SOLAR PANEL REGULATOR

[PLEIAS]

Hi everybody,i wonder if somebody can help with the following : 1 solar panel 10w + 1 solar panel 23w both new.
I have a charge regulator that says up to 55w.Now how do i connect the 2 of them since the regulator has only one conection?Any risks for backflow if i just connect the 2 of them and then run them to the regulator? Thanks in advance.

 

[ianfr]

Hi

You can wire them in parallel as long as both have blocking diodes in place. I have 2 x 10 Watt panels wired this way.

regards

ian

 

[Chris_Robb]

[ QUOTE ]
Hi

You can wire them in parallel as long as both have blocking diodes in place. I have 2 x 10 Watt panels wired this way.

regards

ian

[/ QUOTE ]

Most regulators have blocking diodes, so surely you can just get a good quality chocolate block terminal, wire the 2 pannels together somewhere convenient, and then run the single wire to the regulator. or just connect both wires to the + and - terminals, if they are large enough.

 

[VicS]

If the two panels are not the same type or are likely to get different levels of light on them separate blocking diodes will prevent one back feeding the other.
The use of Schottky diodes will minimise the volts drop across what may be additional diodes .
Panels supplied for battery charging are likely to have integral diodes anyway and if that is so no extra ones will be required.