300 watts if they were all the same. Just something to consider!
That’s super helpful! I appreciate the breakdown. I didn’t realize the voltage matters so much.