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?
3 Answers
Yeah, definitely don't overshoot the max Voc. Ideally, you'd want to keep it about 10-15% under the max for the cold clear days when panels can really produce. You might want to explore a mix of series and parallel for your setup.
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!
Thanks for the insight! I had no idea about the load drop issue. I guess staying below 150V is key.
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!
Great tip! I'll look into combining both methods to balance my output.