I'm experimenting with my solar setup and I have a 100W panel that's currently putting out about 80W, which is awesome. I also have a 50W panel providing around 36W to another power station. However, when I try to connect them in parallel, neither of the power stations get any input at all. When I disconnect the 50W panel, the 100W panel kicks back to supplying power just fine. Shouldn't they work together at a common voltage that's limited by the weaker 50W panel? This seems like it should work theoretically, but it's just not happening. Any tips or insights on what's going wrong would be really appreciated!
2 Answers
Make sure both panels have the same voltage; that's crucial for parallel connections. If they're both rated at 18V, then you should be good. The wattage doesn't matter as much, but it's the voltage that needs to match up. If your panels are indeed set at 18V, they should theoretically work together just fine!
You're definitely on the right track. Both panels need to have similar voltage, and placing them in parallel means they should combine amps, not volts. If they're both 18V, you're okay there. Just keep in mind that your inverter needs to handle the total current output, which seems to be under 10 amps combined for your setup!
Exactly! As long as the voltage matches, they should function together. Be mindful of your inverter specifications to prevent overload.
Right, and just to add, if the voltage is equal but there's still no output, check your connectors and wires to ensure there aren't any faults there.