Connecting Solar Panels

[wiggy]

Can I connect 2 solar panel at the regulator?

 

[rogerthebodger]

I have several solar panels connected to the same regulator and i have several regulators connected to a single battery bank.

The only restriction is that the total power of the solar panels must not exceed the maximum power rating of the regulator

The output voltages must be the same connected in parallel and the same as the regulator.

MPPT regulators can have solar panels connected in series but the power rating of each panel should be the same.

 

[northwind]

Can I connect 2 solar panel at the regulator?

Yes you can, the electrons don't care..

 

[LadyInBed]

As said, Yes you can, but why run four wires when you could parallel them up at the panel tails and run two wires?

 

[Stemar]

As said, Yes you can, but why run four wires when you could parallel them up at the panel tails and run two wires?

My solution too, but you may need a heavier wire as you'll have twice the current, which means twice the voltage drop

 

[LadyInBed]

My solution too, but you may need a heavier wire as you'll have twice the current, which means twice the voltage drop

The wires that came with my 80w panels are the size of a coax, I can't remember what the core D was.

 

[wiggy]

As said, Yes you can, but why run four wires when you could parallel them up at the panel tails and run two wires?

The reason for four wires is that I don’t have the panels permanently installed, one is a 100w that hangs from the guard rail as needed and the other is a 20w panel (actually 2 10w panels joined to fold in half for storage) which will be used as extra when on the boat and probably to keep batteries Topped up on the mooring.

 

[William_H]

My solution too, but you may need a heavier wire as you'll have twice the current, which means twice the voltage drop

Yes but voltage drop does not mean very much in solar panel wiring. A drop of one volt (a lot) will make very little difference to performance. (more so if use MPPT) Or given that a 100w panel will have an internal resistance of around 4 ohms a wiring resistance of .4 ohm (a lot) will lose only 10% of power.
Compare to a 12v 100w lamp with .4 ohm resistance in wiring drawing 8 amps will drop 3.2 volts which then reduces the lamp current so you end up with something like 50 watts of lamp power. (terrible loss 50%) It is all in the way a solar panel works. ol'will

 

[Stemar]

The reason for four wires is that I don’t have the panels permanently installed, one is a 100w that hangs from the guard rail as needed and the other is a 20w panel (actually 2 10w panels joined to fold in half for storage) which will be used as extra when on the boat and probably to keep batteries Topped up on the mooring.

In that case, I'd just put a couple of suitable sockets in parallel, and feeding the controller, in a convenient spot and plug the panels in as needed.