Is It Beneficial to Add a 5th Solar Panel with a Different Orientation?
Asked by SunnySideUp42
I have four bifacial solar panels mounted on the ground, all facing directly south. I recently ordered a fifth panel as a backup, in case one of my current panels breaks during shipping or needs replacement down the line. I'm curious if I should try adding this extra panel facing either east or west to capture more sunlight in the morning and afternoon. However, I'm concerned if doing this would actually decrease my overall output during peak hours when the southern panels are functioning best. All my panels should come with bypass diodes to potentially help with this setup. What do others think?
Answers
Adding the fifth panel in a different orientation can be tricky. Generally, it's not recommended because it could potentially lower your total output, especially during peak sun hours when your current south-facing panels are working optimally. The impact largely depends on how drastically different the orientation is and how your MPPT (Maximum Power Point Tracking) charge controller handles the mixed inputs. It's always good to keep an eye on how it might affect your system's efficiency.
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PanelMaster9000: That's true, but if your wiring can handle the extra amps, what about wiring that additional panel in parallel with the existing ones? Could that help balance things out?