I've been working on my solar setup for my van conversion, and I'm starting to worry that I've been limiting its potential. A few years back, I set up a 12v system with three lead acid batteries and a 100w panel for my old Chevy Blazer. Since I have more roof space now, I upgraded to a larger setup with six 100w panels and a single 12v 300AH battery.
I'm running everything in parallel because I thought it was necessary, but I'm questioning if I've done this wrong. I'm concerned about overvolting or overcharging my battery with my PowMr 60A MPPT charge controller if I switch to a series configuration like 2s3p instead of 1s6p. So far, I've only been getting about 450w maximum and 300w on typical days. Should I have been using a series setup this whole time, or can I safely keep my current configuration?
1 Answer
If your panels are facing the same direction, not shaded, and have matching specs, running them in series can actually be more efficient. Don't expect huge gains, but it helps! Your MPPT charge controller will convert the voltage down to what your battery needs, so as long as your open circuit voltage doesn't exceed its maximum handling ability, you should be fine. Just keep an eye on the panel temperature—voltage can rise in cooler conditions!
That’s great to know! I'm planning to connect an Ecoflow 400w foldable panel to my portable power station that's rated for 50v max. Should I be worried about the panel's voltage in colder temps? After checking, it seems I can go up to 80v for my 12v system. Would that mean I can safely add more panels and try a 4s2p setup instead?