I'm setting up a solar system on my trailer with 6 400W panels and I'm looking to connect them all in parallel, or at least in three parallel sets, to reduce the impact of shading on my power output. However, I'm having a hard time finding the right equipment for this setup. It seems like I'll end up needing three charge controllers and a separate inverter/charger. Does anyone have suggestions for a more efficient configuration?
2 Answers
One approach you could take is to set up three panels in series, then have two of those series pairs in parallel. This would give you around 150V at 20A, allowing for better compatibility with a single charge controller instead of dealing with multiple units.
If shading is your main concern, you might want to consider using DC optimizers. These function like MPPT controllers for each individual panel, allowing you to run your strings in series, which could actually optimize your setup.
I did it a bit differently with my setup, running three parallel sets of 2 panels in series. I did this because I needed to keep my system below certain voltage levels. Not sure how much shading would matter for my trailer's orientation, but I arranged them in parallel lengthwise and in series across.