I'm trying to figure out if I can run my solar panels in series since I'm hitting 167V when they're maxed out, but my charge controller has a limit of 150V. I usually get about 250W from my 360W panels—does this indicate that their voltage is lower than expected? Should I stick with my current parallel setup or switch to series?
2 Answers
My panels spike to 115% Voc during winter. The issue is that if your load drops to zero during peak sunlight, the panels just keep producing voltage until it hits Voc, which can fry your controller. Voltage doesn’t fluctuate much in sunlight, but the current does, so it’s critical to stay below your max rated Voc!
You really can't connect those panels in series with a 150V charge controller. Just a heads up, the open circuit voltage (Voc) can get higher during winter months, so be careful!